KLM Royal Dutch Airlines review: Transit visa misinformation escalation

I had reserved a flight from Lagos to Edinburgh with a stopover in Amsterdam. To ensure a smooth travel experience and considering budget constraints and personal well-being concerns, I proactively contacted KLM on August 18th before finalizing my booking. The purpose of my inquiry was to determine whether a transit visa would be necessary for my journey.

During the call, the KLM representative I spoke with explicitly confirmed that a transit visa was not required for my travel plans. I have attached a screenshot of the conversation as evidence of this interaction. With this assurance, I proceeded to confirm my flight reservation a few days later.

On August 22nd, I sought further confirmation by contacting KLM again, and once more, I was informed that no travel visa was needed for my itinerary. However, a friend who was coordinating their own travel arrangements through a travel agent pointed out that a transit visa was, in fact, mandatory for my intended journey. This raised concerns and prompted me to contact KLM once again on August 23rd, 2023, seeking clarity.

In this subsequent call, I received the same response that a transit visa was not required. Despite these reassurances, I decided to directly consult the embassy to verify the requirements. To my astonishment, the embassy confirmed that a transit visa was indeed mandatory for my flight.

Following this revelation, I reached out to KLM's customer service and spoke with a helpful representative who unequivocally affirmed that a transit visa was necessary. Given the limitations imposed by my course's imminent start date and financial constraints, securing a transit visa before my travel date has become impractical. My planned arrival in the UK is of paramount importance, scheduled for the week beginning September 5th.

Moreover, a conversation with the embassy this morning revealed that the visa application process could take anywhere from 15 to 45 days. Regrettably, this timeframe would cause me to miss my course start date, resulting in the forfeiture of my course fees deposit amounting to £5500.

I find myself in a distressing situation due to the misinformation provided by KLM. This predicament has taken a substantial toll on my mental well-being, leaving me emotionally drained and anxious. Given the gravity of these circumstances, I kindly implore KLM to consider an exception to any applicable fare rules and grant a refund for my fare. It is my belief that I made the booking based on inaccurate information from KLM, placing me in this challenging position.

I genuinely appreciate your attention to this matter and earnestly hope for a prompt and equitable resolution. Your understanding and assistance in rectifying this situation would greatly alleviate the undue stress I am currently facing.

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