Didymis

I have to agree, this is absolutely ridiculous. Why didn't they take a look at a Delta Sky Club? You can get "high end" spirits and drinks for a price, but there's still an entire lounge to sit down and work/eat/relax/etc. Having the entire 2nd floor as a "premium" space just makes no sense...

Just look at the amount of people eating at Blue on any given moment. I had lunch there around 2PM a few weeks ago and it was only me and another gentleman who came in later. Do KLM and Vermaat (the group that essentially runs the lounge) really think this is a sustainable business model? They're paying high class chefs (yes, they really come from Michelin star restaurants) to just stand around, waiting for passengers? It's ludicrous.

Still have to experience the newly opened up section, but reading the comments in this thread: I'm not really excited...

Mozart0815

Reading all this gives me yet another reason to avoid KLM altogether.

Business class still having 6 seats per row, half of the walkways in AMS broken (I even started a thread on this as I just couldn’t believe it), mandatory bus rides on each City Hooer flight. I don’t think I’d ever say that but the end to end J experience going through CDG is starting to feel mich more attractive than going through AMS.

arjen05

I have visited the nap rooms about a week ago, but didn't take a picture. They have 20 (!) of them and they're very similar to Yotel There's a couple of differences though:

KLM

• Minimum stay (=minimum pay, you can leave earlier) 3hrs
• Price 49,50 EUR
• Shower in adjacent shower cabins, so in case you'd like to shower after your nap, you'll have to walk out of your sleep cabin to the shower area and also make sure you reserve one or risk waiting a couple of minutes.
• Toilet in regular lounge facilities.
• Shower amenities include shower gel, toothbrush, shaving kit.

Yotel

• Minimum stay (=minimum pay, you can leave earlier) 4hrs
• Price 52 EUR
• Shower in the cabin.
• Toilet in the cabin
• Only shower gel.
• King beds available.

Both offer bunk bed style sleep cabins (but you'll have either the upper or the lower bed, as they're in different cabins). I don't now if KLM offers double beds or only single cabins.

I have absolutely no clue why KLM has chosen not to have shower or restroom facilities inside the sleep cabins...

Fabo.sk

Maybe we should all get a (flex, refundable? ) ticket on 28th and come in force to tell them this is a stupid way to run a lounge

(though I have a fleeting suspicion that KLM would say even to a group of Ultimates that we don't know what we want and this is in fact the perfect way to run the lounge!)

criced

Does BA, LH and AF have complimentary private nap rooms in their lounges?

worldclubber

Many LH lounges have semi-private nap cubicles with complimentary bed, pillow and blanket.

The KLM deal just sounds so absurd. Hope there are few takers; same with paid food and drink.

johan rebel

They must have gone completely bonkers!

They are asking €75 for five hours?!? The Yotel charges €62, and you get a shower and toilet in the bargain.

The Mercure is a bit over €110 or so for a full night, and a dayroom (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.) is €98, if I remember correctly.

Johan

ninjalad

They must be trying very hard to make the lounge ever less appealing ! I shall now try to avoid it and use the Schengen one. Though I saw on Weds that a large section of that is boarded off , I hope that is not the start of 'improvements' there.

Lawrious

Well, the business class configuration depends on whether you have a 787-9/10 or not and I don't mind the 'Embraer Enclave' bus and I know they do it for easy turnarounds without worrying about schengen/non-schengen I am guessing.

Other than that, they have fallen very short of delivering on the lounge. If we kick-up enough of a fuss though it is easy to rectify the service/soft-side of things.

Depends if they will listen I guess. It would be nice if they had more satellite lounges.

Mozart0815

That would require airlines to actually listen to their customers. I have yet to see any European airline that actually does that.

Zembla

My five cents. The new lounge concept is ridicules and is probably very confusing for first timers. I just can’t believe that KL wants to sell additional stuff to people who have already paid a Premium to make it to the lounge in the first place. And that what KL is trying to sell in the lounge can be had at much better value for money outside the lounge in the first place! Boooo KLM!

As some reported above they prefer, for example, the Privium lounge. I cancelled Privium as a protest against the new security setup, and the awkward line jumping you have to do at some passport checks, but it’s probably time to go back. I guess that KL couldn’t care less about that, and that Schiphol would be happy to welcome more Privium members.

Go check out the AF CDG 2E-L and 2E-M lounges. THATS how it’s done!

Goldorak

+1

johan rebel

Keep dreaming!

They closed the ones they had many years ago.

I agree, though. Big lounges are unappealing by virtue of their size, no matter how fabulous the amenities.

Johan

Lawrious

Admittedly with Schiphol the way it is I can't really see where such lounges could go, perhaps I am being blind to the possibilities, but who knows. Maybe in the future, with successive leadership, they will question their predecessor's decisions and alter them onto the correct path... Again, I am dreaming still :-D

johan rebel

Poké bowl.


At least they have provided a very helpful sign, not only explaining that those bowls contain a salad, but also clarifying that a salad is a salade, for those who might still be in doubt. Unfortunately, they forgot to translate the word 'bowl', which could cause a lot of confusion.