Help, I've Been Kidnapped By KLM

[ThatFragranceGuy]

Correct, I was recently on a KLM flight to Teesside, the plane couldn't land because of fog, we circled around so many times I lost count, we then flew to Newcastle, I arrived home about three hours late. And as you say, no compensation because weather caused the delay

Not sure how it works when it's delays in landing, but we got told no compensation as weather related.

Went via a firm who took a cut but they rejected the airlines claim because other flights were taking off and landing and we got a substantial payout for it.

"Can I Claim Flight Compensation For Bad Weather And Storms?

Bad weather must be ‘freak’ or ‘wholly exceptional’ and considered an extraordinary circumstance for an airline to use it as a defence against paying compensation. This is because weather conditions can be considered an “extraordinary circumstance”, as referred to in Article 5 III of Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.

Your right to claim compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 will depend on how long you were delayed and the exact nature of the weather.

For example, heavy snowfall during summer in Egypt would be both freakish and wholly exceptional, whereas heavy snowfall during winter in a ski resort would be neither.

Bad weather must also affect the ‘flight in question’ for airlines to use as a defence. If your flight was delayed because of the knock-on effects of a different flight being affected by bad weather, your flight should be claimable.

For example, if you are booked to fly from Manchester to Paris, but the airline cancels the flight citing bad weather in Stockholm (where the aircraft was before arriving in Manchester), you would have a claim because your flight hasn’t been affected directly by bad weather.

You can also claim if there is a continuous level of bad weather at an airport. For example, if you book a flight from London Heathrow to a ski resort and there is always bad weather at the ski resort, then it is not an extraordinary circumstance for bad weather to cause delay or flight cancellation, because snow is ‘inherent’ at the ski resort.

After all, the airline would have had to take normal weather conditions into account when deciding whether to allow its aircraft to fly into that airport as part of its business plan."

 

[goalscrounger]

Posted my whole sorry story on Facebook, thought I'd extend the pity party to here lol:

So today is the last time I fly KLM. Got to Newcastle Airport at 7am this morning for a 9.25 am flight to Amsterdam then a quick transfer for a flight to Chicago.

We were late leaving Newcastle and then had to circle Schipol Airport for 45 minutes beciase strong winds had reduced all landings to one runway.

Amazingly, they held the Chicago plane for me so despite not touching down until 20 minutes before I was due to take off again, I was going to make my connection!

Except they then decided it was too windy to allow us to deplane (despite the fact we could see passengers getting off other planes on the tarmac) so we sat there for more than 2 hours. Obviously I missed my flight.

Of course none of this is KLM's fault and any good airline automatically books you on the next flight if this happens, so I was sure I'd make the afternoon flight and still be home at a reasonable time.

This is KLM we are talking about though. No such plans were made. Instead they left it to me to sort it.

First of all I tried one of the self serve Transfer Kiosks that are all over the airport, for it to tell me that I needed to see an agent. I then found that they had 6 KLM Transfer Desks spread around the airport. The first 2 I found were shut and I was told that only one of the six was open today.

Of course, this place was carnage. It worked on a ticket system and eventually I got an assistant to reluctantly give me a number (because again the kiosks wouldn't work with my booking). The wait time was apparently one and a half hours (which took me past the take off time for the afternoon flight) but in the end I had to sit there for 4 hours to speak to someone. Despite the fact that 5 of the 6 Transfer Desks were closed, amazingly only 4 of the 7 windows were operating today. 4 people to help every single person flying KLM in their flagship home base airport. Disgraceful. I have to say the agent who looked after me was excellent though.

By then it was too late to get a flight to anywhere in the US, so I am now sitting in a s***y airport hotel (after an hour's queue to get through immigration and an hour's queue to check in at the hotel) with no change of clothing, no toiletries etc.

I have to be up at 6am again tomorrow to go back to the airport, clear security and jump on a flight to Atlanta (where I have to get my bags off and then recheck them all in an hour and a half) then finally a connection to Chicago, arriving home 24 hours later than planned (and missing a day of work).

Two full flights, no window or aisle seats, and all the fun of the fair at O Hare Airport when I get home as they've banned Uber pickups from the international terminal since I last flew.

What odds does anyone want to give me on my luggage not making it home with me tomorrow?!

Anyway, enjoy some pics of my lovely hotel corridor and room.

Update: Up at 6am to get to the airport. As the food at the hotel is gross I thought I'd get something to eat at the airport with the 15 Euro voucher KLM gave me to use at any food or drink place in the airport. 90 minutes queuing to get through security and passport control (have to say the staff were very pleasant) and then a long walk to my gate. Found a little coffee place and ordered some food only to be told the voucher wasn't working. Went to another restaurant to try there, only to be told the voucher wasn't valid as it had been used earlier.

 

[Laughing]

The Irish bar ? Still closed since COVID I think. I've nearly missed loads of flight home because of that place

It has a proper pub atmosphere as opposed to somewhere you are just biding time. Easy to lose track of time.

 

[Laughing]

Smoking room has closed. Airport is completely non smoking now

Their smoking room was always packed and thick with smoke. Even as a smoker then, it was one to avoid as much as possible.

The glass box in the main concourse was less crowded and smokey

 

[theredrooster]

Posted my whole sorry story on Facebook, thought I'd extend the pity party to here lol:

So today is the last time I fly KLM. Got to Newcastle Airport at 7am this morning for a 9.25 am flight to Amsterdam then a quick transfer for a flight to Chicago.

We were late leaving Newcastle and then had to circle Schipol Airport for 45 minutes beciase strong winds had reduced all landings to one runway.

Amazingly, they held the Chicago plane for me so despite not touching down until 20 minutes before I was due to take off again, I was going to make my connection!

Except they then decided it was too windy to allow us to deplane (despite the fact we could see passengers getting off other planes on the tarmac) so we sat there for more than 2 hours. Obviously I missed my flight.

Of course none of this is KLM's fault and any good airline automatically books you on the next flight if this happens, so I was sure I'd make the afternoon flight and still be home at a reasonable time.

This is KLM we are talking about though. No such plans were made. Instead they left it to me to sort it.

First of all I tried one of the self serve Transfer Kiosks that are all over the airport, for it to tell me that I needed to see an agent. I then found that they had 6 KLM Transfer Desks spread around the airport. The first 2 I found were shut and I was told that only one of the six was open today.

Of course, this place was carnage. It worked on a ticket system and eventually I got an assistant to reluctantly give me a number (because again the kiosks wouldn't work with my booking). The wait time was apparently one and a half hours (which took me past the take off time for the afternoon flight) but in the end I had to sit there for 4 hours to speak to someone. Despite the fact that 5 of the 6 Transfer Desks were closed, amazingly only 4 of the 7 windows were operating today. 4 people to help every single person flying KLM in their flagship home base airport. Disgraceful. I have to say the agent who looked after me was excellent though.

By then it was too late to get a flight to anywhere in the US, so I am now sitting in a s***y airport hotel (after an hour's queue to get through immigration and an hour's queue to check in at the hotel) with no change of clothing, no toiletries etc.

I have to be up at 6am again tomorrow to go back to the airport, clear security and jump on a flight to Atlanta (where I have to get my bags off and then recheck them all in an hour and a half) then finally a connection to Chicago, arriving home 24 hours later than planned (and missing a day of work).

Two full flights, no window or aisle seats, and all the fun of the fair at O Hare Airport when I get home as they've banned Uber pickups from the international terminal since I last flew.

What odds does anyone want to give me on my luggage not making it home with me tomorrow?!

Anyway, enjoy some pics of my lovely hotel corridor and room.

Update: Up at 6am to get to the airport. As the food at the hotel is gross I thought I'd get something to eat at the airport with the 15 Euro voucher KLM gave me to use at any food or drink place in the airport. 90 minutes queuing to get through security and passport control (have to say the staff were very pleasant) and then a long walk to my gate. Found a little coffee place and ordered some food only to be told the voucher wasn't working. Went to another restaurant to try there, only to be told the voucher wasn't valid as it had been used earlier.

That's a grim read, but it could be worse I had visions of you sleeping rough in the Irish Bar surviving on leftover dregs of Guinness and small packets of peanuts pinched from the planes supplies when no one was looking. Anyway I hope you eventually get back OK and get some sort of compo from KLM or someone!

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Found a little coffee place and ordered some food only to be told the voucher wasn't working. Went to another restaurant to try there, only to be told the voucher wasn't valid as it had been used earlier.

I may have laughed a little bit at this. I’m a bad person.

 

[Kinky_Maccarone]

Correct, I was recently on a KLM flight to Teesside, the plane couldn't land because of fog, we circled around so many times I lost count, we then flew to Newcastle, I arrived home about three hours late. And as you say, no compensation because weather caused the delay

I was on that flight, too! Worked out pretty well as I live in Gateshead

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

My best was a pre Christmas flight from Houston to Heathrow. Got as far as Cornwall, then circled and headed north to Dublin. Two nights in a hotel (well looked after to be fair) then off to the airport for a 2pm take off, eventually took off at 3am next day. No flights available from there and hire cars all gone, so tube into London and train home 3 days late.

 

[goalscrounger]

Tja

That's a grim read, but it could be worse I had visions of you sleeping rough in the Irish Bar surviving on leftover dregs of Guinness and small packets of peanuts pinched from the planes supplies when no one was looking. Anyway I hope you eventually get back OK and get some sort of compo from KLM or someone!

That actually sounds better than the hotel!!

 

[PhillySpecial]

Posted my whole sorry story on Facebook, thought I'd extend the pity party to here lol:

So today is the last time I fly KLM. Got to Newcastle Airport at 7am this morning for a 9.25 am flight to Amsterdam then a quick transfer for a flight to Chicago.

We were late leaving Newcastle and then had to circle Schipol Airport for 45 minutes beciase strong winds had reduced all landings to one runway.

Amazingly, they held the Chicago plane for me so despite not touching down until 20 minutes before I was due to take off again, I was going to make my connection!

Except they then decided it was too windy to allow us to deplane (despite the fact we could see passengers getting off other planes on the tarmac) so we sat there for more than 2 hours. Obviously I missed my flight.

Of course none of this is KLM's fault and any good airline automatically books you on the next flight if this happens, so I was sure I'd make the afternoon flight and still be home at a reasonable time.

This is KLM we are talking about though. No such plans were made. Instead they left it to me to sort it.

First of all I tried one of the self serve Transfer Kiosks that are all over the airport, for it to tell me that I needed to see an agent. I then found that they had 6 KLM Transfer Desks spread around the airport. The first 2 I found were shut and I was told that only one of the six was open today.

Of course, this place was carnage. It worked on a ticket system and eventually I got an assistant to reluctantly give me a number (because again the kiosks wouldn't work with my booking). The wait time was apparently one and a half hours (which took me past the take off time for the afternoon flight) but in the end I had to sit there for 4 hours to speak to someone. Despite the fact that 5 of the 6 Transfer Desks were closed, amazingly only 4 of the 7 windows were operating today. 4 people to help every single person flying KLM in their flagship home base airport. Disgraceful. I have to say the agent who looked after me was excellent though.

By then it was too late to get a flight to anywhere in the US, so I am now sitting in a s***y airport hotel (after an hour's queue to get through immigration and an hour's queue to check in at the hotel) with no change of clothing, no toiletries etc.

I have to be up at 6am again tomorrow to go back to the airport, clear security and jump on a flight to Atlanta (where I have to get my bags off and then recheck them all in an hour and a half) then finally a connection to Chicago, arriving home 24 hours later than planned (and missing a day of work).

Two full flights, no window or aisle seats, and all the fun of the fair at O Hare Airport when I get home as they've banned Uber pickups from the international terminal since I last flew.

What odds does anyone want to give me on my luggage not making it home with me tomorrow?!

Anyway, enjoy some pics of my lovely hotel corridor and room.

Update: Up at 6am to get to the airport. As the food at the hotel is gross I thought I'd get something to eat at the airport with the 15 Euro voucher KLM gave me to use at any food or drink place in the airport. 90 minutes queuing to get through security and passport control (have to say the staff were very pleasant) and then a long walk to my gate. Found a little coffee place and ordered some food only to be told the voucher wasn't working. Went to another restaurant to try there, only to be told the voucher wasn't valid as it had been used earlier.

That's dreadful!! I feel for you!

I've had so many issues with connecting flights that I pretty much refuse to do it anymore. Instead I choose to fly direct to London or Edinburgh and make the long drive. I'd rather be in a car driving 'home' on my own terms, than messing around with connection issues/cancellations which appear to be rampant post-pandemic.

 

[Andy_W]

At least you weren't booked with Ryanair.. They'd just put on a bus to get you the rest of the way.

A bus?

They would give you a lilo and a plank of wood to use as an oar and get you to paddle to Chicago, and say you can submit a claim when you get there. Then they'll reject your claim.

 

[Andy_W]

Anyway, enjoy some pics of my lovely hotel corridor and room.

Are you putting a complaint in about the person that looks to be in your bed, hiding under the covers?

 

[Laughing]

A bus?

They would give you a lilo and a plank of wood to use as an oar and get you to paddle to Chicago, and say you can submit a claim when you get there. Then they'll reject your claim.

Now you are just writing tory legislation for them mate!

 

[NYboro]

@goalscrounger I think you should post the picture of the "dessert" you got on the flight here.

 

[goalscrounger]

That's dreadful!! I feel for you!

I've had so many issues with connecting flights that I pretty much refuse to do it anymore. Instead I choose to fly direct to London or Edinburgh and make the long drive. I'd rather be in a car driving 'home' on my own terms, than messing around with connection issues/cancellations which appear to be rampant post-pandemic.

I have come to the same conclusion! The biggest downside for me is having to endure the "wide boy" approach to serving car hire customers that seems prevalent around Heathrow (in sharp contrast to the pleasant service I usually get at Newcastle).

 

[Norfolkred1]

Flew with Delta to New Orleans via Atlanta, had that bleeding airport, Changed aircraft from the Lambo to the Lada and waited. Pilot announces 'sorry folks got a red light and we ain't going. If you get off and make your way to gate Blah a replacement will be waiting and there it was. Is it only in the USA as It would not it would happen in the UK never mind Europe.

 

[goalscrounger]

@goalscrounger I think you should post the picture of the "dessert" you got on the flight here.

I didn't want to post in case anyone got jealous, but here you go. 5cm by 2cm by1cm cuboid of cheese. No crackers or anything. Just cheese.

 

[Norfolkred1]

I didn't want to post in case anyone got jealous, but here you go. 5cm by 2cm by1cm cuboid of cheese. No crackers or anything. Just cheese.

Knowing your lucks it's probably out of date.

 

[Johnnyweetabix]

Oh man I feel your pain having had a similar thing happen to me too many times. Unfortunately as others have said klm is often the only option to many destinations unless it’s down to Heathrow with BA. As a regular flyer I’m starting to also get the same dreaded knot feeling everytime j fly . My last trip took me 27 hours to get home from North Carolina which should have been a 7 hour hop to London and nice flight up to Newcastle …. Oh no it wasn’t

 

[goalscrounger]

Decided to stay in the Premier Inn at Newcastle Airport the night before my flight so left mum and dad's in Boro at 7pm Sunday evening. 50 hours later and I'm on a plane halfway between Atlanta and Chicago (literally just made my connection as I had to clear immigration, get my bags, recheck my bags and go through security in an hour and five minutes....... they closed the plane door behind me). Good news is, the free wifi has just come on and it's strong enough to stream the match, so I'll be able to see the second half!