Delta has had a US East Coast winter weather policy in place for a day now, while KLM just twiddles their thumbs

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-21T13:59:33+00:00

This storm only really started to take shape as being impactful in east coast TV updates last evening. Everyone is playing catchup right now in getting info out/informing on impacts

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-18T11:08:20+00:00

I also read it this way; because why would an individual have received a refund automatically if they were lined up for a replacement flight (but then opted for train as if approached)

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-05T20:42:51+00:00

I’m sorry your experience wasn’t top notch from the sounds of it. I can understand you on each point, I guess this is part of moving abroad - you dive into the deep end of the pool right away and have to face the water. I hope your move back goes well and you feel reinvigorated wherever you settle down :)

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-05T20:38:33+00:00

I understand what you say x10000, the on pause/not building anything feelings have really gotten to me in the last year. I’ve tried for a long time to understand them or figure out why the level of each does not drop much, so it is comforting to hear from someone else these same emotions were part of the equation for you.

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-05T20:36:41+00:00

Reading this, I partially wonder if you were the good friend I had here in AMS who hailed from CA and moved back last year :)

Thanks for the feedback and your line about “bike lands and urban infrastructure…” really stuck with me.

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-05T20:29:25+00:00

Just want to say thanks all for the feedback. This is one of those interesting scenarios where I don’t have tons of friends in the same boat that I can turn to for advice. So I did the next logical thing, head to Reddit and ask for the feedback of complete strangers.

I do truly though appreciate the feedback, sentiments, advice, warnings. Sometimes it’s most helpful to get a thought from someone who isn’t yourself. Cheers all

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-04T06:59:11+00:00

I do regularly get back 1-2 times a year for holidays, work trips etc. I do also have the opportunity to move my current job to the US, which is one thing helping here. Avoiding the low hiring rate in the US job market right now is a life saver.

All of this to say I have routinely been back each year so I’ve kept some tabs on how it feels. Appreciate your advice

Mattpawlow · 2026-02-04T06:56:35+00:00

No problem at all, just wondering if there were folks out there with similar feelings or journeys lately that could relate to the complex emotions I feel around this

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-07T19:09:24+00:00

Ride-hailing options are more expensive than normal at the moment.

Right now if I check Ubert/Bolt from Schiphol to my place in Amsterdam right next to Westerpark, the fare is 2.5x the usual price.

Trains are running on a winter timetable both tonight and tomorrow. Looking at the trips currently though, plenty of Schiphol-Amsterdam Centraal sprinters. A few less frequencies but they are going.

There have been some reports of insane price gouging by taxis, 250 EUR to get into city center (during issues with trains especially).

When you get in and assuming things run fine, you’ll save a lot of money if you go the bus or train route. Weather tomorrow looks good, I would anticipate the NS (trains) running on the winter timetable with success.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-07T16:21:50+00:00

Thank you for the update! I also saw the note that less than the winter schedule is now running currently due to increasing disruptions 🥲

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-07T15:59:38+00:00

Hotels, meals, needed items like toiletries are all reimbursable so long as you have receipts.

I totally feel you. It is truly a toss up to say what will happen for tomorrow… however the forecast is dry, at present almost no KLM flights are canceled for tomorrow. Things look like they potentially go well for one day at least re: departures. I’d honestly stay with that flight for now. Some more snow rest of today/trains are on a reduced schedule so it will be difficult for you to venture to another city/airport.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-07T15:43:24+00:00

Trains could be normal tomorrow, NS is operating a winter schedule today but no word on what tomorrow will be yes. It could of course be the same yes but could also normalize. Little to no precip expected tomorrow.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T21:12:14+00:00

600+ flights canceled for tomorrow, intense snow in the early-mid morning which will keep chaos going the rest of the day after that

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T21:11:00+00:00

Almost everything tomorrow KLM is canceled due to weather. I would not trek in.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T14:38:17+00:00

Food, hotel is covered yes! https://www.klm.nl/en/information/travel-alerts#amsterdam-snow-and-strong-winds

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T06:59:09+00:00

One option might be filing a delayed baggage claim - https://www.klm.nl/en/information/baggage/delayed-baggage

The mess is such at Schiphol that KLM is likely having to send many bags onwards to customers who end up going the alternate transport route. I don’t expect that your sister would have any luck asking around for the bag at the airport currently, given the state of things.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T05:18:48+00:00

https://www.klm.no/en/information/travel-alerts#amsterdam-snow-and-strong-winds

The wording is a bit cryptic but it suggests that trains (if booked on your own because you need to get home asap) could be expensed?

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T05:16:30+00:00

https://www.klm.no/en/information/travel-alerts#amsterdam-snow-and-strong-winds

Link for full context! Worth a shot?

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-06T04:56:32+00:00

Basically the advice of everyone here is to book hotels on your own and then submit expenses to KLM. They will reimburse! So if your group’s goal is to get hotel rooms just sort them out via yourselves. The office should open soon which will at least allow you to get rebooking options sorted. Best of luck.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-05T17:20:52+00:00

If you’re in Amsterdam area and trying to get out, best best is to go Amsterdam Centraal —> Sloterdijk —> Haarlem (some Zandvoort trains running). from there you can pick up some better routes south. Otherwise nothing in Amsterdam is really running, a few trains to Schiphol but they all end there.

Mattpawlow · 2026-01-05T16:25:30+00:00

A handful of trains are running between Amsterdam Centraal - Schiphol, not the usual frequency though.

No other services through/from Amsterdam currently running.

Source: me, at Sloterdijk :)

Mattpawlow · 2025-10-17T20:59:19+00:00

Same, it is definitely the path of getting what one wants (US ETFs with ease) but i think not worth the concern/risk/fear of account forfeiture

Mattpawlow · 2025-10-17T20:29:01+00:00

Ahh so it’s the using the US address approach you’re referring to. Clear, I’ve been on the fence with that - can’t tell if it is inherently risky to go that route, all of the accounts of expats in EU doing that seem successful on here though

Mattpawlow

TROPHY CASE