Does your journey begin when you arrive at your destination—or the moment you close your front door? For me, the journey begins the moment I spot the control tower at Schiphol Airport and roll into the bustling departure hall.
I eagerly await the moment we are checked in, past customs and can relax in the airport lounge. I even prefer to go to Schiphol earlier to enjoy the lounge to be honest. When you have access to an airport lounge, your trip starts so relaxed. Besides, a lounge is the perfect place to get some work done.
As icing on the cake, many lounges also serve delicious food. The KLM Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport is a good example of a lounge where you can have a great time.
KLM Lounge Access
- Flying Blue lounge access
Do you fly with a SkyTeam partner (e.g. KLM, Delta, etc) and have a gold or platinum status at Skyteam or Flying Blue? Then you may enter the lounge for free. - Business Class ticket with lounge access
Have you booked a Business Class ticket with KLM or another SkyTeam partner? Then you may also enter this lounge for free. - Buy KLM Crown Lounge access
No status and no business class ticket? Then you can pay for access. Entry to this lounge costs €65. If you are a Flying Blue member, you get a discount (10% for Explorer, 25% for Silver). At first glance, this may seem like a lot. But if you have a layover and need to kill a few hours, you’d likely spend just as much on food and drinks elsewhere at Schiphol. Besides, you can have a nice shower and unlimited food and drinks here.
KLM Crown Lounge non Schengen
Although KLM Crown Lounge 52 (non-Schengen) has been around for some time, it was completely modernized in 2018. It is a beautiful, modern lounge with several seating areas and a small outdoor area. With two large dining areas, a bar, a restaurant, and an upstairs bar, the lounge is spacious.
I have been to this lounge several times now, and Unfortunately, my recent visits have felt less impressive compared to earlier experiences. This is mainly due to the fact that airport lounges are becoming increasingly popular (I can well imagine), so the lounge can be extremely busy. This is at the expense of the serene, calm atmosphere that I could really appreciate.
Food and drink
The food in the KLM Crown Lounge 52 is usually good! Depending on when you are in the lounge, the selection changes, as is usual in airport lounges. The presentation of the food is very neat. You also regularly see in airport lounges that the sandwiches are in plastic containers and the ready-made desserts are piled up in the refrigerator. That’s definitely not the case here
In the Crown Lounge you will find an extensive salad bar (I’m a fan) with fresh and healthy produce. You’ll find bowls of yogurt, fresh bread, and a variety of hot dishes such as pasta, potatoes, and rice.
There are many healthy, vegetarian options available such as quinoa, grilled vegetables and raw vegetables. Would you rather go for pancakes with maple syrup, waffles with chocolate, cookies or muffins? Even then you can fill your plate here.
The KLM Crown Lounge stands out for how it serves drinks—there are no plastic bottles for soft drinks or water, but dispensers. This saves an awful lot of plastic so they do that very well. You can fill your own bottle here or use mugs or glasses. The choice is vast and the coffee is very good. At the bar you can order a wine or beer with some nuts.
Internet
For the working traveler, it is good to know that internet in the lounge is fine. While the WiFi may not be as fast as your own 5G, I have always been able to work just fine on this. If you need assistance with anything there are plenty of friendly flight attendants who are happy to assist you.
Shower and toilet
You can take a refreshing shower in the KLM Crown Lounge 52. The showers here are neat. They are clean, spacious and equipped with a sanitary kit. Plus point: you can soap yourself with the Rituals Amsterdam Collection, always a perk (it smells so good)!
You simply reserve the showers through the kiosk in the lounge. Do this on time, as there is limited availability on busy days. The toilets in the lounge are also neat. Spacious, clean and it always smells nice and fresh.
Lounge Schiphol: frequently asked questions
How do you gain access to the KLM Lounge?
You gain access to the KLM lounge through a number of ways. You can gain access to the lounge by achieving status with Flying Blue, by booking a Business Class ticket (make sure lounge access is included in the ticket) and in some cases you can gain access to the lounge by paying.
Getting access by paying is, in my opinion, not very interesting if you travel more often and want to enter lounges more often. Also, you cannot enter all airport lounges by paying. Using Loungebuddy, you can easily check if the lounge you want to visit offers access by paying.
The most convenient way to access the KLM lounge is by earning Flying Blue status. Priority Pass also gives you access to 1,400 lounges worldwide. Priority Pass is free with an American Express card. Read here how to earn points with an American Express credit card and what benefits this offers (e.g. free lounge access and cheap flying). Or purchase your AMEX card at a discount here.
How much does lounge Schiphol cost?
If you do not fly Business Class and do not have gold or platinum status with Flying Blue, you can pay for lounge access. Access to the KLM Crown Lounge costs 65. Flying Blue Silver members get 25% discount, Flying Blue Explorer members 10%.
What can you do in the KLM lounge?
Relax and unwind while waiting to board your (next) flight. In addition, you can work here, have a bite to eat, a cup of coffee or a drink. You can also shower, have access to clean toilets and decent WiFi to download series for during your next flight.
Do you have lounge access with Sky Priority?
Sky Priority does not automatically grant you lounge access. When you book a Business or First Class ticket, you automatically get Sky Priority. This also applies if you are a Gold or Platinum Flying Blue member. You will then automatically receive Sky Priority and lounge access.
What is Sky Priority
Sky Priority is a service offered by the SkyTeam Alliance. Sky Priority gives you priority boarding, allowing you to enter the plane first. So you don’t have to stand in line so you can board at your leisure as soon as the gate opens. In addition, you always have enough room to store your hand luggage.
How to know if you have Sky Priority
This is listed on your ticket.
