Schiphol airport lounge?

[mindymindy]

We’ve got a 5 hour transfer at Schiphol in August, has anyone used one of their lounges? My 3 children are 14, 12 and 7, so wouldn’t run riot amongst the businesses travellers! We’ve never used a lounge before, would anyone recommend it, and if so which one? (and any tips for the cheapest way to access it!). Any tips gratefully received, thank you.

I have access to the KLM Air France Crown Lounge at Schiphol through their loyalty program (and live here so I see it often enough). I don't know it's fine, free stuff and a little bit more quiet than the rest of the airport. Problem with Schiphol is that you often have to walk a really long time to get to your gate so I've never really spent long hours there.

I think it's another lounge though that you can pay to get into though and I think there's discounts if you check with your credit card company but my experience of those elsewhere in the world is that they're quite basic compared to the dedicated airline ones.

What I'd also look at is Yotel, it's a hotel inside of the airport, by the gates and past security so no need to go through back and forth through customs. They do day rates especially for transit customers like you and I think have family rooms (although rooms are on the small side). No free drinks and snacks but it might be nice to have a bit of private space, have a nap and a shower.

Don’t worry about children in the lounge, we took my toddler and he was a delight. The staff couldn’t do enough to help, they showed him to the best view of the planes. I don’t know much about Schiphol but following with interest.

Sorry, just to add, iirc the Privium lounges at Schiphol don't allow children (under 12 I think), don't know if that's still policy but check just in case. The rest of the airport is a lot more child friendly though, there's dedicated play areas, a library and I think there's often special activities available, just check the Schiphol website.

Botemp, that’s really helpful - insider knowledge, thank you! And PurBal, that’s reassuring too - I did wonder if it wasn’t the done thing to take children in.

If you are flying into Schipol from outside the EU we hit big queues at passport control last month. I would factor that into the cost/benefit if you have to pay quite a bit for access for five and as a PP said it can be a 30 min walk to gate. Conversely coming back it was a very short queue.

I was in Schipol last week and I don't think I'd bother for 5 hours. By the time you've had a wander around the shops, something to eat and everyones stared at their respective screens for a bit you'll need to be at your gate (which is 45 miles away).

Privium lounges are for Privium members only, you won't be able to access them. KLM Crown lounge used to be OK before covid and I used it once after Covid - it was shit and I had to pay €35 for it.
I also second everyone else - it's not really worth paying for it for 5hrs. Have a look around the shops, something to eat and you'll be fine. There are quiet areas and you can shower at Yotel if you need to.

This is my most favourite airport ever, although it has been around 20 years since I last went. I can only imagine it's got more amazing over the years, can anyone confirm?

I have been to the klm one. It’s nice enough if you get it for free but I don’t think I would bother paying. Go to a couple of different food/drink places, look rounds the shops, you should be able to find seating to sit read/ watch iPad etc

I was coming on to echo @EwwSprouts experience. I’ve never used it when there wasn’t a huge queue for passport control. It’s a big airport so by the time you’ve done that, mooched, eaten something and looked at the shops and then hiked to your gate you won’t have time for a lounge.

I wouldn't pay for a lounge when it is such a cool airport with lots of room to stretch your legs, even if the passport queues are awful. I always like the museum there

I go to them a lot travelling with work. Was in the one for departures to Schengen counties on Monday this week. It’s fine but it’s often busy and it’s nothing spectacular. When it’s free of course I would go for drinks/food and a comfy seat (or occasionally a shower) but it’s pretty boring really. No issue taking kids (my then 5/8 year olds went with me to both the lounges there last year and we sat and played cards/ate). They enjoyed it for an hour or two but I think being there 3-4 hours would be pretty boring. I’d pay to go to the decent AF ones in Paris. You can get a mini facial with at the Clarins spa and the food is always nice. Had some lovely bread/cheese and nice fresh fruit there today. Also I love a Buck’s Fizz and they always have decent champagne and fresh orange juice. I don’t know if you can pay to use it though

I hadn’t thought about being outside the EU 😱good tip about the queuing!

Thanks everyone, that’s been very helpful - I’ve just read out all the comments to DH and we’re definitely just going to wing it! Sounds like it’ll be more fun outside the lounge, we’ll go free-range round the airport instead. Thank you all, I’ll report back after our trip!

We transited Schiphol today. Never again. The queue for passport control was enormous - at least a three hour wait. We had a short connection and managed to queue jump. Made the flight by the skin of our teeth. It was chaos and the staff didn’t give a shit - one just said to me “Ja, you won’t catch your flight, not enough time.” We’re still waiting for our luggage which allegedly arrived on this afternoon’s flight but still no sign of it. We’re only here for a short break!

I will second big queues when you arrive at Schipol. We were held back at the top of the escalator for about 15 minutes before we could go down towards passport control. That is arrivals though.

I also couldn't locate a lounge that you could access if you weren't within the EU.

Interestingly the queue at passport control from Schengen to non-Schengen was non-existent when we transited back, and if you are going to non-Schengen and the automatic passport gates are working, Brits can use them.

That’s good to hear, I was starting to feel a bit anxious about passport control with 3 Smalls! However, as we’re travelling in August, I’m anticipating the worst (and anything else will be a bonus!). Definitely not going to book a lounge after reading all your comments, sounds like we’ll find plenty to do at the airport, even if we aren’t hanging out in the queue for 3 hours!

You can’t use the automatic gates with under 16’s