KLM Flying Dutchman - Excellent Service in DELHI

As you all know, Delhis Indira Gandhi International airport is one of the worldst most inconvenient airports. Long lines at Security and immigration and some strange rules. KLM however impressed me with service on 14MAR DEL-AMS flight in C.

Outside the building was a porter waiting with a sign "KLM World Business Class". He Took all my baggage and managed me to bypass the crowds waiting before the entrance door of the airport building.
No waiting at check-in, preassigned seat 1J, baggage checked through to STR.

A young Lady from KL took my passport and immigration forms and accompanied me to the Taj Lounge. She could bypass the immigration line. Within 10 minutes after arrival at the Airport I was seated with a gin tonic in the Taj Lounge. Without this service it would have taken approx. 90 min.

I know KLM reads this board, so I would like to say Thank you KLM !! My next booking is on it´s way.

Thomas

Well done KLM. I will be reluctantly leaving KLM as my new city is a Lufthansa city. But stories like this make me want to go the long way and fly with KLM.

Good Show!

KLM staff in DEL have been consistently exceptional every time I have flown through there. As a Platinum usually flying in coach, they have my boarding pass pre-printed, escort me to/from the lounge and generally make sure that everything is running smoothly. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Now why cannot KLM in Jo'burg do the same...

Hang on folks, have I stumbled into the wrong forum http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

pmcg

Am flying back from DEL next week so I will let you know how it went for me. B747, how do they have your boarding passes pre-printed? As a PE i have never experianced this.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lallyr:
B747, how do they have your boarding passes pre-printed? As a PE i have never experianced this.
</font>

When I walk up to the counter, they always have them in a rack, preprinted together with the lounge invitation. I guess it saves them time from having to handwrite the lounge passes for each premium pax during the checkin process.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by B747-437B:
KLM staff in DEL have been consistently exceptional every time I have flown through there. As a Platinum usually flying in coach, they have my boarding pass pre-printed, escort me to/from the lounge and generally make sure that everything is running smoothly. &lt;IMG SRC="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif"&gt; &lt;IMG SRC="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif"&gt; </font>

Surprised that they check you in without verifying your passport/visa details. Is'nt it a requirement for US/UK bound flights to pre send the passport number, nationality and D.O.B details to the authorities?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kris Rao:
Surprised that they check you in without verifying your passport/visa details. Is'nt it a requirement for US/UK bound flights to pre send the passport number, nationality and D.O.B details to the authorities? </font>

They have all my details on file I presume, plus I'm always en route to either Schengen or Canada - so none of the UK/US stuff applies to me. They just make sure the passport/visas are valid which takes about 5 seconds while they hand over the boarding passes and tag the luggage.

This is something they should do for all long haul flights :-). At least then you know what the money is being spent on.

------------------
Cheers,

Brenno.
http://wereldverkenning.nl

But i still dont get how they give you such priority service? Do you work for KLM? As a PE i have had nothing but pain with check in at DEL!!

Maybe i dont fly there enough so they dont know me, as i am only there maybe 5-6 times a year.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lallyr:

I am only there maybe 5-6 times a year.</font>

Jeez Rip! Thats some torture http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lallyr:
But i still dont get how they give you such priority service? Do you work for KLM? As a PE i have had nothing but pain with check in at DEL!! </font>

I guess its because I'm an India-based Platinum. There aren't many of us and KLM India likes to take good care of us when they can. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Maybe its worthwhile transferring my account to my address in India? Or is that being silly just to get a pre-printed boarding card http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

But honestly what other special treatments do you get as a Indian PE?

B747 - Where do you book/change your KLM tickets? I have to stay a little longer then originally planned but my TA keeps on telling me that all of next weeks flights are closed and changing my ticket is not possible. I am booked in H class.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lallyr:
But honestly what other special treatments do you get as a Indian PE?</font>

Got invited to their special party last year for India-based elites. Also got a nice piece of KLM/Northwest branded luggage as a freebie giveaway. Plus the usual holiday cards, etc...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">B747 - Where do you book/change your KLM tickets? I have to stay a little longer then originally planned but my TA keeps on telling me that all of next weeks flights are closed and changing my ticket is not possible. I am booked in H class.</font>

I usually deal with the girls at the BOM ticket office directly for changes.

I have a local number for them, but its at home in India (I'm currently in Canada) and the webpage now only lists the toll-free 1600-114-777. You can try to email them at bom.helpdesk@klm.com though and see if they can help you.

Just flew in from DEL yesterday and i must agree that someone has had his/hers ears slapped a few times there as the service is a lot better.

My events -

Got to the airport and as everyone who has been there must know that getting past the crowds and into the airport must be one of the worst points. But not this time, there were several KLM WBC rep's standing there who took my luggage and took me through the ques at Passport & ticket check.

There was a massive line at the X ray machine which also we que jumped and was left at the WBC Check-in counter. Got my boarding pass and lounge voucher.

Sat in the lounge from where at boarding a WBC rep came and took me through the ques (long is not the word) at the x-ray & security check machine.

Took me to the front of the boarding line where i was told that i had been upgraded to WBC http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif and given a new boarding pass.

Probably the best words that i love to hear "sir you have been upgraded to WBC" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Sat in row 1 on the MD 11 and had a lovely flight back.

To top it off the lounge wasnt that full in AMS as i was there waiting for 5 hrs (dont ask)

Very impressed indeed. Going back in 2 weeks and will definately try my hardest to fly KLM again. Which is impossible as there is never any seats available on it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsdown.gif Called my TA last night and the first date he can get me is the 10th of April. Why oh why is it always a misson to get seat to DEL i will never get!!

The only thing i wasnt impressed with was the lounge as they are only allowed to serve two drinks free of charge!! Must check in a bit later next time http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

------------------
Fly not to get somewhere but for the joy of it.

Flying Dutchman Platinum Elite