SYNOPSIS
Hello everyone,
Back to 2024 I had already wanted to visit Poland for a few months, and I planned to spend a few days in Gdansk by late May. I was also interested in Krakow, but I found myself any good deals to Gdansk with Skyteam.
BOOKING
Plane tickets are booked just one month only before departure. Since I stayed in Northern France at this time due to several fixed-term contracts, I was able to use either Paris CDG, Brussels, Lille, Charleroi as well as Amsterdam as home airports.
I eventually found some issues with KLM Cityhopper outbound Brussels-Zaventem Airport for the reasonable price of €164 with the Economy Light fare. I just needed to add ticket train price to position to Brussels.
This journey is a discovery on several points. First, because I was able to take some Embraer aircrafts for the first time, I've never flown it before. More exactly, the two outward flights were performed by the 175 model, and the two return flights were operated by Embraer 190s.
Then, I had also never flown KLM before, and so it was my first time transiting in Amsterdam SCHIPHOL Airport.
GDAŃSK AIRPORT
After my 5-day stay in Gdańsk for vacation it is time for me to fly back home to Lille. So, I welcome you along me for the first leg of my journey back to Brussels via Amsterdam.
To reach the airport I decided to use the public transports since Gdańsk airport is connected by train but there is no direct trains from / to city center, so you need to connect by Gdańsk Wrzeszcz. The ride lasted around 30 minutes and costed only 7 złotys, so that's 1,68 euros. It is very cheap for an airport transfer regarding the policy in other European cities.
I reached the terminal around 1 hour and 30 minutes before scheduled departure time. I decided to take the walkway over the VTC drop off directly connected to the terminal from the railway station.
Gdansk airport's terminal looks very modern and luminous thanks to the gaps located on the ceiling. I really like its architecture.
On the left are the car rentals stores.
As you can see on the FIDS screen Gdańsk airport is mainly served by low-cost airlines (Wizz Air and Ryanair). However, between 4:55 p.m and 6:20 p.m the hub-feeder flights came one after another with several flag carriers including my flight to Amsterdam, Lufthansa also operates two flights towards its two main hubs (Munich and Frankfurt). Of course, the local airline operates a domestic flight towards Warsaw.
Due to the high number of departures in a very short time, the departures hall is quite busy tonight, and especially at the Enter Air check-in counters where passengers on the flight to Antalya check-in.
Conversely, the KLM counters are quiet and I managed to head to a counter to get my boarding pass. The employee asked me about my destination, and also if I needed an assistance at Amsterdam, what I answered negatively. After this, he handed me my boarding pass without any problem.
While I headed towards security checkpoints I checked out at my flight status in the Air France app and I noticed my flight was delayed by 30 minutes.
At first sight there was few waiting time, but I forgot to take out my wallet so I was subjected to an additional check by controllers, so passing through security took me around 15 minutes.
After the security checkpoint an Escalator brings you upstairs to go airside.
Walking through duty free area where I didn't buy anything
I had some time to look for a place where I could have a small snack while waiting for my flight, I decided to head to the Bread and Co store. I think Gdansk airport's catering offer is quite generous for such a small terminal which is a good point for GDN.
But first, let's have some time for a small visit of the terminal. Here, we can see the gates to the non-Schengen area in the background.
Then, I made a stop to the restrooms which were very clean. I noticed some screens between each mirror streamed some views of Gdansk region, which is such an original touch.
Lufthansa CityLine CRJ900
I finally grabbed a table at "Bread and Co" store where I ordered one chocolate muffin with a Coke.
My boarding pass for tonight's flight :
Since my aircraft is supposed to land soon, I take a look at Flightradar24 to check out the ride of my aircraft :
During this timeframe, we can see the Lufthansa CRJ900 unloading his passengers while Wizz Air A321 takes of towards Alicante :
A few minutes mater our plane is finally approaching GDN :
My plane is finally parking to gate 24, so let's now walk towards my gate :
While reaching my boarding gate our pilots are entering the jetbridge towards the Embraer 190 :
But since passengers of the inbound flight from Amsterdam were just now disembarking the aircraft, we had to wait a few minutes again, before boarding finally started at 6:08 p.m., whereas we were supposed to leave soon at this time:
A few minutes later, let's finally boarding the aircraft!
ABOUT OUR AIRCRAFT
Today's flight to Amsterdam will be performed by PH-EZN, a 14 years old Embraer 190 at the day of this flight, delivered to KLM Cityhopper in March 2010. It can hold up to 100 passengers in a 2-2 configuration. It is powered by two GE-CF34 engines.
FLIGHT KL1308 GDANSK LECH WALESA (GDN) TO AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL (AMS)
Let me show you a glimpse of my Embraer 190 :
Door moment and fuselage shot :
KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190s' cabins are different than the Embraer 175s' ones and feels more modern and more equipped. It feels a bit slim but not so uncomfortable for a less than 2 hours flight :
I quickly got my seat 21A. I agree that the spacing between the windows is not optimal but this it does not matter me personally to watch through the windows.
Once again, I really like the omnipresence of KLM's visual identity in cabin with almost all elements of setting in cabin and cabin crew's uniforms in blue :
The view outside from my window:
The seats features USB outlets which is such an improvement in the Embraer 190s cabins with KLM Cityhopper:
Let's have a look at the seatback pocket content with the safety card and the KLM paper onboard magazine displayed :
The PSU :
Seat pitch is okay regarding the flight time:
Our captain took the floor and talked us in both Dutch and English about today's flight informations and about our delay, before we pushed back at 6:33 p.m. with less delay than expected.
Immediately afterwards the cabin crew took the stage insisting about the prohibition of photographing PNCs or passengers without their authorization, a recurring announcement on KLM flights
At 6:43 p.m we started our taxiing towards the runway we can see a Wizz air Airbus A321 and a SAS Mitsubishi/ Bombardier CRJ900 :
LOT Polish Embraer 195 to Warsaw and another Wizz Air A321 :
Lining up and takeoff around 6:45 p.m :
By consulting FR24 I thought I had a better view of Gdansk on the left side and finally we make a turn to the south but we enjoy some amazing views on the Polish coast and can still see a part of the city :
While waiting for the inflight service I decided to have a look at the KLM onboard magazine "Holland Herald" :
During that time cabin crew started running for the onboard service: at the time of this flight KLM still offered a vegetarian sandwich with a wide selection of beverages. I ordered an apple juice.
Since I thought the sandwich would be cheesy I've decided initially to decline it but that was eventually not the case. So, the sandwich feels very tasty even if it was a bit light :
The flight occurred uneventfully and the sky became cloudy while approaching Netherlands:
I then decided to make a quick tout to the rear of the aircraft to take some sights of the galley and to go to the lavatories, which feel quite clean :
Cabin crews will walk again through the cabin in order to collect the wastes from the service:
Shortly before 8 p.m. the crew got ready for landing towards Amsterdam and made his announcements about starting our descent and seatbelt signs were turned on:
Crossing the cloud layer and we can see the Netherlands ground appears :
AMSTERDAM AIRPORT
We touched down the runway at 8:20 p.m. and flaps were set up. We quickly left the runway:
We needed just 2 minutes to reach our parking stand near to others KLM Embraer aircraft's. Indeed, as usual on flights operated by KLM Cityhopper on Embraer aircrafts it will be a remote stand so we need to join the terminal by a bus shuttle :
While our plane is parked at 8:23 p.m. near to a sistership, passengers quickly stand up whereas seatbelt signs are still on. Me too, I hurry myself to disembark to quickly get into the bus shuttle to the terminal since I upgraded my next flight and so I would like to spend my short connection time at KLM Crown Lounge:
While I am in the bus, let me achieve this review with a last view of my Embraer 190 :
Thank you for stopping by.
See you soon!
