Hello,

I've an upcoming KLM trip from Sweden to France (via Amsterdam), with a ticket that permits no changes. While technicaly a legal connection, the time between my two flights is tight, and I could conceivably miss the connection.

As things go, I wouldn't mind ending my trip in AMS, instead of continuing to France. Indeed, I'd even prefer to do so.

So, my questions are as follows:

1) In Sweden, will I be able to short-check my bag to AMS, and just NO-SHOW the last flight? (It's the return of a R/T, so I'm not worried about the itinerary canceling)

2) Alterntately, if I dilly-dally a bit and miss the connection, will my bag already have made its way to France? Will they return it to AMS on my request, or must I go to France to collect it on the next flight?

3) If I authentically miss the connection (due to the short connection time), same question as #2?

Thanks for the advice.

Checkerboard

I believe that, in case of a missed connection, your luggage will be held back at AMS and put on the flight you were rebooked on. That's the theory, at least.

And if the next available flight isn't until the next day?

My partner misconnected between MNL and OSL two weeks ago because the MNL AMS flight was late. He was given hotel accommodation but the luggage didn't come out and he was told that it would be put on his new AMS OSL flight and by wonder it did.

I missed a connection from AMS to SVG on my last trip due to weather related delay from origin of LBA in the UK on a non-refun/non-reroute/non-rebook E fare.

Head straight to the transfer desk. My partner and I were re-booked onto the next available flight and upgraded to Europe Select! Woot! 6hrs doesn't seem so bad when it is clouded in bubbles.... (edit: and that is with an ivory/petroleum club card)

Under the new EU legislation, an airline is obliged to rebook free of charge if you miss a flight due to "circumstances that could not reasonably have been forseen" and they are obliged to look after you if you are stranded including but not limited to overnight accomodation. This is, of course, if your outward and onward journey are with the same carrier or codeshare and you are originating, transiting or destined for an airport in the EU.

This legislation though has not been tested in court - so good luck with an appeal

KLM should reroute you to the next flight of the last leg. If next flight is available only the next day, they should propose you a night accomodation. this has happened to me sometimes. But the condition for this is that the two legs would have been sold together as a package, to make sure it's a "legal connection" assumed by KLM.

If delay is more than 2 hours, they would give you a voucher with telephone units, and choice between 10 euros to expend for food, or 2000 non status miles. I have accumulated a number of these in last september...

If you want to play that game, just don't check any luggage, as the airline may well refuse to release them to you in AMS and tell you you have to collect them in France.
If you have a tight connection, asking them to short-check to AMS is tantamount to openly declaring that you will not fly the last leg, which is asking for trouble as they may reassess and charge you for one-ways, which is bound to be substantially more expensive.

NickB, that's also more or less what I imagined the worst case, by-the-books scenario would be. If I could avoid checking a bag, the solution would be obvious; but as I'm obliged to do so, I'm hoping to find a way out of it...

It seems crazy to fly through the very place I'd now like to go, held prisioner merely by a bag I can't retrieve. Can you (or anyone else) think of a creative, convincing strategy to help avoid such an absurdity?

Thanks in advance for the brainstorming.

Checkerboard

You say your connection is short. How short in minutes is it?

Amsterdam is very easy to connect thru. If its the last leg, just don't check any bags and you'll be fine...

40 minutes... the bare minimum for a legal connection in AMS: difficult to make on a good day.

I think 40 minutes is not so bad if things are on time. AMS is a pretty good airport for a transfer.

Few days ago, a group of a dozen friends missed a connection from AMS,
and they were re-booked even before they arrived.

I think KLM handled it pretty well.

If you just have hand luggage, you might be able to make short connections
if the first flight is delayed by a few minutes.

The point is, oddly enough, I'd prefer NOT to be re-accomodated. To the contrary, my plans have changed since I purchased these tickets, and I'd really just like to stay in AMS.

I was hoping it might be possible to use this short connecting time to my advantage, in order to help achieve the outcome I desire... however, if KLM are so very effecient at rebooking people, then I suppose they'll be equally efficient at rebooking bags.

As the next available KL flight to my final destination will only depart the following day, I wonder if KL will release my checked-bag to me while I'm overnighting in AMS. If so, I'd be most pleased.

Does anyone have any experience with this? If it seems like I'll miss the connection anyway, and I don't wish to be separated from my bag, maybe ground-staff in Sweden will just short-check the bag to AMS? How's the best way to request this?

Thanks for your continued thoughts.

Checkerboard

What if upon arrival in AMS you inform them that you are feeling VERY unwell and that you don't think you'll be able to continue with your journey.

I somehow doubt they will force a sick passenger to board a flight and risk a delay/diversion etc

tell them about the very important business appointment, but since you 'missed' your flight you have no reason to fly to your destination anymore (maybe you can get some goodwill miles out of this as well ).