KLM Flying Dutchman - RANT: Winter Schedule 09-10

I always dread the days when KLMs winter schedule is published. And this time it will affect me again...

One of the routes I often fly is AMS-BRS and with their new schedule KL will unwillingly assist me significantly in my efforts to reduce my use of their planes.

From end October, the first flight in, KL1049 will arrive BRS as late as 10:40 while the last flight out, KL1054 will already depart BRS at 15:45.

Just to compare with the current schedule: KL1049 arrives BRS 09:25, KL1054 departs BRS 17:30.

And of course, ironically, KL has a new advertising campaign mentioning that with their 'flexible schedule for all European destinations you make a single day return trip. This way you save time for other fun things'. What other fun things? Walking to and from the Crown Lounge before a flight from the D pier in AMS?

LH quit BRS earlier this year (for the second time), AF (operated by Airlinair) is notoriously unreliable on the BRS route, BA sold out to Fly(May)Be. Leaves SN who already messed up their schedule last year or (Sl)EasyJet :(

Same here, I've always used KLM out of BRS as it's only a 75 minute drive from where I live. However, now with 5 or 6 hour layovers at AMS I might as well drag my butt up to LHR, especially as I now get Gold with Virgin through Amex.

I remember the good old days when there were plenty of flights from BRS, usually managing a 2 hour layover in AMS at the most.

Yes they have shaken up the schedule quite a bit.
A sign of the times I guess.
Also the afternoon 3pm departures to Japan etc are gone, and will move till after 5pm, not a bad thing for me, gives me more time at the office.
At least there are no destinations that have dropped off the map for now.

No AMS-SFO-AMS on Tuesdays.
KLM 605-606.

or the horror times on AMS-LAX now leaving at 10.45 and worse returning at 16.00 instead of 18.30...

Based on http://www.nu.nl/economie/2086640/klm-schroeft-capaciteit-omlaag.html and http://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/news/?ID=32120 KLM is reducing capacity on middle haul flights by 6% and long haul flights by 3%.

Capacity reduction will be obtained by reducing frequencies and changing equipment.

I think it's more than just the winter schedule. My gut feeling is that AF is taking a lot of routes away from KLM. I used to be able to fly out of Schipol to most destinations. Since last year my 3 long hauls to Seattle, Mumbai and Saigon have all been, without any option AF from CDG.

Hughdal

I think it's more than just the winter schedule. My gut feeling is that AF is taking a lot of routes away from KLM. I used to be able to fly out of Schipol to most destinations. Since last year my 3 long hauls to Seattle, Mumbai and Saigon have all been, without any option AF from CDG.

Hughdal

During the same season, AF is not opening any route, is closing a few (LCY routes, Paris-Shannon, etc) and is also reducing capacity, so rather than AF 'taking routes away' from KL, I think it is a case of one of the two airlines losing destinations covered by the other. Not good I agree but 'rationalisation' (do I hate this word...) rather than displacement...

I always dread the days when KLMs winter schedule is published. And this time it will affect me again...You will no doubt be pleased to learn that the latest issue of the Flying Dutchman magazine feature a double-spread advertisement:

"Vertrekken wanneer het u uitkomt!

Met de uitgebreide en flexibele dienstregeling van KLM voor alle bestemmingen in Europa kunt u in één dat heen en weer vliegen. Zou houdt U meer tijd over voor andere leuke dingen."

:D :D

In English:

Depart when it suits you!

KL's extensive and flexible schedules to all European destinations allow you to fly out and back again in one day, leaving you more time to do other fun things.

Johan

Looks like HEL has been downgraded from 737s to Cityhopper for all 4 flights...All EMB-190s now. How does Cityhopper service compare to mainline service?

JRO-DAR flights have been moved to departure after 11am which is nice as I can leave now just after traffic to AMS :)

Looks like HEL has been downgraded from 737s to Cityhopper for all 4 flights...All EMB-190s now. How does Cityhopper service compare to mainline service?

There are no middle seats on the E190 so that's an improvement over the 3-3 seating on the B737 - except in the case of half empty flights where the middle seat would not have been occupied of course. Other than that, the service should be similar in my experience.

I think it's more than just the winter schedule. My gut feeling is that AF is taking a lot of routes away from KLM. I used to be able to fly out of Schipol to most destinations. Since last year my 3 long hauls to Seattle, Mumbai and Saigon have all been, without any option AF from CDG.

Hughdal

I hadn't realised KL used to fly to SGN. When was that? Re BOM, AFAIK the NW nonstop (from AMS) is still there.

I think it's more than just the winter schedule. My gut feeling is that AF is taking a lot of routes away from KLM. I used to be able to fly out of Schipol to most destinations. Since last year my 3 long hauls to Seattle, Mumbai and Saigon have all been, without any option AF from CDG.

Hughdal


I dunno really. Saigon hasn;t been flown by KLM (not recently anyway) unless you changed in BKK so as I see it, that option hasn;t changed. Even the AF SGN flight (which has been running a good while) stops in BKK. Mumbai has been NWA for as long as I remember from AMS, which leaves Seattle, which as far as I remember was / is NWA as well? If AF are taking routes from KLM then I don't think its those three. There has been consolidation and fewer destinations where both fly but thats about it I think.

And City hopper service seems identical to mainline from what I have seen on teh ABZ - AMS route. The E90 is great.

Not sure where you got your information.
But I cannot recall when last KLM flew to SGN, so if they stopped it's not because of AF.
Mumbai/Bombay is Northwest (Delta), Seattle has always been Northwest (Delta).
KLM quit Caracas because of AF, but AF quit Manila and also about one year ago Teheran.

But I cannot recall when last KLM flew to SGNNever, to the best of my knowledge.

Johan

Believe it or not, but KL FAs are now complaining that the new schedule has resulted in too long turn-around times! Because the APU is now switched off, the poor souls have to leave the aircraft and not only "hang around the airport" but also try to "scrounge a snack".

A purser complained that only upon leaving the aircraft in CPH and seeing the gate display did he realize that the return flight would depart three hours later! Shocking!

Needless to say, the FA union has complained to management.

Source: vnconline.nl (http://www.vnconline.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=907&Itemid=2)

Johan

Isnt that a good thing? AMS-CPH is what...maybe 60 minutes? Dont they get paid by the number of hours in the air, aka, shorter turn around equals higher paycheck?

I should imagine that longer turn-arounds would mean fewer flights in the course of a tour of duty, thus less time on board actually working serving pax. Not sure what there is to gripe about, therefore.

Johan