What are Schiphol queues like these days?

[Howardh]

Last year things really were appalling, "six hours of queues" for security etc. Looking at the Schiphol webpage where it gives information r/e security queues for specific flights (helpful!) currently 10-15 mins for flights to the UK. Is that true, can I believe their webpage?? Does anyone have recent experience as I fancy a short trip there this summer?

Also, after security, where do you get your passport stamped and are there long queues for that??

Thanks!

 

[dosxuk]

Also, after security, where do you get your passport stamped and are there long queues for that??

Straight after you pass the scanners you go through the passport gates then you are directed to a desk for your stamp. You then exit into the departure lounge area. Then there's just the long long walk round to the gates used for UK flights, which seem like they're half the way over to Norfolk...

 

[Howardh]

Straight after you pass the scanners you go through the passport gates then you are directed to a desk for your stamp. You then exit into the departure lounge area. Then there's just the long long walk round to the gates used for UK flights, which seem like they're half the way over to Norfolk...

Thanks, that sounds better than Malaga where you go through security, then you are in departures until your gate is called then you have to go through passports, risking missing your plane if there's a long queue (and sometimes there is).

N/B about Malaga, it's possible to "guess" your gate, non-Schengen departures seem to go from "B" or "C" so you can clear passport, go and wait in the cafe afterwards, and if you are in "C" and your gate is "B" you just go from one to the other (no doors/controls to clear). However that risks your plane actually leaving from "A" - highly unlikely if you're travelling to the UK, chances are if you were you'd be bussed form B or C.

Ibiza - you actually get your stamp before going through security. It is possible to go down the "wrong lane" and miss the stamp, but it is clearly marked with lot's of UK flags pointing you in the right direction.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks, that sounds better than Malaga where you go through security, then you are in departures until your gate is called then you have to go through passports, risking missing your plane if there's a long queue (and sometimes there is).

In Schiphol's case it helps that most of the airport is non-Schengen. At smaller European airports where non-Schengen is basically just the UK the Malaga arrangement is more usual.

Schiphol, unusually, used to be the other way round - passport control on entry, security at the gate, because it didn't separate incoming and outgoing passengers.

 

[Howardh]

In Schiphol's case it helps that most of the airport is non-Schengen. At smaller European airports where non-Schengen is basically just the UK the Malaga arrangement is more usual.

Schiphol, unusually, used to be the other way round - passport control on entry, security at the gate, because it didn't separate incoming and outgoing passengers.

Also could be said the reverse is true, where Ibiza is concerned the flights are either to the UK or to Schengen (it's not an international hub like Schiphol) so any queues are just likely to be British flights in/out so the others can be discarded.

Whether or not profiling/biometrics makes the situation easier or worse remains to be seen, but I for one will be avoiding international travel for at least six months while it settles down, maybe 12 because it's all being brought in (possibly) November 2024 so we won't know the situation until the summer unfolds.

Will affect Eurostar too; and the coaches/cars going through Dover. Watch this space!!