Good to know!
Are you planning a flight for the summer holidays? There’s a good chance that the airport will be quite busy. With these tips you can avoid the crowds as much as possible!
Summer crowds
If you are going to fly during the school holidays, you probably already take this into account; long lines at check-in, delays and enormous crowds at the airport. Not exactly a relaxing start to your holiday. We have the tips to avoid the summer crowds at the airport as much as possible.
Outside of the weekend
According to Aviclaim, Monday, Friday and Saturday are the busiest days at Schiphol. Tuesdays or Wednesdays are often the quietest days. You can check in advance on Schiphol’s website how busy it is expected to be on the day you fly.
Check in online
Probably the most waiting time is during check-in and security. It is therefore useful to check in online in advance. This way you already have your boarding pass and you don’t have to stand in line for long. If you are traveling with large luggage, it can also be beneficial to check in online. They often have a separate ‘drop-off’ line at the airport for travelers who have already checked in, but only need to drop off their luggage. So handy!
Reserve a time slot
This tip does not apply to every airport, but it is possible at Schiphol! You can reserve a time slot here for the security check. This way you don’t have to stand in line for long and you will always be on time. And the great thing is, booking a time slot doesn’t cost you anything. It is of course important that you actually arrive at security at the agreed time.
Different airport
Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in Europe because it is an important transfer airport; many passengers transfer here to another flight. If you really don’t feel like dealing with long lines, you can choose to fly from another airport, such as Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen or even from Germany: Weeze, Bremen or Düsseldorf.
Favorable flight times
Of course, there are also flight times that can be favorable. For example, it is often quietest very early in the morning (between 04:00 and 06:00) or very late in the evening (between 22:00 and 24:00). Either way, you’ll have a short night, but you won’t have to wait long. It is important to bring enough food and drinks, because the shops at the airport are closed around these times.
Book a hotel
Do you have an early flight ahead of you? Or do you just want to start your holiday relaxed? Then treat yourself to a hotel near the airport. Hotel NH Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is ideal for this. The hotel is located right next to the airport and offers a free shuttle bus to the airport. A bus runs to and from Schiphol every half hour. You will be in the departure hall within seven minutes. Luxury!
Image: NH Hotels
Not unimportant: the hotel has wonderfully spacious and bright rooms with comfortable beds. We recommend that you arrive a little earlier so that you can enjoy the delicious food in the a la carte restaurant The Greenhouse. Want to start a long journey with a good breakfast? Then you’ve come to the right place! You can also opt for breakfast to go, so you can be sure of catching your flight.
To really relax and board the plane, you even have the option of getting some exercise or relaxation in the hotel’s own sports and wellness center at Hotel NH Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
That’s a nice start to your summer holiday!
Source: Aviclaim, Vliegtickets.com, NH Hotels | Header image: Adobe Stock
