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.
Also, I was going to ride one of the shortest ever commercial flights operated with a legacy carrier on the Brussels-Amsterdam route.
CHECK-IN
One day before departure I was able to perform my online check-in thanks to Air France app which is very easy and efficient, ans so I selected my seats for the two legs. On this leg I went for the last row since It had the only remaining window seat available.
BRUSSELS AIRPORT
Due to the early departure time of my flight (8.00 a.m.), I managed to position one day before to Brussels, and decided to stay at the Ibis Budget Brussels Airport. D-day, I was driven to the airport with a shuttle provided by the hotel. I arrived to the terminal 2 hours before departure time.
One day before my flight, since my flight was full KLM messaged me asking me to drop off my suitcase for free at check-in counters, but I eventually decided to turn it down.
When just after getting my boarding pass to an automatic machine, I quickly proceeded through security checkpoints, an employee in front of the security checks lanes asked me for removing a photo of the security. She was just doing her job, so I didn't tried to blame her about that.
Just after passing through the security in less than 15 minutes, here I am in the airside area. Through the bay windows after the security area we can enjoy some views on the traffic at Brussels Airport this morning.
We then need to go downstairs via an escalator to pass through the Duty free area.
In Brussels Airport we have to walk through a very huge commercial area, with different shops and restaurants to go towards A-gates area. First photo features the iconic "Tintin" rocket displayed in the middle of the square.
After walking through the commercial area I quickly reached the A-pier where my flight is supposed to leave from. So, let's take a look at the departures screen to check out my flight's status. Damn, my boarding gate is still not announced.
So, I decided to go near the windows in the A-pier to have time for spotting.
At the gate A48 we can see the Brussels Airlines flight towards Rome-Fiumicino getting ready for boarding status. Low-cost airlines are increasingly present at Brussels airport with this publicity for Vueling and a Transavia Boeing 737 landing from Ibiza.
Trying to connect to Brussels airport's WiFi which is very easy.
My boarding pass for the today's journey
At gate A48 Brussels Airlines flight to Rome is boarding :
Another Brussels Airlines aircraft in Star Alliance livery is pushing back for its flight outbound Geneva. (flight SN2711).
Brussels Airlines is known for its special liveries on some of his aircrafts, but this one particularly stands out in the SN fleet. The OO-SBB aircraft features the famous "Amare Tomorrowland" livery. I really love this one, one of my favorite liveries in Brussels Airlines fleet. It actually operates the flight SN2607 to Frankfurt.
Now, let's take advantage of few time I have left to check out my flight's status. I quickly take a look at FlightRadar24 to monitor the arrival of my aircraft and I can see my Embraer 175 is already in final approach on BRU (you cannot see it in the picture since I had not activated the reel yet when I took the screenshot).
Here it is, my today's Embraer 175 !
So, I'm now on my way towards my departure gate, 40A located at the rear of the A-pier.
Just near my gate, is a piano displayed for passengers to fill themselves.
Boarding starts at 7.28 a.m. just 7 minutes before schedule for Skypriority passengers. My zone was called just 7 minutes after.
On my way to the plane !
Esteban moment
Fuselage shot
ABOUT TODAY'S AIRCRAFT
Today's flight will be performed by PH-EXW, an 6,2 years old Embraer 175 delivered to KLM Cityhopper in March 2018. It can hold a maximum capacity of 88 passengers and displayed in a 2-2 configuration. It is powered with 2 GE-CF34 engines.
KL1702 BRUSSELS (BRU) TO AMSTERDAM (AMS)
We're welcomed by the cabin crew in the tiny cabin of the Embraer 175. I don't fly often in regional aircrafts, so the 2-2 layout is just a rediscovery in my case, I'm so excited!
I really like the omnipresence of blue on KLM's aircraft liveries, cabins as well as on cabin crew's uniforms.
A view from my window seat. I really like the large windows of the Embraer aircrafts. The alignment of the windows doesn't seem so bad to me, unlike the Embraer's bad reputation about that.
The seat seems not so uncomfortable, especially on this very short flight. A lady is onboard with her very young daughter. So, she must be very excited about flying !
An EasyJet A32X aircraft inbound Geneva, flight U2 1527
Cabin crew as well as the flight deck made their welcome speech and told us about flight informations and security instructions in both Dutch and English, the cruise will last 20 minutes to Amsterdam.
We pushed back with 6 minutes behind schedule, and 2 minutes later we started our taxiing towards runway 25R.
Brussels Airlines Airbus A330
Shortly before 8:15 a.m. we're lined up on the runway 25R and quickly performed our rolling take-off, with some amazing views on cargo area and Brussels countryside.
Vilvoorde and the maritime canal connecting Brussels to the Scheldt.
In the background we can see the Scheldt continue towards Antwerp.
Weather is quite cloudy this morning over Belgium. We quickly across the cloud layer.
Despite the very short flight time, a small service will be provided by the cabin crew, even if the drinks service only consisted of water on this flight. A coconut cupcake is also delivered, it looked very tasty. I think this service is a nice attention on such a short flight.
As expected the cruise time is very short and cabin crew made his speech to tell us about starting our descent towards Amsterdam.
Weather is the same in Netherlands than it was in Brussels.
Unlike his group colleague Air France, KLM still displays a paper onboard magazine on his flights, which is a nice touch nowadays.
While approaching Amsterdam, we're flying over the city of Assendelft and the North Sea Canal between Amsterdam and Ijmuiden on the Netherlands coastline.
Also flying over a part of the port of Amsterdam
The Ringvaart canal and the A5 motorway
Flying over the Hoofdvart canal before touchdown at 8:45 a.m.
We quickly left the runway with a view of 2 747, either intended for cargo flights, or supposed to be destroyed.
Another Embraer 175, PH-EXR, taking off towards Bristol, flight KL1075
As usually with KLM's regional flights we were parked at a remote stand, therefore we have to reach the terminal by bus.
While our plane being parked all passengers stand up even though seatbelts signs are still turned on.
Let's take a last view of it aircraft. See you soon, PH-EXW !
During the bus shuttle ride to the terminal, we can see a KLM Airbus A330, the only Airbus model in KLM fleet at this time.
AMSTERDAM AIRPORT
7 minutes later, I get into the AMS terminal at the B-pier. My first time ever at Amsterdam Schiphol !
Before going upstairs to have my breakfast, I quickly check up the departures noticeboard for my connection to Gdańsk.
So, I finish this review at the bottom of the Escalator, I hope you enjoyed !
Thank you for reading and for your comments !
