Blueline
No. 40
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Flight info by text message or email
There is a convenient new way to keep abreast of delays and gate changes: Flight Status Notification provides the latest updates on flights via text messages or email. Passengers can register free of charge via Manage my Booking on klm.nl.
Who can use this service?
Flight Status Notification can be used free of charge if:
- The ticket is booked ticket via KLM
- The flight is with KLM
- The passenger travels directly to or from Amsterdam (in case of a transfer, information is only available on the specific flight arriving at or departing from Schiphol)
How to register?
Go to klm.nl, access the Manage my Booking section and enter name and booking code. The passenger can then specify which flight notifications he or she wishes to receive from KLM.
Flying Blue members can also register by sending a text message to +44 77 81 488 747. The message should contain the Flying Blue number followed by the word ON, for instance: FB123456789 ON. After registering, passengers will receive all notifications relevant to their KLM flights. If they only wish to receive certain notifications, this can be specified under Manage my Booking on klm.nl. Deregistering is also simple - simply send a text message to the same number, with the Flying Blue number followed by the word OFF.
Which flight information will passengers receive?
When registering passengers can specify the notifications they prefer to receive:
- Flight cancellation: If a flight is cancelled, text message or email between 96 and three hours before departure.
- Flight delay: Notification of delays longer than 30 minutes, or several delays that add up to more than 30 minutes, between 48 hours and one hour before departure.
- Gate changes: Gate changes are indicated starting one hour before departure. This information is only available when departing from Schiphol.
- Boarding reminder: Message with gate number as soon as boarding begins. This notification is only sent for flights departing from Schiphol.
- Check-in reminder: Passengers who have not checked in 22 hours before the departure receive a reminder including a mobile link. This will allow them to check in directly as long as they have a mobile phone or Blackberry with internet connection and are flying between Amsterdam and another European destination.
KLM Travel Clinic
Passengers who wish to make sure they travel in good health are welcome to visit a KLM Travel Clinic, regardless of the airline with which they are flying. A new branch recently opened at Raadhuisstraat 15 in Amsterdam.
Which services are available?
Passengers can come to a KLM Travel Clinic for vaccinations or anti-malaria prescriptions as well as for personalised health advice or various final travel items.
Locations
There are KLM Travel Clinics at Schiphol as well as in The Hague, Rotterdam, Hilversum and Amsterdam. Travellers can make an appointment online, and there are also predetermined hours during which they can walk in for a consultation.
More information
Further information about KLM Travel Clinics is available on www.klmtravelclinic.nl
Internet check-in
Queues can be easily avoided by checking in at home or in the office between 30 hours and one hour before departure. All that is required is a computer and an internet connection. Internet check-in works as follows:
- Go to klm.nl and fill in the e-ticket number or booking code
- Enter personal details
- Choose seat
- Print boarding pass
Baggage drop off
Once passengers have completed the above procedure, all they need to do at Schiphol is check in any luggage at a KLM baggage drop off point. This is possible up to 30 minutes before departure when flying within Europe, and 60 minutes before departure at the latest when taking an intercontinental flight.
Northwest Airlines cancels flights
Mounting fuel costs and a decrease in passenger numbers are forcing Northwest Airlines – a partner of KLM – to reduce or cancel the following flight routes: Detroit-Düsseldorf, Hartford-Amsterdam and Minneapolis/St. Paul-Paris.
Detroit-Düsseldorf and Hartford-Amsterdam
From 1 October 2008, Northwest Airlines will no longer connect Detroit to Düsseldorf or Hartford to Amsterdam. Passengers who have already booked a flight on one of these routes after this date will receive a personal message about an alternative flight with KLM or one of our SkyTeam partners.
Minneapolis/St. Paul-Paris
Northwest Airlines flights between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Paris will be suspended from 1 October and resume at the end of March 2009. Passengers who have already made a reservation for a flight during this period will receive a personal notification about an alternative route with KLM or one of our SkyTeam partners.
Revision of the fuel surcharge
For ICA flights by KLM and Northwest Airlines, the fuel surcharge per ½ return is increased by € 10 for flights shorter than nine hours, € 14 for longer flights and € 4 for flights within Europe. The corresponding increases by Air France are € 14 on flights shorter than nine hours, € 18 on longer flights and € 4 on European flights.