No "flat tire rule" in Europe...
Jul 27, 08, 5:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Delta GM, *G, BA Blue, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, LHW
Posts: 753
No "flat tire rule" in Europe...
I'll try to shorten this long story about a NW elite experience with KL in Europe, as we've all heard about how helpful (That is not possible, sir) the KL transfer desk at AMS can be. I suppose I'm posting this to warn others.
Last week, I flew AMS-CPH-AMS for work. Prior to booking that ticket, I booked a weekend trip AMS-FCO-AMS on KL. If all went to plan, I was to have a 2 hour or so connection in Schiphol where my itineraries basically merged (CPH-AMS-FCO) on Saturday afternoon (yesterday).
Well, all did not go to plan. A morning meeting on Saturday ran long, so I took a later CPH-AMS flight. No big deal - I paid the change fee and arrived into Schiphol in time to catch the last flight to Rome. I assumed I'd be able to pay a change fee, invoke the flat tire rule, standby for the last flight (which I knew had seats), whatever. As such, my interaction at the transfer desk caught me by surprise.
Me: I've missed my earlier flight to Rome. I would like to go to Rome tonight.
KL agent: I'm sorry, that is not possible. You're on the cheapest fare, and missing your earlier flight invalidated your whole itinerary. There are seats on the flight to Rome. I can sell you a one-way seat for €301, but then you'll have to also by a return ticket.
Me: $@#$#@$@#$ (All under my breath, of course. Further negotiation ensues. I inform her of US rules. She doesn't seem to care, not that I really expected her to.)
KL agent: OK, fine. I suppose I can sell you the lowest available round trip, tax free. Your total is €158.
Me: Deal.
Thought the whole thing was a bit odd -- disappearing flights, successful negotiation, a no-change-fee system, etc. I'll chalk it all up to my naivete unless anyone here says otherwise. I bought the original AMS-FCO ticket on Orbitz for a song and didn't read the fare rules, but I didn't expect my reservation to disappear three hours after the flight I was supposed to take. Has anyone else had such an experience intra-Europe?
Last week, I flew AMS-CPH-AMS for work. Prior to booking that ticket, I booked a weekend trip AMS-FCO-AMS on KL. If all went to plan, I was to have a 2 hour or so connection in Schiphol where my itineraries basically merged (CPH-AMS-FCO) on Saturday afternoon (yesterday).
Well, all did not go to plan. A morning meeting on Saturday ran long, so I took a later CPH-AMS flight. No big deal - I paid the change fee and arrived into Schiphol in time to catch the last flight to Rome. I assumed I'd be able to pay a change fee, invoke the flat tire rule, standby for the last flight (which I knew had seats), whatever. As such, my interaction at the transfer desk caught me by surprise.
Me: I've missed my earlier flight to Rome. I would like to go to Rome tonight.
KL agent: I'm sorry, that is not possible. You're on the cheapest fare, and missing your earlier flight invalidated your whole itinerary. There are seats on the flight to Rome. I can sell you a one-way seat for €301, but then you'll have to also by a return ticket.
Me: $@#$#@$@#$ (All under my breath, of course. Further negotiation ensues. I inform her of US rules. She doesn't seem to care, not that I really expected her to.)
KL agent: OK, fine. I suppose I can sell you the lowest available round trip, tax free. Your total is €158.
Me: Deal.
Thought the whole thing was a bit odd -- disappearing flights, successful negotiation, a no-change-fee system, etc. I'll chalk it all up to my naivete unless anyone here says otherwise. I bought the original AMS-FCO ticket on Orbitz for a song and didn't read the fare rules, but I didn't expect my reservation to disappear three hours after the flight I was supposed to take. Has anyone else had such an experience intra-Europe?
Jul 27, 08, 5:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: NWA WorldPerks
Posts: 83
Some KLM discount fare have no change penalty because the fare rules do not allow for a change of any kind. You fly what you buy or the ticket is forfeit.
Cheap ticket many rules and penalties....expensive ticket not so many.
Cheap ticket many rules and penalties....expensive ticket not so many.
Jul 27, 08, 5:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,691
In my years of flying in Asia, I never heard of the flat tire rule either, so I'm guessing it doesn't exist there either. Missing a non-refundable flight invalidates the rest of your itinerary.
The first I heard of it was when I moved to the US. Perhaps it only exists there.
The first I heard of it was when I moved to the US. Perhaps it only exists there.
Jul 27, 08, 5:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
I hope some day KL names one of their aircraft "This is not possible." It must be their corporate motto or something.
Jul 27, 08, 6:35 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold
Posts: 11,522
Many European airlines also do not permit free standby.
Say what you want, but U.S. travelers have had it very good with very lax rules - but also are the ones who scream the loudest when airlines start charging to things that other airlines around the world don't even permit.
Say what you want, but U.S. travelers have had it very good with very lax rules - but also are the ones who scream the loudest when airlines start charging to things that other airlines around the world don't even permit.
Jul 27, 08, 6:49 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Delta GM, *G, BA Blue, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, LHW
Posts: 753
Originally Posted by Savage25
Missing a non-refundable flight invalidates the rest of your itinerary.
Many European airlines also do not permit free standby.
Say what you want, but U.S. travelers have had it very good with very lax rules - but also are the ones who scream the loudest when airlines start charging to things that other airlines around the world don't even permit.
Say what you want, but U.S. travelers have had it very good with very lax rules - but also are the ones who scream the loudest when airlines start charging to things that other airlines around the world don't even permit.
The phrase "You don't realize what you've got until it's gone" seems apt here...
Jul 28, 08, 2:27 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,527
You could have also asked them to link the reservations on line and try to get as many boarding passes as possible when you checked in for your first flight. I have had a similar situation as you described where even though it was a cheap inflexible ticket they accommodated me for free. Can't guarantee it would always work and if you want to make sure, at least buy the semi-flexible fare class which permits changes.
In general, however, outside of the land of dying, broken airlines, inflexible tickets really are inflexible and flexible tickets are more expensive. Because most purchases < 24 hours do not qualify for the cheapest fares, those customers who value flexibility really are required to pay for it in advance versus the US model where you can buy the cheapest ticket and then fly standby earlier or on a later flight for free or a modest fee.
In general, however, outside of the land of dying, broken airlines, inflexible tickets really are inflexible and flexible tickets are more expensive. Because most purchases < 24 hours do not qualify for the cheapest fares, those customers who value flexibility really are required to pay for it in advance versus the US model where you can buy the cheapest ticket and then fly standby earlier or on a later flight for free or a modest fee.
