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Mayhem at Amsterdam Airport as airlines asked to cancel flights
Sept. 14, 2022
•
3 min read
Mayhem at Amsterdam Airport as airlines asked to cancel flights
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Passengers traveling in and out of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) this week are once again facing a slew of delays and hourslong lines at the problem-plagued airport.
Officials at the Netherlands airport blamed the disruption on labor shortages, particularly affecting security checkpoints. They were forced to ask airlines to cancel more than 80 flights between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.
“Staffing levels at security today are lower than what Schiphol had requested of the security companies,” a representative of Schiphol told Euronews on Monday.
While the request for airlines to cancel flights was intended to ease the burden on the airport staff, it resulted in a disastrous travel day for many with lines of frustrated passengers seen stretching outside the airport.
Many of the passengers had already spent several hours at the airport after Schiphol reportedly advised passengers to arrive early due to the expected backlog at security.
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Compounding the chaos, more than 600 flights due to depart from the airport were delayed Monday, causing an onslaught of passengers to vent their frustration on social media.
Some passengers, however, took the travel disruption in their stride and made the best of the situation.
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The lack of workers is being blamed on an ongoing pay dispute with security staffers.
Over the summer, security employees received a temporary increase in their hourly wages but the bonus was suspended following the end of the summer season — workers are reportedly resigning as a result of the pay cuts.
The airport apologized for the situation and the “disappointment” it would cause. Schiphol says it intends to hire 80 new security staffers who will be ready to work by October.
One of the busiest airports in Europe, Schiphol has struggled for months with a variety of problems that have caused chaos for passengers passing through its terminals, seeing on-and-off disruption since April and hundreds of flights canceled this year.
Related: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport extending passenger cap through October
In August, a malfunction with the airport's baggage system affected thousands of passengers on connecting flights operated by Dutch flagship carrier KLM.
This latest incident is not the first time airport officials have asked airlines to take one for the team to help Schiphol out of a bind.
Back in May, authorities asked airlines to trim their flight schedules to ease delays blamed on higher air traffic and a strike by baggage handlers. Much like London's Heathrow Airport (LHR), Schiphol implemented a cap on passengers who leave its terminals during the summer. It intends to extend the cap through October.
The passenger cap at Schiphol is currently set at 67,500 and expected to increase to 69,500 in October before being reduced by the Dutch government in 2023 to just 60,000 in order to curb air pollution.
Featured image by GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.