Dutch incredible!
May 21, 2006 | 12:00am
Just as important as the destination is the journey," said Jose Laurente Jr., KLM country manager. "And on our World Business Class, we have to make sure that our passengers get the best entertainment system available."
And then there are the KLM self-services, which are convenient and safe. Everything is designed to make travel easy for the passenger.
Imagine, you can book online, travel with an e-ticket, check-in through the Internet, and when you get to the airport, there is a special line for those who opt to travel this way. "The line at the airport is short. Just as short as the Business Class line," added Laurente.
‘Nuff said.
We got a chance to fly on the Air France/KLM World Business Class recently. It was a trip to Amsterdam and London. Twelve-and-a-half hours is a long time, but once seated on the KLM’s Boeing 777 fully-reclining seat, comfort began.
The five-foot space between seats is perfect. "The Europeans are bigger than us and they appreciate the bigger leg room," added Laurente.
I love gadgets, and the little buttons on my seat were irresistible. Full-reclining, raising the legs, raising the feet, and all the sitting positions possible on a flight with a massage mode, sleeper seats, they call ‘em. Gentle taps on my lower back, perfect.
It was in 2004 that KLM repositioned itself; KLM now represents Air France here. It was also at that time that Air France/KLM changed their planes to Boeing 777, a smaller plane which can seat a total of 329 passengers.
It was also at that time that the direct and non-stop flight to Amsterdam was introduced.
"We are the fastest to Europe," Laurente said proudly. "We don’t stop anywhere (for technical reasons or to pick up other passengers)."
It was great just to know that as soon as I get hold of my seat (and began to own it) I knew that it would be mine for the next 12 hours. No rude interruptions because of a short stop in some other Asian country.
As I sat, I started to imagine the interesting sights and sounds and food, too, that I would get to sample in Amsterdam and London.
Time to kick back and relax. My seatmate, a Dutch executive, was busy working on his Notebook, which he plugged into the socket conveniently located on the consoles of our seat.
For him it was uninterrupted work. For me, uninterrupted sleep. OK, one movie for me on the video-on-demand system, which is also available on economy class.
Did I tell you about the Dutch crew? Well, they are one fine lot and a great plus for KLM. They are friendly without being intrusive. The perfect kind of people for me.
After take-off, it was Memoirs of a Geisha that I tuned into. And, yes, there were lots of choices from the latest to classical to for-kiddie movies. After all, I am told that with a good video system the journey can feel shorter.
Not being a movie addict, I slept after the movie and a light salad dinner.
The hours must have passed quickly, or I guess I was really just pooped because I slept well.
Breakfast was being served and we were just an hour away from Amsterdam when I woke up.
Great.
Just before we landed there were little Dutch house figurines, which we were told are collectors’ items being passed around to Business Class passengers. These houses, a total of 86 in all, are not sold anywhere else. You have to earn them. "Frequent travelers even swap houses," said Dindin Monseratte of KLM, who joined us on this trip, to me.
Our first stop was the check-in counter. There, Marianne showed us the latest express machines which allow a passenger to check-in and get a boarding pass.
"The machine is able to read the newer passports and identify who you are," said Marianne. "Once that is done then the machine asks a few more questions, like did you pack your own luggage and that you did not receive packages from other people."
The machine also allows a passenger to choose their own seat number with the use of a seat plan on the plane.
After the boarding pass is printed, and if you have luggage that you have to check in you go to one of the drop-off points which is not a check-in counter and there is where you leave you luggage. You go with your boarding pass and passport together and bring your luggage. The luggage is weighed and labeled and then you are ready to go. If you have excess baggage you are charged for them.
Our next stop was the KLM crew center. This is where pilots and crew members report before their flights. The center has three floors and there are computers where the pilots can study their flight routes.
"It is here where the KLM employees say hello to each other," added Marianne. "There are about 8,000 KLM employees and we don’t really know everyone. But, I know many because I have been flying for 20 years."
Crew members and pilots are required to be here at least two-and-a half hours before the flight.
We saw a small duty free shop where crew members can shop.
And then it was off to the customs area where a new security routine was being set up.
"We had 45 million passengers who went through this airport last year," quipped Marianne. "A huge amount for a small country like Amsterdam."
The airport is an airport city because it is a shopper’s paradise. And for the Dutch who are outside the customs area there is a huge shopping arcade with thousands of interesting shops.
"The prices are good," Marianne assured us. "And, there is also an underground train station which has six tracks. Trains from Brussels and France arrive here several times a day. It is very convenient for the travelers who come by train to go shopping before they head for home."
Schipol Airport was opened in 1967. It has been voted the best airport in world 125 times by travel magazines. And, it is not just because of the facilities but also because of the wide variety of merchandise in the shops.
The airport has two casinos. In the European section there is a smaller one and the bigger casino is in the continental section. Entertainment places like casinos are highly appreciated by passengers. If they have a lot of time on their hands, passengers like to be able to do something other than shop. And then of course there is a museum. The Museum is a division of the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. On exhibit were Rembrandt paintings in a show commemorating his 400th birth anniversary. The collection changes four times a year, so seasoned travelers can see different paintings. And best of all, entrance to the museum at Schipol is free.
Our last stop for the day was the European Crown lounge which is owned by KLM.
The lounge was welcoming with multicolored chairs of all shapes and sizes. A seat for every need, I guess. Internet access is easy. Phone cards are available. And the cheese, bread, cold cuts, Danish pastries, coffee, liquor, juice and softdrinks are plenty and within easy reach of the 500-seater lounge guests.
I particularly enjoyed the view. It was great to be able to see outside the airport from anywhere I walked in the airport. I did not feel locked inside a building, rather, it was refreshing and relaxing to be at Schipol.
"We are quite strict as to who enters the lounge," said Marianne. "We have so many Flying Blue members because we joined forces with Air France."
Indeed.
No wonder KLM is the Royal Dutch Airlines – from the moment one steps onto the plane, as one walks through Schipol, and then when one finally rests his tired legs at the lounge – the warmth of the Dutch runs through the experience.
For more details, call Air France KLM at 887-1202 or e-mail them at Flyingblue.Philippines@klm.com.
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