How bad is it at European airports? Airlines are now flying in their own luggage handlers
Icelandair has taken the staffing crisis at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) into its own hands — by sending staff members from its homeland to personally unload passengers’ luggage at the troubled hub.
The Icelandic flag carrier said it had been sending teams of luggage handlers into the Dutch airport all weekend to help ease pressure on the staff there; this is also to ensure its flights and passenger experience all run smoothly.
“We have been sending people ourselves out to smooth over the bag problems that have come up,” Icelandair’s information officer, Ásdís Ýr Pétursdóttir, told Icelandic broadcaster RUV. “Since last Friday, we have added two bag handlers to our crew to Amsterdam to speed things up and keep planes on time.”
Like many of its European counterparts, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has suffered under the staffing crisis that has swept the commercial aviation industry.
Last month, the airport set a cap on the number of passengers it can cope with, limiting the number of travelers permitted to pass through its gates to 70,000 a day. That’s about 16% — or 13,500 seats per day — less than airlines had planned for.
Related: Chaos at Amsterdam mars an otherwise fantastic business-class flight on KLM’s Dreamliner
“You might be thinking: Schiphol had many more travelers before the pandemic, so why is it such a challenge now?" the airport staff wrote in a blog post last updated seven days ago.
“That’s because there is currently a shortage of staff at Schiphol and at the handling companies responsible for check-in and for your luggage … We currently do not have enough colleagues to enable travelers to go through the necessary checks as quickly as you are accustomed to here at Schiphol.”
As a result, long lines and delays in reuniting passengers with luggage have plagued the airport for months.
Related: Don’t check your bag until you read this: 7 tips to help keep an airline from losing your luggage
Last weekend, in a bid to hurry the process for its own customers, Icelandair became the first airline to take matters into its own hands.
Pétursdóttir said Icelandair had dispatched bag handlers on all flights to Amsterdam on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, adding that the decision had worked out well so far.
“We will have to see how it develops and whether we carry this on, and even maybe to other destinations,” Pétursdóttir added. “As I say, we are trying to find ways to reduce the effects of these delays and minimize disruption to the journeys of our passengers.”
The news raises the serious question of whether other airlines may soon begin to do the same across Europe — where long lines are becoming commonplace in terminals across the continent.
Related: 7 steps to take when an airline loses your luggage
Heathrow Airport (LHR), in particular, has struggled with its own luggage handling services of late. Last month, the hub even asked airlines to cancel 10% of their flights while it dealt with a “luggage mountain” that had grown in one of its terminals.
It comes after Dutch flag carrier KLM revealed plans to cancel between 10 and 20 daily round-trip flights across Europe between now and the end of August.
After facing major challenges at its Amsterdam Airport Schiphol base, the Dutch giant is streamlining services until Aug. 28 in hopes of countering “operational challenges” at the airport.
In addition to the cuts, KLM announced it will “strongly restrict the sale of remaining seats on KLM and KLM Cityhopper flights to European destinations"; this is to ensure space for stricken passengers who may need to be rebooked onto a later flight.
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- 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.
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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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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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
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- 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.