KLM, an airline that has been in complete meltdown mode for the past couple of months, has posted a notice on its website that will affect many passengers scheduled to travel on the airline on Thursday (July 21, 2022).
The airline claims that due to malfunctioning at the Schiphol Airport, it won’t accept any checked luggage on Thursday for connections within Europe.
You can access KLM here.
UPDATE: KLM is now sending messages to affected passengers:
UPDATE: There was a malfunction in the baggage system at Schiphol on Wednesday that was resolved within a few hours. Thousands of checked luggage, however, was left behind on Wednesday, according to Dutch media. As a result, KLM doesn’t want to accept new checked luggage for Intra-Europe transfer flights so that they can sort out the existing misplaced bags from Wednesday and other days.
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It is unclear precisely what this means, and if you click the link, it defaults to an announcements page that doesn’t have any further information.
Does this mean that long-haul passengers from/to/via Amsterdam Schiphol CAN check their luggage, but those traveling within Europe cannot?
How can KLM force passengers with heavy bags and liquids to travel only with a carry-on? Will they rebook affected passengers to other airlines that don’t have malfunctioning luggage systems?
The airline cannot force passengers to leave their bags behind (how they would be united in the end?) and just board their flights.
This will be another utter KLM and Amsterdam Schiphol disaster!
Conclusion
There will be an awful lot of denied passengers on KLM’s European flights tomorrow if they don’t allow anyone on intra-Europe itineraries to check bags.
It is KLM’s responsibility to rebook affected passengers on other airlines and provide Duty to Care (accommodation & food) in case of long delays. Passengers are also eligible for cash compensation per EC 261/2004 if they arrive at the destination late.