Flew YYC-AMS-PRG on the weekend. Only 6 pax in J and 29 in Y on the B789. There was no hiding by the crew at all on the long haul segment, they came around frequently until the lights were dimmed and when I heard the call bell pressed a couple of times for refills by other pax an attendant was out immediately.

I thought the food wasn't bad at all, and every time I see pics from folks flying on other airlines getting bagged/boxed food or nothing at all on short flights I don't have anything to complain about on KL. I went to both Non Schengen and Schengen lounges between flights but didnt take any pics. There was a frittata on offer in lounge 52 which wasn't too bad - better than the steamed egg thing from a carton I had on my last visit. The cappuccino of course was excellent. The upstairs of lounge 52 was totally closed.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b0580c49e2.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7a6c375cbe.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8c5cae7cd6.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b6546812bd.jpg

SIN-AMS this morning:
I did not do a photo of the dinner, however want to share a short story. I saw the apple crumble on the menu and wanted to order it mid-flight. Unfortunately the flight attended said that only 3 were loaded and all are already eaten.... I looked around. One more passenger in the C-cabin.... I guess row 0 was craving for the apple crumble :D

AVML breakfast:

https://i.postimg.cc/c4WsXQtz/20210228-132036.jpg

I never came across this type of (downsized) breakfast box: (BUD-AMS)
https://i.postimg.cc/g2g51nf9/20210301-063714.jpg


on the connecting AMS-ZRH we had the usual breakfast box:
https://i.postimg.cc/5tjGJfVX/20210301-100041.jpg

on the way to the departure runway I took this picture:
https://i.postimg.cc/fRzpHxqj/20210301-094632.jpg

Was that KL1972?

If so, you got the breakfast served on aircraft that have spent the night at an outstation before departing to AMS early morning. The pathetic excuse is that a lack of refrigeration prevents them from serving anything better. I've had more than one purser tell me how embarrassing they find having to serve this meal, and that complaints are common.

Johan

yes, correct, KL1972.
The purser mentioned this was "due to Covid". If you don't have an explanation, it is Covid's fault!

I suspect this will be the catchall go-to excuse for a long time yet.

The other day the Swedish Air & Sea Rescue Command reported a 7% increase in the number of emergencies at sea in 2020. Believe it or not, they somehow managed to blame Covid.

Johan

Pedestrian/Cyclist collisions with public transport vehicles were up 33% last year compared to the year before in Gothenburg... Covid they say.

Return To Flying KLM
 

Hi all.

I've not been on flyer talk for a wee while due to covid work restrictions etc etc. I flew abroad last December to my work in economy class on a different airline and had the worst flight ever.

Anyway I'm hoping to fly home at the end of June to Glasgow from Dubai in business class all the way to Glasgow ( flight provisionally booked).

I'm impressed to see ( from looking at recent posts) that the food is almost near returning to normal.

Apologies if I've not scrolled through the 28 pages of posts completely, but I've a few questions;

Are the duty free shops open in the non-Schengen side of Schiphol Airport?

Is the non-Schengen Lounge serving limited food options?

Would it be advisable to bring food bought at Dubai airport to supplement the food offerings onboard? ( I didn't before covid impacted flights).

I think I glanced at a post saying alcohol is now served onboard KLM flights again, hopefully true.

It's :)nice to see all the usual contributers on here I recognise from March and before last year.

AMS-CAI earlier this month. Seems to be back to regular catering now.

Two mains choices, went with chicken. Regular catering like before... therefore gloopy chicken like we are used to ;)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...69fca03f34.jpg

Choice of sweet or savory desert - chose the cheese with port option.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a7c733d754.jpg

An hour before landing they came round with 'broodje kroket'...which could not be compared to the real deal. But still the idea of an extra snack was appriciated.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1d96f60660.jpg

Duty-frees are open in AMS, just some of them are roped out to limit the number of visitors (not that they would be full even if most passengers rushed into them at the same time.
Given DXB-AMS flight timing, I'd rather eat in Dubai, where food choices are amazing, get a few drinks on the flight and just catch a bit of a shut-eye.

I assume you have good reason for not taking the direct EK flight?

EK's in-flight catering is pretty much like normal (at least in my recent experience on CPH and ARN flights), and you avoid KL's horrible departure and arrival times.

Johan

Thanks for the information. I've enough time in Dubai for a bite to eat, I normally head to the Sky Blue lounge, but who knows if it's open or if it will re-open in the next few months.

Dubai's got plenty of choices for food it least. and I will probably have a snooze on the flight back.
Dutyfree, I'll head to it first, and pick up a bottle of whisky, and then have a snack of some sorts at the KLM lounge.

Thanks again.

Hi Johan,

The UK Government are not allowing direct flights to the UK just now, so passengers like me have to connect somewhere.

Even BA can't fly direct into the UK at this moment in time.

I normally connect in Schiphol (and once in CDG) to freshing up, stretch my legs, before my connecting Scottish flight.

My Emirates flight out from Glasgow in December was to put it very politely the worst one so far, with a Mother who had no compulsion to sort out her 2 young kids sitting behind me. I chose the exit door seat for leg room as I'm tall, in Economy, as I had to budget for this flight out.

After taking off, the kid started banging my seat, I turned round and asked her to ask her kid to stop. She did. This only lasted a few hours. The second time I turned round and gave the kid a polite smiling "death" stare, asking the child to "Please stop kicking my chair now", I just glanced at the Mother in disgust.

On landing and getting off the flight, the chap on my aisle seat, said he couldn't believe how tolerent I was!

I believe what you pay for business in Emirates is the name, and KLM/AirFrance is far far cheaper than Emirate flights, though I have upgraded to business with them when I'm invited by email a week before hand. It's a nice experience but I prefer Business with KLM/AirFrance.

Unfortunately but understandable I've 10 days in a Glaswegian Qurantine Hotel on landing, having done some research I think it's the Holiday Inn a few walking steps outside the terminal building.

I'll be stocking up with food from Dubai/Schiphol for that stay.

Perhaps the 10 day quarantine will have ceased by the time at the end of June when I hopefully fly but I very much doubt Scotland will be hotel qurantine free.

Oh the food on KLM /AirFrance isn't too bad in business, I normally induldge in the whiskies as well in the pre-covid days.

I'll keep my fingers crossed, but good luck hoping the world will come to its senses anytime soon.

Johan

Thanks Johan.


Hopefully things improve, when I fly from Dubai to Glasgow via Schiphol, I'll post my experiences on here, hopefully with photis of any food etc 🙂