Finding suitcases in the ‘luggage havoc’ at Schiphol? ‘Forget it’

You have probably noticed that it has been busy at Schiphol lately. But the chaos is becoming increasingly painful. There is luggage everywhere at the airport and passengers have lost their bags. And in Eindhoven it now seems to be heading in the same direction.

Outraged travelers share photos of the havoc with suitcases at Amsterdam airport on social media. In the baggage hall, the suitcases are placed in random places and passengers have to find their own suitcase.

Baggage everywhere at Schiphol

It would even be about suitcases that have been in the baggage hall for weeks. A bewildered traveler tells Heart of the Netherlands about her search for her luggage and the somewhat unusual response from customs. “He said: ‘Forget it, there’s nobody there.’ There were suitcases piled up everywhere. It’s like being in a third world country.” The customs officer thought it unlikely that the passenger would find her suitcase again. After which he said: “Choose a nice suitcase and take it with you”.

In principle, the baggage handler of the airline ensures that the baggage arrives at the rightful owner. If something goes wrong there, the airline will send the suitcases later. Usually this takes a day. But now it seems that leftover suitcases are no longer being returned. In addition, the luggage is unattended in the hall and there is no one in the luggage hall to take care of the suitcases left behind.

Chaos with suitcases at the airport leads to angry travelers

The information on the signs is incorrect, luggage is exchanged with different flights and chaotic scenes occur at the baggage claim. “If you really travel from Schiphol, at least don’t take a lot of luggage with you,” someone warns on social media.

Travelers are also apparently sent from the so-called cupboard to the wall. The travel organization blames the airport, which again points the finger at the baggage handlers.

The airport is late in a comment Heart of the Netherlands know that there are also staff shortages in the baggage department. “A small disruption in the flight schedule, in combination with the current staff shortages, can cause leftovers. Airlines are doing their best to get those suitcases back to the passenger as quickly as possible,” says Schiphol.

Also chaos at Eindhoven airport

Meanwhile, Eindhoven Airport has also been submerged in extreme crowds. This weekend long queues of people were already waiting in front of the entrance doors. The airport reports that this is partly because travelers are now arriving much too early.

Just like at Schiphol, Eindhoven is also struggling with staff shortages that slow things down considerably. But the fact that the concerned travelers are stretching a few extra hours only delays everything even more, according to the airport. “We recommend arriving two and a half to three hours in advance. If you come in the morning for an evening flight, so to speak, you will get very long lines. And it makes no sense either. For example, you can only leave your suitcase three hours before departure. The system does not recognize you before,” said a spokesperson.

More chaotic scenes at European airports

There are also several sounds of crowded airports on social media. It is also busy at the airports outside the Dutch borders.

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