ANstar

Unfortunately slots don't always make sense on how they are given. Even though so many flights were cancelled the airports ability to service the remaining flights was still limited.

irishguy28

Indeed; however, de-icing can be expected to be required almost daily for extended periods in OSL. As such, it makes sense to have increased staff numbers for the winter, as a large proportion of groundstaff will be tied-up with de-icing and all the other ground handling activities need to be done. As such, planning how many staff are needed is easier when there is a more consistent winter.

What makes you think that KLM is the sole provider of de-icing at Schiphol? Their website says only that they are the largest.

And you surely don't think that the "volunteers" are merely untrained, unqualified staff, or indeed the only staff that provide de-icing services; you also surely don't expect that there is a group of underemployed professional de-icers huddling outside Schiphol every morning, not having worked since last February, kicking their heels and waiting, on the off chance that the airport will drive down to round up a group for a day's work who can be called upon when required, in place of the "volunteers" that so irk you.

I would expect ALL airports and organisations, where there are short-term spikes in demand for a certain service, would request volunteers; better that than having employees' leave cancelled unilaterally, and finding yourself temporarily assigned for a duty you didn't indicate a willingness to do.

But let me turn the question around on you - can you name any airport - other than Oslo or any airport that has snow on the ground for more than a month per year - where de-icing does NOT rely on access to trained "volunteers"?

troje

For those who travel today from Schiphol; it's a big mess here. The estimated waiting times are not correct. Access to Departures 1 and 2 buildings had to be closed this morning. I entered the building through the Departures 3 doors and found mayhem at the staircases towards security. Staff had to close the lines for the boarding pass scanners. Kmar officers on the stairs checking all pax. Lines for security in their maximum capacity. Priority line actively managed but be aware that it might take you a while to get there.

troje

Queue towards the staircase of Departures 3. Just after the boarding pass scanners.

ABZMike

Yes, pretty chaotic. Small tip... I was not able to get my boarding card from KLM app or website, but got it on the Air France app. May help someone.

johan rebel

I wouldn't, and I hope no other airports besides AMS do.

A professional airport providing a professional deicing service will, if demand is only intermittent and seasonal, not rely on volunteers. Instead, they will select suitably qualified employees and include deicing in their job descriptions. I should imagine that they pick employees who already have useful qualifications and jobs in such fields as engineering, operating heavy vehicles, and so forth; and not secretaries, janitors and what have you.

Even under more normal circumstances, deicing at AMS is slow and cumbersome. If you don't want to compare with OSL, then try CPH (with a climate not much different from AMS). At Schiphol it doesn't really help any either that the deicing facilities at the J apron are very inconventiently located if aircraft are taking off from any other runways than the Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan.

Johan

irishguy28

So you think that these tasks are beyond the abilities of "secretaries, janitors and what have you"?

All staff are fully trained. It's not like they go past the staff lounge and grab anyone they find there and march them outside to de-ice planes!

johan rebel

I've spoken to a substantial number of affected pax today, in addtion to colleagues who have finally turned up. Mostly KLM passengers, but also Easyjet and Ryanair customers. The unanimous conclusion is that KLM Customer Care suffered a catastrophic breakdown. The vast majority were completely unsuccessful in their attempts to reach anyone at Customer Care at all, by any means. A few lucky ones got hotel accommodation and a very generous £20 per person to pay for meals by queueing for ages at outstations.

Johan

orbitmic

To go back to topic, are things expected to get back to normal today? I see the weather forecast mixes clouds and rain and so far all flights look scheduled and on time but what time did ol confirmcancellations in recent days??

Ditto

Clouds & Rain is normal AMS weather, should be fine

tezzer

I preemptively called the VIP line yesterday morning as 2 out of 3 Humberside flights the day before were cancelled, and the early morning one was leaving after the STD of the lunchtime flight. I enquired as to the likelihood of my flight being on time or going at all and was given the advice not to travel via AMS if at all possible.
I was first offered a re-booking on Singapore Airlines, but that would have been too late for my presentation tomorrow.
A re-jig got me on the 13.20 to DXB with an onwards connection to CGK which actually got me in earlier than if I'd waited for the KLM flight (which actually operated).

Great work by the staff, who rebooked me on EK who's service is as good / bad as you expect, rotten on the 380, much better on the 777 due to numbers.

Carel1

You were absolutely right. I filed complaint on Monday en KLM Customer Service called me today. They told me the reason was a lack of crew. I received apologies and 2 vouchers of € 350 (one for me and one for my wife).

KL803

That was quick: I received miles for my original flights today in my account, just 2 days after I sent the request. Customer Service promised me 8000 compensation miles, too. These haven't posted yet.

johan rebel

Since my previous post I've spoken to a considerable number of pax who had flights out of AMS, including connecting pax who arrived on KL longhauls. Without exception they were simply left entirely to their own devices, the only option being to wait for many hours in the queue of their choice, without any guarantee of getting any meaningful help.

Complete customer care meltdown.

Johan

johan rebel

Indeed, and it is not what I'm suggesting.

What I'm questioning is whether the largest the largest AMS deicing operation should rely on volunteers, people who may perhaps have signed up because they look forward to a break from filing reports in cabinets or sorting bags.

Johan