KLM Flying Dutchman - Funny KLM story

Few weeks ago I was away for business and extended my trip by ignoring my orignal flight home and booking a one-way award ticket for a few days later. All good, got a confirmation email and an OCI reminder the day before the flight. Checked in on my Iphone and went to the airport the next day.

Travelling with hand luggage only so through security, asked for my boarding pass shown on Iphone and continued to gate. And then it happened, cue to board the plane: passport and phone ready. Hold the phone on the scanner and instead of the usual green it turns red, that happens sometimes when the Iphone decides its time to turn the screen so I do it again but then its red again :confused:

Gate agent has a look and says "Sir you are not on this flight" :confused: She asks me to step aside so she can board the few remaining passengers. I have a look at the boarding pass again and spot the problem... I'm not holding a boarding pass for the 8pm outbound flight TO Amsterdam but for the 8.30pm inbound flight FROM Amsterdam, so there I am 1.000km away from the flight I have a boarding pass for and standing at the gate of the flight I would like to take home.

I kindly ask the gate agent if there's anything she can do as this is clearly a mistake, but she says she can't do anything herself but will call the check-in desk. After a lot of chit-chat on the phone and a short inspection of my passport she says something about issueing a new ticket and continues to talk on the phone. Some airport official insists he has to close the gate and send the plane on its way but luckily just in time the computer spits out a boarding pass with my name on it. I thank the gate agent and still shocked by what happened I rush aboard the plane and find my seat...

Turns out I booked an Award ticket ex Amsterdam instead of to Amsterdam but worked out well in the end thanks to the very kind gate agent :D ^

Hehe!

But that was, indeed, a very good and very kind gate agent! There have been quite a few stories posted here about AF/KL check-in staff and gate agents being very strict about even the smallest errors on tickets (names round the wrong way, and such), so it's nice to hear a story from the other perspective.

I guess you'll admit that the error was entirely 'your fault', so there was really no obligation for anyone to get you on the flight (for which you had no ticket).

So, just for future reference, where is this nice place, 1,000 km from AMS?

-- Henry

So, just for future reference, where is this nice place, 1,000 km from AMS?

-- Henry

Glaschu? :D

-- Cupschu

... really pleased they just sorted your ticket out and boarded (had you called the service desk beforehand I doubt they would've just changed it).

However, it doesn't say much for security that you went straight through to boarding with an invalid boarding pass!

... really pleased they just sorted your ticket out and boarded (had you called the service desk beforehand I doubt they would've just changed it).

However, it doesn't say much for security that you went straight through to boarding with an invalid boarding pass!

Yes that's true although it was a fully flexible award ticket and since I still had 30 min to departure of the flight I was booked on I could have called FB to change the ticket to a one-way the next day (considering they had award tickets available there).

Hehe!

But that was, indeed, a very good and very kind gate agent! There have been quite a few stories posted here about AF/KL check-in staff and gate agents being very strict about even the smallest errors on tickets (names round the wrong way, and such), so it's nice to hear a story from the other perspective.

I guess you'll admit that the error was entirely 'your fault', so there was really no obligation for anyone to get you on the flight (for which you had no ticket).

So, just for future reference, where is this nice place, 1,000 km from AMS?

-- Henry

Yes it was entirely my fault :D I won't mention the airport as I don't want any KLM / AF lurkers to investigate the matter but its always good to know there are nice and helpful gate agents.

The fact that you got through security and to the boarding gate with an invalid Boarding pass would also be of concern to the security-paranoid.

The fact that you got through security and to the boarding gate with an invalid Boarding pass would also be of concern to the security-paranoid.

Most airports don't even check your boarding pass when going through security.