I use to admire NW/KLM for all the hearing to use to get long time. It use to be real royal airlines once upon a time. When I traveled first time, it was an OK experience (read ’’OK’’).
Recently, when I traveled on it, they made me see hell. First of all, they canceled my international flight just on 3 hrs notice. For the rescheduled flight, I called them twice to ensure confirmation. When I called second time, the lady told me that my travel agent already confirmed and why am I doing this again.
When I reached Newark airport, I had to standing so long on the line (for international). Then to my horror, the counter guy told me that he couldn’t see my reservation. I came out of line, called their 1800 number and she told me that she could see my reservation. I had to start again on the line. By the time, I reached the counter, now this guy says, ’’yeah’’ he could see it now. I donno what made the difference.
Now the scene starts. This guy smile at me & says that I cant take the flight to detroit as I am late! I just wanted to smash him. Even after my requests and refering to the situation, he just shrugged his shoulders. Then the lady asked me to go to domestic line and catch another detroit flight for rerouting, again for a big line.
Now, after reaching the domestic line counter, guy over there gave me a funny wink and said that I am in a mess. By the time, next flight reaches detroit & connecting amsterdam, all flights to bombay would have left.
I requested him to help & told the complete story. Then he checked my passport (donno for what!) and said OK, let’s get in. He took all my luggage & so on. When I reached detroit, I casually checked my luggage stickers & found that luggage is booked only till amsterdam. when checked at the counter, she told me that, Yes, I have to take the luggage & stop at amsterdam for one day. What a mess! When I said, how could he did it, she said you have a valid schangen visa so it’s OK. She was not at all ready to listen more.
When I checked at next counter, there is a KLM flight to paris for which I could get a immediate connection to bombay. She said that she cant move me in as that could have been done at newark itself and further she mentioned that my record in system says that this rerouting is coz of my delayed arrival to the counter at newark. They ensured that I can’t sue them..
AS the story goes on, I had to stay at amsterdam for one day, at my expenses and take the next day flight!
Summary, KLM & Northwest made my life miserable and I decided that I should not travel on them next time.