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I have an award booking (using expiring points, so cannot cancel and rebook) from EDI to AMS to WAW.
I phoned Flying Blue and asked if I could change this to AMS-WAW only, skipping the outbound leg to avoid flying back AMS-EDI and turning aroundf again, due to now being in Amsterdam the day before the award flight.
They told me yes, but they could not amend the booking itself, I should simply turn up at Amsterdam and quote my booking reference.
They claim that unlike normal flights where this would count as a no-show, different rules apply to award booking and I would still be able to take the second flight.
However, they were unable to email me this in writing and were at a loss to explain the apparent discrepancy with their own terms, 3.2.11 “In case of a no show, the rules of the Company or Partner shall apply as applicable.” which is completely vague as it doesn’t define a no-show or provide details of said rules.Has anyone had experience of this, as it seems too risky to simply turn up and say “the lady on the phone assured me the booking would remain valid”, and I am faced with having to fly back just to reposition for the outbound flight needlessly.
I would definitely not skip the first leg despite what the CS agent said on the phone. If you don’t check in and fly the first leg you will be a no show and risk the entire reservation being cancelled.
If you definitely do not want to fly the first leg you should phone again and ask for the booking to be amended.
They have now replied via email as follows, so it SEEMS this is correct and I can skip the first flight. Good to know, but would be better written clearly in their T&Cs. I’d still like to hear if any other HfP readers have experience of this:
“I confirm that for reward booking(ticket issued using Miles or Miles & Cash) no show rule does not apply and possible to use your connecting flight only.
In case, you have encountered an error for check in of your connecting flight online, you can do the check in at the airport or contact us by phone for assistance.”
I’ll definitely be taking a hard copy of this reply to the airport…
That sounds too good to be true. I’d be interested to know if you can check in for thw second flight without having checked in for the first.
Sounds like you’re going to risk it in which case good luck. Do report how it goes.
Have you asked on other forums (i.e. flyertalk)
That sounds too good to be true. I’d be interested to know if you can check in for thw second flight without having checked in for the first.
It is true. Certainly in Italy and Germany (possible Spain as well) where national courts have ruled this can happen. But the airline can also reprice the new trip. Given these are national courts it’s not an EU wide applicable ruling – that would require a case to be brought to the ECJ.
Not aware of any court rulings in the Netherlands or Poland though.
Personally I’d post this on the KLM board of flyer talk as they are more likely to know the ins and outs.
Personally, I would still not trust this email or the agents for KL/AF.
My reasoning….I called in when BIO airport lounge had been closed for a while due to a strike. Desk agent sent us there anyway. CS Agent apologised and after some time confirmed that we would receive €50 each for food etc. I even got her name but in chasing up the payment later, all this was denied and we got nothing. This has also happened to us re lost luggage refunds – again not subsequently paid.
I tried the ODR online case as well but because they failed to even acknowledge the case, it was automatically closed after 30 days!
So, in conclusion, do not trust them. Change the ticket or head back to EDI.
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