Non-rev at AMS is very different from what is described in the TravelNet PASSRIDER 2013 document. Construction at AMS is ongoing and Delta has turned check-in and boarding over to KLM. This has a number of effects on non-revving at AMS.
My wife and I non-revved AMS –JFK on 9/21/15 and this is a report of what we encountered, how it worked (surprisingly smoothly) and what answers we got to questions we asked.
There are also a number of open items and it would be beneficial if others who non-rev through AMS post additional information in this thread.
A further caveat – we’re parents of an employee and do not have direct access to TravelNet. Our son and his wife, both employees, are happy to make themselves available to check TravelNet, relist us if needed and help in any way they can. We, in turn, try not to be a PITA. We’ve evolved a system where we share an Excel spreadsheet that they update with current information as needed.
Here’s how the non-rev process at AMS works as of this date:
I received an email “It’s Time To Check-in” at T-24. That email contained the following as well as a link to delta.com:
Quote:
Your flight on Monday, September 21 is available for check-in.
Ready for your upcoming flight? Save time and check in online now whether you are traveling with or without baggage. And don't worry about reconfirming your flights-you're all set!
Passengers departing from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) to the United States will report to a new Pre-Departure Center (PDC) for required security screening at either gate D1 or E4. Gate information displayed on your boarding pass will direct you to your designated PDC. Delta One™ passengers may report to the KLM Crown Lounge for access to expedited security checks. Following the security checks, you will receive a receipt indicating your flight's departure gate.
The Link to the advisory displays the following:Quote:
Advisory
Beginning May 13, 2015, passengers departing from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) to the United States will report to a new Pre-Departure Center (PDC) for required security screening at either gate D1 or E4. Gate information displayed on your boarding pass will direct you to your designated PDC. Following the screening process, you will receive a receipt indicating your flight's departure gate.
Additionally, starting June 3, 2015, passport control will be located in a single security area located on the mezzanine level above the check-in area. After going through this centralized security checkpoint, you may proceed to the PDC listed on your boarding pass. See airport advisory for additional details.
I then attempted to check-in online by clicking on the link in the email and was unable to do so. That took me to a Delta.com Checkin web page which correctly contained my PNR and passenger info. It also told me that KLM was now handling all Delta passenger check in at AMS and that I’d be transferred to a KLM web page to complete the check-in process, which I was. That’s where the check-in process ended. The KLM web page asked me for my 14 or 16 digit Ticket Number. Catch 22 – as a nonrev, you don’t have a ticket number to enter so you can’t proceed. I tried using Delta.com directly with the PNR and then had my son try from TravelNet and always ended up at the same dead end. At that point I decided to wait until arriving at AMS the next day.Quote:
TRAVEL THROUGH & FROM AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AMS)
Customers departing Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) to the United States will report to a new Pre-Departure Center (PDC) for required security checks at either gate D1 or E4. Delta One™ and Business Class customers or SkyTeam Elite Plus members can expedite their security check at the KLM Crown Lounge.
Here are some helpful tips upon arrival:
Customers departing Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) to the United States will report to a new Pre-Departure Center (PDC) for required security checks at either gate D1 or E4. Delta One™ and Business Class customers or SkyTeam Elite Plus members can expedite their security check at the KLM Crown Lounge.
Here are some helpful tips upon arrival:
· Please arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. You are required to check-in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure time and at your designated gate at least 50 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Check-in online, at the Delta counter/kiosk or through the Fly Delta App.
· The gate information displayed on your boarding pass and flight information monitors will direct your assigned security check gate at either D1 or E4.
· For customers not on a connecting itinerary, passport control will be located in a single security area located on the mezzanine level above the check-in area and the transfer points. After going through this centralized security checkpoint, you may proceed to either gate D1 or E4 as indicated on your boarding pass.
· Following the security check, you will receive a receipt indicating your flight’s departure gate and boarding time.
We got to AMS at 6:45 AM for a 9:30 flight. The display indicated Check-in at Check-in Stations 10-14 and PDC D1. We went to the Check-in stations since we had baggage to check. We asked the person at the entry area if we were in the correct place and was told that we were. She told us to tell the CSR that we were nonrevs when we checked in, which we did. The KLM CSR didn’t have any problems. She checked our bags and tagged them with a red label indicating the baggage was for standbys. She then gave us Boarding Passes (not Seat Request Cards) that didn’t have a Seat Assignment and told us to give them to the CSR at the gate. The BP had Gate D1 (one of the PDC’s) specified. There was no indication on these BP’s that we were non-rev. I asked her what we should do if we didn’t clear and she told us to return to the Check In.
We then went through a Passport Check and verbal screening. The CSR there told us NOT to go to D1 but to go through Security and then to D2 which was our actual gate. We went through Security and Passport Control and proceeded to the gate.
We gave our ‘Boarding Passes’ to the KLM GA and asked that she let us know as soon as possible if we weren’t going to clear so that we could list for another flight. She told us that there were 6 seats open and that we were 3 and 4 on the list and not to worry. We got our actual boarding passes about 45 minutes before departure and the rest of the boarding process was what I’d define as normal. There were 2 Delta Red Coats at the gate (probably to handle any problems). The KLM GA’s had the non-rev situation under control. T
There’s another thing that results from the process being turned over to KLM control. According to our son, TravelNet continues to update Available and Willing to sell numbers and accurately lists Non-Revenue Standbys but there is nothing shown for the Airport Standby List so you have no idea where you really stand as seat assignments are being made. This means that unless DL interfaces KLM information to TravelNet in real time after T-24, you’ll have no way of looking at the same data as you now have for non-AMS locations. I think that’s a low priority if it’s even possible.
It took us an hour from the time we got on line at the Check-in Stations until we reached the gate. The process was smooth and all of the KLM staff handled everything smoothly.
Further information needed based on others experiences. Please post in this thread to keep the information current.
1. Is there a Delta Employee Travel Service Center and if so, where is it? The area indicated in the TravelNet PASSRIDER 2013 document may be inaccessible due to construction according to a post in another thread.
2. What is the process if you go to the D1 or E4 PDCs rather than the Check-in Stations?
