NW/KLM Schedule Change - advice needed - longish
Feb 4, 2009, 6:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
NW/KLM Schedule Change - advice needed - longish
Hope this is posted in the right section...?
My wife and myself were due to fly directly from Amsterdam to JFK, New York. This will be our first visit to the USA and we are really looking forward to the trip. But, we are very concerned about our flights and are hoping that you may be able to offer some advice.
The flight timings that were originally given to us were fine – no problems. We have since discovered that our flight timings have changed. Instead of a direct flight to JFK we now go to Detroit – eight and a half hour flight (wait over 3 hours) – then a two hour flight to JFK arriving after 11pm - compared to our direct flight from Amsterdam to JFK lasting around 8 hours.
We have contacted KLM direct and they have informed us that there is nothing they can do to help and advised us to contact Expedia – who have also informed us that there is nothing they can do either, saying that it is the airlines schedule change.
Original: Depart Manchester (UK) at 13:35 Arrive JFK 20:15 nearly 8 hours flying from Amsterdam (flight no.NW8643)
New Timings: Depart Manchester (UK) at 11:30 Arrive JFK 23:09 – nearly 11 hours flying from Amsterdam (flight no. 47)
From a ‘rough’ search it would appear that our original flight is stay operational with the flight no. KL643. Have we been, ‘bumped’ from the flight and placed on a totally inconvenient one?
Is there anything/anyone we could contact that may be able to arrange a direct flight?
Apologies for the length and I hope the above makes some kind of sense.
Really appreciate any advice.
Something about a, ‘wing and a prayer’…
Take care,
Greg & Marie
My wife and myself were due to fly directly from Amsterdam to JFK, New York. This will be our first visit to the USA and we are really looking forward to the trip. But, we are very concerned about our flights and are hoping that you may be able to offer some advice.
The flight timings that were originally given to us were fine – no problems. We have since discovered that our flight timings have changed. Instead of a direct flight to JFK we now go to Detroit – eight and a half hour flight (wait over 3 hours) – then a two hour flight to JFK arriving after 11pm - compared to our direct flight from Amsterdam to JFK lasting around 8 hours.
We have contacted KLM direct and they have informed us that there is nothing they can do to help and advised us to contact Expedia – who have also informed us that there is nothing they can do either, saying that it is the airlines schedule change.
Original: Depart Manchester (UK) at 13:35 Arrive JFK 20:15 nearly 8 hours flying from Amsterdam (flight no.NW8643)
New Timings: Depart Manchester (UK) at 11:30 Arrive JFK 23:09 – nearly 11 hours flying from Amsterdam (flight no. 47)
From a ‘rough’ search it would appear that our original flight is stay operational with the flight no. KL643. Have we been, ‘bumped’ from the flight and placed on a totally inconvenient one?
Is there anything/anyone we could contact that may be able to arrange a direct flight?
Apologies for the length and I hope the above makes some kind of sense.
Really appreciate any advice.
Something about a, ‘wing and a prayer’…
Take care,
Greg & Marie
Feb 4, 2009, 7:16 am
#2
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
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LM467, welcome to FlyerTalk. As it appears that your flights involve several SkyTeam alliance carriers, let me move this to our SkyTeam forum for further suggestions and discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Feb 4, 2009, 9:23 am
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Welcome to FlyerTalk!!
Your original flight still exists so it is not particularly clear why you were shifted to an alternate routing. I would call the airline back and insist that they address this issue with you. If they claim that the travel agent has to deal with it then insist that they set up a conference call so that all three parties can be on the phone at the same time. The 6:20pm AMS-JFK flight is most certainly still operating so there is no good reason for them to have shifted you to the DTW routing and delayed your arrival in NYC by 3 hours. There are also flights from AMS to EWR that you can consider and earlier flights that would require an earlier departure from MAN but would still get you in to JFK or EWR without the crazy re-route.
Your original flight still exists so it is not particularly clear why you were shifted to an alternate routing. I would call the airline back and insist that they address this issue with you. If they claim that the travel agent has to deal with it then insist that they set up a conference call so that all three parties can be on the phone at the same time. The 6:20pm AMS-JFK flight is most certainly still operating so there is no good reason for them to have shifted you to the DTW routing and delayed your arrival in NYC by 3 hours. There are also flights from AMS to EWR that you can consider and earlier flights that would require an earlier departure from MAN but would still get you in to JFK or EWR without the crazy re-route.
Feb 4, 2009, 10:49 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
Thank you very much indeed for the help. This being our first visit, 'across the pond', we are a little confused by all this and left wondering what to do about it. So, your support is very much appreciated.
I will try contacting NW airlines rather than KLM in the hope that they may be more responsive. When talking to KLM, the response was clearly a, 'fob-off'.
I'll let you know how things develop.
Once again many thanks.
Take care,
Greg
I will try contacting NW airlines rather than KLM in the hope that they may be more responsive. When talking to KLM, the response was clearly a, 'fob-off'.
I'll let you know how things develop.
Once again many thanks.
Take care,
Greg
Feb 4, 2009, 10:56 am
#7
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If you have the NW record locator, you may be able to find alternate flights on NWA.com assuming you have not accepted the reroute.
Go to Change, Upgrade or Cancel Reservation and then pull down Northwest Schedule Changes
Go to Change, Upgrade or Cancel Reservation and then pull down Northwest Schedule Changes
Feb 4, 2009, 1:38 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
Hi,
Sorted!
First of all, when we went to 'Northwest Schedule Changes', it would not allow us to make any changes - bit of a dead end. Also, we were told my NW that the airline has indeed cancelled the direct flights, NW8643 and KLM643.
However, I did phone NW and spoke to a very nice person called Ali. He was quite understanding with our dilema. After a longish telephone conversation he managed to rearrange our flight to Saturday 4th April. More time in New York!
UK to Amsterdam: Depart 1:35pm Arrive 4:05pm. Depart Amsterdam 6:20pm Arrive New York 8:10pm - 7hrs 50mts from Amsterdam to New York. Much better than via Detroit (no offence to Detroit).
The aircraft is a 747-400 and we have been assigned seats 40J and 4K. Never been on such a large plane. Because we have booked thru KLM, NW told us that we cannot choose our seats via their (NW) website. Is there a way around this? Would be nice to have a, 'good seat', or am I asking too much?
Both KLM and Expedia = very poor.
NW = I'm very impressed! (Bit of a slogan there...).
After spending four days in NY, we take the Amtrak train to San Francisco, spend four days there, before flying back to JFK with Jet Blue, whom we have heard several excellent reports about. Spend a few more days in NY, before flying back via Newark on the A330. Really looking forward to it all!
Many thanks for all your help and advice - very much appreciated! And if anyone has any ideas on how to get a good seat..?
Take care,
Greg
Sorted!
First of all, when we went to 'Northwest Schedule Changes', it would not allow us to make any changes - bit of a dead end. Also, we were told my NW that the airline has indeed cancelled the direct flights, NW8643 and KLM643.
However, I did phone NW and spoke to a very nice person called Ali. He was quite understanding with our dilema. After a longish telephone conversation he managed to rearrange our flight to Saturday 4th April. More time in New York!
UK to Amsterdam: Depart 1:35pm Arrive 4:05pm. Depart Amsterdam 6:20pm Arrive New York 8:10pm - 7hrs 50mts from Amsterdam to New York. Much better than via Detroit (no offence to Detroit).
The aircraft is a 747-400 and we have been assigned seats 40J and 4K. Never been on such a large plane. Because we have booked thru KLM, NW told us that we cannot choose our seats via their (NW) website. Is there a way around this? Would be nice to have a, 'good seat', or am I asking too much?
Both KLM and Expedia = very poor.
NW = I'm very impressed! (Bit of a slogan there...).
After spending four days in NY, we take the Amtrak train to San Francisco, spend four days there, before flying back to JFK with Jet Blue, whom we have heard several excellent reports about. Spend a few more days in NY, before flying back via Newark on the A330. Really looking forward to it all!
Many thanks for all your help and advice - very much appreciated! And if anyone has any ideas on how to get a good seat..?
Take care,
Greg
Feb 4, 2009, 1:48 pm
#9
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
If you are in Europe and dealing with NW/KL you actually end up talking to KL no matter what. So don't spend extra money to call over to the USA number. Sorry for the confusion on that one.
Either way, they were definitely trying to fob you off. Call back and get someone who can work with you.
Either way, they were definitely trying to fob you off. Call back and get someone who can work with you.
Feb 4, 2009, 3:16 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
Hi,
We are in the UK (North of England) and certainly no apology is necessary. Just glad that we found this forum and grateful for the help and advice that you and others have freely given.
Just not sure on the seating arrangements as we are unable to access the NW web site seat selection process. Can you help or should I post this query to another forum. If so which one?
Once again many thanks.
Take care,
Greg
We are in the UK (North of England) and certainly no apology is necessary. Just glad that we found this forum and grateful for the help and advice that you and others have freely given.
Just not sure on the seating arrangements as we are unable to access the NW web site seat selection process. Can you help or should I post this query to another forum. If so which one?
Once again many thanks.
Take care,
Greg
Feb 4, 2009, 3:46 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Air France being the owner of the KLM brand, and having slightly less unpleasant agents manning the phones, you can call your local Air France reservation number for your KLM seat assignments.
As the flight appears to be already nearly sold out, it is doubtful you could do much better than your current assignment. You could however move to the middle section, where a couple wouldn't need to disturb/be disturbed when getting up for a 'pitstop'. The coach cabin being almost entirely over the wing in this aircraft, you wouldn't be losing much of a view.
Feb 4, 2009, 4:05 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
Hi,
Thanks for the info' - much appreciated. The aircraft is a 747-400 and we have been assigned seats 40J and 40K.
We were just wondering if we could access the NW web site seat selection process or KLM or Air France? It looks as if, we are unable to do it.
Many thanks for your advice.
Greg
Thanks for the info' - much appreciated. The aircraft is a 747-400 and we have been assigned seats 40J and 40K.
We were just wondering if we could access the NW web site seat selection process or KLM or Air France? It looks as if, we are unable to do it.
Many thanks for your advice.
Greg
Feb 4, 2009, 4:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
I don't recall a corresponding facility on the KLM website (you could try here , I don't have a current KLM booking to check if a seatmap is offered).
I do know one can select a seat online on Air France/(KLM?) flights, under the Book online\Your reservations heading on any Air France local website. It may or may not work for third-party bookings such as yours.
Feb 5, 2009, 11:36 am
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Location: West Yorks, UK
Programs: UA Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 361
If you have a KL or AF PNR ( a 6 digit alphanumeric which Expedia should have provided), you should be able to go to www.checkmytrip.com and at least see your seat assignments to make a judgement. You won't be able to change them there though. KLM are difficult to deal with for seat assignments if you book through a travel agent, even if, as I am, top tier status on Skyteam!
Feb 6, 2009, 2:09 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Highlands of Scotland
Posts: 35
Hi,
Many thanks for your wonderful suggestions and apologies for not getting back sooner. I'm a teacher and we have the dreaded, 'inspectors' in at our school... ugh!!!
Anyway, I tried the suggestion of going onto, www.checkmytrip.com, put in the code, but it kept coming back with an error message, asking me to contact Expedia... So, I tried a dummy booking on nwa.com for the exact same flights, NW8643; and it worked!
The whole of the rear of 747 - 400 has been taken, from row 50 to 70! I also noticed that there were some, 'white spaces', presume these are the galley/toilet areas. Our seats are 40J and 40K, which according to, airlineexpert.com, the seats have a window view, but the wing still blocks the view down. Oh well...
Nearly all the other seats with a, 'view' have already been filled. Looks like one busy plane!
KLM are difficult to deal with, we have had a much more favourable response from NW. And we have purchased some, 'flyertalk' luggage labels; who knows who you may bump into...
Once again your help and advice is very much appreciated.
Take care,
Greg
Many thanks for your wonderful suggestions and apologies for not getting back sooner. I'm a teacher and we have the dreaded, 'inspectors' in at our school... ugh!!!
Anyway, I tried the suggestion of going onto, www.checkmytrip.com, put in the code, but it kept coming back with an error message, asking me to contact Expedia... So, I tried a dummy booking on nwa.com for the exact same flights, NW8643; and it worked!
The whole of the rear of 747 - 400 has been taken, from row 50 to 70! I also noticed that there were some, 'white spaces', presume these are the galley/toilet areas. Our seats are 40J and 40K, which according to, airlineexpert.com, the seats have a window view, but the wing still blocks the view down. Oh well...
Nearly all the other seats with a, 'view' have already been filled. Looks like one busy plane!
KLM are difficult to deal with, we have had a much more favourable response from NW. And we have purchased some, 'flyertalk' luggage labels; who knows who you may bump into...
Once again your help and advice is very much appreciated.
Take care,
Greg