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.
AMSTERDAM AIRPORT
I was in a small hurry tonight, and I have only one hour prior to my connection to Brussels. However, it was my first ever flight in Business class, because I upgraded my flight for a reasonable price, around €50. Si, I had some time to enjoy my dinner at KLM Crown Business Lounge. So, I straight walk across the commercial area :
Now, let's looking for the KLM Crown Lounge!
KLM CROWN LOUNGE - SCHENGEN
I just needed three minutes to reach the KLM Crown Lounge.
The lounge welcomes KLM passengers and Skyteam partners traveling in Business as well as Flying Blue Gold and Platinum / Skyteam Elite + members whose access is included in the ticket. For others, it is of course possible to access it by paying the entrance fee (I don't have the rates in mind). The lounge leaves me with a very good first impression: il looks modern and spacious, I really like the decor.
A screen is displayed to inform customers about their flight status:
Eventually found myself a table in the bottom of the lounge:
The lounge has several buffets with a wide offer of food including salad bars, hot dishes and sweet meals :
And some alcoholic beverages:
After that, let me show you my small selection for tonight, with a cup of sparkling wine :
The lounge offers a WiFi network to have access to Internet:
The lounge has a cozy seating area with comfortable seats, as well as a working area :
Shortly after 9:15 p.m. it was time to leave the lounge and run towards my boarding gate :
Oh damn… The Escalator doesn't work actually :
The boarding for my flight tonight takes place at the B-gates area so I need to walk quite fast :
I was among the last passengers boarding the aircraft:
Unsurprisingly, since my flight was operated with a KLM Cityhopper Embraer aircraft a bus brought us to the aircraft:
Air France Hop Embraer 170 :
Arrived to the aircraft:
Fuselage shot:
Door :
I quickly got to my seat at the first row of the cabin. Obviously, legroom is very comfortable at this row !
There was only one Business class row on this flight:
On KLM Embraer 190, Business class seats differs from the Economy class ones by adjustable headrests and have a good recline. By the way, the nearby seat will remain empty although KLM doesn't block the adjacent seats in Business class onboard ERJs :
Let's now check out the pocket content : a safety card and a sickness bag. KLM also still displays its paper onboard magazine "Holland Herald" as an inflight entertainment, providing some news about various topics, but also some informations abou KLM and Skyteam partners network, and about KLM fleet :
We pushed back with a 15 minutes delay and the cabin crew immediately took the floor in both Dutch and English and reminded passengers about prohibition of filming or photographing passengers or crew members without permission, which seems to be a recurring announcement on KLM flights:
Cabin lights are switched off for the takeoff, it seems to be the first time I am in a so gloomy cabin :
Taxiing towards the runway which was quite busy tonight:
Line up and take off shortly after 10 p.m on the way to Brussels. The cloud layer is low tonight over Netherlands and we acrossed it quickly after takeoff:
Weather was cloudy during the entire journey. However, I was lucky to enjoy this awesome sunset:
Shortly after takeoff the crew handed out the Business class service which consisted of one sandwich in a small branded bag and a bottle of water.
Even if the short flight time doesn't allow any more substantial service, iI think that a more "premium" service like a cup of Champaign or sparkling wine could be offered.
I think it is not worth to pay anymore for traveling I Business on such a short flight, especially if you have any Skyteam status which provides you priority and lounge access, I think that if I had a Gold status I wouldn't upgrade my flight.
On the first row, the tray tables are integrated in the armrest:
Nothing else to report about the flight, our descent towards Brussels started around 10:15 p.m. As noticed before, the weather over Brussels is the same as it was over Amsterdam:
Touched down at 10:21 p.m. on Zaventem Airport:
Headed quickly to the A-pier parking. Since the battery of my phone turned low I didn't take any pictures at disembarking. However, I took some time to exchange a bit about my trip to Poland with a cabin crew member.
BRUSSELS AIRPORT
Shortly before 11 p.m. I got into the A-pier where I grabbed a USB power outlet to charge a bit my phone before making my way to the exit. The airport felt very quiet at this time:
Walking through the huge commercial area where all shops and restaurants are closed at this time.
Once again, I ran into an Escalator which didn't work :
Arrivals as well as departures process isn't smooth at Brussels airport.
Walking through the baggage claim area where I didn't have to collect any luggage.
Finally heading down towards the airport's train station to take a train to Brussels South station where I had difficulty finding a power outlet to charge my phone, so I went to the Eurostar terminal where I eventually found one, but the Eurostar terminal closed a couple of minutes after I arrived there. I then rode a bus back to Lille and I was home around 2-3 a.m.
And here this review comes to end. Thank you for reading, keep aware for future reports!
