Trip Report: IAD-AMS-STR
Feb 5, 2000 | 10:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: This year we're going to the BAFTAs!
Posts: 5,518
Trip Report: IAD-AMS-STR
Here we go for only my second ever trip review, but the first written from the road. Basic details for those interested in these things.
Itinerary: IAD-AMS-STR, 01/29
STR-AMS-IAD, 02/07
All of this on NW/EW.
A quick note before I start, this same itinerary, also on NW back in November has become my worst ever transatlantic coach experience, so I was quite curious to see how NW would fare this time around. I should admit that I was prepared for the worse.
Speaking of which, things did not begin too well upon arrival at Dulles. There is a line the length of which I have rarely seen at the check-in counter. As a result, although I had expected to have time to spare between checking in and boarding, this was not to be. A 35 minute procession through this line ensures that I then have to run over to the gate. (All the more important as it turns out because the plane is full, but more on that later).
So, I head to the gate and make my way to seat 35J. Given that this is a full flight save for a seat or two, those few that did not board early are taught a quick lesson in the overhead bins fill up quickly and completely school, and there is much grumbling as folks are forced to hand over their bags. Nevertheless we manage to take off at 6:30pm (scheduled 6:05).
Once on our way, I quickly remember why I thought NW to be below other airlines in many little ways. Because I am essentially unable to sleep on planes, I have come to rely on the entertainment provided by the airline. Those who have flown NW in coach can probably already tell this is not going to be my day.
The first problem is that my section of this DC-10 has but one screen, and it is not exactly near row 35, more like somewhere around row 1 (or so it feels like, this obviously is not quite correct). Before dinner we are treated to a few minutes of news, but nothing else. On my last NW flights they had left the ever so entertaining flight information up there when there was nothing else on. On this flight however even this proves to be too much to ask, so the screen is blank most of the time.
The pasta dish offered for dinner is actually quite nice, though the service itself amounts to little more than someone walking up the aisle barking chicken or pasta at the passengers. Am I the only one whose food selection could be enhanced by a more meaningful description of the items available? After dinner, much like in November, there is a 30-45 minute wait for the movie because we must be subjected to duty free shopping, and before this can be done the FAs must clean up in the back and get ready for said duty free. So, somewhere around 3 hour into our flight we are finally shown a movie (Runaway Bride).
Against all expectations and given the location of the screen, I manage to get some sleep. I would have slept for a while longer too except that as soon as the movie ends the lights go back on. Granted, they need to serve breakfast, but given how long this eventually took, I would say they could have spared us the wake up call for a good half hour. And what a breakfast this is: a muffin and yogurt, thrown together on the flimsiest cardboard plate. Yummy! There is cost saving and then there is nickel and diming. Oh well.
In any case, we land about 40 minutes early. A quick walk to the DC lounge brings much needed solace and coffee before the AMS-STR portion of my trip. That flight is uneventful. A few quick observations though: on an ATR-72, row 6 is directly next to the propellers. They are very loud. Do not sit in row 6 if you are ever given a choice. The seats have some kind of faux leather pattern which goes well with the faux legroom we have at our disposal. (Sleep deprived humor, in case anyone is wondering).
A quick summary of the first half of the trip. Much as I had feared, NW really does pale in comparison to other carriers Ive flown to Europe in the last year. The least they could do is keep showing movies to distract us from this during the flight. Calling their breakfast a meal is an insult, to the word meal, or breakfast, or any other word really. The light snack we were offered on the AMS-STR was a hundred times better, on a 60-minute, commuter plane ride. A real shame for NW, imho.
Well, that is all for now. This is <b>so</b> long I think I will post the first half review as is, and save the return trip for later. And if anyone had read all the way down here, my sympathies and apologies.
Sebastien
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Itinerary: IAD-AMS-STR, 01/29
STR-AMS-IAD, 02/07
All of this on NW/EW.
A quick note before I start, this same itinerary, also on NW back in November has become my worst ever transatlantic coach experience, so I was quite curious to see how NW would fare this time around. I should admit that I was prepared for the worse.
Speaking of which, things did not begin too well upon arrival at Dulles. There is a line the length of which I have rarely seen at the check-in counter. As a result, although I had expected to have time to spare between checking in and boarding, this was not to be. A 35 minute procession through this line ensures that I then have to run over to the gate. (All the more important as it turns out because the plane is full, but more on that later).
So, I head to the gate and make my way to seat 35J. Given that this is a full flight save for a seat or two, those few that did not board early are taught a quick lesson in the overhead bins fill up quickly and completely school, and there is much grumbling as folks are forced to hand over their bags. Nevertheless we manage to take off at 6:30pm (scheduled 6:05).
Once on our way, I quickly remember why I thought NW to be below other airlines in many little ways. Because I am essentially unable to sleep on planes, I have come to rely on the entertainment provided by the airline. Those who have flown NW in coach can probably already tell this is not going to be my day.
The first problem is that my section of this DC-10 has but one screen, and it is not exactly near row 35, more like somewhere around row 1 (or so it feels like, this obviously is not quite correct). Before dinner we are treated to a few minutes of news, but nothing else. On my last NW flights they had left the ever so entertaining flight information up there when there was nothing else on. On this flight however even this proves to be too much to ask, so the screen is blank most of the time.
The pasta dish offered for dinner is actually quite nice, though the service itself amounts to little more than someone walking up the aisle barking chicken or pasta at the passengers. Am I the only one whose food selection could be enhanced by a more meaningful description of the items available? After dinner, much like in November, there is a 30-45 minute wait for the movie because we must be subjected to duty free shopping, and before this can be done the FAs must clean up in the back and get ready for said duty free. So, somewhere around 3 hour into our flight we are finally shown a movie (Runaway Bride).
Against all expectations and given the location of the screen, I manage to get some sleep. I would have slept for a while longer too except that as soon as the movie ends the lights go back on. Granted, they need to serve breakfast, but given how long this eventually took, I would say they could have spared us the wake up call for a good half hour. And what a breakfast this is: a muffin and yogurt, thrown together on the flimsiest cardboard plate. Yummy! There is cost saving and then there is nickel and diming. Oh well.
In any case, we land about 40 minutes early. A quick walk to the DC lounge brings much needed solace and coffee before the AMS-STR portion of my trip. That flight is uneventful. A few quick observations though: on an ATR-72, row 6 is directly next to the propellers. They are very loud. Do not sit in row 6 if you are ever given a choice. The seats have some kind of faux leather pattern which goes well with the faux legroom we have at our disposal. (Sleep deprived humor, in case anyone is wondering).
A quick summary of the first half of the trip. Much as I had feared, NW really does pale in comparison to other carriers Ive flown to Europe in the last year. The least they could do is keep showing movies to distract us from this during the flight. Calling their breakfast a meal is an insult, to the word meal, or breakfast, or any other word really. The light snack we were offered on the AMS-STR was a hundred times better, on a 60-minute, commuter plane ride. A real shame for NW, imho.
Well, that is all for now. This is <b>so</b> long I think I will post the first half review as is, and save the return trip for later. And if anyone had read all the way down here, my sympathies and apologies.
Sebastien
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Feb 8, 2000 | 1:06 am
#4
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1999
Location: San Francisco UA1K; AA Gold
Posts: 937
chicken or pasta...am I the only one whose food selection could be enhanced by a more meaningful description of the items available?
Feb 12, 2000 | 2:54 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,068
NW doesn't get it, and it comes straight from the top. They want to spend as little money as possible on pax, find that bottom minimum balanced so they don't lose pax entirely.
They don't realize that if they improved things (like CO did) they would gain a terrific reputation, attract more flyers (voluntarily not just because of their fortress hubs) and more higher paying biz travellers.
They don't realize that if they improved things (like CO did) they would gain a terrific reputation, attract more flyers (voluntarily not just because of their fortress hubs) and more higher paying biz travellers.
Feb 12, 2000 | 5:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Allentown, PA USA
Programs: Northwest-millionair; Marriott, lifetime gold
Posts: 578
One of flyers posted a letter he sent to NW after a similar experience on a transatlantic flight. He also posted NW's reply... on the Northwest thread. The reply was interesting in that it said Northwest realized those failings that were pointed out in this report, and that their goal was to change this in 2000. I hope so. There has definitely been improvement in their transatlantic business class - in December we actually had a pretty good dinner and a better breakfast than described here. NW has cut back too far, and must quickly restore some of the cutback in service if it wishes to compete effectively.
Feb 14, 2000 | 3:06 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: This year we're going to the BAFTAs!
Posts: 5,518
Phil - I think that might be a post of mine you are talking about. While it's good to see that NW knows there is a problem, one should note that their reply includes no specific plans beyond a desire to improve things. So while AA and UA have recently announced actual projects with implementation dates (more or less), NW seems to still be working on it. I'm glad they are, but IMHO they are well behind the curve.
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