In recent weeks, Schiphol’s baggage hall has been filling up with unattended suitcases due to several flight cancellations and baggage system malfunctions.
Speaking with the NOS, an airport staff union spokesperson explains that the problem began a week ago as a result of a flight disruption over the weekend.
They add: “There will soon be a lot of suitcases in the baggage hall, but I can’t give exact numbers. Ultimately, the handlers have to ensure that luggage gets back to the travellers.”
READ MORE | Chaos at Schiphol: why the biggest Dutch airport is struggling so much
As many passengers began to notice the unusual amount of leftover suitcases on the ground, they took the issue onto Twitter.
Translation: “Arrived at Schiphol yesterday afternoon. Didn’t know what I saw was all the suitcases that hadn’t been picked up yet. You could hardly get to the baggage claim.”
Translation: “In the past, passengers applauded when the plane landed. Noticed today that people applaud and even make happy dances when travellers see their suitcases roll off the belt. There is a good load of leftover suitcases at Schiphol”
From security to baggage personnel
The airport staff union (FNV Schiphol) aren’t surprised that baggage personnel are unable to get to the suitcases in time.
Previously, the organisational problems began with security personnel. Now, they’re spreading to baggage personnel as a result of flight reorganisation and delays.
READ MORE | Holiday havoc: Schiphol to reject 13,500 passengers daily in July
Mismanagement and staff shortages
The Chairman of the Trade Association of Dutch Airlines Barin, Marnix Fruitema, explains that piled up suitcases are a problem for many airlines at several European airports.
Flight disruptions and system errors aren’t the only ones to blame. Schiphol’s staff shortage is also making it increasingly difficult to manage the airport during the busy summer season.
How do you feel about the piles of unattended suitcases at Schiphol? Tell us in the comments below!
I think it’s a terrible situation for a first world country
There are so many people worldwide that will take a job at any time, yet it’s the most difficult thing to acquire due to language barriers. If one can speak English, employ them. Perhaps the load will become lighter and things can go back to normal.
Sorry, Schiphol is in a shit hole country. Have you seen a third-world country’s airport having such a shitty issue?
WoW!! That’s crazy
Appoint peiple thT speak E glish are responsible a d hard working and pay them a de ent salary. Even housewives could xo it in shift
My lugagge is there and nobody of KLM is able to listen to me or return the suitcase to me! It’s unbelievable!
It is the same for my family. They have lost their baggage for a week. No one from Delta is doing anything to remedy the situation. they assured me that the baggage was being held in a secure area until it could get scanned and identified. Seems that a bunch of bull looking at these photos and videos. Someone needs to be held responsible for this situation
You are not alone, there are thousands of ex-Delta customers having the same issue. Its day 10 today, and none of my 9 bags have arrived. Delta apps and the 800 number is a joke. The Delta management are busy counting money ant not the service they ones used to provide.
Same happened for me. I travelled via Lufthansa airlines from India-Munich- Schiphol but my 5 baggages didnt arrived Schiphol from Munich. We lodged complaint online and asked for home delivery. In next few days all of our luggage arrived at Schiphol but the luggage tracking system wasnt updated. I got to know from random travellers at the Schiphol airport who took pictures of my luggage and send to me on whatsapp. They got my number from the name tag which I put on each of my luggage with address & contact number.
Then i went to airport missing luggage counter (Door 10 next to Arrival 2) and after checking my passport, boarding pass and missing luggage form they allowed me to go inside the Schiphol airport to collect my baggage. That is how i got all my stuff while the airlines baggage tracking system still shows that baggage hasnt arrived at airport yet.
I arrived at the airport on June 20. Airbases were piled everywhere. They were stacked to the ceiling on shelves. There were so many bags going around the carousel that new bags could not be loaded. After waiting over an hour and a half we were told that the decision was made to not unload any of the luggage from our entire flight. We had no luggage for our entire trip.
I was there last week, YES! That is the truth and I could not believe my eyes what I saw!
I was miss my flight due to the airport security 4 hours in line and miss the connection flight again.
I just think they don’t prepare and know what they are doing.
If they would pay a decent salary they wouldn’t have this problem.
What a shit hole airport and what a shit hole airline KLM is.
My daughter went through Schiphol June 13, checked her bag, missed her flight, rebooked later flight, went to reclaim her bag and it was no where to be found. She had to leave and hope it showed up. It did not. It has not been seen for over 3 weeks. She submitted a claim – nothing. We have called and emailed everyone place we could. No response. No help. My son went in person to look for it. No where. They said it could be in the warehouse that they don’t have access too. What I would like to know is where is this warehouse and how are they dealing with getting the bags back to everyone. It clearly is more than just my daughter who does not have her belongings while at school all summer.
I flew through Schiphol on June 29th. Checked my luggage in Warsaw going to the US. Never saw it again. Has been over a week now and nobody knows where my luggage is. Last scan was it was supposed to be loaded on the plane to the US. Beyond that nobody knows where it is. Delta is trying to be helpful but KLM says plainly on their website to not contact them about lost luggage because they don’t know anything. A joke!
I have been waiting for 50 days for two bags that have been lost in Amsterdam Schipol. I have had some virtual messages asking me to remain patient, I have been notified twice that my bags have been located, yet no one knows where they are. As of yet not a single person has spoken to me or tried to make contact. I have asked to make an official complaint but no one will make contact. I have reported all baggage claim numbers, bag tag numbers and flights on several different occasions but still nothing. Does anyone have any experience on where to go from here.
I flew via Amsterdam to Atlanta on 6/29. Plane was 40 minutes late waiting for luggage to be loaded. When we arrived in Atlanta our 3 suitcases did not make it. I filed a report while at the airport. I have called and texted Delta, but no answer yet. No update on website using my file number. I contact them every day now, but to no avail. I have lost luggage before, but it has always showed up within 48 hours. It’s been 9 days. I am at a loss on how to move forward. I feel bad for the issues they are facing in Amsterdam, but need my luggage.
I seem to be in the same situation as everyone else waiting for worker strikes and summer chaos to resolve to get my bag. I flew from LAX to Amsterdam June 22nd arriving June 23rd. After a crazy time at LAX that included an unattended vehicle that shut down departures drive in area for drop off, we arrived in Amsterdam only to find our luggage did not. We filed a report and three days later when we flew to Greece from that same airport we were able, through a manual search, to find one of our bags. So far my bag has been missing ever since. Vueling the airline we used has also had worker strikes and has not been as responsive as we would like. I can’t figure out if we should consider our items lost or expect them to show up on our doorstep in a month or two. Either way I’m never checking a bag without an air tag again.
I flew in from Frankfurt on 21/6 my bag arrived after me.
I have been back in NZ a month now and am still waiting for my bag to arrive 😎
Do you know if there’s the possibility to look for the suitcase yourself in Shipol?
My suitecase is also lost for 3 weeks already