Compensation
Oct 31, 2017, 12:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,266
Compensation
Question here due to a cancelled KL flight.
2 separate tickets - KL and UA.
AMS-LHR on KL -- LHR-LAX on UA
AMS-LHR was cancelled due to mechanical which caused me to miss my LHR-LAX on UA and get a hotel for the night,
$1000 to UA for the change and $200 for a room at the T4 Hilton as I did not make it in time to catch another flight on UA that day.
What, if any, compensation should I be seeking from KL? The costs I incurred were a direct result of the mechanical cancellation of my KL flight.
2 separate tickets - KL and UA.
AMS-LHR on KL -- LHR-LAX on UA
AMS-LHR was cancelled due to mechanical which caused me to miss my LHR-LAX on UA and get a hotel for the night,
$1000 to UA for the change and $200 for a room at the T4 Hilton as I did not make it in time to catch another flight on UA that day.
What, if any, compensation should I be seeking from KL? The costs I incurred were a direct result of the mechanical cancellation of my KL flight.
Oct 31, 2017, 12:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
You are entitled to 250 EUR compensation under EU regulation 261. KLM is not responsible for consequential damages because you had a contract of carriage with them for your flight from Amsterdam to Heathrow.
Oct 31, 2017, 12:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,635
KL owes you nothing for consequential losses resulting from your missed United flight. You get the EU comp for your delayed arrival into LHR. All assuming separate tickets which is implied by the UA change fees
Oct 31, 2017, 12:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,410
Actually even 250€ might not be due, depends on how late OP actually arrived to LHR.
Oct 31, 2017, 1:16 pm
#7
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,333
Which travel insurance would cover missed connections on separate tickets? I have never seen such feature - if it does exist I would be very interested 
I'm thinking that the OP has left very little time for the transfer at LHR, as there are many flights between AMS and LHR each day. I would expect that either the next KLM flight, or BA as an alternative, would allow to arrive with less than 2hr delay?
I'm thinking that the OP has left very little time for the transfer at LHR, as there are many flights between AMS and LHR each day. I would expect that either the next KLM flight, or BA as an alternative, would allow to arrive with less than 2hr delay?
Oct 31, 2017, 1:40 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP - What time were you scheduled to arrive at LHR and at what time did you arrive at LHR? Put simply, what was the length of your delay at LHR?
Your separate ticket to LAX is irrelevant and any expenses you incurred for having missed the separate ticket flight are yours to bear.
I am sure that there is a reason for traveling on separate tickets, but when you do so, you do need to allow a good deal more time between your flights than on a connection because the risk of a now show is yours, not the carrier's.
Your separate ticket to LAX is irrelevant and any expenses you incurred for having missed the separate ticket flight are yours to bear.
I am sure that there is a reason for traveling on separate tickets, but when you do so, you do need to allow a good deal more time between your flights than on a connection because the risk of a now show is yours, not the carrier's.
Oct 31, 2017, 3:13 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: LAX IAH AMS
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 1,266
I booked two separate tickets because I prefer to fly United on the long haul segment. It’s a gamble but it works out most of the time as I live in Amsterdam but travel to Los Angeles frequently. Prefer to keep my status with United as most of my intra Europe travel is on KLM
KLM was not able to get me to LHR until the following morning. I ended up booking a separate ticket on British Airways to ensure that I would arrive that evening into Heathrow.
KLM has already offered me a €350 voucher which I will except based on your feedback. Thanks!
KLM was not able to get me to LHR until the following morning. I ended up booking a separate ticket on British Airways to ensure that I would arrive that evening into Heathrow.
KLM has already offered me a €350 voucher which I will except based on your feedback. Thanks!
Oct 31, 2017, 5:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 7,992
It's a gamble that might work usually, but then it's up to you to decide whether it's worth the cost when it doesn't.
FWIW the carrier has to get you to your destination at the earliest opportunity, not by their own flight or by an alliance carrier or whatever. You could have demanded rerouting on BA, but then YMMV on the success rate.
Oh and think about whether the voucher is worth it for you (especially if it's single use). Might be better off with 250 cash.
FWIW the carrier has to get you to your destination at the earliest opportunity, not by their own flight or by an alliance carrier or whatever. You could have demanded rerouting on BA, but then YMMV on the success rate.
Oh and think about whether the voucher is worth it for you (especially if it's single use). Might be better off with 250 cash.
Oct 31, 2017, 5:39 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,054
Prefer to keep my status with United as most of my intra Europe travel is on KLM
Oct 31, 2017, 6:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 177
For example: American Express Travel Insurance. Check out their 'Global Trip Delay' benefit description on page 14 of the policy.
(In this case, subsection 2(b) would be sufficient -- the departure of OP's original flight was delayed or cancelled, and he incurred hotel and additional flight expenses as a result.)
Oct 31, 2017, 6:50 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
In any event, KL and UA have an interline ticketing agreement. There is absolutely no reason why OP could not have purchased a single ticket for the same routing. In that case, he would have been due EUR 600 and had his hotel and meals covered.
As to rebooking on another carrier, while OP could have pushed for it, nothing in EC 261/2004 requires "earliest opportunity." Doesn't mean KL would not have rebooked, but it's important not to make legal arguments to staff which are not backed up.
Finally, when KL cancelled its flight, OP was entitled to a refund of his KL ticket and purchased any other carrier if he wished.
As to rebooking on another carrier, while OP could have pushed for it, nothing in EC 261/2004 requires "earliest opportunity." Doesn't mean KL would not have rebooked, but it's important not to make legal arguments to staff which are not backed up.
Finally, when KL cancelled its flight, OP was entitled to a refund of his KL ticket and purchased any other carrier if he wished.
Oct 31, 2017, 6:57 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,474
