by Ron Bernthal
KLM’s A330-200 taking off from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. (Photo: KLM)
I checked-in online for KLM’s flight #670 from Dallas (DFW) to Amsterdam (AMS), a code-shared flight with Northwest Airlines, as both airlines are members of SkyTeam Alliance. Arriving at DFW almost three hours before my 3:05 PM scheduled departure, I stopped at the NW check-in counter in an almost empty Terminal D for a quick passport and ID check, and quickly moved through security with my carry-on bag to the business class airport lounge, a modern, pleasant space that KLM shares with Lufthansa, British Air, and Korean. The lounge offered snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine, and top shelf liquor. A large, angled-out window offered a nice view of the runways, and the lounge was filled with so many paintings and art work it resembled a small museum.
KLM’s Business Class seats have 60″ pitch and personal entertainment system
The flight was called at 2:15 PM, and flight attendants, in beautifully tailored blue uniforms, brought over headphones, a small, blue box of toiletries, and mimosas. The A330-200, with only half of 30 World Business Class seats filled, pulled back from the gate five minutes early, and wheels were up at 3:18 PM. The front cabin seats are described as “Lie Flat,” and although the seat pitch is a nice 60″, the seat is not horizontal, and would be more comfortable if the leg rest could be raised another few inches higher. A personal entertainment screen, with a large selection of films, TV news and sit-coms, games, and flight information is easy to access, and the meal service was excellent with shrimp and seared scallops offered as an appetizer, and three main course choices, including lobster cake and grilled filet, rotisserie-style chicken breast, and seared halibut. Deserts included fresh cheeses, fruit, and ice cream. Breakfast, served prior to landing, was yogurt and granola, smoked salmon, and French toast.
Business Class food service includes well prepared meals, including this selection of salmon caramelized with miso, soy butter, cream of fennel and spring cabbage, served on select KLM routes. (Photo: KLM)
At around 7:00 AM local time, the clouds parted and the coast of Holland came into view with a summer sun illuminating the pristine farmland, neat villages, and the silvery glints of meandering canals. Wheels hit the runway at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) at 7:14 AM, a headwind having shaved 25 minutes off the scheduled 9:25 flying time. KLM offered a more than adequate trans-Atlantic business class flight, with wide, almost-flat seats, and restaurant-quality food. This year KLM celebrates its 90th anniversary, and is still putting a lot of effort into maintaining an efficient and friendly cabin staff.
Contact:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
800-225-2525
www.klm.com
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