Health safety measures
Preparing for your trip is more important than ever. We’re here to guide you through your journey so you can travel with confidence.
Before your trip
Travel advice, health and entry requirements
Corona tests and vaccination
Health screening at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
All passengers travelling from, to or via Schiphol Airport are required by the Dutch government to fill out a health declaration. You will fill out this declaration automatically during check-in and you don’t need to bring a paper copy of the health declaration.
Latest flight information
Prepare your trip
Onboard you are required to wear a face mask. Even if you have been vaccinated against or have recently tested negative for COVID-19. Without one, we cannot allow you to board. Whether you have to wear a mask at the airport differs per country. Please check the local rules of the airports in advance.
Mouth mask requirements
Face masks must cover nose and mouth and can be surgical or non-surgical. Scarves, bandanas, or cowls are not allowed. A suitable face mask should fit snugly against the side of your face and cover the nose, mouth and chin and should consist of at least 2 layers of tightly woven fabric, such as cotton or linen. The mask should not have exhalation valves or vents.
If the face mask gets moist or dirty, you need to change to a new one. You must wear a new face mask every 3 hours. Make sure to bring enough masks with you to last the entire journey.
At some destinations, the local authorities have different requirements for face masks. If you are flying with KLM, you will receive an informative e-mail in the week before departure with the details about the measures at your destination.
Wearing a face mask
When putting on your mask, make sure to cover your nose, mouth and chin. Use the loops or ties to remove your mask and do not touch the mask itself. Wash your hands with water and soap or use disinfectant hand gel immediately. Make sure to also do this before eating, drinking and after making use of the toilet.
Exceptions
Passengers up to 10 years old don’t have to wear a face mask.
If you can’t wear a face mask because of medical reasons you need to have:
- A signed and stamped medical certificate from your physician. You can download the certificate, print it and ask your physician to sign and stamp it. You need to bring this certificate with you on your trip.
- A negative corona COVID-19 NAAT test result. The test has to be taken within 72 hours before departure and you must bring along a hard copy of this test result. If your return flight is within 72 hours of the first COVID-19 NAAT test, you don’t need to take a new test. One test is enough. If your return flight is after 72 hours, you do need to take another COVID-19 NAAT test at your destination.
If you are medically exempted from wearing a face mask and you have the above-mentioned documents, please report this during your check-in.
Face masks at the airport
Eating and drinking
You can temporarily remove your mask while eating or drinking. Make sure to follow the instructions on how to remove and put on your mask. Store your mask in a clean space (e.g. in the original packaging or in a clean plastic bag). You’re not allowed to slide your mask under your chin or put it on your head.
At the airport
COVID-19 measures at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Please note it takes longer to get to the gate, due to required checks. Make sure you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours (Europe) or 3 hours (intercontinental) before your scheduled departure.
- Please make sure to check the travel and airport requirements of the destination you are travelling to or from.
- Please keep all the necessary travel documents at hand so our agents can quickly check them.
- At Schiphol airport, you are advised to keep a 1.5 meter distance, where possible.
- You are required to wear a face mask on board.
- From Saturday 6 November, it is mandatory to wear a face mask at Schiphol. That means you wear it from the moment you enter the terminal. In case you just landed: keep your mouth mask on until you are outside again.
When visiting a café or restaurant on Schiphol, please note that you must be able to show a COVID-19 Certificate . This certificate is not required at bars and restaurants after security. - Always follow the instructions of the ground and aircraft personnel, as maintaining social distance can be challenging in some situations.
Transfers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
We strongly recommend reviewing the latest entry requirements of the destination you’re travelling to. Local immigration authorities can provide you with more information.
Health measures at the airport
Hygiene and social distancing measures are taken to ensure your safety. When you arrive at the airport, please make sure you follow instructions given to you by airport staff. We’ve added floor marks, signs and transparent screens to make sure there’s enough distance. We regularly clean and disinfect all desks and self-service kiosks. If you’re bringing someone with you to say goodbye, we recommend you do so outside instead of in the departure halls.
The guidelines on how to act can vary per country because of government measures.
Lounges at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
The Schengen KLM Crown Lounge is opened from 06:00 AM – 10:00 PM. You’re also welcome in the Non-Schengen KLM Crown Lounge, which is opened from 06:00 AM – 10:00 PM. This lounge is located between the E and F pier at Schiphol Airport. Show your travel documents at the documentation check to enter the Non-Schengen area. Are you unable to wear a face mask for medical reasons? Please show your medical certificate.
You can still grab something to eat or drink at our catering facilities, which have been adapted to provide you with a safe service. The Blue bar and restaurant remain closed.
Lounges at other airports
As a result of prevention measures all over the world, other lounges might have changed opening hours. Please check the latest status of your lounge at the airport.
Before you board
Temperature measures and health checks
At some airports, your health might be checked during check-in, boarding or on arrival. You could also receive a questionnaire, for example. This varies per country and airport.
Boarding process
For the most part, we’re resuming the regular boarding process. This means that we first invite our Business Class and SkyPriority passengers to embark the aircraft.
At many airports, we use zone boarding. If this is the case, you can find your zone on your boarding pass; the zone depends on your travel class, fare type and frequent flyer level. Passengers in zone 1 are the first to board, followed by zones 2 through 5.
As always, passengers with reduced mobility and families with babies under the age of 2 can pre-board.
Sometimes, a bus will bring you from the gate to the aircraft at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We aim to let no more than 40 passengers on each bus, when possible.
Please be aware that you have to wear a face mask after check-in. Without one, you won’t be allowed to board. We also advise you to keep as much distance from others when possible, while boarding.
On board
Good hygiene is and has always been our priority. We’ve taken extra measures when it comes to the cleaning and maintenance of our aircraft before you embark. Every day, our aircraft are thoroughly cleaned with approved disinfectants. During the flight, the air in our aircraft is continually renewed with fresh air drawn in from outside. Our aircraft are equipped with an air filtration system consisting of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which capture 99,99% of viruses and bacteria, including coronaviruses.
Catering
Our onboard catering will be mostly back to how it used to be before the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that you can enjoy delicious meals, drinks, snacks, and personal KLM service from our crew on every KLM flight. We do take the COVID-19 measures into account, of course.
Extra measures during the flight
Following the general guidelines about social distancing, we aim to maximize space between passengers by keeping seats empty when possible. However, because of an increasing number of travellers, passengers might be seated next to each other. Our main goal, however, is to offer you and our crew a safe flight, that's why we have taken several hygiene and safety measures.
On intercontinental flights, pillows are available on request in Economy Class.
Our aircraft are equipped with so-called coronakits, in case a passenger unexpectedly shows any signs of illness during the flight. These kits contain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for passengers and our staff to limit the risk of an infection on board.