KLM promises to reimburse passengers for cancelled flights within seven days

KLM passengers who saw their flights cancelled due to the recent mayhem at Schiphol will receive a refund within seven days, RTL Nieuws reports.

Passengers who report to KLM should submit a claim for compensation and the airline will process these as soon as possible.

How soon? They should be waiting no longer than seven days, the company says.

READ MORE | Haste makes waste: Schiphol asked airlines to cancel flights too quickly

How it works is simple. When KLM receives a complaint, they will look at the reason for cancellation, the duration of the delay, and whether or not a rebooking has taken place.

They will then decide which lucky (or should we say unlucky) travellers are entitled to compensation within the specified period of seven days.

What can reimbursements include?

Travellers whose flights were unexpectedly cancelled can choose between a rebooking or a refund.

How much are we talking? KLM can offer compensation of up to €600 for a long-haul flight.

Transit passengers who missed a connecting flight due to cancellation can also be compensated for the costs of any return flight. 

READ MORE | Beat the crowds at Schiphol? Not anymore, as airport bans early arrival travellers

That’s not all that’s covered however. Travellers who had to stay overnight in a hotel in the Netherlands will also be compensated for the additional costs — as long as you don’t try to charge for that one hotel stay you enjoyed three weeks after the delay. 😉

Why is this happening?

Due to the maintenance and unfavourable working conditions taking place at Schiphol, KLM reduced runway capacity in order to ensure proper air traffic control and keep pilots and passengers safe.

Because of this, only one runway was open on Saturday, meaning the airline was forced to intervene and cancel European flights en route to the airport.

READ MORE | Chaos at Schiphol: why the biggest Dutch airport is struggling so much

And this makes sense. Schiphol would not be able to cope with the extra pressure if KLM were to come in with planes full of people.

Unfortunately, as a result a total of 42 KLM aircrafts returned to the airport without passengers. Those that were booked to take one of these flights were then rescheduled for later flights. 

What do you think about the situation at Schiphol? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Gaelle Salem
Gaelle Salem
Born and raised on the island of Sint Maarten, Gaelle moved to the Netherlands in 2018 to attend university. Still trying to survive the erratic Dutch wind and rain, she has taken up the hobby of buying a new umbrella every month. You can probably find her in the centre of The Hague appreciating the Dutch architecture with a coffee in one hand and a slice of appeltaart in the other.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Travelled in April and got stuck for 2 nights. Eventually made my own way home. €500 out of pocket and still waiting for reimbursement.

  2. RDAHPU
    NBO-AMS-MAN 3/6 to Ams 4/6 to Man!!!
    What a joke.
    Delayed first flight due to security go slow . 2nd flight cc’d 3rd flight WL. Was confirmed on a flight with ask to CPH and on Man on 6/6..!!!!
    We paid for a one way tickets (2 Tkts)to Leeds 22.00 p4/6 717.99Eur. Compensation for this and fuel for our friend that had to collect us. NB. We were/business class. The behavior from the world go was unbelievable. Serious refund consideration of refund ….

  3. KLM refuses to reimburse my daughter after flight delays where she had to spend night, get food. They gave her a reimbursement form at Shipol 2 on 6/27/2 but now (4 days later) have refused to reimburse the $300 she spent. What recourse is there? They gave her the form, said to take another flight which she had to arrange. All proper receipts were sent.

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