Part 6: Stavanger (SVG) to Amsterdam (AMS), KLM Business Class
KL1200 (booked as AF8306) - Embraer RJ-170, Seat 1A
STD 11:40 – STA 13:20, [ATD 12:27 - ATA: 13:48]

Priority boarding was strictly enforced - which meant with KLM that first a family with children could board and then about 25 or so other folks as Sky Team gives priority boarding to everyone and their mother as a silver benefit. As a Star Alliance guy I'm not impressed here, but well - there are worse things in the world for sure!

Today's flight would be operated by an Embraer RJ-170. I swiftly found my seat 1A and made myself comfortable. Of course, this being crap eurobusiness class aboard a fully packed flight, it meant that I had a seatmate directly next to me. On a flight of just over one-and-a-half hours that is again not the end of the world, but boy, it felt quite tight - which really showed itself when the meal was served (and at 1.85 metres tall of normal built I'm not even considered as really tall).

As it turned out, KLM does not do PDBs on intra-European flights - which is a big fat minus as every other airline I would fly this trip (AF, SU, RO, J2) does give them. Again not the end of the world as I already had a couple of drinks in the lounge, but the wait for departure seemed to be endless... the reason for the long wait became obvious soon as I overheard the crew talking about a yet unknown delay due to a storm.


What would be my view for the next hour after boarding... ugh!

From this moment on, this crew started to show what I think is always one of the stronger sides of KLM compared to other airlines: communication. Sure, KLM crews can be a hit-or-miss affair and I've encountered plenty of arrogant and uninterested crews before, but this crew was simply exceptional the way how they dealt with the delay. First, the friendly FA informed the passengers about the delay and that we might be standing still for quite a while at the gate. After that, the captain spoke more in depth about the reason of the delay: due to some stormy winds at AMS some runways were closed - and all intercontinental traffic had priority to land above European flights. Only when a fixed time slot for arrival would be given by AMS traffic control, would we be allowed to take off from Stavanger as otherwise we'd be circling endlessly and unnecessary in a holding pattern. While the effectiveness of Schiphol airport dealing with inclement weather is something up for discussion (hint: they are lousy) - the reason for the delay was of course perfectly understandable and logical. Why can't other airlines be like this in communicating open and honestly?

The all-female team of FAs started to hand out bottles of water during the wait. A greatly appreciated gesture, but why they don't do this as standard in business class as PDB is really a mystery for me (OK, perhaps Dutch stinginess is worse than I thought). While we got a small bottle each, down in economy the crew handed out cups and poured in water from a big bottle.


Yay, water!

At that moment, the pilots showed just how amazing they are when it comes to communication and dedication. One of the pilots came down from the flight deck and started to talk with each individual passenger who had a tight connection to explain more in detail about the predicted arrival time and the likelihood if they can make their connecting flight or not. How often do you see pilots kneeling in the aisle addressing customers? Both in business and economy? That's almost Asian-style costumer service and dedication: massive respect!

While one pilot was talking to the passengers with short connections, one of the FAs walked down the aisle to collect all the kids in the plane to take them up front for a cockpit visit. She was just fantastic how she dealt with the children, as well as the other pilot who remained in the cockpit. After the kids went back to their seat, I decided to take a look in the cockpit myself, asking the pilots if "those who still feel at times like a child in their mind" could also take a peek. The young pilots had a laugh and immediately started to share stories about previous flights, telling a tale how once a father dragged his very reluctant son to the cockpit asking the pilots if he could have a look while it was clear that the father only did it because he was dead-set about seeing the cockpit himself as an aviation geek. After talking for ten minutes I asked the pilots if I could make a picture for the trip report, to which they gladly obliged. They even demanded that I'd take a seat in the cockpit as well so one of them could snap a picture of me! After ten minutes more chatting with the pilots about random non-airline related things they got a message from traffic control that in 10 minutes they would be allowed to depart. I quickly went back to my seat and left them for their last preparations before departure.


The two fantastic pilots who would fly us to Amsterdam today.

Both taxiing and take-off were fast and smooth - and there were great views over coastal Norway while ascending into the clouds. In the end we had a delay of about 50 minutes.









When seat-belt signs went off the friendly crew came into action and distributed menu cards. As customary for intra-European KL flights during lunch and dinner time, no hot option: just the choose between 3 sandwiches.





As I was in a pre-carnival party mood - I decided to opt for the cava as drink, while for the sandwich I took the beef pastrami option.


KLM meal: beef pastrami sandwich, accompanied with a small bottle of cava.

The sandwich, salad and dessert were tasty - and as I basically had two breakfasts (one in my hotel, one in my lounge) it was filling enough. I know it is somewhat of Dutch lunch culture to eat just a sandwich instead of a warm meal, and for a short flight of 1.5 hours it is for sure a decent enough option, but I found the soft product of KLM a bit a lacking. If I would compare it to two later short-haul Air France flights it did not even come close in quality, quantity and small details. I also don't understand the choice of sparkling wine. It retails for 5 EUR/bottle and can hardly be described as something worthy of business class. There are some great cavas out there (I recently very much enjoyed the Vilarnau Brut Reserva in the Brussels diamond lounge), but this one? Not good at all! The wines (which I didn't try on this flight), also sounded and looked decidedly un-business class being served in small plastic bottles. Of course, price doesn't say everything, but is it so hard to put a bit of effort in actually finding some wines which at least have a good reputation or are otherwise interesting choices?


KLM's cava on intra-european flights: looks nice on pictures, doesn't taste good at all.

I decided to ditch the cava after gulping it down and just go for a beer - as I was headed for a day of carnival parties I'd better work to improve my blood-alcohol level to fit in with the massive crowds celebrating on the streets in the South of the Netherlands. Upon hearing of my (southern Dutch) accent and realising I was going to celebrate carnival, the friendly FA might have even brought me another beer (or two).



The flight went by very fast and before I knew it, the captain announced we were starting our descent into Schiphol Airport. To the cheers of all passengers, he announced that all connecting passengers were likely to make their flights if they'd step up their pace a bit and that KLM would hold their flights for a few minutes longer if necessary. Massive kudos again for the pilots and the entire crew of FAs - as they were all superb on this flight.

Of all countries on Earth, the Netherlands is weirdly one of my favourites to fly into. Sure, on the ground it has probably the most boring scenery imaginable - but from the air it just looks so perfect, almost like it is designed in a computer simulation. It's testimony how peoplekind mankind can beat the elements (mainly water) and create an amazingly functional country with excellent infrastructure and the most productive agricultural sector in the world.

















There is one thing which is even worse to hear than "brace for impact!" on landing: the pilot saying "we successfully landed at the Polderbaan". Frequent AMS-flyers will instantly know what I mean, but for those unaware of it: the Polderbaan is Schiphol Airport's infamous runway which is not really located at the airport but somewhere halfway Paris. That means that after landing, you can enjoy a relaxing ride through the Dutch polder for 40 minutes or so until you finally arrive at the gate. Not what you want to hear after already racking up a delay and being in a hurry to catch my train to the South of the Netherlands trying to still make it in time for the big carnival parade!


Riding through the Dutch polder aboard the plane...


Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

After arriving at the gate, I thanked both the team of FAs and the pilots from the bottom of my heart for their fantastic service. To my horror, we had quite a distant gate which meant I had to run a half-marathon to arrivals and the airport's train station to make sure I still got on the last train which would get me in time to my old home town for the carnival parade. With seconds to spare, I made it into the train - being utterly exhausted from the run through the airport (alcohol and running is never a good idea!).

In short: KLM has two great assets. Their communication was flawless on board and everyone went the extra mile to inform, help and entertain passengers. While I think that generally this is always a strong point of KLM (imho it's also a bit of Dutch culture, as I always find companies very open minded and direct in communicating) - this flight was exemplary. Even though I think KLM crews can be a bit of a hit-and-miss, this crew was fantastic in their service. All smiling, pro-actively offering another drink: that's basically all that you can ask for on such a short flight.

I was a bit less impressed with the soft product. Sure, the meal was tasty, and certainly enough in quantity for such a short flight. But there are plenty of other European airlines whose product is miles ahead. KLM would be wise to ditch the cava as well for something more palatable. I don't want to complain too much really as all-in it wasn't that bad really (and flying most of my flights down in Y - I should't anyway complain too much!), but after flying the other segments of this trip on other airlines it just felt a bit weak in comparison. Perhaps it's like the communication (which was good!) again a bit of a reflection of the national character, as the Netherlands doesn't have a great culinary tradition and possibly the worst lunch habits in the world?

I would certainly not hesitate flying KLM again - but I would never pay for the business product if flying only within Europe.

Next up: Celebrating Carnival in the South of the Netherlands - a day full of beer and parade floats!