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Next year I’m going LCY – AMS – JRO in business(paid cash, flying blue member but no status). Booked recently, I’ve been given over 6 months notice of a schedule change.
Instead of a morning flight from LCY, I’ve been switched to an evening flight and will therefore have to stay in AMS for the night. On the way back, the long haul part has been cancelled so I’ll have to stay another 24 hours in JRO.
I booked this flight partly because as I’m travelling alone, it was two fewer nights away from the family. I’ve been offered a refund as well as the option to change, but the only morning flight is 6:30 from LHR which would mean an overnight stay anyway.
My question is, will KLM pay for the night at AMS, or indeed that at JRO? Clearly if it was a short notice change they would, but here it’s a long way out and presume I’ve just got to live with it? I could obviously get a refund but there’s no route that’s any better on my dates and the fare was under £2k once the KLM amex offer is taken into account. Any advice appreciated.
Right to care applies regardless of when the change occurred, but whether you’ll have to fight for it with KLM is another thing.
One potential issue which is not clear from your post. Where do you need to stay on your outbound 6:30am flight? LHR or AMS?
Thanks for the response Meta, that’s helpful. I’ve been switched from my booked 7:45am LCY flight (which I could make without an overnight stay) to an evening LCY flight the previous day which necessitates a stay in AMS overnight. The morning LHR flight is an alternative option, but I couldn’t make that from home without an overnight stay beforehand so not keen on that.
I doubt you will get your outbound night covered. They offered you 6:30am flight from LHR which is quite close to your original LCY flight. Only 45 minutes before.
For the inbound, they’ll have to cover the night. I don’t have experience dealing with KLM and how difficult they are.
Duty of care always applies. So I’d say if you accept the LCY evening flight and need a hotel at AMS then they’d pay. The same for JRO. Unlikely to get them to approve in advance just put in the claim once you’re back
I don’t see you getting a LHR hotel paid but the premier inn T4 booked this far in advance should be very reasonable anyway
Personally I’d take the last LCY flight and stay in AMS anyway – derisks the connection and if you live near LCY you shouldn’t have to leave home particularly early to make it.
The other option if workable for you is to shift your dates to maintain the early LCY flight and length of trip – not familiar with KLMs rebooking policy but I think this would be fine
@NigelHamilton if you give KLM a call, then due to the time gaps for the changes you will be able to switch to more suitable flights free of charge, even from LHR potentially.
I’ve switched from GLA to EDI and vice versa with early schedule changes in the past. This also means you should still avoid overnights at AMS.
Research your preferred flight routing with flight numbers and provide to the call centre agent. You also should have the option to select any AF flights which come up during your research too.
Thanks for the advice – update is I rang KLM who agreed they would pay for the hotel in AMS, but I’d have to turn up to AMS on the evening and speak to the airport staff, which seems a little odd given I already know the stay is needed!
I’m going to write to KLM so I have something to back that up rather than just a phone call.
When the flights are cancelled, KLM have a full refund / rebooking possibility and it was very easy, several options were available online, but not the full suite of AF/Kenya Airways which were available if booking a new ticket. However as dundj says, likely the call centre could have facilitated that if needed.
Thanks for the advice – update is I rang KLM who agreed they would pay for the hotel in AMS, but I’d have to turn up to AMS on the evening and speak to the airport staff, which seems a little odd given I already know the stay is needed!
I’m going to write to KLM so I have something to back that up rather than just a phone call.
When the flights are cancelled, KLM have a full refund / rebooking possibility and it was very easy, several options were available online, but not the full suite of AF/Kenya Airways which were available if booking a new ticket. However as dundj says, likely the call centre could have facilitated that if needed.
Try them on WhatsApp, they’re normally pretty responsive. That will then give you a confirmation to show.
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