Review of KLM flight from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires in Business

Hello again,

Now the most interesting part of the report can start with the long haul flights!  

non schengen klm lounge

At the time of my visit, only the first part of the lounge was opened, mainly the right side of it. Since then, the lounge is now fully operational.
The entrance looks really great with lots of Delft houses on display. 

There is no real welcome desks, the agents are standing behind pods to help customers  but there are also self checking kiosks.

The first impression wasn't that great as the room looked almost the same as the former lounge, with the same kind of old chairs. Plus, it was pretty crowded. I didn't take that much pictures from here.

At the back of the lounge there was a communal table: 

That part of the lounge was far more nicer.

A few sofas before going upstairs:

Water and fruit station:

This is the part of the lounge that is the less nice, with the old chairs and sofas. The entrance of the lounge is below the blue arch.

Hot food zone:

Salad bar:

And some, not that bad, pizza slices on the right side:

The hot dishes are being poured in the plates by service personal. The waiter was kind enough to offer to move to the right in order for me to have a nice shoot:

There is nothing to write a home about the offering but the presentation is pretty nice.

Juices and wines:

Breads:

Snacks:

Soft drinks fountain:

Beer fountain:

Cutlery:

Back to the communal table, I head right to explore the upper part:

A nice kind of amphitheater to watch TV (no sound):

I liked the AvGeek decorations:

It was super quiet upstairs and I really liked the benches separated by the white curtains. Looked very intimate:

Still work in progress:

This is the Blue Bar:

An overview of what is called the "Dutch Mountain" see the guy taking picture at the back of the picture: lots of people were taking photos and the staff seemed very proud about the new lounge.

Upstairs there is more bread and that awful board of processed cheese. I would never understand why KLM continues to offer that industrial thing given that the Netherlands produce one of the best cheese of the world (after France, of course !)

Another salad bar:

The terrace was closed at the time of the visit but is fully operational now:

View from above:

There are also rocking chairs close to the Delft houses:

As well as a few exhibitions:

The toilets are brand new and I liked their design;

Elevators are located in the middle of the lounge:

Another exhibition:

The Sky side was fully opened at that time, the other part called Sea was due to open soon and is now fully open.

I really like those illuminated tables:

Working space:

An overview of the lounge:

Drinks upstairs need all to be asked at the bar. The staff was happy to please and serve and again, seemed delighted to work there.

Vegetables and dips:

I wasn't that hungry so settled for a Campari orange, a few vegetable and cheese. Upstairs the crockery is all plastic and wood, while downstairs you have real plates and real cutlery.

A bit later I tried the chicken wings and the pizza. Both were good. USB and power plugs are available at each table on the left side.

Work in progress on the terrace:

More lounging area upstairs:

The time really flew and it was almost time to head to the gate. E22 for me! 

Bye Bye cute little Delft Houses:

ams transit

The terminal is also being renovated:

Here the whole roof is missing:

This way to the gate:

It wasn't exactly the closest gate to the lounge.

OK, if you are a regular passenger you can go to EZE/SCL but if you are a priority one, you'll have to go to Jakarta :)

inflight to eze

Boarding was launched on time with business passengers first:

In AMS some of the gates can pass over the wings allowing a boarding via jetty from the rear:

But not for me today :)

A/C door:

Very nice welcome and another door:

Heading to my seat, 2G. For such a long night flight I don't want to be seated next to a window as I will stand up a lot of time and don't want to always bother my neighbor.

The headrests are not well fitted and this doesn't help to give a nice premium look. 

Sadly, the 777 and the 747 are not full access and the cabin is configured as 2-2-2. But still, very nice.

The safety card is about to reach its end of life :)

The pitch is great but the feet box a bit on the small side. Did not really bother me though.

Front view:

I wasn't able to use the handset for the whole flight, I was happy that the screen is still touch screen but still, absolutely not convenient.

The purser apologized and offered either a voucher for 80€ to be used for on-board duty free or a travel voucher of 180€. I took the future travel voucher. That was pretty generous, given the inconvenience was only on the handset.

Champagne as welcome drink:

The amenity kit:

The content is more than adequate, there is also a pen, something I really like.

Menus and wine cars are handed out:

Dinner menu:

Breakfast:

Drinks:

Wines:

The conversion € / miles is outrageous!! 159'600 miles for 399€. Forget it.

To date, this was my longest flight:

Actually, the real flight time was 13:22.

We departed on time and the service started with a hot towel: 

Followed by a Flying Dutchman cocktail and cheese. I usually don't like gin but in that cocktail it really goes well.

Before dinner, a quick wash room break. Clean and with appropriate lotions:

I took the trout as a starter:

With the cutlery:

And a closer shoot:

It was good without being really good. KLM used to serve more elaborate and better starters. For the entree, I went with the veal:

Here it was just ok. The presentation wasn't great and the taste was just average.

The cheeses were bland, only the fig bread was really good. The citrus mousse was meh at best:

I had the sweet wine for the whole dinner, and really like it. I find it sad that Air France doesn't offer sweet white as KL or DL do.

Then water bottles and chocolates were handed out: 

I watched a few movies before reclining the bed in sleep mode and was able to get a good 8H rest.

Two hours before arrival, the second service starts with a hot towel:

Followed by cranberry juice and a custom form for Argentina:

There is clearly a cost cutting on the second service. The yogurt was offered in addition to the hot choices, now it is either yogurt or hot dish and not both.  There used to be a cheese plate also which is now replaced by a piece of cheese wrapped in plastic.

As hot dish I took the french bread that wasn't that good unfortunately. Furthermore the portion is really, really small given the length of the flight.

The croissant was ok, the fruits not so fresh nor sweet.

After breakfast we are here: 

Almost landed:

And arrived!

Some last cabin shoots before leaving the plane, I'll be back in a bit more than an hour for the second part of the flight.

First steps in Argentina!

I will only stay for 2H on Argentinian soil, heading further to Chile with the same bird.

The next part will be online soon :)