Originally Posted by FlySmart-NWA
Gee, you link NWA to the downward spiral of KLM....now that's not fair.
NW has always been nothing short of fantastic to me. And for this very reason, I continue to fly the airline.
I just linked the start of KLM going downhill with the start of their cooperation with NW. At that time (> 10 years ago), it was clear to everyone that NW was advising KL on how to cut costs. I believe NW were good teachers and/or KL was a good student. I have never flown NW so can't comment on their quality, but as recently as last year on a KL flight AMS to JFK the (American) guy next to me told me he always tries to get a KL trans-atlantic because "they are so much better than NW" (his words)
Anyway, on KL a lot depends on the crew you get. The guys and younger ladies are usually OK to very good, the older women are often horrible.