Schiphol will announce tonight how many flights have to be canceled and moved to avoid summer chaos. The airlines and airport are still discussing the steps to be taken today. The flood of reports about it creates additional uncertainty for holidaymakers who see their travel plans fall into the water. Paul Vaneker of EUClaim explains what travelers can count on.
Schiphol made already announced six weeks ago that the flight schedule should be crossed out to limit chaos during the summer holidays. It soon became clear that attracting new staff and measures such as ‘security coaches’ and extra information screens are not enough to reduce the crowds. Today Schiphol and the airlines are putting the finishing touches on the most drastic measure: the cancellation, rescheduling and rescheduling of flights.
In any case, travelers can fall back on their rights, Paul Vaneker of EUClaim tells NH Nieuws. His company handles passenger claims in exchange for a portion of the compensation. The bad news is that not all travelers will see every cent they receive for their canceled or rescheduled vacation.
No right to compensation
How many flights and travelers will be affected by the changes will be announced tomorrow. “Schiphol will make this announcement well before the start of the summer holidays, so that affected passengers will get their ticket money back, but will not be entitled to additional financial compensation,” explains Vaneker. Only if travelers are not notified until two weeks before departure can they claim that extra compensation.
Expensive
According to Vaneker, airlines are obliged to refund the ticket money within seven days. He expects that people will then still try to book a new flight, whether or not from another airport, because they have already reserved an accommodation. Those travelers are then very expensive.
ANVR takes Schiphol to court
The trade association for travel organizations, ANVR, is furious about the continuing lack of clarity for holidaymakers and is taking Schiphol to court.
Director Frank Oostdam calls it unacceptable that the airport does not have its personnel policy in order: “And that the holiday of many Dutch holidaymakers threatens to fall into the water as a result.”
Vaneker: “Suppose you have booked a return flight to Barcelona in February for 99 euros. A new ticket will then cost 399 euros.” The claims company also advises travelers to look carefully at the cancellation conditions and to consider cancellation insurance, because in many cases it is financially more beneficial to cancel the holiday accommodation.
Vaneker emphasizes that accommodations can often be partially or completely canceled free of charge.
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According to Vaneker, it is still coffee grounds to decide which flights will be cancelled, rescheduled or moved to another regional airport. He expects that it will mainly be European flights from KLM that are intended for transfer passengers. This gives air to the handling at Schiphol, where there is a large staff shortage, and it is easier to book because there are often several flights per day.
‘Extremely long lines’
This could mean that many holidaymakers with package holidays can get away with it and still go on holiday. They must, however, take into account the ‘extremely long lines’, which Schiphol boss Dick Benschop had said had to be gone by the summer. According to Vaneker, it has been rare for these people to miss their flight in recent weeks.
Extra night flights
Until now, airlines have not been keen on canceling flights, despite Schiphol’s assurances that this is necessary in order to preserve their take-off and landing rights would have no consequences. Another option for Schiphol to spread the flights better is by temporarily allowing more night flights. That chance seems nil, because of the strict legislation and sleep disturbance of local residents.