Flight Starting in Bangkok

Phil58

I recently flew back from Bangkok on KLM/Air France. The flight was in 2 stages, Bangkok - Amsterdam and Amsterdam - Manchester.

The 1st stage flight was delayed leaving Bangkok and as a result we arrived about 35-40 mins late into Amsterdam. I'm a regular long haul traveller and know that its fairly easy for the time to be made up but the pilot refused to do so as he said there were strong headwinds. The connection to Manchester was tight without the delay so I asked the purser if he would move me closer to the exit when we neared Amsterdam so I could be amongst the first out. He agreed but later told me it wasn't necessary as we would arrive in time to make the connection.

Upon landing around 8 - 10 of us raced over to the gate for the Manchester flight and arrived about 5 minutes before it closed. However, we were not allowed to check in and sent over to another desk where we were told there was not enough time for our luggage to make the flight and we had been booked on to the next flight - 5 hours later. We were given 10 Euros in vouchers and offered future discount flighs. That just about bought a McDonalds in Schiphol.

The first stage originated in Bangkok and the flights were booked and paid for as one unit although they are clearly 2 separate flights - one non EU and one EU.

Are we entitled to compensation? If so I'd take a guess that the airline will try to blame the delay in Bangkok and wriggle.

We made it to the gate on time but I believe the airline knew they were not going to allow us to board the next flight before we even landed..

Caz3121

Start with the FAQs on the KLM thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4384719

There is a link there to the Folkerts case
As long as the BKK - AMS flight was on an EU airline and you were on a single ticket you should be able to start a claim

Phil58

Thaks for that, I'll start a claim.