Review of KLM Cityhopper flight from Amsterdam to Mulhouse / Bâle in Business

transfer in Amsterdam

I arrived in Amsterdam on a flight from Bergen. The airport is very busy when I get there, and getting through the crowds is cumbersome. It's also quite a long trek from my arrival gate on the D concourse all the way to the B concourse, from where my flight to Basel will depart. Actually, the flight to Basel is leaving from B 34, which is just about the farthest gate at the very end of the B concourse. So instead of visiting the lounge, I figure I might as well gradually make my way to the departure gate. This turns out not to be my wisest move, because the B concourse is spilling over, and there's no place to sit. But at least I don't have long to wait before the flight is called for boarding.

Boarding

I decide to wait for the first bus to the aircraft to leave before I make my way to the gate. The second bus is quite full, but it looks as though I'm the last passenger to board. When we finally reach our aircraft, I step off the bus and keep back until everybody else has boarded. This gives me a chance to take some photos.

I'm not much of a fan of the Embraer, but she does have pretty nose…

the cabin & seat

There are two rows of Business Class on this flight. Row two is initially empty, but once boarding is completed, the passenger on 1C moves and takes a seat on 2A. I don't blame her. Any opportunity to snag a window seat? I'll take it. But there is no need for that, because I've already been assigned 1F. 

The nice thing about the E190, which is why I prefer them over the E175, is that there is an additional storage compartment in the front of the cabin. So even if you board last, there's always space for a small carry-on. I also like that the windows are properly aligned with the seats on the E 190, which is not the case on the E 175.

the crew & service

The crew on this flight are great. The Business Class cabin is being served by a polite and very enthusiastic young man. Before the doors close, he hands out bottles of still water. This is something that seems to be part of the KLM Cityhopper SOP, but not something they do on the mainline fleet. 

We push back and the crew announce a short flight time of only fifty minutes.

the meal

Once we're airborne and the seatbelt sign comes off, the meal service begins. It's another Wandels box.

At least this one is served with two warm bread rolls. 

It's an Asian-style salad with shrimps in a sweet and sour sauce and a side of cashew nuts (don't ask). For dessert there are, again, three macarons, as on my previous flight. 

In addition, the crew pass through the cabin offering small bottles of smoothie. They're usually rather off-putting, so I decline. But the young man is so eager, he places it on the tray table for me anyway, and I haven't got the heart to tell him to take it back. 

arrival in basel

Eventually, we land in Basel after a flight time of less than fifty minutes. The airport is very quiet. KLM uses the French side of Basel airport, which is good, because it means I can avoid the long queues for passport control. And with that, I'm finally back home.