KLM Airlines Cancellation and Refund Policy

About KLM Airlines

There will be a time when your itinerary doesn’t go according to the plan, which forces you to cancel your flight bookings. In such a scenario, you should be aware of your rights so that you don’t end up paying a hefty amount as a cancellation plan and can claim a KLM refund if eligible. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, does everything to make its KLM Airlines cancellation and refund policy straightforward and flexible. It permits passengers to change their existing bookings or cancel their reservations effortlessly. Here you will learn about the various amendments to KLM’s policies.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Amstelveen. With a fleet size of 149, the airline covers 145 destinations globally. Furthermore, it is a member of SkyTeam Airline Alliance and part of the Air France-KLM group.

KLM Cancellation Policy

If, due to an unexpected reason, you are canceling your KLM (KL) flight, or if your flight was delayed or the airline has canceled the flight, or you are denied boarding, you might be eligible for compensation under the following conditions:

• You canceled the KLM flight to/from the USA within 24-hours of booking the ticket, provided you booked it via the official website of KLM.
• If the flight is canceled by the airline or you were denied boarding the flight and decided not to catch the alternative flight provided by KLM.
• If KLM reschedules your flight and the new changes don’t suit you.
• If you hold a fully refundable ticket in any travel class, you are eligible for a KLM refund.
• You can cancel your KLM flight if your flight to Europe has been delayed by 90 minutes, due to which you will miss your connecting flight.
• You are eligible for a refund if you cancel an intercontinental flight delayed by 3 hours.
• If you or any other passenger in your booking get sick or die, you will receive a KLM refund.

KLM 24-hour Cancellation Policy

KLM (KL) permits its passengers to cancel the flight within 24-hours of booking. The KLM 24-hour Cancellation policy is applied to all types of tickets traveling to/from the USA to comply with US Department of Transportation Policy. Under this policy you will be qualified for a refund, if you:

• Cancel the ticket within 24 hours of purchasing it
• The flight is traveling to/from the USA
• The scheduled departure of the flight is at least seven days away at the time of booking
• In case of visa refusal
• The booking was made on KLM’s official website

KLM Cancellation Policy for Refundable and Non-Refundable Ticket

Although refundable tickets are a bit expensive, it is still better to purchase one if you are unsure about your trip. With a refundable ticket, you can easily claim a refund. Whereas non-refundable tickets are not eligible for any refund, you might end up paying a cancellation fee. However, sometimes, even non-refundable ticket holders can claim a refund under some exceptional scenarios. To know about the cancelation policy for refundable and non-refundable tickets, read below:

• The 24-hour risk-free policy is applied to all types of tickets.
• If the airline cancels your flight or the flight is delayed, you miss your connecting flight, or you were denied boarding, then the airline will provide you with an alternate flight or receive monetary compensation.
• If you cancel a refundable booking, you do not have to incur any cancellation fee.
• If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, a cancellation fee will be applied. The cancellation fee will be mentioned in your flight ticket and will depend on the route, fare type, and travel date.

KLM Cancellation Policy for Different Class

Economy Class

The airline offers 3 ticket options for traveling in Economy class: Light, Standard, and Flex.

Within Europe

• Light
  You can make changes in your booking only if you are departing from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, or the UK. The airline will charge USD 75 as change fee.
• Standard
  Standard tickets are non-refundable and to make any changes in the booking, the passenger will have to pay USD 75 along with the fare difference.
• KLM Flex
  With a KLM flex ticket, you are allowed to make changes in the booking without any fee. You will only pay for the fare difference (if applicable)

Between Europe and Africa

• Light
  Light tickets are non-refundable and the passenger has to incur a change fee of USD 155 along with the fare difference (if applicable) to make any changes in the booking.
• Standard
  Standard tickets are non-refundable and the passenger has to incur a change fee of USD 155 along with the fare difference (if applicable) to make any changes in the booking.
• Flex
  KLM Flex ticket holders are allowed to cancel the flight without any cancellation fee. They are entitled to claim a refund. Moreover, they can make any changes in the booking without paying any change fee. They just have to pay for the fare difference (if applicable)

Intercontinental Flights

• Light
  It is a non-refundable ticket. You can change the booking for USD 155 along with the fare difference (if applicable). You can’t change the flight if you are traveling from Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, or the USA. You can not make any changes in the booking if you are traveling between the Caribbean and Central or South America, or overseas territories of France.
• Standard
  You have to pay USD 155 to make any changes in the booking. If you are traveling from Canada or the US, then you will have to incur USD 300 along with the fare difference (if applicable). Standar tickets are non-refundable.
• Flex
  KLM flex are refundable tickets and you don’t have to pay any cancellation or change fee. You just have to pay for the fare difference (if applicable).

Business Class

Business Class passengers are entitled to enjoy the perks of SkyPriority. They do not have to pay any change or cancellation fee while making any changes in the reservation. However, they have to pay for the fare difference (if applicable).

How to Get Compensation in Case of Flight Delay or Cancellation?

There could be unavoidable circumstances when KLM (KL) has to cancel their flight or deny you from boarding due to overbooking. You should know your right to claim a refund or get compensated in such a scenario.

• If a KLM (KL) flight is canceled by the airline, the passenger will receive a complete KLM refund, or the airline will provide them with an alternate flight.
• You will receive a refund if the alternate flight provided by KLM doesn’t suit you.
• You are not boarding your outbound flight within Europe because it was delayed for more than 90 minutes, and your return flight was scheduled on the same day.
• You decided not to take the flight because it was already delayed by 3 hours.
• You decided not to travel to your final destination because your connecting flight was delayed for more than 5 hours.

How to cancel a KLM Flight?

You can cancel a KLM (KL) flight both online and offline. For online cancellation, you need to visit the official website of the airline and for offline cancellation, you can contact KLM over a phone call.

Online Method

• Visit https://www.klm.us/
• Select your country or region
• Click on My Trip and enter booking code and your last name and then click on Search
• Follow the prompt to make the cancellation
• Once KLM approves your cancellation request, you will receive a confirmation mail on your registered email.

Offline Method

• You can either visit KLM’s counter at the airport or call 1 (800) 618 0104.
• If you have called KLM’s customer support number, select the language that suits you the best.
• Provide the required information asked by the agent (user name, ticket number, arrival city, and other information to verify your identity).
• Choose the trip you want to cancel.
• Choose a payment method if you have to pay a cancellation fee for KLM flights.
• The airline will send a confirmation mail regarding the cancellation.

KLM Cancellation Fee

KLM’s cancellation fee depends on the route, fare type, and travel date. If you have an economy class ticket, then for flights within Europe, you will have to incur USD 75 as cancellation or change along with fare difference (if applicable). For intercontinental flights and flights between Europe and Africa, you must pay USD 155 as a cancellation or change fee along with the fare difference.

Business-class passengers do not need to incur any cancellation fee. However, they may have to pay for the fare difference (if applicable).

KLM Refund Policy

You are entitled to get a refund under the following circumstances:

• If KLM cancels your flight and the alternate flight provided to you by the airline doesn’t match with your schedule.
• If you have a refundable ticket
• You canceled your flight because your European flight was delayed more than 90 minutes and your outbound and return flight were scheduled on the same day
• If you cancel your intercontinental flight because it was delayed for more than 3 hours
• In case of visa refusal
• In case the sickness or death of the passenger

How to Get Refund from KLM?

There are two ways to request for a KLM refund if you cancel the flight- online and offline.

Online Method

• Visit https://www.klm.us/
• Select your country or region
• Click on My Trip and enter booking code and your last name and then click on Search
• Fill the ‘Request a Refund’ form and submit
• Once it approves your refund request, you will receive a confirmation mail on your registered email.
• The refundable amount will be credited to the original payment mode within 7-10 working days.

Offline Method

• You can either visit KLM’s counter at the airport or call 1 (800) 618 0104.
• If you have called KLM’s customer support number, select the language that suits you the best.
• Provide the required information asked by the agent (user name, ticket number, arrival city, and other information to verify your identity).
• The airline will send a confirmation mail regarding the cancellation.

KLM Customer Support Number for Cancellation and Refund Related Queries

For any cancellation or refund related queries, call KLM’s customer support number 1 (800) 618 0104. You can also visit the airline’s official website and click on ‘Contact Us’ to get in touch with their support team.

FAQs