1. Pack your suitcase the evening before
Do not start packing on the morning of departure. Pack the evening before, put everything ready by the front door and go through your checklist. That way, all you have to do in the morning is get into the taxi.
2. Book your taxi the evening before
For early flights it is wise to book your taxi the evening before, so that you are sure of a driver. AMS Taxi Schiphol operates 24/7, but preferably book in the evening to be sure. You will immediately receive a confirmation email.
3. Set several alarms
Do not rely on a single alarm for an early flight. Set two or three on your phone — and possibly an analogue alarm clock as a backup. A missed alarm is the start of a stressful departure.
4. Check in online the day before
With most airlines, online check-in opens approx. 24 to 30 hours before departure. Do this the evening before and save your boarding pass on your phone. That way you can walk straight to bag drop or security.
Good to know
KLM and Transavia open online check-in 30 hours before departure. With Ryanair, online check-in is free from 24 hours before departure; if you check in at the airport instead, you pay €55 per person.
5. Go to bed on time
Sounds obvious, but it is often forgotten. If you need to set your alarm for 03:30, go to bed by 22:00 at the latest. You need at least 5 to 6 hours of sleep to start your journey feeling fit.
6. Prepare a light snack
Early in the morning you may not be hungry, but your body needs energy. Put out a banana, a cracker or a small snack for when you leave. Coffee bars at Schiphol open early for a cup of coffee when you arrive.
7. Allow at least 2 hours for European flights
Schiphol is relatively quiet early in the morning, but even so: allow at least 2 hours, including bag drop and security, for European flights, and 3 hours for intercontinental flights. Better a little too early than too late.
8. A taxi offers more certainty than public transport
Early in the morning only a few trains run from Haarlem and the surrounding area, and you often have to change. For an early flight the train is therefore awkward; check the NS journey planner. A taxi picks you up at home at exactly the time you need.
9. Keep your passport and boarding pass to hand
Put your passport and boarding pass (phone or paper) in an outside pocket of your hand luggage. You will need them several times — at bag drop, security and the gate.
10. Give your flight number when booking
When you book with AMS Taxi Schiphol, always give your flight number. We track your flight live. Should anything go wrong on your return — a delay, a different gate — the driver adjusts the pick-up time automatically. You do not have to arrange anything yourself.
