After 3 weeks at home, it is already time to go back flying. This is what I have on offer for you today:
Basle - Amsterdam KL / Y, Fokker 70: here you are
Amsterdam - Montreal KL/ J, MD11: very soon
Montreal - Paris CDG AF / Y, 747-400: after the very soon
Paris CDG - Basle AF / Y, ATR72: Won't be published
That's not an exotic and exciting routing, but I wanted to bid my farewell to the MD11, a plane with which I have a very close relationship. I used to be a flight attendant for 3 years on the MD11 before it was retired from LX, and before it, I used to work on his mother, the DC10, for an African airline.
That means that I really wanted to say goodbye to it, specially knowing that the KLM birds are meant to end their life with the scrap man… Sad, sad, sad.
I was able to get a very good fare at Eur 400.- round trip.
Before boarding the plane, I use my Sky Team gold status to visit the lounge at the EuroAirport. Recently KLM signed a contract with the lounge allowing their J and Elite Plus to use it when flying KL. Funnywise, AF did not do so, and if you fly on an AF flight, you can't access the lounge. The guy before me was in that case and had been denied entry. I chatted a bit with the lounge attendant and his said that AF is in the process of signing the contract. That's good news.
Back to the lounge, still as pleasant as last time, here some pictures:
Buffet, still in breakfast mode, it is 09:00am or something like that:
But the free booze is there :)
As well those strange spreadable things, beer sausage flavour, or lever sausage flavour. Don't count on me to try it.as !
My selection:
Then a bit of pumpkin soup and some crisps:
That's the smoker's terrasse, big and allowing nice views:
Flop! ATR72 bound to CDG:
Sun Express 738 AYT:
Latehansa CR7 FRA:
My plane, F70 to AMS:
Austrian Dash 8-Q400 VIE:
ZiziJet A320:
The JetAviation facilities in the distance with a 346 and a 748 being refurbished into VIP configuration:
A local airline, Farnair, that operates ATR72-200F/ATR42-200F and a sole ATR42 for pax charters, very often for the Swiss Army.
DHL A300 to BRU in the evening:
As said, the terrasse is quite large:
Back to the ground level to reach the boarding area. The bar lounge is closed, and it seems for a long period:
I almost forgot the corporate picture:
Boarding will be a few minutes early, I don't introduce you to the cabin, lots of reports have already been published about this good looking leather seats but hard as rock and non reclinable.
The wing from my emergency exit seat:
In the meantime, a Swiss RJ100 parked next to us:
On time push back with an EasyJet hidding another:
DHL, Fedex and a Farnair ATR72-200F:
Line up on runway 33, north take off today, will save us some flight time:
As soon as the fasten seat belt sign off is, I pay my visit to the lavs:
Cabin shoot from the back:
Not much to see outside:
KL savoury snack:
As I am taking this picture, my neighbour calls the purser and start to explain to her that I take pictures of the plane and that I have stolen the safety on board card and that he gets concerned about my behavior.
The purser looks quite surprised and so do I. Ok I was taking pictures of the plane, but I haven't stolen the card. Yes, I do have a collection of safety cards, but I fly quite a lot on KLM and this was a card I already have. Furthermore, I never steel cards, I ask for them and the crew is always happy to provide them.
He begins to explain to the purser that he saw me putting the card in my Airliner World magazine. I then realize what he meant, and explain that I emptied the small pocket that contains the card, the vomit bag and the KLM magazine to make space for my camera. I stuffed the card in my magazine together with the vomit bag and put everything on the smaller pocket on top of the tray. I then show the purser the pictures I took (actually, the same one you see as well ^^) and ask if it is forbidden to picture the lavatories and the seats. She smiles and says of course, not.
The guy insists heavily that he is sure I wanted to steel the card. The purser begins to loose her patience and asks him if he wants to change seat if he can't stand me. He will decline it. She asks me if I'd like to move, and I'll decline as well, as I don't feel guilty and so thinks she.
A few minutes later, she comes back with a brand new safety card and says A special gift to remember the flight. I laughed out lound, and made the guy even more angry. But we did not speak together anymore, so that was it ;)
Eventually, we will land a few minutes early, and on the way I spot this MD11, maybe the one I'll take:
A sick 744:
The DL 772 to DTW that has been cancelled due to tech. problems this morning:
763:
See more
Verdict
KLM Cityhopper
4.8/10
Cabin2.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi2.0
Meal/catering5.0
Skyview EuroAirport Lounge
5.0/10
Comfort5.0
Meal/catering5.0
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Services5.0
Mulhouse / Bâle - EAP
8.1/10
Efficiency7.5
Access10.0
Services7.5
Cleanliness7.5
Amsterdam - AMS
10.0/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Conclusion
A pleasant flight with KLM, no to mention the incident with the guy, very well handled by the purser who did a brilliant job.
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Nice FR. LOL at the guy who tried to report you. I mean, what's wrong with taking pictures on a plane? I don't believe being an aviation enthusiast is against the law is it? Props to the purser who handled the situation well.
Oh yes, the little Fokker - the plane with the special name.
Lovely trip report and it's true what they say. Once you have worked for the airlines, it stays with you forever and when you leave this industry, you experience withdrawals and get the urge to fly often. I used to work for AA in MIA and UA in SFO long time ago and find myself going to the airport to hang out from time to time. Of course I love to fly and indulge myself in it quite often.
I hate these people that think they are the sky vigilantes and stick their noses where they shouldn't. I'm so glad that the FA was on your side and put the guy in his place at the end. Now, if you were on a U.S. carrier the outcome could have been different, like what happened to a blogger when he took pictures of the cabin and was challenged by a FA on UA.
Thanks for sharing this nice report with awesome spotting pictures.
I'm the same way. I used to work for the airlines and have always been addicted to flying, but then it gets worse and it stays with you after you leave. Using pass privileges used to be easier and the majority of the time you sat in Business or First, now you are lucky to get a middle seat way in the back so I stopped flying using flight privileges years before I left the industry.
I am all too aware of these sky vigilantes living here in the US where so many people are suspicious of everyone else when flying. I try to be discrete when taking pictures in flight because of the possibility of weird stares etc.
You are so right. Traveling as a confirmed passenger takes a lot of the pressure off your shoulders vs. flying on a standby basis and waiting at the gate 15 minutes before departure wondering whether you will make it or not, and if you do then get mentally prepared to accept a middle seat.
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Lovely trip report and it's true what they say. Once you have worked for the airlines, it stays with you forever and when you leave this industry, you experience withdrawals and get the urge to fly often. I used to work for AA in MIA and UA in SFO long time ago and find myself going to the airport to hang out from time to time. Of course I love to fly and indulge myself in it quite often.
I hate these people that think they are the sky vigilantes and stick their noses where they shouldn't. I'm so glad that the FA was on your side and put the guy in his place at the end. Now, if you were on a U.S. carrier the outcome could have been different, like what happened to a blogger when he took pictures of the cabin and was challenged by a FA on UA.
Thanks for sharing this nice report with awesome spotting pictures.
I am all too aware of these sky vigilantes living here in the US where so many people are suspicious of everyone else when flying. I try to be discrete when taking pictures in flight because of the possibility of weird stares etc.
Thanks for sharing!
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