Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - Transavia.com (KL Codeshare) - What to expect?

Esteemed FTers,

I have a possible (work) trip to Murcia coming up and have noticed that I can get a sensible itinerary using KLM.com, going to either ALC or VLC and thence by train to Murcia (no skyteam option to MJV - I think IB go there, bit I'm not interersted in them). The AMS-ALC/VLC legs come up as KL26xx flights, "operated by transavia.com".

So, what can I expect? Presumably, as the flights are KL-coded, they will count as level segments. But, what is the service like on Transavia? Will FB Elite status be recognised? Are the conditions bearable (~2 hour flight)? Does OLCI work?

Any/all information and tips greatly appreciated.

-- Henry

No Elite recognition at all. Service is Buy-on-Board. Don't know how luggage allowance will be handled but with a search, a recent thread about this should come up.
OLCI works fine (KLM system) and conditions are certainly bearable! Certainly not Ryanair!
Legroom is fine to good.

I did it once a few years ago and my not so big carry on was not accepted.

OP: Are you sure you want to take the train to Murcia instead of renting a car?

You will have lounge access in AMS on both legs.

No access in Spain though as I doubt there is a contract lounge for HV-passengers (and KLM too).

Gajan

You will have lounge access in AMS on both legs.

No access in Spain though as I doubt there is a contract lounge for HV-passengers (and KLM too).

Gajan

I had the same experience a few months ago with transavia. For 1 bag I had to pay but I had lounge access on AMS.

No Ryanair indeed, it is not a good airline at all but not a horrible one either. However, to them, the moment you step out of that AMS lounge, you'll be a nobody ;)

I had the same experience a few months ago with transavia. For 1 bag I had to pay but I had lounge access on AMS.

You paid for luggage while holding a ticket with KL flight numbers? You should get the first bag free, and in case of Skyteam Elite, the second bag too.

You paid for luggage while holding a ticket with KL flight numbers? You should get the first bag free, and in case of Skyteam Elite, the second bag too.

Is it not that the luggage allowance is also determined by the operating airline, i.e. might be difficult to get the second bag free as well.

KLM website (http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prepare_for_travel/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.htm)
Some of our partner airlines have different baggage rules to our own. Please contact your travel agency or the airline concerned for further details.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-flying-dutchman/1331199-klm-flight-transavia-metal-hand-baggage.html

This is my wifes recent experience on the AMS-ALC

Legroom is fine to good.

Unfortunately I can't agree on that one: at 1,92m I was relieved to be moved from and aisle seat in the second last row to a window seat in the (non-reclining) last row with a empty middle seat next to me. Felt like mercy from the flight attendant as I was afraid having to stand up straight after take off from BCN, and not to sit down again until landing in Amsterdam in case I'd have to stay in the aisle seat.

Thanks for all the comments, folks! The consensus seems to be that HV, although not in the Ryanair league, is far from what a regular KLM Elite would expect.

The hand-baggage issue worries me slightly: my normal roller is easily small enough to fit in the bins of a B-737, but it is sometimes gate-checked by KLM when I'm on one of their F-70s with a high load.

Having to buy in-flight snacks seems a bit rough: why can't KLM give you a 'free drink/snack' token when you check in? (As AF are 'supposed' to do when you have a segment on FlyBe metal.)

Anyway, if the trip happens (or there may even be a private trip to PMI involving HV metal), I'll let you know how things went.

-- Henry

Having to buy in-flight snacks seems a bit rough: why can't KLM give you a 'free drink/snack' token when you check in? (As AF are 'supposed' to do when you have a segment on FlyBe metal.)
I agree. Though a reason I could come up with is that when departing from an outstation there is no KLM desk - just Transavia. Perhaps you can send KL the receipts afterwards? Does your itinerary mention a snack when using MMB at klm.com?

By the way, on my most recent Transavia flight both BOB items (one per flight) did not get actually charged to my creditcard. (While I do have the receipts!) Not sure if it was just dumb luck. These were booked on transavia.nl, so it did not have to do with having a KL flightnummer or something like that.

In case you're worried about hand luggage, also kerp in mind that because check-in bags come with a fee, all 150+ pax on board will bring the one piece of maximum-sized carry-on. Not something that the overheads of any airplane are designed for. When leaving BCN on the above-menioned flight, this resulted in over a half hour delay since flight attendants had to move bags, negotiate/force bags to be gate-checked (or actually aisle-checked), and fight with passengers about this.
Nothing I can blame them/HV for, it's just a matter of "what you pay is what you get". Although in your case you pay KL...

I've used HV for numerous long weekend breaks in the last year or so, in general I find them to be a great leisure airline. We travel hand luggage only and pay the extra to reserve seats, don't know how that works if booked through KL though! The staff are friendly and efficient, the BOB is reasonably priced, their timekeeping has always been good, they have longer turn around times than other so called low cost airlines, I most certainly will use them again with no hesitation. Someone already said they are no Ryanair, I would actually place them a level above Easyjet. FB status means nothing to them though, all passengers are treated equally (well).

On the KLM website, there used to be a header that said that service would be buy onboard when you selected Air Europa flights. This seems to have gone.

Did you notice such banner or were you notified at any stage that you wouldn't receive full service with Transavia when booking through KLM?

Transavia is crap, I will never fly it again. Their flights, especially evening flights are always delayed because of the too tight schedules. Receiving luggage at Schiphol takes ages because they go cheap on the luggage crews and use one crew to unload all their 20 or so planes that arrive at night.

The cabin is so cramped full with seats that I'm stuck with my knees in the seat in front the whole flight. Cabin staff is often retarded and passengers behave like its a zoo (and then they applaud at landing). I've flown HV about 15 times too much in my life... Pilots are less experienced too, nearly crashed into the sea approaching NCE last year and landing was aborted, only after 15 min high above the med the pilot made an announcement with fear in his voice and full of mistakes (how we had to abort the start?)...

I would stay away from HV if u can... To most holiday destinations I prefer to fly Swiss via Zurich if no direct KL flight available. Good value and great service!

They stay a holiday carrier, but for some destinations they are the only viable option. Although my experiences were pleasant.
The applauding irritates me also for some reason, but that's what you get with a not-well-travelled holiday crowd.

I associate the applause with TLV flights, although once (on KLM) there was applause when we took off from SVO. I guess people are pleased to arrive in Israel and happy to leave Russia.

I associate the applause with TLV flights, although once (on KLM) there was applause when we took off from SVO. I guess people are pleased to arrive in Israel and happy to leave Russia.

Lol at the applause leaving SVO :D

The first few times I experienced applause on landing, it was on flights to/from Germany - and I therefore always assume that it's Germans doing the clapping.

I'm looking at the following KL coded itinerary: BOS-AMS-RAK, operated by DL and HV. I was wondering if 1) I can check my bag all the way, and 2) if I have to pay extra for it because of the Transavia leg. Note that the entire trip is KL stock.