Wow: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Offers To Compensate Passengers

This is the first major airport that ITrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkia

Schiphol will compensate passengers who missed flights

Many airlines and airports have been unable to deal with the increase in passenger demand this summer. In Europe, there are three major airports that are not able to handle passenger demand.

Amsterdam Schiphol started capping passenger numbers in June, which helped, but didn't solve the issue completely. The Schiphol Airport has introduced a compensation scheme for passengers who missed their flights because of long wait times at security.

Those who traveled through the airport between April 23 and August 11, 2022, will be able to take advantage of this scheme.

How exactly does this compensation scheme work?

Travelers can request compensation from the airport at this link. This scheme is applicable to the following passengers.

• You booked a flight departing from Schiphol between April 13 and August 11, 2022
• You were at the terminal at the time specified by your airline, and thus well before the stated departure time of your flight
• You missed your flight as a result of the unprecedented waiting times at security
• As a result of the missed flight, you incurred costs that are not being reimbursed by another party

The claims have to be submitted by September 30th. The airport wants to respond to claims within six weeks and give payment to a bank account within 14 days.

It is possible to request compensation for the following.

• Costs incurred when rebooking your flight for a replacement flight
• Costs incurred for alternative transport, if you chose to travel to your destination by another mode of transport
• Additional travel costs incurred for having to travel to Schiphol again, or to another airport
• Costs incurred for accommodation near Schiphol and other accommodation-related costs
• Costs incurred for transport and activities at your destination that you could no longer cancel

My take on Schiphol’s compensation scheme

It is nice to see an airport taking accountability for its operations, so on the surface this scheme looks great. Europe has strong protection for air travelers in the form of EU261 compensation, but this only applies when airlines delay a flight, and not when you miss your flight because an airport isn't running as it should

I'm the only one who thinks this almost seems unrealistic and suspiciously generous.

• The airport is offering to reimburse everything from ground transportation, to hotels, to the cost of things you missed at your destination due to missing flights, with no published cap
• How will the airport really be able to determine if someone missed their flight by waiting in line at security for hours, rather than from cutting it too close, and then missing their flight?

The airport made an impressive move. I hope that the airport is making this offer in good faith and intends to pay out, rather than using this to delay public outrage for another six weeks, with lots of claim denials.

Bottom line

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is offering to compensate passengers who missed their flights due to long security lines. I can't help but be amazed at how open-ended this is.

What do you think about the compensation scheme?