Changes in security at Schiphol

Old May 27th, 2015, 11:37 AM
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Changes in security at Schiphol

From next week all passengers leaving from Schiphol will go through security first, then through a body scanner and (according to an interview on Dutch TV at least!) then passport control. In any case security will no longer be done at the gate, for non Schengen flights.
The aim is to speed things up, save passengers having to sit in the goldfish-bowl at the gate waiting for boarding, and hopefully mean you can get to the airport a bit closer to your flight time.
Though not yet available they are also hoping to have machines soon that allow you can leave your liquids and electronics in your bag, further speeding things up. As it is there is plenty of room after the bags have been scanned to repack your bag safely.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 11:48 AM
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How travelling has changed since 9/11. It used to be a matter of rolling up to the gate and getting on the plane after a brief passport check. More and more elaborate security measures designed to frustrate a small minority of angry people bent on killing. Very sad.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 01:36 PM
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I actually kind of liked going through security at the gate. Somehow, a long security line feels stressful to me. A short line at my gate doesn't. The idea that all I needed to do was wait in a short passport control line then a short security line at the gate was very low-stress.

Two weeks ago, when flying out of Schiphol, I did experience something new: at the gate security check, all passengers were told to remove *ALL* electronics - including simple cables - from our carry-on bags! That was a first for me. It took me a while to do that, because I had tons of electronics and cables with me, and they weren't as well packed as on the way into Europe. The guy behind me had the same issue. Neither one of us complained, as we had plenty of extra time before departure, but I felt bad for the people behind us who had to wait for us.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 01:42 PM
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"but I felt bad for the people behind us who had to wait for us."

Who almost undoubtedly were wondering why some self-confessed electronics wizard wasn't prepared. Seriously, the security "requirements" sometimes seem to change almost hourly so I can fully understand why it may have taken you a while to fish stuff out of your luggage and that happens to lots of people.

BUT, there are some "givens" in security lines what people should both know about and be prepared for and yet some seem to still think "it is all about me" and to hell with the rest of you.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 01:50 PM
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I must confess: the fact that the guy behind me had the same trouble made me feel a lot better. We could share the blame. ;-)

And because we were all early (going through gate security an hour before boarding?), no one came close to missing the flight or anything...
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Old May 27th, 2015, 02:03 PM
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I wonder the return to US is included in this change. The TSA seems to insist on its own unique security check. I just went through AMS departure fish bowls twice this month. The only facilities inside was a toilet. Not even a water drinking fountain, not enough seats for the size of the airplanes, and different security procedures depending on different non Schengen destinations.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 02:07 PM
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Last year we were bit befuddled by security by the gate at AMS. It was a bit chaotic and crowded.

In Dublin we had to go three hours before departure, but we were cleared for US customs when we arrived at JFK and we thought an hour well spent.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 06:48 PM
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I wonder the return to US is included in this change. The TSA seems to insist on its own unique security check.

Are you referring to the gate interview when returning to the US on US flag carriers? I haven't been through AMS recently and was wondering if they still do this and if so, how this is going to be handled going forward.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 06:58 PM
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They did the interviews two weeks ago when I passed through. They are, as always, pretty useless ("Did you pack your own bags?" "Have they been with you at all times?" etc.).
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:00 PM
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I agree with Andrew, I sometimes fly through Schiphol just because it feels easier/less stressful to go through security at the gate. That way it seems you won't actually miss your connecting flight: If you're stuck in a big huge line at security with the rest of the people at the airport, your flight can/will/of course will leave without you if you're delayed. If you can go straight to your gate and report in, then go through security, so much better! I am sad to hear they are apparently ending this approach.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 11:56 PM
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I too have had to remove all electronics from my carry-on, and unpack my camera bag so all the lenses went through separately. Given the value of those items I pointed out they were handling €1000 pieces of glass and please respect that. They were annoyed with me not having taken it all out - this was in the Schengen queue btw.

It is all supposed to be better from next week. There will be five security points with intelligent scanning - everything will be automatically scanned and only suspect bags will be syphoned off for further checks. Each security point has several bands as I understand it, and the queues are supposed to be minimal. The peak flying season will soon be upon us so it will be interesting to see if it works.

Last year flying to the US via LHR we were never interviewed or subject to special searches at either AMS or LHR, which I was surprised about.

Sadly my next trip through AMS won't be until the end of August when we fly to East Midlands for a wedding. Cheaper to fly and hire a car for a couple of days than to drive and take the ferry. I wish I could say I was jetting off somewhere more exciting!
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Old Jun 3rd, 2015, 04:51 AM
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Here is a video explaining the new security system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmm1pNssf6Q

Transferring passengers, from EU countries, or the US/Canada/Australia no longer have to go through security again at Schiphol.
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