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KLM backtracks, restores US routes due to easier entry rules

Sept. 24, 2021
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3 min read
2-2-2019 KLM 641 Review Kat Fan-12
KLM backtracks, restores US routes due to easier entry rules
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Thanks to a big policy change earlier this week, KLM is going to move forward with plans to grow its U.S. network after all.

On Friday, the Dutch flag carrier announced that it would indeed resume flying to Las Vegas (LAS) and Miami (MIA) beginning on Dec. 7, just three weeks after scrapping those plans due to tightened European entry and quarantine rules for travelers.

KLM cites the "recent easing of travel restrictions" as the reason for moving forward with its plans to serve Las Vegas and Miami once again.

Just this week, the U.S. government announced that vaccinated travelers from the EU and U.K. would be welcome to the country beginning in November, following a nearly 20-month-long ban that first started at the outset of the pandemic.

Additionally, the Dutch government also decided to withdraw the previously announced quarantine requirement for vaccinated travelers from the U.S.

While KLM is moving forward with flights from Amsterdam (AMS) to LAS and MIA, it's postponing the start date. They were originally scheduled to commence on Oct. 31, but that's now been pushed to Dec. 7 — just in time for the peak winter holiday period. Additionally, the carrier was planning to add Orlando as a new route-map pin, served in a triangle route along with Miami.

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KLM's latest press release doesn't mention Orlando, and the airline hasn't responded to our inquiry about whether those plans have been scrapped. We'll update this post when we hear back.

In the first week of September, KLM issued a strongly worded statement about its network pull-down, citing the Dutch government's strict entry policy as the reason for the move.

“The decision by the Dutch government is a big step backwards,” KLM’s press release read. "Health and fighting COVID-19 are paramount but the measures taken must be effective and proportionate. It looks like other EU member states, such as Italy, France and Belgium are not putting a triple lock on the door for travelers from the US,” the release said.

Now that both the U.S. and the Netherlands are easing entry restrictions, KLM predicts that there'll be enough demand to warrant resuming these flights. And experts agree.

According to data from the travel site Skyscanner, visitors to the site’s U.S. platforms were 20% higher the day the U.S. government announced the end to the European entry ban, compared to the previous week.

“With the option for transatlantic travel now open, we expect a large portion of these searches to convert to bookings very quickly, as friends and families make plans to be reunited and vacationers head to their favorite spots,” said Martin Nolan, traveler rights expert at Skyscanner, in a statement.

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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  • 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.