A smooth day of flying is mostly decided before you reach the gate: when you leave home, what you have in your bag, and whether you know the order of things inside the terminal. This guide walks through a Schiphol travel day from start to finish, with links to our detailed guides for each step.
The evening before
Check in online if your airline offers it and save your boarding pass. Weigh your bag at home; airline limits are enforced at the belt, and repacking at the check-in desk is nobody’s favourite start to a holiday. Have a look at the live departures board in the evening: it will not predict tomorrow, but you will see how your flight number appears and where to find it in the morning. Lay out your travel documents. For flights outside the Schengen area, check your passport validity for your destination now, not at the airport.
When to leave home
Work backwards from your departure time: the airline’s advised arrival time at the airport, plus your journey, plus a margin for the unexpected. How you travel shapes that margin. The train stops directly under the terminal and is largely immune to traffic; see getting to Schiphol by train. Coming by car, add time for parking and the walk or shuttle from the car park, covered in the parking guide. Buses and taxis have their own trade-offs, described in the bus and taxi guide.
Arriving in the terminal: check-in and bag drop
Schiphol has one terminal with connected departure halls. Which hall you need depends on your airline; it is printed on your booking confirmation and shown on the boards inside. With online check-in and hand baggage only, you can often walk straight to security. Otherwise, find your airline’s desks or the self service bag drop machines. Our guide to the departure halls explains the layout.
Security, and what to have ready
Security is the step people worry about most and the one where preparation pays off best. The rules for liquids and electronics, what stays in your bag and what must come out, and how the queues work are covered in the security guide. The short version: boarding pass ready, pockets empty, liquids within the rules, and follow the instructions of the officers rather than the habits of other passengers.
After security: your time, your terminal
Once through, the pressure drops. Flying within Schengen, you walk directly toward your gate. Flying outside Schengen, passport control comes first; see the passport control guide. The time that remains is yours: shops, restaurants and quiet corners are mapped in the food and shops guide, and paid waiting comfort in the lounges guide. Keep an eye on the screens: gates at Schiphol can be a long walk, and boarding closes before departure time, not at it.
Travelling with more than a suitcase
Flying with children changes the rhythm of a travel day; the children guide covers prams, family lanes and keeping small travellers occupied. If you or a companion need support getting through the airport, that is a right, not a favour: read the assistance overview and arrange it at least 48 hours ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I be at Schiphol?
Follow your airline’s advice for your specific flight; it differs between Schengen and intercontinental departures. Add your own margin on top during school holidays and at peak morning hours.
Where do I see my gate?
On the screens in the terminal and on the departures board. Gates can change; check again after security.
What if I am running late?
Go straight to your airline’s desk or a staff member and say so. Airlines have procedures for late passengers, but they only work if you make yourself known instead of queueing in silence.
This website is an independent information site about Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and is not affiliated with the airport or any airline.