Last week I flew from Osaka (KIX) to Amsterdam with KL in C-class again.
Usually I fly this route two or three times a year, allowing for some comparison between flights.

GROUND HANDLING

Check-in
Check-in in KIX was convenient. Sufficient desks open (I counted four Economy, two C-class/Elite desks). Almost no queus at Economy, no passengers at C-class counters. Check-in itself was performed by handling agent (was it Asiana or Korean?) with one KL supervisor overseeing the desks. It would help if supervisors were allowed to smile... Check-in was fast, efficient and friendly. I was asked which seat I preferred as I had forgotten to preseat. One of my favourite seats (4F) was available.
Red priority tags were added to the bags without question, in fact the older red tags were even not removed. So with two tags would the bags arrive in time in AMS.....?

Security check and immigration
Efficient and sufficient staff. Actually I was through both security and immigration in a total of two minutes! They checked my bottle of mineral water on a kind of scale. I guess to measure the density of the liquid to see if it was not some kind of explosive??

Shops
I wondered about for some time and bought some duty free items. Selection is average, not as good as the shops at Schiphol in Amsterdam. You have to board a small train to the departure gates.

Departure gate
I had no time to visit the lounge this time. From last time I remember it's sufficient, quite peaceful but nothing special. The lounge is very close to the departure gate which is convenient. There were MANY agents for KLM at various points on the way to the gate. All frantically requesting AMS passengers to board quickly. Admittedly at the gate there were almost no passengers, everyone had boarded already. There was a separate line for Elite/World Business Class passengers. In the departure gate a reasonable offering of newspapers was presented.

What I don't get is that the departure time is officially 11:00 am, the check-in agent mentioned the time had been changed to 10:50 am, although all the screens mentioned 11:00 am. I arrived at the gate at 10:30, 20 mins before new departure time and the gate agents made it seem as if I was the last passenger! (which I was not...).
For the records: it was a 747-400 combi, PH-BFR in old colour scheme.
Doors closed at 10:57 and we pushed back after three minutes or so.

INFLIGHT

Pre-takeoff drinks consisted of Champagne (Piper Heidsieck), Orange juice or water. A new comfort kit was offered (no longer the silver tin-like kit). I rarely use them but this kit was less elaborate than the previous kit. Sufficient but a bit cheap-looking. With a KL-NWA logo (not AF). KL slippers were offered too. Menu's were of the usual kind, with actually an impressive wine list (two white (one French, one South African), two standard red (one French, one Chilean) and a special red (Argentinian), Piper Champagne, Vintage Port and South African Dessert wine. Also a leaflet with the latest additions to the taxfree assortment was in the menu.

Takeoff was quick, only one JAL plane ahead of us.
Drink service commenced immediately after take-off with this time quite a generous bowl of mixed nuts. Drinks were refilled continuously by the very friendly and attentative flight attendant.
There were five empty seats in this front cabin. The cabin was clean, in order, and all seats and PTV's seemed to be working (not always on KL...)
747's still equiped with " older" C-class seats which I find quite adequate.
Offering of magazines was disappointing, only Japanese magazines available.

Inflight entertainment:
Relatively good selection of movies, including Bourne Supremacy and The Terminal, about 6 movies and 3 TV channels. Comedy selection was very good. Unfortunately no AVOD on 747's yet.

Meal selection:
Meals from Japan must be the best on the KLM network. Well presented, tasty, good variety, sufficient. No complaints here. As a starter roast beef with mustard sauce and scallop salad. Choice of three main courses, beef tenderloin, pan-fried cod with saffron sauce or teriyaki chicken. All looked good. Salad was very fresh with good dressing. Varied bread basket. For dessert chocolate-mocca cake (good!!), cheese platter of fresh fruit.
Throughout the meal the drink service continued, very attentative FA and purser who assisted.

After a few hours most passengers closed the shades and slept or watched the PTV's. Audio selection was excellent too.
In between service consisted of small snacks/chocolates available in the galley. A choice of sandwiches, rice triangles (onigiri) or Nissin noodles was available.

This is a daylight fligh of 12 hours, scheduled to arrive in AMS at 15:00 hours.
I always feel strange, having such a L O N G day.
Prior to arrival a hot snack was offered. The starter was a plate of marinated shrimps and scallops and a western dish (tortellini) or Japanese broiled salmon. Sufficient, very tasty and again, great presentation.

Before landing the connections were displayed. Being on time, all connections were possible. Out came the FA with the Delft Blue houses. KLM has started printing the year of production on the houses now. I guess too many folks already have the complete collection of 84 (number 85 available mid December '04) so putting the year on it allows for a more SPECIFIC collection.

WBC passengers were able to deplane first. Immigration at AMS was very quick too. I guess not too many international arrivals at 15:00. Well, the baggage handlers had a good day too. Usually one waits, and waits, and waits at AMS. This time, within six minutes, the luggage was on the belt. My case was number five on the belt. Numbers one through four also had red tags. Just proof that this system CAN work. Now get it right ALL the time KLM!!

No customs officials to give me a hard time about purchases in Japan this time. Which was a nice way to end this trip.

Overall review: great flight, from beginning to end. Crew really made the difference, great meals and drinks. Cabin not too full, on time. Sufficient inflight entertainment (usually not so important for me but it is on such a long day flight). The inflight kit has been reduced to bare essentials though. On time arrival and punctual baggage handling. Must be the best KLM flight I've had the last two years.