Confirmed: KLM introduces Economy Comfort short-haul
#286
Join Date: Dec 2008
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#288
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: CH, D, USA
Posts: 1,724
- Row 1 does not have more space, just more seatback-recline than before. The 737-800 I was on (an older variant) had a window missing at 1A. Only 1C offered good legroom. 1A and 1DF are not that good. Seatwitdh is reduced with the traytable.
- The legroom of rows 2 and back to the end of e-comfort whas definitely better than before, but it seems a bit less than AA offers with Economy Extra.
- I was not able to find out if all 738s are reconfigured. Definitely an improvement in business and e-comfort.
- My seat had power outlets.
#289
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
There is nothing new whatsoever about the seating arrangement. These aircraft have always offered more pitch in the first 8/9/10 rows, which comprise the flexible EB cabin. If fewer EB rows were needed the other rows just became standard economy seats. Now they are touted as EC with extra pitch and recline. They've always had that, but now KL wants you to pay for them.
Some of you may recall the good old days when KL's shorthaul fleet had J cabins configured 2+3. The J cabin was flexible back then too, so quite often lucky Y pax got to travel in really comfortable seats.
The number of occupied EC seats on my upcoming flight has increased to all of five. Looks like one other pax in addition to myself has decided to move forward, as there is only one occupied seat left in row 6, originally the first EC row. The seatmap now shows all regular Y seats as unavailable, presumably because they don't want me to move there for some reason, not because they've all been taken.
Johan
#290
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: FB plf; IB oro; LA black
Posts: 453
Saturday PH BGP "Pelican" Row 8 ^
Sunday PH BGL "Warbler" Row 8
These are two 737-7k2 according to airfleets.
#291
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
CPH-AMS. Flight left with about 17 pax in EC. The guy in the window seat in my row was PE, as was the guy in the window seat behind us. Amazingly, somebody was stuck in the middle seat across the aisle, but he soon moved.
Strictly from a personal LTPE perspective, this was great: most pax crammed in the back, plenty of free seats at the front, including the adjacent middle seat.
Johan
Strictly from a personal LTPE perspective, this was great: most pax crammed in the back, plenty of free seats at the front, including the adjacent middle seat.
Johan
#292
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
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Could the difference have anything to do with the extra row they are putting in?
#295
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
#297
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,316
I am at an outstation now and just asked at the premium check in desk if anything more up front would be available. Got 4D without a problem. It seems that these EC seats are consistently given away to elites at outstations. At Amsterdam the GA didn't even have a clue what I meant when I asked for an upgrade from Economy to EC since the economy cabin was oversold.
#298
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
AMS-CPH this afternoon. Pretty full in Y, I could see four empty middle seats in EC, not sure about the EER. It was glaringly obvious that EC seats were being handed out to anybody and everybody who checked in late. Two guys who were traveling together got middle seats in different rows. They were big, broad-shouldered and fat, fortunately the "smaller" of the two ended up next to me. He had brought his own trough in a plastic bag, presumably his goal was to attain the same size as his companion.
At the last minute, three more pax showed up. Despite the vacant middle EC seats, they were seated in EB. Something weird was going on. First of all, they boarded late, well after the cut-off time. If I, a lowly LTPE, had tried that, the GAs would no doubt have told me to get lost. Then a uniformed KL employee (who was not one of the two GAs) showed up to wish them a good flight a a rather familiar tone. These pax had to make do with Y snacks (presumably because they were not booked in EB so no meals had been catered), but did enjoy the EB bar service. As there was no space whatsoever in the overhead lockers, the cabin crew had to use every available locker to store at least some of their carry-ons. Really bright idea, removing the EB wardrobe!
Johan
At the last minute, three more pax showed up. Despite the vacant middle EC seats, they were seated in EB. Something weird was going on. First of all, they boarded late, well after the cut-off time. If I, a lowly LTPE, had tried that, the GAs would no doubt have told me to get lost. Then a uniformed KL employee (who was not one of the two GAs) showed up to wish them a good flight a a rather familiar tone. These pax had to make do with Y snacks (presumably because they were not booked in EB so no meals had been catered), but did enjoy the EB bar service. As there was no space whatsoever in the overhead lockers, the cabin crew had to use every available locker to store at least some of their carry-ons. Really bright idea, removing the EB wardrobe!
Johan
#299
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Leeds ,Yorks UK
Programs: KLM Flying Blue Platinum for Life.. BA Gold , oh and some other shiny bits of plastic ...
Posts: 4,238
At the last minute, three more pax showed up. Despite the vacant middle EC seats, they were seated in EB. Something weird was going on. First of all, they boarded late, well after the cut-off time. If I, a lowly LTPE, had tried that, the GAs would no doubt have told me to get lost. Then a uniformed KL employee (who was not one of the two GAs) showed up to wish them a good flight a a rather familiar tone. These pax had to make do with Y snacks (presumably because they were not booked in EB so no meals had been catered), but did enjoy the EB bar service. As there was no space whatsoever in the overhead lockers, the cabin crew had to use every available locker to store at least some of their carry-ons. Really bright idea, removing the EB wardrobe!
Johan