Hi everyone,
Im flying from Detroit to Delhi via Amsterdam in November using NW and KLM and I just spoke with a NW agent who made my seat assignments and meal requests. TWO questions:
1 - When requesting a Asian Vegetarian from AMS-DEL, the agent said they are not serving that type of Veg. meal on that flight...Is that common??? I was VERY confused seeing that it IS a flight TO asia.
Whats more is that he said Asian Veg. IS BEING SERVED from Delhi back to Amsterdam on my return so I requested it then...Just wondering...
2 - I am a CO silver elite and when requesting to sit on a window from rows 9-18 (the front) he said those seats are unavailable ("not open yet") What does this mean? Should I call them back later???

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help in advance.

KLM caters AVML as a STANDARD option on the DEL route (choices are usually Chicken or Veg), so it is consequently not available as a special meal. Rest assured that it WILL be available.

KLM are doing what CO do to KLM elites, not offering the level of service yoou would expect as an elite. I suggest you take your own food and water to be safe

I fly this route quite often. I am a KLM Gold elite and i dont really get good service from the check in staff at Delhi!! Infact I have just given up on them, must be the rudest check in staff in the world!

They will just laugh at your CO card, so dont expect anything from them on the way back.

They never do Elite boarding either at Delhi airport. Its just a rush to see who can get in the airplane first even though we all have seat numbers.

In regards to your seat, since you will be checking in some 10 hrs before any of the European KLM customers i think you can preety well pick what seat you want. Or you can always ask the staff at the lounge when you in AMS to see if they can give you a better seat as they always have seats held back.

I must disagree with you there. I'm a KLM Platinum Elite and have only had VERY POSITIVE experiences with the KLM Delhi ground staff. It may help that I'm an India-based Platinum (not too many of us according to the FD India helpdesk so they get to know us after a while), but they have always gone out of their way to help me out and deliver benefits.

I always make it a point to request 9C in advance for all my DEL flights (its the only seat that you are assured of not having a lap infant nearby!) and the DEL staff usually have my boarding pass pre-printed and waiting for me by the time I arrive to checkin, complete with my lounge invitation.

Even during the horrendous 15 hour delay due to fog in January last year, the DEL staff made it a point to give the Elites special handling (eg. offering us use of the telephones in the KLM office to call home if we wanted rather than wait till we got to the hotel).

As for Elite boarding, not only have they ALWAYS offered it, but they also come and fetch the Elites/WBC pax from the lounge and escort us to the front of the security screening line to avoid delays.

If only all KLM stations were as friendly and efficient as Delhi, this would be a phenomenal airline.

Maybe it is because you are a India Based elite and they know you. I have flown there 4 times this year and have never been called from the lounge or seen Elite boarding taking place.
Maybe i have just been unlucky.

On my last trip i had 49kgs of luggage in total. I am a gold elite and was holding a WBC seat. So i was only 4 kgs over my allowance. At first she gave me a dirty look and told me that i was over my allowance and insisted that i take it out. Then i pointed out that i was a Gold elite and was not carrying any hand luggage so if she could let it pass.

She gave me a dirty look and didnt even say yes or no and just went on to give me a boarding pass without asking if i wanted a window or an isle.

This has happend to me twice this year. The first time i was in economy and my luggage was over by 7 kgs and i dont see that as being a major problem. But the check in clerk would not accept it, so i asked for her senior and he was very very rude to me & i was just trying to talk with him calmly, i would have even paid for the excess luggage if i had to.

Basically he told me to my face that since i was a Gold or whatever elite he didnt care!!! He would not allow me even 1kg excess luggage. Maybe he was in a bad mood? But that was very rude. I had to take out another 6kgs and had to even get in the back of the WBC que. Very embarassing. Is that how you treat Elite members.

Although i have never had these problems with any other staff anywhere in the UK or USA.

Ah, so the truth emerges. You were trying to get away with more than you were entitled to and got upset because they wouldn't play along.

When you start your interaction with them off on a note like that, I don't blame you (or them) for perceiving the entire experience negatively.

WELL people, I DO appreciate the comments and experiences...Have sort of an idea of what to expect after placing myself somewhere along the BROAD spectrum of perceptions.

Lets see what happens with the seating..Ill just keep on trying till I leave. Thanks for the addressing the meal issue...
Ill be sure to post how the trip went!
Thanks again & any other suggestions/comments/tips for travel would be MORE than appreciated.
Am looking forward to going 'home'

The service described cannot be true. I and many others have been to this airport all with full elite or the old gold status and we all agree to say they are rude is a compliment. The whole process is chaos and srvice is non existant.

The boarding process is a joke. On two occassions we have had Y passengers completely spread out in WBC and what a job it was to move them.

Sorry but cannot agree one bit with what has been described in this truly "hell hole" of an airport

There i was begining to think that i was the only one getting bad service.

Although the crew as always is top class.

I am a US based World Perks Plat. My experience with KLM in Delhi, although not quite as much pampering as B747 got, has been very good too. GEtting into the airport terminal building itself is difficult in Delhi, for tehre aere long lines. A KLM person is often outside, with a placaerd looking for Business class passengers. I was providded assistance with baggaeg, escorted to the front of the line at the door, as well for X-Ray screening of th bags and on to the Business Class/Elite check-in counter. Everything was handled professionally and politely as I was handed the boarding card and an invitation to the lounge. Befor leaving the KLM counter I asked the agent if a tip to the personw ho helped me with bags w as in order. I was told, "NO". I tipped him Rs. 50, a little more than US$1.