KLM changed my flight time
 

Hi all
Just after some advise please. We have a flight booked with KLM (Business lite) in January 2025. I went on to the app yesterday and noticed that our flight time has changed, by about an hour. No big deal as its only an hour but what did bother me was that I had no notification of this via email or in the app. I did contact KLM via social media and they did confirm the flight change and apologise for not informing us. I will be checking the app and time regularly just in case. My question is as we have booked business lite we know we would have a fee to change our flights, but can we change it for free if they change the flight time and it doesn't suit us? Is there a specific amount of hours that the flight has to change for us to be able to change the flight for free. This did happen to us on Air france last year however they changed the flight by a whole day. Thanks for you help.

My two-cents: keep it like this as it is still 8 months away; there can be other changes in the Autumn.

You can have another check before booking accommodations. IMO, AF/KL is usually quite generous in terms of schedule changes and they will usually grant you free changes even their flight is late by 1 hour.

Also, what would you define as "no longer fits you"? What is your current itinerary? Do you prefer having fewer stopovers? Do you prefer leaving earlier or later? Do you prefer CDG or AMS? Do you have to arrive at your destination by certain time?

My two-cents: keep it like this as it is still 8 months away; there can be other changes in the Autumn.

Funny you should say that as when I search for the flight on KLM with the link they provided me our flight from Amsterdam to Narita KL861 doesn’t show up after August.

You can have another check before booking accommodations. IMO, AF/KL is usually quite generous in terms of schedule changes and they will usually grant you free changes even their flight is late by 1 hour.

We book accommodation with free cancellation up until a week before check in so hopefully all good there. That’s interesting regarding them being that generous with free changes. Return flight departs first leg 1hr 5 mins later (layover is shortened but 2nd leg of flight still gets in at same of 10pm (wouldn’t mind changing the return flight to land back in the U.K. earlier) These flight were so much more expensive he why we booked the late one.

Also, what would you define as "no longer fits you"? What is your current itinerary? Do you prefer having fewer stopovers? Do you prefer leaving earlier or later? Do you prefer CDG or AMS? Do you have to arrive at your destination by certain time

We don’t mind which the layover airport is. We want to keep it to 1 stopover. Doesn’t matter what time we arrive at destination.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated

If all that the change does is shorten your layover how can it 'not suit' you?
Even under EC261 that wouldn't give you anything, unlike having to leave earlier or arriving later.

Like I said in original post, an hour is no big deal, and not after compensation. Just options to change the flight should anymore changes happen. Thanks for your help much appreciated 🙂

Note that EC261applies for schedule changes within two weeks of the scheduled flight time, but you're not protected by EC regulations for changes before then. Yet it can be very expensive to rebook tickets that were purchased much earlier. Some airlines such as DL have more generous policies about thresholds that entitle you to a free rebooking or cancellation.

This is false.

All the EC261/2004 protections apply regardless of advance notice, especially Right to reimbursement or re-routing.

Only thing limited by time or circumstance is compensation

Just discovered KLM changed my flight time from 0600h on 23rd to 1725h on 23rd. Had no notice & it was only bc my parents asked me to check time for ride to airport. So now I arrive at 11pm instead of 11am.

Their customer services are denying any change, despite me screenshotting itinery 2 days ago for my hotel transfer. Looking online the 0600h flight is still available although the connecting flight that I had seat reserved on as per screenshot is now 5x the price. So they've clearly bumped me for a more expensive ticket.

But where do I stand as they sent no confirmation when I booked 3 month ago, so only have the screenshot and evidence that an extra 2 flights are attached to my booking.

Screenshot from 2 days ago saved

They didn't send you a confirmation when you booked the flight initially? This sounds odd... Can you dig through your email and try to find one?
Depends where you took the screenshot too. If it's just flight info with no personal identifying info, that would be difficult to prove that it's your itinerary as well.

When you book you always get an email with the itinerary, PNR, including airports of departure and arrival and times. Not having a confirmation is near impossible. Or did you book via an online travel agent (OTA)? Also they sent such information. If there is a schedule change, a bad operating OTA may not sent you information on the change. That is why it is advisable to always check your itinerary with PNR and last name at the airline.

That the ticket now may be 5 times as expensive when you bought it can be quite normal - it is very short before the flight, and then they try to sell the last seats for the best prices they can. Lots of people probably look for last minute tickets to be home or with family before X-mas.

The only email they sent at time of booking was the insurance I took out with them at same time as booking. My booking was made through their app and all details held within the my trips section.

I've just been on phone to them & they confirm they have changed my flight for operational reasons beyond their control (to sell at a higher price I imagine). But they can place me back on the flight just not in my original extra legroom seat.

Disgusting all round from them

Sounds like the flight might have been cancelled then reinstated shortly, but you were reaccommodated already. That, or they rebooked you due to lower capacity and now will boot someone else off.

still, shameful.

Yeah that sucks. :( hopefully you didn't pay extra for that seat, otherwise they should def be refunding you!