Award tickets cancelled to SXM
Sep 21, 2017, 4:56 pm
#1
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Award tickets cancelled to SXM
KLM has cancelled award tickets to Sint Maarten for late October. I have been requested to contact KLM about it. What are my options and rights in this situation? I would like to know before I call them. Also I do not know now what I would like to do at the moment. Perhaps we would delay the trip.
Rebook for an other destination? Refund of the miles and payment? How is the compensation handeld in this situation? Is it a capacity reducement? Or a force Majeur? We booked them before the hurricane.
I am fully aware of the situation on Sint Maarten and would appreciate if we can keep it to the subject. We have good reasons to go. Personally but also economical.
Rebook for an other destination? Refund of the miles and payment? How is the compensation handeld in this situation? Is it a capacity reducement? Or a force Majeur? We booked them before the hurricane.
I am fully aware of the situation on Sint Maarten and would appreciate if we can keep it to the subject. We have good reasons to go. Personally but also economical.
Last edited by Meneer Guggenheimer; Sep 21, 2017 at 5:19 pm
Sep 22, 2017, 12:32 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Given that it is more than 2 weeks out, no compensation is due, even if it wasn't/isn't related to the damage cause by the hurricane.
I would expect refund or rebook at another date will be the most viable options, rebooking for another destination might be more tricky if there is no award availability, although KL might try to accommodate, I would advise on having your request/plan ready when you call, if you think you can make alternative arrangement somewhere else, be prepared to say where you want to go to, and which flight(s) you would like to take.
I would expect refund or rebook at another date will be the most viable options, rebooking for another destination might be more tricky if there is no award availability, although KL might try to accommodate, I would advise on having your request/plan ready when you call, if you think you can make alternative arrangement somewhere else, be prepared to say where you want to go to, and which flight(s) you would like to take.
Sep 22, 2017, 1:32 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2016
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Given that the airfield is barely operational (traffic tower is wrecked, equipment destroyed) and there's a lot of emergency services trying to get in and people getting out, commercial flights might have a very very low priority into Sint Maarten.
So I'd say this is a textbook force majeur situation
One of KLM's 747's made it into Sint Maarten last week with a volunteer crew, supplies and managed to evacuate a lot of people on several runs.
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nederland/p...ed-terechtkwam
So I'd say this is a textbook force majeur situation
One of KLM's 747's made it into Sint Maarten last week with a volunteer crew, supplies and managed to evacuate a lot of people on several runs.
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nederland/p...ed-terechtkwam
Sep 22, 2017, 3:00 am
#4
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You had 8 awards tickets in E-Comfy? I can remember you posting somewhere else, and thought about it when the storm hit Sint-Maarten.
Try to call the Platinum desk and see what they can do for you. But I assume it will be a difficult conversation given the amount of seats and the price you paid.
Try to call the Platinum desk and see what they can do for you. But I assume it will be a difficult conversation given the amount of seats and the price you paid.
Sep 22, 2017, 4:26 am
#5
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Sep 22, 2017, 5:39 am
#6
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Sep 22, 2017, 7:18 am
#7
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Just before the hurricane formed, I booked flights to SXM for January. It looks like full the cleanup / rebuild while take a long while yet, so I changed destination*.
Here's the official info on KLM.com. Mine was a dirt cheap non-ref/non-change ticket. But I got it changed at no question and no fee, only paying the small price difference.
I recommend you phone them to discuss your options: they handled my case brilliantly and the entire call took only 10 minutes.
*I'll definitely go to St Martin at a later date, because I love the island and want to make sure they get my tourist €s.
Here's the official info on KLM.com. Mine was a dirt cheap non-ref/non-change ticket. But I got it changed at no question and no fee, only paying the small price difference.
I recommend you phone them to discuss your options: they handled my case brilliantly and the entire call took only 10 minutes.
*I'll definitely go to St Martin at a later date, because I love the island and want to make sure they get my tourist €s.
Sep 22, 2017, 10:15 am
#9
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Air France is still scheduled to fly then. The hotel is reopening and life does go on. Economical the island needs to reboot as fast as it can. There are many reasons not to go. But there also reasons to go
Sep 22, 2017, 11:17 am
#10
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Have to say that Caribbean got hit hard by the hurricanes this year. Irma, Jose then Maria, not to mention Harvey that demolished Houston right before ... :/
Sep 22, 2017, 11:22 am
#11
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As per the last info posted today, both KL and AF services to SXM are cancelled until end october.
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...from-oct-2017/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/...from-oct-2017/
Sep 22, 2017, 11:24 am
#12
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Can KLM rebook you on AF or DL (or any other partner that serves SXM)?
Sep 22, 2017, 11:25 am
#13
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Sep 22, 2017, 12:56 pm
#14
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We will travel 7 weeks or later after it so we are on the edge of what now is communicated. (Our hotel will be open). We will leave it open and decide before and also listen to the people and the companies on Sint Maarten what is wise.
Easiest would be to go to an ABC island and spend the money there. But that would be a double loss towards Sint Maarten.
Sep 25, 2017, 5:52 pm
#15
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7 weeks isn't that much time for recovery after a hurricane of this scale. What are you wanting to do there? Hotels might be open (more likely for recovery / business related travel), but you can't go to the beach because it will stink and there'll be a pile of debris in the water. No much hiking either because nobody will care about the trails until the island is in shape. That's not a great holiday.