I hate the check in que for the 6.10am flight from NCL to AMS as its always big. I have got the early afternoon departure a few times and that is normally ok.

What is the NCL 15:55 AMS 18:25 KL964 flight usually like on a thursday?

I can get a connection on the early bird or the 15:55 dept. Which would you recommend?

Also has anyone flown to Milan Malpensa airport? What is the Lounge like?

What would be the best way to get to Milan centre from there at 10pm?

Thanks and a happy New Year to you all.

Various things to consider. "Early bird" check in isn't too bad at 5a.m. now that there is an elite check in. (Desk 19.../but you might have to push past the sombreros and track suits). The aircraft is usually there on the stand. The weather is the wild card at that time of the morning and this time of year, e.g fog /snow

The afternoon flight depends upon the incoming flight into NCL from AMS not being affected by any "knock-on" effects, e.g. weather, crew shortage, aircraft serviceability, low pax numbers, security issues etc. at AMS. any of which may introduce delays for your outward flight. Early flight tends to be more immune to these domino effects.

I guess the clinching factor is how important is it to arrive at your destination on time? If it was crucial, I would definitely take the early, if it wasn't really important I would opt for a lie in at this time of year!

Exraf

Lallyr, Malpensa is in the middle of nowhere.

IIRC the last bus to the city leaves around 10, maybe even 10.30 p.m and that is your last halfway cheap possibility to get into town late, beside a cab ( Euro 50-70 ) or a rental car ( huge surcharges in Italy )

For more info, please also see:
http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/eng/

Did not visit the ( contracted )KL lounge there, was running pretty late, but there was a discussion about it before, maybe a search ( FT archives ? ) would help.

Isn't there a train that goes direct to Milan from Malpensa and takes 45 mins? Not sure what time the last one is at night.

Can anyone confirm?

I would much rather prefer to fly to Linate but cant get a afternoon connection either way. They are both early morning flights from AMS and Milan.

This is one post I think I can safely say I am expert on.

First of all KLM fly to Linate. Malpensa at that time of night is still at least an hour from the city centre. If you fly to Linate and book in at the Regent hotel it is only 5 mins from the airport and very close then to down town.

The lounge at MXP is OK, but nothing special. It is upstairs just a very small walk from the gate. It used to be near the Star Alliance lounge.

One thing I find on the flight to Milan is that there is always someone sat in your seat. Just give them the "I'm from the North of England" stare and they usually move. It does help if you speak some Italian and if you need any phrases sending to you by email that are very easily understood let me know.

The only reason I ever fly to MXP is when I visit my customer there as he is about 10km away and he picks me up, any other time I avoid it like the plague. The availability of hotels is pretty crap as well and the cost is crazy. Let me know if you need help with a hotel or a place to eat.

If you resort to taking a taxi, they will charge you a fortune, even if you agree the price before you leave the airport. The bus is OK and goes to Stazione Centrale and there are lots of good hotels I can reccomend within walking distance of there, again let me know if you need my help as I know a number of the owners.

If you take the stupid train, it only goes to Cadorne, which is neither use nor ornament and it stops running about 21.30 or something like that.

If you can change the flight to Linate, especially if you need to be down town. It like flying to Berwick u Tweed to be in Newcastle.

When checking in online yesterday, I noticed that NCL was one of the alternatives that popped up when I selected my departure airport. It could therefore be that Internet check-in is available, including printing your own boarding card.

johan

I tried to get the flight to Linate and no luck. There is only one flight daily and its very early on the way there so the flight from NCL cant make it in time to catch it and on the way back it leaves at 10am from Milan.

So Malpensa it's going to have to be

Steve.. thanks a lot for your advice and in regards to the hotel i have found a 3* in the Business district for a resonable price of only �51 a night. Is that good? Also what is Milan like in terms of living costs? Is it expensive?

Thanks

I'm always very wary now about later flights in the day from NCL especially in winter when you have connections to make. Like Exraf says, any small hiccup on an earlier flight in the day and the schedule for the rest of the day has had it. At least with the earlier flight the plane starts out from NCL and your luggage stands a chance of making the connection as well as you!
I'm flying to LAX next month and I see the flight from NCL to AMS is now at 06.05am. It was only a few years ago that this flight departed at 06.30am. Every new timetable seems to bring the departure time forward 5 minutes with the same arrival time!

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Chris

I just booked the late afternoon departure. Would have been too tired for the rest of the day if i had to wake up at 4.30am.

Has anyone tried internet check-in for Newcastle?

Also does anyone know if WebAward flights are changeable once you are at your destination? Say if i wanted to catch an earlier flight back. Do they charge money or points?

Would i have to do it through the Helpdesk or through the airport?

Also if i am flying with a friend for whom i booked the ticket on my points, do i still get select seating (if it exsists?) Does he?

Can both of us check in at the WBC/elite counters even if i am the only Elite member but both of us are on the same booking ref?

FWIW On 27th DEC. the no 19 check-in desk monitor indicated elite PE / GE / SE check in and also "Baggage Drop".When I asked if internet check-in was up and running the comment was "I think so." Perhaps you will be able to confirm it for us.

Exraf

One point about the first flight from NCL - it can be overbooked to quite a significant degree. Speaking from bitter experience here, it's worth checking this the day before and turning up early if it is overbooked.

A 3* will be pretty basic and usually fairly small room.

To be honest I went to Milan with our friends from Easyjet the other week in a lot less time than it takes on KLM and for a fraction of the price.

They have a number of options out of Newcastle down to Stansted and then on to Linate. It was also useful as I had time to arrange a meeting in Stansted with someone.

The planes were better as well and on one of the flights it was 737 with the biggest leg room ever.

To make changes on any reweard ticket you are usually in the hands of the FD desk.

Yes you can both check in and use the lounges if you are PE. You should also be able to reserve your seats by calling the elite helpdesk.

Just one thing, as you arrive so late make sure you advise the hotel you are still coming as the Italians are often worse than KLM for overbooking, especially in Milan.

If you email me the address I will email you back in Italian exactly where you need to go from the Stazionne Centrale so the taxi driver will be clear as to just how far away the hotel is.

I have found the Holiday Inn always good for a deal by booking direct on line with them.

[This message has been edited by Steve Fenton (edited Jan 07, 2004).]

Oh, now that's just brilliant! This means that anybody who checks in online will now be able to use the elite desk to drop off their luggage. Presumably not an issue initially, but once online check-in becomes popular it will dilute the value of the elite desk.

johan

I may sound like i come from the dark ages but how exactly does Internet check-in work? Even though i have done a IT degree

I assume that we check-in and answer a few questions on-line on any links to the taliban. Then do we print out the boarding cards from our home printer? Are they in colour?

Then show the boardings cards at check-in and drop off the luggage? Is that it?

If thats the case then how long before departure do we need to be at the airport if we have checked-in? 30 mins?

Steve if you read this can you drop me a e-mail as your profile is not set-up for recieving emails. This way i can reply back with the address of the hotel.

Thanks