Amsterdam airport…any updates

[blag]

1 hour ago, Port Power said:

But no observation on late afternoons.  I’m sure it will be fine.  I’m not one to worry about what might not happen anyway.

In my experience, in most of Europe, from about 1700, most people say 'Good evening'. In fact, here in Italy, if I say 'Buongiorno' (Good day) after 1400, I am frequently corrected to 'Buonasera' (Good evening). I think it is reasonable to say that 1635 is early evening, and not likely to be 'peak hour'! 

[AJCM]

2 hours ago, Port Power said:

.  I’m not one to worry about what might not happen anyway.

You’re showing a bit of Port Power resilience in adversity there. I’m a Saints man, so I have a lifetime of experience of rolling with the punches when things don’t work out as hoped for. A Sep cruise is a great distraction from yet another year of failure for us both.

[midwestchick]

On 8/6/2022 at 4:52 PM, blag said:

Please be so kind as to explain why you say this. Is your comment based on recent experience? If so, please share!

I was only commenting on someone’s post as if we all we’re faint hearted! 😳 🙄 🙄 🙄.  That was the way I interpreted it.  To me it was an insulting comment to post  I thin all of us have traveled enough there is not a faint hearted one among the lot. 

[blag]

4 minutes ago, midwestchick said:

To me it was an insulting comment to post

Oh.

Which comment did you feel was insulting?

I don't think anything I said was insulting.

But in these fora, who knows?

[uktog]

1 hour ago, midwestchick said:

I was only commenting on someone’s post as if we all we’re faint hearted! 😳 🙄 🙄 🙄.  That was the way I interpreted it.  To me it was an insulting comment to post  I thin all of us have traveled enough there is not a faint hearted one among the lot. 

If you are referring to my comment “travel is not for the faint hearted” I was only reusing a phrase used by a senior officer on my cruise last week. It’s not an insult it’s.a statement of fact! 

[nordski]

16 minutes ago, uktog said:

If you are referring to my comment “travel is not for the faint hearted” I was only reusing a phrase used by a senior officer on my cruise last week. It’s not an insult it’s.a statement of fact! 

It is indeed and more so now than ever.

 

I think faint-heartedness is on a continuum rather than being a static state and that is why I highly value posts by you and others on this forum that keep us abreast as to the present circumstances.
 

 

 

 

[PAtravelbug]

Made the dreaded trip through the Amsterdam airport today.  If you are paying attention, you can take some time off the wait. We had an 11am flight to Chicago and arrived at the airport at 7am    It is confusing at first where to go - what number counter for your airlines as they are not immediately visable.  A man in a vest came and asked if we needed help, looked up on his phone and said #26.   Which was the long, long line for United check in.  Now, in some airports, in the states, like Washington, Dulles, there is a Bag drop for people who have already checked in online or on the app which saves a good bit of time.      I left my dad in the long long line, and went to ahead to find a completely empty line right along side that said "Bag Drop". There is also a 1K/Polaris line - do don't wait in the long line.   So I went back for my dad and we walked past all the people in the long, long line and went to the bag drop line. The agent took our bags, checked out passports, asked the questions about batteries in luggage, etc, tagged our bags and sent us on our way.     So do this!     Would of been at least another hour in that long, long line,

 

Security is what it is.  If you have Priority written on your boarding pass, you can get in the shorter priority line. There is a agent there to help you do that.     Otherwise, it's the other line which said 10 to 15 minutes from where we got in line.  While in line, read the signs about about what you do and don't need to do.  You can keep your 3oz bag of liquids, electronics in your bag.  Keep your shoes on.  Take your jackets off, take your belt off, empty pockets and make sure your water bottle is empty.    The security agents are very nice - smiling and helpful.    But it saves time if you are prepared.   Security took us about 25 minutes. The line got longer from the middle somehow as we waiting - but more x-ray lines were being opened up as we were there.   I got my bag pulled for inspection and it was my pouch of jewelery that did it.   Not the pile of laptop, ipad, DSLR camera and two kindles!   I also got pulled to the side for a check as my zippers on m pockets showed up as something. 

 

Next is passport control.  This was a little crazy but really not too bad. about 20 minute wait.   There are two sections - one for all passports  with agents, and on for certain passports for Self - check. .USA passports are on this list - so we went there - and met a couple that has been on our ship (Quest  Dublin/Norway/Amsterdam) right in front of us.   It's been three days, and I didn't expect to see anyone from our cruise.     The self - check is a little  robot like machine that you put your passport on, then stand and get your photo taken, then the doors open.  Then you walk to an agent, who takes your passport and stamps it.    Easy for me, and the couple that we met.  But my dad got stopped by the same agent that did ours and asked him why he didn't have an entry stamp.  We were ready for that because of this board.    He said he came in on a cruise. She said,where did it go. Then he explained about it stopping in Dublin. Then she gave him back his passport without stamping it!    

 

Next is the long long walk to the gates.  We were D49 - and looking for the aspire lounge at 26,   Lots of shops and lots of walking, lots of signs,  and the people movers weren't working.   Turns out, we were in Terminal  1- we followed signs for 26 - but came up on the passport control for transferring passengers to Terminal 2 and 3 and didn't want to go through that. So found a place to settle.   1 hour 35 minutes after we arrived at the airport. 

 

NIce cup of tea, a pastry, bought some chocolate, used up some Euro coins in the massage machines and got to our gate just as they called for Group 1.    On the plane.    

 

The flight left on time!    Was pleasant!    And now we are in Chicago for an 8 hour layover.   Spending more time in Chicago today than in Amsterdam. We fly to Buffalo at 9:20pm and then have a 90 minute drive home.

 

We feel lucky to have gotten through okay.     So - check in before you arrive - you don't even have to show a boarding pass in the bag drop lane - they will give you a paper copy and check your passport.    Now - if you have any problems with online check in , need additional verification, or your name is tagged for some reason - you will have to stand in the long, long line.  It is not easy to find help - they need a united agent out in the line getting people into the right line. 

 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

On 8/2/2022 at 5:55 AM, norn iron said:

On a visit to the dentist yesterday we were comparing travel and airline difficulties.

Our AZ cruise in June had 5 flight amendments and delayed baggage for 5 days on the return leg.

 

My dentist returned home from Athens, via Amsterdam and her bags have not been returned/forwarded after two weeks. Her husband's and children's bags were received after three days.

She cannot claim on her insurance until the bags have been missing for three full weeks. 

 

I also heard on Saturday of a traveller from Belfast who had returned home via Heathrow and not received their bags for three days. In frustration he then booked a flight back to Heathrow were he approached the luggage desk and proved he could find his bags with the use of Apple AirTags which he had in his luggage.. He was escorted in the baggage area were he retrieved his bags and the rebooked them in for the return flight to Belfast and they made the Belfast bound flight.

Its a lot of effort to get your bags back. 

That insurance time lags is really a pain when it’s a mobility device, like a walker, that’s lost! 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

13 hours ago, uktog said:

If you are referring to my comment “travel is not for the faint hearted” I was only reusing a phrase used by a senior officer on my cruise last week. It’s not an insult it’s.a statement of fact! 

i understood it as one must persevere, not an insult.  I associate it with others phrases like growing old is not for sissies! 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

8 hours ago, PAtravelbug said:

Made the dreaded trip through the Amsterdam airport today.  If you are paying attention, you can take some time off the wait. We had an 11am flight to Chicago and arrived at the airport at 7am    It is confusing at first where to go - what number counter for your airlines as they are not immediately visable.  A man in a vest came and asked if we needed help, looked up on his phone and said #26.   Which was the long, long line for United check in.  Now, in some airports, in the states, like Washington, Dulles, there is a Bag drop for people who have already checked in online or on the app which saves a good bit of time.      I left my dad in the long long line, and went to ahead to find a completely empty line right along side that said "Bag Drop". There is also a 1K/Polaris line - do don't wait in the long line.   So I went back for my dad and we walked past all the people in the long, long line and went to the bag drop line. The agent took our bags, checked out passports, asked the questions about batteries in luggage, etc, tagged our bags and sent us on our way.     So do this!     Would of been at least another hour in that long, long line,

 

Security is what it is.  If you have Priority written on your boarding pass, you can get in the shorter priority line. There is a agent there to help you do that.     Otherwise, it's the other line which said 10 to 15 minutes from where we got in line.  While in line, read the signs about about what you do and don't need to do.  You can keep your 3oz bag of liquids, electronics in your bag.  Keep your shoes on.  Take your jackets off, take your belt off, empty pockets and make sure your water bottle is empty.    The security agents are very nice - smiling and helpful.    But it saves time if you are prepared.   Security took us about 25 minutes. The line got longer from the middle somehow as we waiting - but more x-ray lines were being opened up as we were there.   I got my bag pulled for inspection and it was my pouch of jewelery that did it.   Not the pile of laptop, ipad, DSLR camera and two kindles!   I also got pulled to the side for a check as my zippers on m pockets showed up as something. 

 

Next is passport control.  This was a little crazy but really not too bad. about 20 minute wait.   There are two sections - one for all passports  with agents, and on for certain passports for Self - check. .USA passports are on this list - so we went there - and met a couple that has been on our ship (Quest  Dublin/Norway/Amsterdam) right in front of us.   It's been three days, and I didn't expect to see anyone from our cruise.     The self - check is a little  robot like machine that you put your passport on, then stand and get your photo taken, then the doors open.  Then you walk to an agent, who takes your passport and stamps it.    Easy for me, and the couple that we met.  But my dad got stopped by the same agent that did ours and asked him why he didn't have an entry stamp.  We were ready for that because of this board.    He said he came in on a cruise. She said,where did it go. Then he explained about it stopping in Dublin. Then she gave him back his passport without stamping it!    

 

Next is the long long walk to the gates.  We were D49 - and looking for the aspire lounge at 26,   Lots of shops and lots of walking, lots of signs,  and the people movers weren't working.   Turns out, we were in Terminal  1- we followed signs for 26 - but came up on the passport control for transferring passengers to Terminal 2 and 3 and didn't want to go through that. So found a place to settle.   1 hour 35 minutes after we arrived at the airport. 

 

NIce cup of tea, a pastry, bought some chocolate, used up some Euro coins in the massage machines and got to our gate just as they called for Group 1.    On the plane.    

 

The flight left on time!    Was pleasant!    And now we are in Chicago for an 8 hour layover.   Spending more time in Chicago today than in Amsterdam. We fly to Buffalo at 9:20pm and then have a 90 minute drive home.

 

We feel lucky to have gotten through okay.     So - check in before you arrive - you don't even have to show a boarding pass in the bag drop lane - they will give you a paper copy and check your passport.    Now - if you have any problems with online check in , need additional verification, or your name is tagged for some reason - you will have to stand in the long, long line.  It is not easy to find help - they need a united agent out in the line getting people into the right line. 

 

 

Most of the times washington Dulles does have agents at the entrances!  It’s nice to see that elsewhere.  I’m one of those that cannot checkin on line!  I give them all the info, before which helps but I’m stuck with a ticket agent.  For what it is worth in Rome we were about 3rd in line and it took me 45 minutes at the business check in desk!  Fortunately there were plenty more. The problem was a new agent that didn’t know how to handle larger lithium batteries.  She called several times because the questions she ended to answer were stupid!  Finally, they sent someone to help her but there were still a few bumps.  
 

At the gate they wanted me to take the case of my iPad!  Yes, they checked carry ons again! 
 

Things were pretty smooth, but we didn’t have time for the lounge.

[Vivasea]

My son flew Manchester - Amsterdam - New York yesterday - He informed me it was no problem everything was easy.  He did arrive with one piece of luggage missing.  You have to take the good with the bad.

[d9704011]

3 minutes ago, Vivasea said:

My son flew Manchester - Amsterdam - New York yesterday - He informed me it was no problem everything was easy.  He did arrive with one piece of luggage missing.  You have to take the good with the bad.

Well, that's a pretty laid back view of things.  For me, I'd be a little upset to arrive at me destination sans luggage no matter how smooth the trip was.

[Host Jazzbeau]

2 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Well, that's a pretty laid back view of things.  For me, I'd be a little upset to arrive at me destination sans luggage no matter how smooth the trip was.

This year it’s necessary to reset expectations. 😀

[blag]

15 hours ago, PAtravelbug said:

Now, in some airports, in the states, like Washington, Dulles, there is a Bag drop for people who have already checked in online or on the app which saves a good bit of time.   I left my dad in the long long line, and went to ahead to find a completely empty line right along side that said "Bag Drop".

Don't rely on this.

Schiphol airport's web site says:

 

The following airlines offer self-service baggage drop-off at Schiphol: Aero Mexico, American Airlines, Austrian, Cathay Pacific, Corendon, Finnair, IcelandAir, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, TAP, Transavia & TUI. You can find the self-service baggage drop-off kiosks in the following departure halls:

• Departure 1: Austrian, Finnair, IcelandAir, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, TAP & Transavia
• Departure 2: KLM
• Departure 3: Aero Mexico, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Corendon & TUI

Are you flying with another airline? Or is online check-in not an option for you? Then you can of course go to the check-in desk of your airline to check in and drop off your baggage. At the check-in desk a representative will tag and process your bag for you.

[d9704011]

1 hour ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

This year it’s necessary to reset expectations. 😀

Sure.  Maybe the airlines can stop charging for checked luggage and passengers can cough up a few bucks at their destination depending upon what shows up on the baggage carousel.

[FlyerTalker]

2 hours ago, d9704011 said:

Sure.  Maybe the airlines can stop charging for checked luggage and passengers can cough up a few bucks at their destination depending upon what shows up on the baggage carousel.

 

You do know that you can get a refund of bag charges if the bags don't arrive with you?

[d9704011]

44 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

You do know that you can get a refund of bag charges if the bags don't arrive with you?

Didn't know that.  I'm one of the fortunate souls who hasn't had much opportunity to look into that.  I wonder whether Canadian air carriers do it?  Getting much of anything out of them for flight disruption, cancellation, delay etc.... can be a bit of a chore!

[PAtravelbug]

I am happy to report that we got all of out bags bag last night at 1am in Buffalo after one long day starting in Amsterdam     We did see PILES of luggage in Chicago near the re-check area - labeled for delivery - PILES.     and some didn't have labels yet - they were just piled all together in a mess.    And even last night, in Buffalo there was a lot of luggage on all of the carousels left long after everyone had picked up their bags from that particular flight.  

[avw]

You have all just firmed up my decision that I WILL only take carryon for my 4 week trip in September. No checked bags for me! I don't want anything to ruin the delightful time I expect to have on Pursuit. Thank goodness there are laundry facilities on Azamara.

[So Cal John]

Looking forward to catching up with you on Pursuit to compare baggage stories.  It sounds like arrivals in Amsterdam are getting better. And maybe by late September return trips back to the States that have connections in Europe will be better.  One would think so.