Very cool. I'll have to check it out. Any idea when they're starting? Are they swapping out the 757 or one of the 330s or adding a fifth flight?

Most of my flying time is DTW-AMS and KLM or SAS transfers from AMS. And...unfortunately, most all is in the back. How are the main cabins in Northwest's 747s? Can anybody compare them to the 330s for me? Thanks.

Alright...answered my own question here...

It looks like they're running the 747-400 from June through October. They're replacing one of the 330s, and keeping the 757 in the lineup. I just checked the first of several months, so it's not exhaustive. But, they're back to three 330s in November.

So:
4:05 330
5:20 747-400
7:05 757-200
9:20 330
(and 8:45 is KLM's 332)

I always considered the early two flights to be the best for connections, but terrible for sleep. Have they had an uptick in connections to India, or elsewhere, that require the 100 or so extra seats on the earlier flights? What gives: more Europeans traveling here on their strong Euros?

Connections are key here. Getting to AMS in the early morning allows one to make the early connections to Africa, the Middle East, and the first flights to the rest of Europe.

Flight 42 from AMS generally has all of the Africa and Middle East connections.

My personal suggestion is to shoot for the NWA 747 going out, and the KLM A-330 coming back.

Clearly? :confused: If you're in WBC, I highly recommend the 757 flight. It's a smaller cabin, much more intimate and more personal service. The seat is EXACTLY the same.

In the back, definitely go with the A330.

As for the overall DTW-AMS schedule, looks like after October it reverts back to 2x/daily NWA 333s, 1x/daily NWA 757, and 1x/daily KLM 772.

(Of course, that could all change depending on the speed and progress of the merger as well as any changes made as a result of the antitrust ruling.)

Think the 757 exit row has AC power, don't think the 330 has power in Coach.

Row 22 on the 757 ain't bad at all...

I flew KL on the 744 (ORD-AMS & AMS-JFK) last week and really liked that front Y section with the 3/2 seat arrangement. Having flown TATL on NW 330 (10A) and 757 (22C) already this year, I much preferred the KL 744 (9A).

With the exception of one fantastic and hilarious NW purser I met on a DTW-FRA flight, the KL service was much better. At least much friendlier, as they greeted me by name and personally asked if there was anything they could do to make my flight more enjoyable. I love NW, but they made me wonder if I could become a Flying Dutchman post-merger.

The 330 has AC power in the front half of coach.

I just checked my two trips this summer: three of four trans-Atlantic segments are on the 747, so I'll be able to directly compare the WBC in the 747 and 330.
I have 77J on the 747 outbound and 2B on the 330 return for the first trip. Too early to select seats for the next trip, but I'll probably do row 77 in the upper deck both ways, if available.

I've been on the upper deck on KLM and United, but I can't remember if I've ever flown the 747 with NW.

The seat is different in WBC on the 757's. It's more like the old style DC-10 business class seats than the A330/747 business class seats.

They are the same seats (I flew on a 757 TATL in WBC on a MSP-DTW segment once), but less space side by side.

Agree with all the comments so far, go for the hump on the 747, if in coach, can't beat the 330.

According to http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/wbc/seats.html the 757 transatlantic seats have a smaller recline angle and smaller width than the 330 and 747 seats.

According to http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/...rtainment.html the screen is housed a little differently in the 757.

... and wonder where the pilots are ;)

The WBC seats are indeed NOT the same seats.

Check this link and click on the differant options to view both seats and you will see they are not the same in many ways.

http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/wbc/seats.html

747 or 330? It depends.
 

I've been flying NW 747s between HNL and Japan (HND then NRT) since April 1970. I don't know if NW uses the same configuration on both Atlantic and Pacific routes.

Economy would be a no-brainer: The only updates to the 747 seem to be the winglets and dropping of the plastic tubes for earphones. The pull-down screens and overhead CRTs remain. The A330 has AVOD and power outlets. But I digress...

When I fly NRT-HNL, my choice is the 747 for the smoother ride and earlier arrival time. Coming back, I prefer the A330 for AVOD and later departure time.

I avoid the upper deck because the walls curving in remind me of the DC-8 and make me claustrophobic. Then again, flying NRT-HNL, my prime objective is SLEEP.