Travelers who come to Schiphol extra early because they are afraid of missing their flight due to the crowds, will not be able to enter the departure hall for the time being. Only passengers who arrive at least four hours in advance will be allowed access to the terminal. Starting tomorrow, Schiphol will introduce special walking routes to prevent travelers who arrived extra early from queuing up.
From tomorrow, anyone who is earlier than four hours before the flight departure will be stopped at Schiphol Plaza. The airport wants to prevent slipping in by directing all travelers to Plaza first to check if they are too early.
According to Schiphol, far too many travelers still arrive extra early for their flights to the airport every day. “It is no exception that there are people who come to Schiphol six to seven hours in advance. These are travelers who stand in line with others who are present four hours before their flight,” said a spokesperson. “There are even people who come the night before and sleep on a bench, but those are excesses.”
Stopped at Plaza
Those who are dropped off at the Kiss & Ride in front of the departure halls are still led one floor down to Schiphol Plaza via a special walking route. After the check, you can either proceed to the departure hall on the first floor or the person will be stopped up to four hours before the flight.
Picking up travelers at the Kiss & Ride location is no longer allowed. Motorists who want to pick up a passenger there are turned away. Schiphol calls on travelers to use public transport as much as possible.
Goodbye is still allowed
It is still possible to wave goodbye in the terminal, but it must also be possible to demonstrate that this is not earlier than four hours before the flight. The new measure will also have no consequences for collectors in the arrivals hall.
According to a Schiphol spokesperson, the measure is a test to see whether the flow of the long queues will improve. In addition, the airport calls for lightly packed travel: “They do this by putting their hand luggage in the checked baggage or by traveling with a maximum of one piece of hand baggage”.