Mess in AMS today - April 2022 onwards
Apr 23, 22, 11:42 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dubai
Programs: BA Silver, FB Plat, EK Gold, BonvoyAmb
Posts: 2,019
Had my BOD to AMS cancel - missing connection to DXB. Re-routed via CDG but arriving 6 hours after original arrival.. with it being KLM ground handlers doing the strike action will EU261 be valid claim?
Apr 23, 22, 11:56 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: ARN
Programs: AF, BA, SK, Marriott & Hilton
Posts: 129
Wife and Kids have been waiting 5 hours in the queue (AND counting) to get rebooked....nothing is happening.
Platimun line is not working, Help service at the lounge cannot rebook....no sky priority at transfer desk....
Chaos....
Platimun line is not working, Help service at the lounge cannot rebook....no sky priority at transfer desk....
Chaos....
Apr 23, 22, 12:04 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,356
I suppose so, the flight could have operated without luggage being loaded (as they sometimes do).
Apr 23, 22, 12:51 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: Flying Blue silver
Posts: 160
I was at SPL this morning at 6 AM, ready for a day at work as an airport rep. You know, these people holding up signs for all those (river) cruise companies. I thought i had an easy first transfer, 2 pax on DL 46 from JFK and 13 pax on DL 70 from ATL. Both flights were late this morning. The pax from JFK arrived with their luggage, no problem. ATL pax however, did not exit from customs. We had no idea, as there was no information at all. Eventually, 4 people arrived landside. I asked them if they had a PIR. No, they said, they had filled out a report and given that to KLM lost and found. No copy was given to them, it was not a proper PIR. In short: approximately 25 pax have been transfered to their rivercuise ship without luggage and without a report/PIR/file reference. The cruisedirector and concierge on that ship try reaching KL by phone, whatsup, twitter, facebook....the got (not surprisingly) no reply at all and are unable to reach anybody at KLM. So reality is now that the ship is starting to sail away from Amsterdam tonight. With 25 or so pax on board without luggage. With 25 or so pax on board without filenumber, nothing to refer to. With KLM not answering calls, messenger, whatsapp.
I have been on those ships for many years and have had my share of IRROPS but i am surely not jealous of those on board who have to deal with 25 pax without luggage. They show up at your desk every 15 mins. And it is so frustrating, as you have no chance to do anything. Then, later, SPL got closed off, and our drivers were unable to pick up passengers to bring them to the ships. So, we told them: your wait here will be around 3 hours, but nothing is for sure......
Just want to draw your attention also to this side of the drama that unfolder today at SPL. Not only departing pax was hell, arriving pax as well. I am home, enjoying some wine........
I have been on those ships for many years and have had my share of IRROPS but i am surely not jealous of those on board who have to deal with 25 pax without luggage. They show up at your desk every 15 mins. And it is so frustrating, as you have no chance to do anything. Then, later, SPL got closed off, and our drivers were unable to pick up passengers to bring them to the ships. So, we told them: your wait here will be around 3 hours, but nothing is for sure......
Just want to draw your attention also to this side of the drama that unfolder today at SPL. Not only departing pax was hell, arriving pax as well. I am home, enjoying some wine........
Apr 23, 22, 1:44 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Apr 23, 22, 3:26 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 695
I was trying to fly from AMS to BLL today. First on the Kl 1343departing at 10:05 and I was at 8:15 at the airport. Already there the airport was totally packed and couldnt even get come to SkyPriority security. The lounge wasnt full at the time, maybe 70% but that changed within 30 min with pax queuing up the stainless steel poles outside.
At 9:30 the KL1343 was canceled and the whole departure screen was red. The service desk was overcrowded. But I got rebooked on the KL 1345 at 12:55 and until that point I still thought it was due to runway construction and unfavorable winds.
But on FlightRadar I could see there wasnt an aircraft assigned to that flight and I knew we were in chaos. At that point news came regarding the strike but the peak in chaos in lounge came when no one was allowed to come in anymore and there were signs hanging to find a hotel because there wasnt a solution. The poor ladies at the desks were working extremely hard and probably had the hardest day of 2022 so far. People were desperate and many with small children.
The KL 1345 got canceled as well, as expected and I was rebooked on the KL1341on Tuesday the 26th! 3 days later. PSL was available but didnt want to put me on a earlier flight because Y was sold out and J was not an option.
Also alternative routes were not an option. Also not an alien airline. Nothing was possible. Even not as a Platinum member.
So now Im stuck.
At 9:30 the KL1343 was canceled and the whole departure screen was red. The service desk was overcrowded. But I got rebooked on the KL 1345 at 12:55 and until that point I still thought it was due to runway construction and unfavorable winds.
But on FlightRadar I could see there wasnt an aircraft assigned to that flight and I knew we were in chaos. At that point news came regarding the strike but the peak in chaos in lounge came when no one was allowed to come in anymore and there were signs hanging to find a hotel because there wasnt a solution. The poor ladies at the desks were working extremely hard and probably had the hardest day of 2022 so far. People were desperate and many with small children.
The KL 1345 got canceled as well, as expected and I was rebooked on the KL1341on Tuesday the 26th! 3 days later. PSL was available but didnt want to put me on a earlier flight because Y was sold out and J was not an option.
Also alternative routes were not an option. Also not an alien airline. Nothing was possible. Even not as a Platinum member.
So now Im stuck.
Last edited by BobTL; Apr 23, 22 at 3:34 pm
Apr 23, 22, 4:05 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Norway & Brazil
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, ALL Platinum, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 605
I have to admit, I am quite hesitant to transiting at AMS tomorrow. Is there any indication to whether the situation will improve? The wind issue seems like it will remain.
Apr 23, 22, 4:50 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Winds on Sunday are forecast to be moderate northeasterly, today they were mostly easterly. Don't think that will make much of a difference, though. Those two runways will undoubtedly be just as closed tomorrow as they were today.
Looking on the bright side, only seven KL flights were canceled this evening, with most of the rest listed as on time, and the remainder only slightly delayed. Almost back to normal, in other words.
The number of canceled KL flights on Sunday currently stands at 18. A number of Sunday longhauls are already listed as delayed by exactly 60 minutes. My guess is that those flights have lots of connecting pax arriving on longhaul flights that will arrive late tomorrow due to the very late departure of the outbound flights today.
I'll put my money on an improvement (it probably can't get any worse than today anyhow). If nothing else, they will probably try to keep cancelations to an absolute minimum, given the number of stranded pax they need to get on their way. Many flights will no doubt be packed, and delays are to be expected.
Johan
Looking on the bright side, only seven KL flights were canceled this evening, with most of the rest listed as on time, and the remainder only slightly delayed. Almost back to normal, in other words.
The number of canceled KL flights on Sunday currently stands at 18. A number of Sunday longhauls are already listed as delayed by exactly 60 minutes. My guess is that those flights have lots of connecting pax arriving on longhaul flights that will arrive late tomorrow due to the very late departure of the outbound flights today.
I'll put my money on an improvement (it probably can't get any worse than today anyhow). If nothing else, they will probably try to keep cancelations to an absolute minimum, given the number of stranded pax they need to get on their way. Many flights will no doubt be packed, and delays are to be expected.
Johan
Apr 24, 22, 1:15 am
#41
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 695
I was trying to fly from AMS to BLL today. First on the Kl 1343departing at 10:05 and I was at 8:15 at the airport. Already there the airport was totally packed and couldnt even get come to SkyPriority security. The lounge wasnt full at the time, maybe 70% but that changed within 30 min with pax queuing up the stainless steel poles outside.
At 9:30 the KL1343 was canceled and the whole departure screen was red. The service desk was overcrowded. But I got rebooked on the KL 1345 at 12:55 and until that point I still thought it was due to runway construction and unfavorable winds.
But on FlightRadar I could see there wasnt an aircraft assigned to that flight and I knew we were in chaos. At that point news came regarding the strike but the peak in chaos in lounge came when no one was allowed to come in anymore and there were signs hanging to find a hotel because there wasnt a solution. The poor ladies at the desks were working extremely hard and probably had the hardest day of 2022 so far. People were desperate and many with small children.
The KL 1345 got canceled as well, as expected and I was rebooked on the KL1341on Tuesday the 26th! 3 days later. PSL was available but didnt want to put me on a earlier flight because Y was sold out and J was not an option.
Also alternative routes were not an option. Also not an alien airline. Nothing was possible. Even not as a Platinum member.
So now Im stuck.
At 9:30 the KL1343 was canceled and the whole departure screen was red. The service desk was overcrowded. But I got rebooked on the KL 1345 at 12:55 and until that point I still thought it was due to runway construction and unfavorable winds.
But on FlightRadar I could see there wasnt an aircraft assigned to that flight and I knew we were in chaos. At that point news came regarding the strike but the peak in chaos in lounge came when no one was allowed to come in anymore and there were signs hanging to find a hotel because there wasnt a solution. The poor ladies at the desks were working extremely hard and probably had the hardest day of 2022 so far. People were desperate and many with small children.
The KL 1345 got canceled as well, as expected and I was rebooked on the KL1341on Tuesday the 26th! 3 days later. PSL was available but didnt want to put me on a earlier flight because Y was sold out and J was not an option.
Also alternative routes were not an option. Also not an alien airline. Nothing was possible. Even not as a Platinum member.
So now Im stuck.
when I opened my eyes at 6:30 AM I checked first thing if there were any earlier flights available and there the KL1341 popped up, 8:25 departure.
I called the Dutch PSL, yesterday not available, and was rebooked. Funnily enough the international one based in Prague I believe wasnt available. Too busy. Anyway, So I was in a rush to check out of the hotel, eat breakfast and rush to the airport.
Once arrived everything seems normal. Only US incoming flights are delayed thus also the departing ones later today but moderate delays of 30-60 minutes. Could be worse.
Cityhopper is operating well and to my surprise this KL1341 is only 50% full!
Apr 24, 22, 2:58 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
I've been keeping a beady eye on ARN. Yesterday evening there was not a single seat available on any flight today, but there were still a few open tomorrow, Monday. This morning availability is still nil for today, and for tomorrow they are now only offering two seats via CDG, with an overnight layover and at an extortionate price. Tuesday wide open.
Until 9.30 this moring everything was fine at Schiphol, with all KL flights but one on time, except for the four that were canceled.
Second half of the morning looks worse, but nowhere near as bad as yesterday
Rest of the day is anybody's guess.
Johan
Apr 24, 22, 3:47 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Arrivals a right mess today
Early morning it was mainly the incoming longhauls that were severely delayed (2 - 4+ hours), but starting midmorning just about every incoming KL flight is running late, mostly 30 - 60 minutes.
As an example, KL1341 AMS-BLL was on time, yet the return KL1342 is now expected an hour late. Maybe later, because although the aircraft pushed back only 12 minutes behind schedule, it is currently still on the ground at BLL, presumably waiting for a slot. No doubt due to the single runway available for landings.
Schiphol's decision to close two runways for maintenance simultaneously is surely the brightest idea in commercial aviation so far this year.
As an example, KL1341 AMS-BLL was on time, yet the return KL1342 is now expected an hour late. Maybe later, because although the aircraft pushed back only 12 minutes behind schedule, it is currently still on the ground at BLL, presumably waiting for a slot. No doubt due to the single runway available for landings.
Schiphol's decision to close two runways for maintenance simultaneously is surely the brightest idea in commercial aviation so far this year.
