[Albion] "I think he's an Albion fan", Amsterdam/Ajax edition

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Peacehaven Wild Kids

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2022
3,389
The Avenue then Maloncho
It was 2007 and we went out in July after the London bus bombings.
We went over on the ferry from Portsmouth and had a great weekend in Le Havre
Indeed we did, I remember quite a few of us having a bit of breakfast outside this Cafe with the sun shining on us and thinking how great a “European Tour” would be.
Didn’t think we’d ever get one.
 








Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,246
Withdean area
About 1000 out of a “crowd” of about 1200

I didn’t go, but loved Argus news of stuff like at the time.

Other warming news in the era 1997 to say 2008 was literally 4-figures going to away games. From memory …. Peterborough, Southend, etc. To me, revealing the size of the underlying fanbase.
 


Uptown Dunk

Member
Sep 4, 2021
13
Out on 11.40 flight from Gatwick on 9th Nov and back on afternoon of 11th Nov. Staying at Holiday Inn Express Arena Towers.
My sons aged 18 and 20 will be joining me. Can’t wait!
 






Rugrat

Well-known member
Mar 13, 2011
10,224
Seaford
For all of the fans travelling without tickets and hoping to find somewhere to watch the game... what is the consensus?
Not much use to you but we're just going to hang out around Dam Square and do a bit of a crawl.

Surprised that the club didn't liaisie with the local authority to set up some sort of Fanzone with big screen and booze ... not exactly difficult but hey, what do I know?
 


hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,759
Chandlers Ford
Out on 11.40 flight from Gatwick on 9th Nov and back on afternoon of 11th Nov. Staying at Holiday Inn Express Arena Towers.
My sons aged 18 and 20 will be joining me. Can’t wait!
We were booked in there for the Thursday night, but cancelled it in the end and moved to Jaz Hotel (£20 cheaper and amazingly, even CLOSER to the ground!)

No breakfast included though, so we might have to come over to yours and sneak into the buffet!
 






Midget

Amexgemeinschaftsstadionhallebierschluckerinchen
Aug 16, 2015
1,190
Lurking
Another one (2) on EZY2517 on the Wednesday.

Side note on Le Havre, we played there in both 2005 and 2006 iirc. The first was indeed just after 7/7, we were "locked down" in our government building in central London, told it would be all night and I would have missed the ferry. No way to get "south of the river" either. Luckily a colleague knew a taxi driver from Clapham who came in and rescued us.

They nearly turned the ferry full of Albion round too, big cheers when they announced the match was still on. Drank an awful lot of beer in the Navy bar. Happy days.

I'd never have thought back then that a few (well 17/18) years later we'd be flying out to see us play Ajax in a European competition. Insane.
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Heads up for anyone travelling with KLM. It might be worthwhile checking your flights on Wednesday. Newcastle fans having problems with Germany and Dutch destinations with this airline.

 




Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Another one (2) on EZY2517 on the Wednesday.

Side note on Le Havre, we played there in both 2005 and 2006 iirc. The first was indeed just after 7/7, we were "locked down" in our government building in central London, told it would be all night and I would have missed the ferry. No way to get "south of the river" either. Luckily a colleague knew a taxi driver from Clapham who came in and rescued us.

They nearly turned the ferry full of Albion round too, big cheers when they announced the match was still on. Drank an awful lot of beer in the Navy bar. Happy days.

I'd never have thought back then that a few (well 17/18) years later we'd be flying out to see us play Ajax in a European competition. Insane.
I was on that ferry. Liz Costa was informed that the French were going to postpone the game due to 7/7, but she managed to get hold of Martin Perry to let him know there were hundreds of us already crossing the Channel. Martin then contacted Le Havre to tell them we were going to be there, match or no match, so they decided to go ahead with it. The ferry wouldn't have turned around just for us.
The tannoy then announced the game was on.
 








hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,759
Chandlers Ford
Thanks for the heads up. I'm due to fly with KLM on Thursday morning.
Where are you flying from?

I got an email this morning to inform that our flight from Southampton on Thursday morning is cancelled, and that we'd be automatically rebooked on the evening flight :eek:

Have had a ridiculously stressful day trying to sort it all out.

Am now rebooked on a Wednesday afternoon flight, and in theory can reclaim the cost of the extra night's hotel from them afterwards.

Could do without the drama, to be honest.
 


Brian Fantana

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2006
7,550
In the field
Where are you flying from?

I got an email this morning to inform that our flight from Southampton on Thursday morning is cancelled, and that we'd be automatically rebooked on the evening flight :eek:

Have had a ridiculously stressful day trying to sort it all out.

Am now rebooked on a Wednesday afternoon flight, and in theory can reclaim the cost of the extra night's hotel from them afterwards.

Could do without the drama, to be honest.

Newcastle. 4 flights per day to Amsterdam. I checked today’s flight, which were the ones flagged on twitter as having an issue, but they were all fine (barring a few mins delay on one of them this morning).
 


hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,759
Chandlers Ford
Newcastle. 4 flights per day to Amsterdam. I checked today’s flight, which were the ones flagged on twitter as having an issue, but they were all fine (barring a few mins delay on one of them this morning).
Fingers crossed for all concerned then, that none of us get shafted!
 


Seagull over Canaryland

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2011
3,557
Norfolk
Heads up for anyone travelling with KLM. It might be worthwhile checking your flights on Wednesday. Newcastle fans having problems with Germany and Dutch destinations with this airline.


Another thanks for the heads up. Two of us booked on KLM out of Norwich Weds PM. I note their flight tracker shows some cancellations each day this week but also some flights reinstated. Curious, as generally this is a reliable route.
 




hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
62,759
Chandlers Ford
Another thanks for the heads up. Two of us booked on KLM out of Norwich Weds PM. I note their flight tracker shows some cancellations each day this week but also some flights reinstated. Curious, as generally this is a reliable route.
Its a right shambles to be honest. Thought KLM would be reliable, but clearly not.

Got the cancellation email this morning, which says "Sorry, due to technical issues with the plane you were due to be flying on, the flight is cancelled. Click here to see your options" I spent ages clicking all kinds of pointless links about refunds, etc, but nothing helpful at all. Finally found a phone number and after lots of holding, got through to a guy:

"Hello. Hopefully you can help. I've just had an email saying my flight has been cancelled. Here's my confirmation code..."

KLM: Ah yes - I can see that is cancelled - issue with the plane.

"It's Monday morning. The flight is in FOUR days' time. Surely they can find another plane?"

KLM: They might do, yes. But as of now it is cancelled, so all bookings are void. We can book you on the Thursday evening flight, instead.

"No good to me, sorry. Need to be there by lunchtime Thursday at the latest"

So we agree he'll book us onto the Wednesday evening flight (and apparently we can reclaim the hotel cost for that night).

"By the way - if they do 'find' a plane, and the Thursday flight is reinstated, will somebody get in touch to give us a chance to switch back?"

KLM: No, there's no mechanism for that.

"Right"

KLM: You can go on the website, tomorrow, and try to book that flight, and if it shows as available, then it is probably running. You can call us and we can amend your booking.

"Right. I'm not sure I like the odds of 'probably'. I think we'll stick with the Wednesday flights..."

The guy did amend the booking, and he sends us through an email with confirmation of the Wednesday flights, so all good.


Then.. an hour later, I get an email addressed to my lad (much like the one I got this morning) advising that our (original) flights have been cancelled, and we have automatically been rebooked on the Thursday evening flights...

So I have to sit on hold again, to get through to another agent to check all is still well.

"I called earlier about this, and we have been rebooked onto the Wednesday flights"

KLM: Ah, yes. I can see that. Yes that is correct.

"But you've just emailed us to say we've been moved to the Thursday evening flight"

KLM: That is an automatic thing, sorry.

"So we ARE still securely booked on the Wednesday flight?"

KLM: Yes. Absolutely.

"Good"

KLM: You are also booked on the Thursday evening flight.

"We won't need that will we. We'll be in Amsterdam."

KLM: Would you like me to cancel the Thursday booking?

:rant:

If anyone else is supposed to be flying with KLM, don't waste time trying to navigate their shit support links. Call them on 020 7660 0293
 


Change at Barnham

Well-known member
Aug 6, 2011
5,466
Bognor Regis
If anyone else is supposed to be flying with KLM, don't waste time trying to navigate their shit support links. Call them on 020 7660 0293
Thanks for the heads up.
I'm due to fly out of Southampton on Weds morning at 09.20 on KL0918.
I haven't been advised of any changes yet, but I'll keep my eye on it.
 


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