Mess in AMS today - up to March 2022
#496
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Cabin crew union VNC has announced that they are working with KLM to crew as many delayed flights as possible, magnanimously adding that they will only demand compensation later.
Johan
Johan
#497
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, A3 Miles and Bonus Gold
Posts: 107
I was stuck at LCY awaiting for departure to AMS, but thankfully my secretary booked me on a British Airways flight today (which is rare - I usually only fly BA). Whilst my flight ended up being cancelled (after spending about 90 mins on board at LCY), I am lucky to not have been on a KL aircraft as BA had the air conditioning going the full time, making the cabin very comfortable. I raise this here as all the KL flights I have recently boarded were like saunas, and after asking for the a/c to be turned on, i'll get one of two answers from KL cabin crew: 1. this is KL policy as it saves the environment, or 2. a/c only works after being airborne (which is obvious BS, and got me in quite a long discussion with a purser on a recent flight to BOD who insisted it is impossible to have a cool aircraft whilst on the ground).
#498
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,746
(On the ground, all aircraft can be connected to an external power unit which is used to power the A/c - and other systems - rather than draining the on-board power)
#499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
... just happens to save KL money?
In my experience KL is indeed exceptionally stingy when it comes to running AC on the ground.
I've even been on a couple of flights where upon arrival at the gate on a hot day, the purser made an announcement asking all pax in window seats to close the blinds before disembarking, so that pax boarding for the next flight would not get cooked in their seats.
Johan
In my experience KL is indeed exceptionally stingy when it comes to running AC on the ground.
I've even been on a couple of flights where upon arrival at the gate on a hot day, the purser made an announcement asking all pax in window seats to close the blinds before disembarking, so that pax boarding for the next flight would not get cooked in their seats.
Johan
#500
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,342
Boarding at ATH a few days ago all blinds were closed. But, AC must have been running as otherwise it would have gotten real hot real fast in that burning sun.
#502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,746
Hope you eventually got to where you needed to be and that you are not still waiting at AMS!
#503
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 128
... just happens to save KL money?
In my experience KL is indeed exceptionally stingy when it comes to running AC on the ground.
I've even been on a couple of flights where upon arrival at the gate on a hot day, the purser made an announcement asking all pax in window seats to close the blinds before disembarking, so that pax boarding for the next flight would not get cooked in their seats.
Johan
In my experience KL is indeed exceptionally stingy when it comes to running AC on the ground.
I've even been on a couple of flights where upon arrival at the gate on a hot day, the purser made an announcement asking all pax in window seats to close the blinds before disembarking, so that pax boarding for the next flight would not get cooked in their seats.
Johan
KLM has been sued when using it below this limit, but did win the courtcase.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/452672/klm-wint-aircozaak-van-inspectie
(In Dutch)
And I am not under the impression the mobile airconditioning units are up to the task in the current weather, they can't get a 737 cool, let alone a 777.
#504
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Years ago I boarded a KL MD-11 at JRO. It was a very noisy experience, as the #3 engine was kept running for the entire time the aircraft was on the ground. The captain later told me that the APU was out of order, the airport did not have any GPUs, so they just decided to keep an engine running to power the AC.
Johan
#505
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Hull, UK
Programs: FB Plat, ALL Silver, HH Silver
Posts: 165
I do know Schiphol limits the use of the onboard airconditioning "engine" to temps above 25(?). At that temperature a tube full of people Wiwill still heat up quickly.
KLM has been sued when using it below this limit, but did win the courtcase.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/4526...-van-inspectie
(In Dutch)
And I am not under the impression the mobile airconditioning units are up to the task in the current weather, they can't get a 737 cool, let alone a 777.
KLM has been sued when using it below this limit, but did win the courtcase.
https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/4526...-van-inspectie
(In Dutch)
And I am not under the impression the mobile airconditioning units are up to the task in the current weather, they can't get a 737 cool, let alone a 777.
#506
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,233
Sounds bad today.
https://nos.nl/liveblog/2294896-stor...iegtuigen.html
Kerosine supply disrupted, causing rolling delays.
I had a 5+ hr delay yesterday myself (unrelated to this, just 747 being...747) followed by a 12+hr delay in LAX connecting. My sympathies with anyone caught in this one.
https://nos.nl/liveblog/2294896-stor...iegtuigen.html
Kerosine supply disrupted, causing rolling delays.
I had a 5+ hr delay yesterday myself (unrelated to this, just 747 being...747) followed by a 12+hr delay in LAX connecting. My sympathies with anyone caught in this one.
#507
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,962
Hope you got to wherever you were going!
#508
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 280
How was the delays on 25/7? I have a late evening flight from AMS tonight. Was it any better yesterday than 24/7?
#509
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Vancouver, CA
Programs: AC 35K
Posts: 670
Hi all,
family was caught up in the mess at Schipol Wednesday. Curious whether anyone has any idea on whether EU261 compensation will apply? Or is it not applicable as this was an airport issue and not a KLM issue? Surely KLM could’ve made arrangements, at least for short haul flights, to load up extra fuel down route to operate two legs? That would imply EU261 compensation applies?
TUF
family was caught up in the mess at Schipol Wednesday. Curious whether anyone has any idea on whether EU261 compensation will apply? Or is it not applicable as this was an airport issue and not a KLM issue? Surely KLM could’ve made arrangements, at least for short haul flights, to load up extra fuel down route to operate two legs? That would imply EU261 compensation applies?
TUF
#510
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,342
Opinions differ. Personally I'd say that the airlines are the ones you have a contract with. Its up to them to make sure that they have reliable access to fuel. Is a power cut unforeseen circumstances, or is it something they should have anticipated and have a backup prepared for?
I'm leaning towards that they should have been able to have multiple/independent systems. Not just for redundancy, but having multiple (competing) sources for fuel may even drive down the price somewhat. Fuel is something extremely critical to their business - I believe they should have had better prepared to overcome these problems.
Having said that...the Dutch news widely reported that compensation would not be due as it was something unforeseen.
I'm leaning towards that they should have been able to have multiple/independent systems. Not just for redundancy, but having multiple (competing) sources for fuel may even drive down the price somewhat. Fuel is something extremely critical to their business - I believe they should have had better prepared to overcome these problems.
Having said that...the Dutch news widely reported that compensation would not be due as it was something unforeseen.