Review of KLM flight from Muscat to Doha in Business

KLM

KL - KLM

Flight taken on 09 February 2014
KL442
22:25 01h 25m 22:50
Class Business
Seat 1A
Leadership
6,994 · 130 · 7 · 0

Hi,
Following an enjoyable 10 days holiday in Oman, it’s time to head back home, this time with KLM.
I only flew KLM for short haul flight before and in Economy, then even if I was not expecting much from them I was still impatient to fly with them.
Just a reminder of this five flights routing:

  1. Paris CDG - Dubai (Air France, Business, B777-300ER)
  2. CLICK-HERE
  3. Dubai - Muscat (Oman Air, B737-800)
  4. CLICK-HERE
  5. Muscat - Doha (KLM, World Business Class, A330-200)
  6. [YOU ARE HERE]
  7. Doha - Amsterdam (KLM, World Business Class, A330-200)

[NEXT]
[*]Amsterdam – Paris CDG (KLM, Europe Business Class, B737-800)

[SOON]

We had a fantastic wx during those 10 days but on the day of departure it was raining and depressing, MCT is kind of a mess, it’s look like a regional airport and everything is undersized.


photo 1

Premium entrance for WY eligible customers


photo 2

Before getting to check-in counters you need to go through security


photo 3

Oman Air area


photo 4

Other airlines


photo 5

There is a dedicated Premium counter for all airlines (except WY), if I recall correctly I can only think of MRU who is doing the same.


photo 6photo 7

I am getting my 2 boarding passes + lounge access


photo 8

Lounge entrance is unappealing, this one is used by almost every airlines at MCT beside WY


photo 9

This is a blind lounge, pretty big with comfortable seats.


photo 10

Showers are available, but there is only one towel set left and we are two (with my brother) I had no choice but to share the towel with my brother.


photo 11

Soap dispenser is a bad joke!


photo 12

You can get your drink (alcoholic too) at the bar


photo 13

Soft are help yourself


photo 14

Buffet is ok, with an acceptable food selection, salad bar and hot dishes



My selection


photo 22

Hot dishes are lukewarm :(


photo 23photo 24

It’s time to board
The airport is very basic with nothing to do and almost no view on the tarmac.


photo 25photo 26

Just to remind you that you are in Middle East.


photo 27

E-175 Oman Air


photo 28

The FIDS is pretty interesting with a lot of “via” flights, LX is via DXB, BA is via AUH and you can’t see it but TG is via KHI, and of course our via DOH flight.


photo 29

This is a bus only airport and there is a pre-boarding area (like for low-cost airlines)


photo 30photo 31

There is a dedicated bus for Business class passenger, which is good


photo 32photo 33

Our glory A330, seating quietly on this dark Seeb Intl tarmac


photo 34photo 35photo 36

This is good sign, chilled champagne and OJ for PDB.


photo 37

And here it is, the outdated cabin …


photo 38photo 39photo 40

Aren’t you getting thirsty? Because I am, perfectly chilled and on a proper glass! TAKE THAT AF!


photo 41

Amenity kit are distributed with a noise cancelling headset, this is not a Bose by any standard but still WAY better than AF headset.


photo 42

Content is boring as hell


photo 43

Safety demo is played


photo 44

Airshow is displayed for this 1h15 flight


photo 45photo 46photo 47

Menu will only be distributed on next flight, and this is what is shown for this sector.


photo 47bis

Service started and what a joke! We are getting sandwiches from economy with finger foods from plastic cup! At least they have Champagne.



I think I am gonna stay polite, but what the fu** is KLM thinking with that offering? And they are doing this flight as fifth freedom so they should at least match their European offering for a flight of this duration.
Overflying Abu Dhabi


photo 52

More cabin shots of this pretty empty airplane.
World Business Class



Economy Class


photo 57photo 58

Business toilet amenities


photo 59

Start of descent


photo 60photo 61photo 62

Short final


photo 63

And we end up parked next to a Qatar Airways A330-200


photo 64

Video:


Display all

Product ratings

Airline

KLM 5.6

  • Cabin7.0 / 10
  • Cabin crew7.5 / 10
  • Entertainment/wifi6.0 / 10
  • Meal/catering2.0 / 10
Lounge

Plaza Premium Lounge5.9

  • Comfort6.5 / 10
  • Meal/catering6.5 / 10
  • Entertainment/wifi4.0 / 10
  • Services6.5 / 10
Departure airport

Muscat - MCT5.6

  • Efficiency7.5 / 10
  • Access3.5 / 10
  • Services4.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness7.5 / 10
Arrival Airport

Doha - DOA5.0

  • Efficiency5.0 / 10
  • Access5.0 / 10
  • Services5.0 / 10
  • Cleanliness5.0 / 10

Conclusion

It’s always fun to fly on a fifth freedom route with a widebody aircraft, crew was good and in a good mood but the catering is just unacceptable, seems like KLM just did the minimum and did not bother about a real meal (even if cold).

For such a flight this seat is perfectly acceptable, thus the good grade, but it’s gonna be a different story very soon!

I hope you enjoyed reading this report, and stay tuned.

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Comments (7)

  • Thanks for this FR.

    It seems the MCT terminal is even more needed than DOH's.

    The offerings at the lounge are not bad (except for the temperature) given the small number of pax it probably sees.

    What a surprise with the inflight snack, it sure looks cheap. At least put the sandwich on a plate.

  • Thanks for sharing this FR

    I hope that there will be less controversies than for the previous AF FR;)

    The catering... What catering !

    Everything else is on par except the FAs !!

  • The hypertext link to the DXB-MCT leg in the routing is erroneous.

    The night pictures are really your signature shots; that of the reactor in flight in B&W is stunning.

    Did you see power plugs airside in MCT (lounge excluded) ?

    Small wonder that the plane is nearly empty since this is presumably not a 5th freedom flight and MCT is not a major destination.

    Thanks for this FR !

  • Thank goodness KL is starting to install flatbeds in J--these seats are ancient and terribly uncomfortable in sleep mode from my experience. Aside from that KL often has friendlier FA's than AF, but catering not as good....downright shameful on this flight (even for a very short flight).

  • Appreciated the humor in the commentary. Would it kill airlines to have pizza delivered to the plane on short-hauls? I find difficult to believe there was no mezze option. Thai Air served roasted duck breast in ginger sauce, white rice and steamed vegetables in business for a one hour hop. Maybe suggest in the comment card even passing a bucket of KFC chicken around the cabin would be more generous. Looking forward to the next chapter!

  • Airport, cabin and catering make a power trio ^^

    The cabin works if you're just doing the MCT-DOH route, but then you would deserve a service, you cannot just expect it on the second leg (I just checked and the MCT-DOH leg by itself costs some 400 euros...)

    Thanks for sharing :)

  • Thanks!

    The video is very good.

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