Review of KLM flight Barcelona → Amsterdam in Economy

Introduction

Welcome to my first flight of 2024. Have a happy new year!

It's a bright morning in Baix Llobregat, blue sky and scattered clouds over Josep Tarradellas Barcelona - El Prat airport, from where this flight shall depart. The Arrivals area is located right underneath.

This is the Express parking in the Departures area for terminal T1, where I'm dropped off by car. This newer terminal serves most full-service airlines, while T2 is aimed towards low cost carriers. Exceptions to this rule include LCC Vueling, based in BCN and operating from T1, and flag carrier Air Serbia, which uses T2. There are multiple entrances, labelled with airlines, which signal which check-in desks are closest to each door. The revolving doors at the entrance are automatic, which is practical when carrying luggage, but they stutter a lot.

There is a free shuttle bus (landside only) that connects both terminals, times ranging from 15 to 20 minutes depending on the route. Time between buses goes from 5 to 10 minutes at busier and quieter times. I have arrived by car, but there are many other transport options outlined in the box below:

Departure: BCN T1

The terminal is considerably larger than T2. As a result, despite the large number of people returning home from some sunny holidays in Catalonia, does not make for a dense crowd. The ceiling is also way higher, creating a more open environment that feels less stuffy. There are multiple sets of information screens showing Departures from this terminal. Signs and information are provided in Catalan, Spanish and English.

I have received a notification from KLM stating that, since the flight today is full, I could check my cabin bag in for free. However, I need to catch a train after landing, and waiting for luggage at AMS can take quite some time. But from past experiences, I can't say anything bad about the attention I've received at BCN T1 check-in desks.

Through the middle, flanked by the check-in desks, is the security checkpoint. The main queue has a screen showing information, which includes the expected waiting time in several languages. Today it is a short wait of 5 minutes and 28 seconds. However, according to the timestamps on my photos, it is 11 minutes and 24 seconds from entering the queue to leaving security, with no bag searches or other checks performed. BCN does not allow most drinks (only those sealed in a security bag) and requires removing electronics from bags, which extends the queues.

To the left is the fast lane, which can be featured in certain travel classes or simply purchased online, at 10.50 € from the AENA website. To the right, a lane for passengers with special needs.

Leaving security, the only way is downwards. At the bottom of the stairs, escalators and elevator; there are three directions to take:

Left, to gates A and D; straight, to gates B and duty free shopping, and right, to gates C and E. Gates A, B and C are on the first floor and used for Schengen flights, while D and E are on the third floor and require passport control. Near all gates is a good offering of food and shopping options, as well as restrooms. These are usually clean, though they tend to have a strong smell of cleaning products. They also feature maps with nearby restrooms in case one is overcrowded or being cleaned.

The A and C areas are quite symmetrical. Both are geared towards wide-bodies, though smaller planes also park here. In fact, A houses most of the BCN-MAD pont aeri (air bridge) flights. Throughout all zones of both terminals, charging stations such as the one pictured in the 2nd image, can be found.

There is also an open air terrace, with bars offering tapas and drinks. However be warned! Smoking is not yet banned in the terrace.
In the A area is the Colomer lounge, for qualifying pont aeri travelers. In the non-Schengen zone (D) is the Joan Miró lounge, and for Schengen flights the Pau Casals lounge can be found near the C gates. Access to the lounges can be purchased for around 45 €.

Area C is not different from A, being geared towards wide-bodies because these gates connect to the non-Schengen D and E gates. It similarly features an open air terrace.

The B gates are located on both sides of a long pier extending from the terminal in the direction of the ATC tower. It is located behind some layers of duty-free shopping.

The main "Duty Free" shop doesn't, but some stores have entrances on both sides of the shop "strips," such as this Natura through which I frequently cut, never buying a thing.

The pier enjoys the best views of the runways thanks to its location between the two main runways and the large glass walls. It also allows for plenty of natural light.

To the left (odd-numbered gates) is 24R, the daytime landing runway, and to the right, 24L, for takeoffs. At night, landings are performed on 02. Very rarely do these roles change.

While most of the pier is dedicated to narrow-bodies, near the end some wide-bodies can be accommodated. Pictured below, an Air Europa B787, which they fly from Madrid on long haul routes (such as MVD), intra-European (such as AMS) and even domestic (such as this one, to BCN).

Due to the distance to the end of 24R, it is quite hard to observe landings from the airport. The view can improve the further into the pier you go, but you have to slip through some narrow spaces to reach the tip. Just in case, I am not aware of the legality of this slip, but there are no signs or warnings that forbid it.

Better views can be achieved outside the airport; there are several spotting spots surrounding the runways. Most notably, right behind the touchdown zone of 24R.

Unfortunately, Dreamliner. This time it's an American, parked in the exact spot to block the view of the touchdown zone.

With some extreme zoom, it is possible to spot the thrust reversers of the plane that I will fly to the Netherlands today.

As well as the charging stations shown in the A zone (but are present throughout the airport), there are also many seating areas, some of which have a charging pillar nearby. The seats are not super comfortable, and the armrests make them unsuitable for sleeping.

Information screens with upcoming departures are also omnipresent. However, they only display the expected gate area until around 50 minutes before departure, when they actually show the exact gate number.

Our plane arrives a little late to the gate, so we have to wait before boarding starts. I am in boarding zone 5, the last one, so I was expecting the wait anyway. I do want to take my bag into the cabin, so I join the queue early.

Airline: KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij)
Flight: KL1666
Model: Boeing 737-800
Registration: PH-BXN
Age: 23 years

Flight: KLM B737-800

As I board the plane, I notice the absence of a WiFi sticker, which indicates that this KLM B738 won't feature an updated cabin. This is not a bad thing, though. Sitting on 18A, I notice that the seat is super comfortable, with great padding. The legroom is also very generous for a short haul flight, despite my voluminous "small" baggage under the seat in front. For reference in the picture, I am 171cm tall.

That seat offers an extendable and sturdy tray table, and a single pocket for storage and literature. Overhead, there are individual air vents and reading lights, as well as buttons to call the cabin crew.

Class: Economy Light (T)
Includes: 1x Snack. 1x Cabin bag + 1x Small bag. No free seat selection before check-in.
Seat: 18A
Price: ~240 € (Return trip)
Ancillaries (this segment only): 9.50 € (Standard seat reservation)

Pushback is done 27 minutes late. Fortunately, we boarded through B28, and the even-numbered B gates are the closest to 24R – the takeoff runway most days, and today is no exception.

Around 30 minutes into the flight, snacks were served: A vegetarian sandwich and a drink of choice, including wine. I picked orange juice.

The sandwich consists of a slice of brown bread with a generous Beemster cheese salad stuffing, as in the previous flight. It is creamy and tasty, as well as aromatic. A good snack for a short flight.

The orange juice is alright. Not like I expected freshly squeezed fruit juice in Economy class.

After all snacks were served, I was still hungry so I requested an extra sandwich. There weren't any leftover Beemster sandwiches, but they did have egg omelette ones. In the end, most of my row got a second snack.

While not as flavorful as the Beemster salad, the omelette was soft and spongy, and the tarragon sauce was good.

The air is calm and the flight is uneventful, so I recline my seat and stretch my legs to relax. It is in times like these that one realizes why many people choose full service airlines when low cost carriers are an option.
(Although LCCs were in the same price range as KLM for this route on these days)

Route: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona - El Prat (BCN) – (AMS) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Great Circle distance:  1241 km
Real distance: ~1330 km 
Real duration:  1h 51m
Delay on arrival: +19 minutes (late)

As predicted by the BezoekBAS website, we are doomed to land on the Polderbaan. We also taxi through the southern bridge, above the highway, towards the C gates. Fortunately, a delay of under 20 minutes will not make me miss my train, and even give me ample time to spot some planes in the Panoramic Terrace.

Arrival: AMS

My trip today continues by train, but it would not be terrible to connect to another flight in Schiphol. Besides the long walks, the airport's size can accommodate a large number of passengers without overcrowding, and there are multiple "Lounges" (waiting areas) with plenty of seating. They also feature many sets of screens showing upcoming departures. Seats vary from standard dense rows of seats to comfortable reclined chairs where travelers can relax.

Leaving the Arrivals area, I immediately find myself on the train station. It is one of the best features an airport can have, as it connects the main intercontinental gateway of the country to all major cities in less than three hours, and even offers international services. However, I have some time before my train, so I head upstairs to the panoramic terrace, near the Departures 1 check-in area (landside).

There is a good number of fellow planespotters of all ages in the terrace, despite some light rain. The terrace features a retired Fokker 1000, and it has great views of the apron around the D pier. The best runway views are of the Aalsmeerbaan and the Kaagbaan, while the Buitenveldertbaan and Schiphol-Oostbaan are also visible. The Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan are on the opposite side of the airport.

Pictured below, a KLM B789 pushing back to depart to Mexico City, a Cathay Pacific Cargo B744 taking off towards Hong Kong, a KLM 772 going to Dubai and an Emirates A380 with the same destination. Unfortunately, it taxied too close to my train's departure, so I missed the takeoff…

Thanks and image credits

Thank you for reading this report! Starting from this one, I will attempt to make better reports in the future; giving more information about the airports, adding more pictures and including (approximations of) the prices.
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Photography: Own work
Maps: Google
Flight route: Flightradar24

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