Review: KLM Crown Lounge (52) Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)

I have flown into Amsterdam more times than I can count. I usually find myself on a KLM or Delta flight connecting to the greater Europe are. Likewise, I'm always astounded by the efficiency of the airport and the ease of connecting from one non-Schengen flight to the next without having to clear security or immigration.

One of my favorite locations is the KLM Crown Lounge, and on my last trip through Amsterdam I had the chance to spend a short amount of time there before my flight.

Location

There are two KLM Crown Lounges, referred to by their number. #25 is in the Schengen area for those passengers flying into Europe, it is not the biggest or best lounge. However, there's also #52 which is in the non-Schengen area and I would consider KLM's flagship lounge at the airport.

The Amsterdam airport numbers their lounges to make it easier for passengers to find their way around the airport, there is no more significance than that.

Access

The KLM Crown Lounge has two different access methods, however if you want to get in for a fee, you must hold some sort of status with the airline or SkyTeam.

For free, you can access the lounge on a business class ticket. As well as you get complimentary access if you're a Flying Blue Platinum or Gold member, or a SkyTeam Elite Plus member. Both of these allow you to bring in 1 guest for free.

KLM's top tier Blue Ultimate members can bring up to 8 companions.

Food and Beverage

During the early morning time that I visited, breakfast was served as well as a full morning bar selection. The lounge is so big, they have multiple areas serving food and drinks.

Along with typical dry items like cereals and breads, there was also a full breakfast bar with eggs, bacon, etc. And if that wasn't enough food, there was a meat and cheese area.

It all looked pretty well stocked and when anything was running low, it seemed to be refilled in a reasonable amount of time. Everything felt fresh and not to offend my fellow Americans, but the bacon tasted better than I usually get in the US.

Seating

Unlike most lounges I visit, there are tons of seating options. And not only one type. From loungers to private booths, I didn't have any problems finding a seat or finding the type that I wanted.

I loved the private single booths, it was in a quiet place and I could easily get some work done without being disturbed. There was a plentiful amount of power sockets and places to charge all around.

I was quite disappointed however that the Terrace was closed, it was the perfect brisk morning to sit out with a cup of coffee and watch the airplane movements on the ramp.

The dining room was also open for more seating during the morning to afternoon hours, in the evening it turns into a full restaurant with a full menu. It's unfortunate that I've never really flown out of Amsterdam in the afternoon, I usually come in during the morning on a red eye and leave on a quick connecting flight.

The upstairs bar area seemed to have some extra food for purchase beyond the normal offerings. All seem like the typical bar feed that you would normally see, and the prices were still somewhat reasonable for some of these items. The cheese sticks sounded lovely.

I enjoy that there's just so many seating options, and each area has its own personality and feel to it. The quiet areas are darker and feel more secluded, while the open areas have a bit more color and pop to it.

Bar seating is nice with a view out the windows, however if you're on the bottom floor of the lounge it is obstructed by a walkway. While the natural light is nice, you get no view of the ramp.

Atmosphere

The KLM Crown Lounge has so many different areas to it that it's hard to pin down the overall atmosphere. Everything is quiet and respectful, and depending on what mood you're in there's a decent place to sit in the lounge.

If you feel more social, there's the upstairs bar with lots of lounge seating and areas to mingle around. The outdoor terrace has always been a fun place to chat up some plane spotters who like to spend their time up there.

The easy signage makes it easy to find where you need to go or places of amenities. There's even a full shower and wash facilities for those on the longer layovers.

Final Thoughts

Because I fly through Amsterdam so often, I have become a big fan of the KLM Crown Lounge and all it has to offer. On a layover, it's the perfect place to get a quick bite to eat and refresh with a shower. During the afternoon time the lounge does get quite busy, and you will find yourself searching for a place to sit, but you'll always be able to find a place.

Compared to the contract lounges in the non-Schengen area, the KLM Crown Lounge is one of the best in terms of food quality, variety of seating, and overall atmosphere.