I will fly business class to South Africa, while travel partner will be in economy. During layovers at AMS (return from JNB requires layover of about 4 hours-plus) am I allowed to bring a guest to the Business-Class Lounge? KLM website seems to indicate that this is no longer possible. Can this be true?

Not sure if this is pertinent, but I am a member of Flying Blue (w/o elite status) with a decent amount of miles. Also have many Amex points. My ticket is not an award, or an upgrade.

Is there only one b.class lounge at Schipol?

I don't know any airline lounge where you could bring a guest for free if your only entitlement was that you were flying business class.

I flew economy my last trip to SA and was a guest of friends flying KLM business. Spent time at lounge at both OR Tambo and AMS.

But this was about 5 years ago. Wondering if the situation has changed.

But do you know that they didn't have status with the airline?

I am sure that you can bring an Economy guest in to the Qantas Business Class lounge so it happens. I think it depends on if there is enough room for all the other folks. Hubby and I are both business so I don't know exactly.

Thanks, Miss Green. To answer question above your post: I was brought as a guest of friends flying KLM; I had no status at that time.

...to continue: The friends that brought me neither had status not knew what that term even meant! They had purchased business tix and were able to bring a guest.

To answer your question about the number of KLM lounges at Schiphol, there are two, one on the Schengen side and one on the non-Schengen side. I would just stay on the non-Schengen side and use that one. I don't believe it's ever been official KLM policy to allow non-status business class passengers to bring guests.

A bit late replying but I was not allowed into the KLM lounge at Ams when I was accompanying DH on a business trip. He flew business class and I was cattle class and not allowed in.

Thanks, Hetismij. Bad news for my travel partner!

Does KLM/Flying Blue sell a day pass? Some Amex cards have a discount on a day pass for Delta, but probably wouldn't be good for KLM.

You might also check things like Priority Pass to see if they would give access at AMS.

http://www.prioritypass.com/

http://thepointsguy.com/2012/05/trav...rline-lounges/

Thanks, KY. I just checked and it appears that there IS a lounge at AMS but it is ore of a generic one, not the same one I would enter with my business ticket. But will present the idea to the travel partner. Thanks again.

Even the Amex Platinum card does not seem to be a guarantee, except at US airports.

You might find something on this thread helpful.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ta-flight.html

You might see if you can access the Servisair lounge (about 25€? - 3 hour time limit maybe). You might not want to do it, but maybe your friend could hang out there while you are in your lounge.

Schiphol is a great airport so it's not hard to find something to do. Bubbles, casino, internet cafe, museum, etc.

http://www.schiphol.nl/Travellers/Fo...jksmuseum1.htm

Quick update...non-status coach travel partner was able to use KLM lounges at both JFK and AMS.
He also was able to use points to buy a business upgrade once at the departure gate in JFK.