Thank you, slightly embarrassed I didn't locate it from there

Got a KLM trip coming up where I will be checking in bags for the first time in years.

Anyone got any experience of Schiphol transfers with checked bags of late?

Never had a problem in the past but I know the world is very different nowadays.

Just got back from AMS and the nightmares of early summer have very much returned. Found out the CEO quit yesterday. Over 1h45 to clear security and passport control, this wasn’t even the busiest time of day.

The other noticeable thing whether you pass through security or not is how many of the shops and catering outlets are closed. This left ridiculous queues at those which were open.

Was this a point to point flight or were you connecting in Amsterdam?

Did an East Africa - AMS - MAN and return in July with checked bag each way with no problem, but connection time was 2 / 3hours. I have had previous multiple experiences of a missing bag with the tighter 1 hour connections sometimes offered, so I avoid these where possible. The bag always showed up eventually, usually next day, but on one occasion it took 3 days.

Point to point. But like I say, once airside the problems and queues don’t end. Boarding was also chaotic and long-winded, carried out by one person who to be kind appeared inexperienced.

As a frequent flyer I am receiving regular email offers from KLM to fly here, there and everywhere from (or via) Amsterdam. They must be joking!!!

For the time being, avoid AMS at all costs!

An extract from DutchNews:

Schiphol airport is cutting passenger numbers by an average of 9,250 a day for the coming six weeks, as it grapples to cope with a shortage of security staff. The cut amounts to an 18% reduction in the number of travellers and has been made necessary because security companies ‘are supplying fewer security officials than pledged earlier’, the airport said. The measure will remain in place until at least October 31. The news comes a day after airport chief executive Dick Benschop said he was stepping down from the job. His resignation follows criticism of the way he had attempted to solve the staff shortages which have plagued Schiphol since May. Operational director Hanne Buis said the passenger number cuts were needed to guarantee both traveller and staff safety, but admitted it is ‘bad news for passengers and airlines’. KLM said the measure would have ‘far reaching consequences for our passengers, colleagues and Schiphol’s national and international reputation and that of KLM.’

Schiphol is clearly not in a good state right now.
To all the experts reading this.... do you think Schiphol will be usable like a normal airport once the winter season starts - ie from the first week of November, but excluding the period of 15Dec-10Jan ?

I’ve heard many stories about people showing up for flights between 3-4h early and still missing flights. To say it’s a mess is putting it lightly and glad that someone has taken responsibility.

I heard in mid summer they were averaging at around 14,000 misconnects and gate no shows every single day.

I seem to have gotten very lucky, early August arrived 4 hours early for a 10pm flight to no queues at all for bag drop or security, and only a few in front of me for immigration.

RE your second point there were no queues but the selection really was dire with over half closed. I wanted a nice meal and to read my book as I had 4 hours to kill but the choices were either McDonalds, a sandwich from the bread place that sued to be fishes or some highly overpriced pretty poor Asian food from a place out towards H pier. I chose the latter out of desperation.

Some, like azzbo, can be lucky. Like most airports it can all depend on the time of day and day of the week. There will always be periods of light traffic, but it's knowing when they are and if you can pick a flight at those times. I would say that Schiphol is arguably at its worst from early morning until mid afternoon. And again from late afternoon until early evening. The evening period is however nowhere near as bad as the morning.

One of my staff did a down and back to a birthday party in Milan yesterday. She was on the 8.00am KLM down to Milan and arrived 3hrs before, and only just made the flight, and obviously nothing checked in and very little hand baggage. She described it as horrendous. She is working from home this morning and is due in Munich later today and is thinking she may take the train !!
Cheers
Mr Mac

sad to see one of the worlds best airports reduced to this

FYI she decided to fly as train was 8hrs but it was only a couple of hours quicker so quite marginal. I’m avoiding the place at the moment I think until it gets it’s act in order.

Cheers
Mr Mac

I booked a trip during August for travel via AMS on 5th October hoping by then things would have improved!
I am already now dreading this particular trip as the next day I fly out to join a cruise.

I am on business in France so fly TLS-MAN via AMS on 5th October with a connection time of 3hrs 40mins in AMS.
I am preying to god all works out ok as the next morning at 610am I am on a TUI flight to Malta from MAN to join a Mediterranean cruise…

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022...s-as-lines-bui

Schiphol airport: Cancellations loom as airport imposes September and October passenger cap

Schiphol Airport has imposed a passenger cap for September and October after a horror summer of queues. - Copyright AFP
By Charlotte Elton with EBU • Updated: 21/09/2022Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport will restrict passenger numbers in September and October after struggling to recruit security staff.

The decision - which comes just days after the resignation of Schiphol CEO Dick Benschop - follows a summer of travel chaos and flight cancellations at the airport. Schiphol will reduce the maximum number of departing passengers by around 9,250 passengers, or 18 per cent, per day. The new daily cap will be 54,500 passengers per day in September and 57,000 per day in October.

"This decision first and foremost is bad news for passengers and for airlines," admitted Royal Schiphol Group COO, Hanne Buis. “Nevertheless, the decision taken is necessary with the safety of passengers and employees in mind."

Why is Schiphol Airport restricting flights?

The new restrictions are being imposed to cope with a security guard shortage. During July and August, employees received an extra of €5.25 allowance per hour. Now that the bonus period is over, staff are quitting in droves, claims union Joost van Doesburg, a representative for the Netherlands Trade Union confederation.

“Many staff came especially for this allowance," he said last week, as the airport struggled with mammoth queues. "The summer allowance has thus helped to cope with the summer problems but has not helped make the problems at Schiphol disappear in a sustainable way."

This latest exodus compounds existing staffing problems. Airlines and airports slashed jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult to quickly ramp back up to serve the new burst of travellers.