We had a lengthy layover in Amsterdam, as we were arriving from Abu Dhabi at around 6:30AM, and were departing to New York at 1:25PM. I was happy to have some time to get caught up on work between flights, and also to check out KLM’s new Crown Lounge at Schipol Airport.
Continue reading: Review: KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
KLM always has some good South Africa wines in the lounges, constantly changing!
Small typo: "Anyway, open landing we followed the signage in the direction". Think you meant "upon" landing. Nice review! Thanks!
The lounge may be new, but a couple of the chairs are not, in particular the chairs in the first photo following your sentence: "There are plenty of alternative seating options as well, though — I’ll let the pictures of those speak mostly for themselves. "
I have a photo of my husband napping in one of those quirky red wingback chairs when we transited Amsterdam in 2011
Next time you hear the beep, think of all the fun you could be having on Supermarket Sweep!
Review of the new showers would be nice.
I get what you are posting but this seems a bit funny.
Much like in Delta SkyClubs, they don’t use real silverware or plates.
Then the picture right below that caption shows 'real' silverware and plates.
Regarding the chocolate sprinkles--keep in mind that hagelslag are a very common Dutch food. The classic ones are made of much higher quality (i.e., real) chocolate than American sprinkles, and they are available in a wide variety of flavors. Hagelslag is often eaten on a buttered slice of bread.
Did you notice the tiles on the back wall of the first floor are like the ones they used for KLM's security video? 🙂
I was there last week. The transit security now does have a priority queue. So I got through quickly. Loved the gin houses at the lounge!
The lounge is only half complete. The current four showers are actually not in the lounge but at the airport hotel 50 meters outside the lounge. They are nice but limited. Upon completion the KLM lounge will have a ton of showers, I forgot the number but it was between 12-20. There is an outside deck on the second floor as well for good plane photos. The paid restaurant has very nice rooms for meetings/discussions and is very nicely appointed. They could use more food offerings, like Delta’s soups, but what they have is very health oriented.
Did you miss the section that has some hot dishes? In the morning they have bacon and other breakfast food.
The Dutch are unabashed racists. It doesn't surprise me you heard the n-word dropped in this lounge.
The n word playing in a business class lounge is absurdly trashy. No one needs to hear swearing music in a lounge. It should be soothing music, jazz, classical, etc.
I'm not someone that says we can't corrupt our kids lol, but it is just silly to be playing rap music in a lounge, and then letting it go uncensored on top of that.
Looks like a nice lounge though besides that. Which is good, because I think AMS airport is a dump.
I was there a week ago. Couple of things...
1. They have a hot selection of freshly made eggs, omelet, pancakes, bacon, etc. As well as several kinds of juices, breads and pastries. They did have real silverware.
2. Near the bathrooms, you have lockers which can be used to store your luggage while you roam the lounge. I find that to be really convenient.
3. They have a smoking lounge within the lounge. Right outside of it, there were several seats not being used. Not sure if people were not aware of the space.
4. Finally, not sure anyone would need it, but they had a couple of macs and printers (to the side of the smoking lounge), should you need it.
@Joe Chivas
Not really justified to call a whole population racist...
Especially due to the diversity in Dutch cities
@Stephan
Agree completely. But these decisions for music have nothing to do with the preferences of lounge users, based on actual demographics...but rather the preferences of the bratty self-absorbed “consultants” used on these projects. Borderline moronic, but they seem to be able to convince the decision makers that high-end travelers really want to hear Kanye West ( similar to the way they convinced Marriott that desks are no longer required in rooms because guests don’t want/use them).
I frequently use this lounge and I leave conflicted every time. On one hand I love the design and the ton of natural light that comes in especially on the second floor. On the other hand the buffet is so limited and breakfast items are still on display at 4:00PM which just seems so weird every time. The current showers that they offer are meh but the new showers are rumored to be quite good. Also the point that KLM let’s you pay for so many things once the lounge will be fully operational still amazes me and I don’t know why. At least when you let your passengers pay extra make sure they can use their miles instead of cash only.
I've been through that lounge countless times but only on seeing your pictures now am I once again reminded what an over-designed mess it is. My eyes hurt just looking at them.
Bottom line, DL need to get their own stinking lounge at AMS instead of mooching off KL. Only then will the congestion ease. Upto 16 long-haul flights a day and you don't have your own lounge, what a joke!
I believe there will be 30 showers
The red seats are new Just because they had similar seats in 2011, doesn’t mean they are the same
@ joe chivas your comment sums up the clown you seem to be as the people using the n-word has n rap lyrics are almost always black. You often hear black “comedians” using the words.
To add, they should have jazz or classical in the background as rap is entirely inappropriate and horrible anyhow
I believe they are going to have live performances at some point
Mostly when I am in the KLM lounges it is crowded. My hunch is not so much because of KLM/AF elites but mostly because of the Delta flyers. With so many flights a day one would wonder why Delta does not have its own lounge at Schiphol.
Nothing surprising. KL is pretty mediocre overall and the lounge reaffirms this obvi.
@gabe it’s far from mediocre. Each to their own. Some will never be pleased whatever improvements are made. The final phase opens later and believe it will include rest areas and over 30 shower suites
It’s better than most crappy American clubs which by definition are mostly only accessible upon payment of fees
They have a simulated kitchen station in the far corner, where people in chef hats serve the same catered food as in lounge 25 (=KLM Schengen). I managed to hit both lounges the same morning (DL NWS fault) and confirmed what I suspected. The lockers are cool, and I liked the upstairs bar - if only they had something worth drinking; I'll have to try the coffee.
In the last 6 years I've visited the CRL in AMS more than half a dozen times, in the morning on about 2.5 hrs connection. Not ONCE I was able to take a shower, the place is just too big and overcrowded.
Hi, I was at the lounge one day before you and I have some remarks on what you said:
>The lounge got really, really, really busy; this is a hub lounge that all SkyTeam business class and Elite Plus passengers have access to, so that isn’t a surprise, though fortunately when the lounge is fully operational it will be 70,000+ square feet
When I was there (bit later than you at around 8am) it was not extremely busy and it was easy to find a seat. The areas directly behind the escalator are more busy, so just walk a bit further. And yes, should only get better I guess.
>Because of how big the lounge is, service isn’t at all attentive, but rather the staff are constantly running around clearing plates and glasses as fast as possible, as they can barely keep up
Service was still pretty good, I thought. Alternatively you can get drinks at the bar, most are free, except for some premium drinks (which were pretty pricy actually).
>Despite the lounge being full, the wifi was lightning-fast
I use mobile data nearly everywhere I go, but this is also extremely fast (180 Mbps or so when I tested). There are antennas for the 3 big mobile networks in the lounge.
>The lounge has some really unconventional music playing; for example, they had rap music playing, including many lyrics that had the “n-word,” which you probably wouldn’t hear in the US
When I was there one day before you, they were playing lo-fi type lounge music. Sure you weren't listening to someone's private music playing? Could have been that someone hijacked their sound system maybe? I've been in this lounge for a couple of times and never heard weird music.
>Something about lines for security to go to the US
If you fly directly from Amsterdam you don't have to go through extra security. You used(!) to have to go to an extra "check point" when flying Delta into the US, which made entering in the US itself easier. They got rid of that at some point recently though.
Btw, the lockers are super practical. Just put your stuff in there, protect with your own pin code, get it back later.
Finally, yes, they use wooden cutlery and paper plates of good quality. No single use plastics, really good!
KLM is such a weird contradiction. In many respects it is a glorified low-cost carrier. They are so cheap. Even the wine now is cheap. Up to just a couple of years ago, they served real champagne in the lounge. Now it's some $8 sparkling wine (cava) from Spain. The food is pretty industrial, too. I would much rather fly Air France.
'Much like in Delta SkyClubs, they don’t use real silverware or plates.'
I don't understand this comment when several of your photos show the 'real' silverware and plates.
I visited this lounge in Nov of last year.
1. Wine and Bubbles have gone downhill
2. Still have only European Electrical Outlets, not universal, and not enough of them.
3. Stairs all over the place...while I appreciate the aesthetic, a pain with your carry-on!
The old lounge at least had ramps.............
So many negative comments by (it seems) American travellers, who think they've already entered the US.
The buffet breakfast is Dutch/European. The electricity outlets are European. That's where the lounge is... Amsterdam.
The free alcohol is low quality or expensive? At breakfast time? Really!
It's a "good" lounge. Not to everyone's taste, plus and minuses, But it is an airport lounge, not a 5* hotel. It's an added extra (as not everyone flying/connecting will have the time to use it). And compare it to the "self loading cargo" in Economy waiting at the gate!
I used this lounge a couple of weeks ago. I feel its a disaster compared to the previous one. There, there were power points between every two seats. Here, there are very few. In the old lounge spirits were free, now, you pay.
I don't expect to pay for business class then pay in the lounge.
Did anyone visit this lounge recently?
What's the status of the renovation/construction?
When will they be done?
Are the sleeping pods operational?
How long in advance can they be reserved? what's the process to do so?
Thanks!
I don’t understand why they have to play music in the lounge at all. Most lounges I have been in - not a huge number, it’s true, but I’m just saying - are quiet, and anyway everyone has the stuff they might want to listen to on PEDs; and (some) people may want to work, read, doze... without distraction. However ‘tasteful’, ‘easy’ or ‘soothing’ (or not) Turn It Off. Please.
Does anyone know the name of the black taffy candy that is in the Amsterdam lounge? The taffy is individually wrapped and found in bowls in the lounge. Best taffy candy I have ever had and would love to purchase some.