I made the mistake of booking my family and I to travel from Toronto to Manchester, England, via Amsterdam Schiphol with KLM. It’s a mistake I won’t repeat, EVER!
We checked in online and were informed that we were checked through to Manchester. The flight to Amsterdam was crowded and uncomfortable. The ageing aircraft looked very shabby. I had no leg-room and spent 7 hours with my knees in my face, hoping the guy in front would not try to recline his seat. When the meal came around it was ’’Asian vegetarian’’ or ’’Fish’’. I am allergic to fish and all of the vegetarian had gone, because our attendant was so slow that the people in the section in front had been served, eaten, and cleared away their meals, and we were literally the last people on the plane to be served.
At Amsterdam we got to the gate for our flight to Manchester, and were told, despite having printed boarding passes from the KLM web check-in, that neither we nor our baggage were checked to Manchester. We were sent to the Transfer Desk, where I was treated as though I was a mentally-challenged amoeba by the agent. Fancy me having the stupidity to believe that having boarding passes meant that I was checked in. Our luggage had to be hastily located and loaded on our flight to Manchester, which was delayed by almost 2 hours anyway!
Anyway, we decided for the return leg to call the airline and order special meals in order not to go hungry. We were told a fruit plate was available, and ordered it. We tried to check in at Manchester, and were told by the agent that my son was not on the passenger list. After almost 30 minutes of phone calls and attempts at entering information into the computer (most being unsuccessful) my son was finally recognized as a passenger and we were checked in through to Toronto with boarding passes in hand.
The flight from Manchester to Amsterdam was uneventful. We got on the plane to Toronto and were told that there was a delay due to a technical fault. Apparently a part was needed, and 1 hour later we took off. In the process of doing so, the aircraft shook so violently that I genuinely thought we wouldn’t make it. However, we did and the same miserable cramped flight that took place on the outward journey was taking shape again.
Meal time - I was looking forward to my fruit plate. I told the attendant so when she was bringing meals around. She looked at me as though I had sprouted an additional head, then scurried off to find another attendant who came clutching a list, which did not have fruit plate next to my name. In fact, I was informed, KLM never offers a fruit plate. So I was presented with a barely-edible chicken and rice dish that was utterly unpalatable. I was destined to be hungry and was looking forward to getting out and getting home.
No such luck! No bags! The smug baggage agent calmly informed me that my family’s baggage was in Amsterdam, but that it would arrive tomorrow if I would be so kind as to pick it up. I informed them of a slight problem: It would entail a 6 hour round-trip for me to do so, not to mention the gas and tolls it would cost. The guy seriously offered to meet me half way. I asked him if he would pay for me to travel half way, he refused. After a heated argument involving threats of legal action, I was told that my bags would be delivered to my door the following day. OK, I thought, I can live with that. Next day I got a call at around 5:00pm - So sorry, bags just arrived, you’ll get them tomorrow. I was willing to be patient, despite wearing the same clothes for 2 days. Tomorrow came, no bags. I called and was told I would get them tomorrow, but I wasn’t prepared to accept the B/S this time. I pressed for details. I was told my bags were sent to Detroit, and I would get them on Sunday, 3 days later! I tried to complain and got a ’’talk to the hand’’ type of response. I called the corporate office and was told that it was in fact Northwest Airlines center and they could not get in to KLM’s computer, but I should call the Central Baggage Service. I called them, and there was nobody at home as they seem to work banker’s hours. I have my doubts about seeing my bags on Sunday because, after all, who delivers on Sunday?
If you’ve persevered with my rantings thus far, do yourself a favor, do not place yourself or your property in the hands of these jokers and liars. Their equipment is trash, their service is woeful, and flying with them is an ordeal.
UPDATE:Guess what? No bags on Sunday, despite a call from KLM on Saturday telling me to expect them, Finally got my bags on Monday from UPS. One of my bags had a 6-inch rip in it, so now I have to go through the trouble of filing a claim. What a mess!