Flight compensation KLM Royal Dutch Airlines:
San Francisco — Amsterdam

Procedure: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight compensation from San Francisco to Amsterdam

From San Francisco International Airport airport, your departure with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam didn't go as planned? Passengers have strong rights against carriers.

Directive 261/2004 is clear: for 8 786 km of flight, the company KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is subject to a compensation obligation if the delay exceeds 3 hours or if the flight is cancelled.

Why are you entitled to 600 €?

The European Regulation EC 261/2004 is very strict regarding air passenger rights. The amount of fixed compensation does not depend on the price of your ticket, but only on the flight distance.

Remember that this law applies whether you are traveling in economy or business class, and regardless of the passenger's nationality.

How to know if the flight KLM Royal Dutch Airlines San Francisco - Amsterdam is eligible?

The 3-hour limit is calculated at the moment the aircraft doors open at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol airport. If this is the case, and the flight cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines owes you 600 €.

An unexpected cancellation or a diverted flight from San Francisco International Airport without an immediate satisfactory solution gives rise to this same indemnity of 600 €.

What are the conditions for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to compensate you?

• Delay at arrival: You arrived with more than 3 hours delay at Amsterdam.
• Cancellation: The airline cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure.
• Overbooking: You were denied boarding against your will at San Francisco airport.
• Airline responsibility: The problem must be attributable to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (technical problem, sick crew, scheduling...).

The impact of a strike on your KLM Royal Dutch Airlines compensation

Not all strikes exempt the company from its obligations. If the delay of your San Francisco - Amsterdam trip is due to an internal strike within KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the European justice recently ruled that this entitles to compensation.

Warning however: if the cancellation is directly attributable to the airport staff or a decision by air navigation, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is released from its obligation to pay the legal indemnity of 600 euros, but not from its duty of assistance.

What are your rights at San Francisco airport in case of prolonged wait?

In addition to financial compensation, the European regulation guarantees what is called a 'right to care.' If your flight is delayed departing from San Francisco International Airport, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines must provide you with free meals and refreshments in reasonable quantity given the delay.

Do not hesitate to request this assistance at the company's counter. If it is refused and you have to advance food or hotel costs at San Francisco International Airport, keep your receipts carefully to request direct reimbursement.

Steps: how to get your 600 € from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines?

The amicable route with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to recover 600 € often fails without a technical and legal file.

Don't fill out complex forms on the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines website. Go through a passenger defense portal to secure your 600 € indemnity.

How long does it take to get the 600 € compensation?

Some passengers wait more than 6 months for a response from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. An expert can reduce this time by half.

A collective action on the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from San Francisco can also be a way to get your funds faster.

What to do faced with silence or refusal from the airline?

Don't take KLM Royal Dutch Airlines's email for granted claiming that the airport was blocked by snow without checking official reports.

In the last instance, it is the summons to court that often unlocks the payment. The company KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will always prefer to compromise and pay the 600 € rather than incur additional legal costs for a lost cause in court.