Kwaj girl
Jan 15, 03, 7:20 pm
Kwaj boy “surprised” me with a New Years mileage run since NW was offering obscenely low WBC fares to Europe over the holidays. We needed the break from all the family obligations we were up against during our 3-week stay on the Mainland, so what better way to spend New Years Eve than earning miles and having multiple cocktails without the threat of a DUI!
NW1445 PVD-DTW
N610NW
PVD Gate 11
Seats 2AB
Out: 12:01pm
Off: 12:09pm
On: 1:42pm
In: 1:45pm
DTW Gate A71
Kwaj boy & I arrived at PVD about 1 ½ hrs before flight time and parked in their “economy parking” @ $13.00 per day. With carry-ons in tow we were the only pax in the FC/Elite check-in line (there were only 3 or 4 other parties in the economy check-in line). Check-in was uneventful (other than the ticket counter agent saying, "you DO realize that your flight arrived in AMS 1/1 and you're coming back the same day?") as well as passage through the security lines. Nothing unusual about boarding except for the lead flight attendant’s comments in an attempt to inject a little humor: as the a/c door was closed he said “Now say goodbye to Mom since it’s time to turn off all your cell phones, and if you forgot your book or magazine just feel free to pick up the emergency information card from the seatback pocket in front of you for some really riveting reading!” Preflight beverages were offered, so we availed ourselves to a couple of gin and tonics. Once airborne we were offered a basket (“help yourself to as many as you’d like”) of Fisher roasted almonds, Spinzels, and Quaker chewy granola bars (must have been leftover from the morning flight. No problem getting as many drink refills as you wanted, though Kwaj boy and I wanted to pace ourselves due to the long flight ahead. Weather in Detroit included some light snow but nothing that would affect our flights.
We hung out for awhile in the WorldClub closest to A1 since we had previously only frequented to main centrally located club and wanted to check out the smaller end one. Don’t go in there hungry as you will be disappointed: only cookies and apples in addition to the usual beverages/wine/booze.
NW40 DTW-AMS
N221NW
DTW Gate A36
Seats 2AB (DC10)
Out: 3:57pm
Off: 4:11pm
On: 5:20am
In: 5:25am
AMS Gate E6
Boarding was through 2L and flight attendants were offering Orange Juice or Heineken as passengers settled into WBC. Gotta love these seats for the generous pitch, if nothing else. Though they’re not a 180-degree recline, we find the seats comfortable enough to stretch out and relax during the long flight. The first drink service featured ramekins of COLD cashews along with the libation of your choice (champagne for me, and red wine for him; sorry I can't remember the brands.) We ordered Low fat meals, which consisted of a cold shrimp plate appetizer (quite good, actually), a green salad with REGULAR vinaigrette dressing (nothing low fat about that one), the main dish of nicely-seasoned lemon-pepper poached whole chicken breast served with steamed rice & broccoli, hot rolls (sourdough or pumpernickel) served from the basket and a fruit plate for dessert (though Kwaj boy also indulged in a sundae when the dessert/liqueur cart came around!). Flight attendants also came through the cabin with a box of Godiva chocolates. 16-oz bottles of chilled water were offered to each passenger and were replaced frequently throughout the flight as needed. Even during “lights out”, the flight attendants made regular rounds to make sure WBC passengers had everything they needed.
Thanks to info from LH747FTL we deplaned and simply went to the transfer counter to pick up return boarding passes at the E-concourse and then proceeded to the KLM E/F Business Class lounge. The spacious lounge opened at 5:45 am and had a nice set-up for typical morning beverages plus a good selection of alcoholic libations. 2 or 3 kinds of individually wrapped 1-oz cheese portions, crackers, a variety of individually packaged sweet biscuits/cookies, peanuts, and pound cake slices. Just before we left, they brought out a try of what I think were Olliebollen (similar to a large “donut hole” cake-like donut). Very good, but we only had time for 1 before having to leave the lounge to report back to the gate for security screening at 6:20 am for a 7:55 am flight!
Part II, The Return, to follow…..
NW1445 PVD-DTW
N610NW
PVD Gate 11
Seats 2AB
Out: 12:01pm
Off: 12:09pm
On: 1:42pm
In: 1:45pm
DTW Gate A71
Kwaj boy & I arrived at PVD about 1 ½ hrs before flight time and parked in their “economy parking” @ $13.00 per day. With carry-ons in tow we were the only pax in the FC/Elite check-in line (there were only 3 or 4 other parties in the economy check-in line). Check-in was uneventful (other than the ticket counter agent saying, "you DO realize that your flight arrived in AMS 1/1 and you're coming back the same day?") as well as passage through the security lines. Nothing unusual about boarding except for the lead flight attendant’s comments in an attempt to inject a little humor: as the a/c door was closed he said “Now say goodbye to Mom since it’s time to turn off all your cell phones, and if you forgot your book or magazine just feel free to pick up the emergency information card from the seatback pocket in front of you for some really riveting reading!” Preflight beverages were offered, so we availed ourselves to a couple of gin and tonics. Once airborne we were offered a basket (“help yourself to as many as you’d like”) of Fisher roasted almonds, Spinzels, and Quaker chewy granola bars (must have been leftover from the morning flight. No problem getting as many drink refills as you wanted, though Kwaj boy and I wanted to pace ourselves due to the long flight ahead. Weather in Detroit included some light snow but nothing that would affect our flights.
We hung out for awhile in the WorldClub closest to A1 since we had previously only frequented to main centrally located club and wanted to check out the smaller end one. Don’t go in there hungry as you will be disappointed: only cookies and apples in addition to the usual beverages/wine/booze.
NW40 DTW-AMS
N221NW
DTW Gate A36
Seats 2AB (DC10)
Out: 3:57pm
Off: 4:11pm
On: 5:20am
In: 5:25am
AMS Gate E6
Boarding was through 2L and flight attendants were offering Orange Juice or Heineken as passengers settled into WBC. Gotta love these seats for the generous pitch, if nothing else. Though they’re not a 180-degree recline, we find the seats comfortable enough to stretch out and relax during the long flight. The first drink service featured ramekins of COLD cashews along with the libation of your choice (champagne for me, and red wine for him; sorry I can't remember the brands.) We ordered Low fat meals, which consisted of a cold shrimp plate appetizer (quite good, actually), a green salad with REGULAR vinaigrette dressing (nothing low fat about that one), the main dish of nicely-seasoned lemon-pepper poached whole chicken breast served with steamed rice & broccoli, hot rolls (sourdough or pumpernickel) served from the basket and a fruit plate for dessert (though Kwaj boy also indulged in a sundae when the dessert/liqueur cart came around!). Flight attendants also came through the cabin with a box of Godiva chocolates. 16-oz bottles of chilled water were offered to each passenger and were replaced frequently throughout the flight as needed. Even during “lights out”, the flight attendants made regular rounds to make sure WBC passengers had everything they needed.
Thanks to info from LH747FTL we deplaned and simply went to the transfer counter to pick up return boarding passes at the E-concourse and then proceeded to the KLM E/F Business Class lounge. The spacious lounge opened at 5:45 am and had a nice set-up for typical morning beverages plus a good selection of alcoholic libations. 2 or 3 kinds of individually wrapped 1-oz cheese portions, crackers, a variety of individually packaged sweet biscuits/cookies, peanuts, and pound cake slices. Just before we left, they brought out a try of what I think were Olliebollen (similar to a large “donut hole” cake-like donut). Very good, but we only had time for 1 before having to leave the lounge to report back to the gate for security screening at 6:20 am for a 7:55 am flight!
Part II, The Return, to follow…..