Returned yesterday from an enjoyable 5 day trip to New York. Here’s my trip report:
Flight 1 Thu 2/9 LHR-AMS KLM B767-306 PH-BZK (Zeelandbrug)
Flight departed about 70mins late; my first trip on a KLM 767. Fortunately it was in the new cols so managed to get some good photos. Flight was about 3/4 full. This is the only European route that KLM operate the 767 on; judging by the standard of seating(basic) and IFE(basic), I wouldn’t want to travel any further. Flight lasted 50mins so we arrived only 45mins late. Interestingly many of the passengers were Nigerian and I noticed at Schiphol that this a/c was due to op. to Kano/Abuja next; so they would be back on the same plane.
Flight 2 Thu 2/9 AMS-JFK KLM B777-206 PH-BQD (Darjeeling Railway)
This was the flight that I was really looking forward to. I have travelled alot on KLM’s MD11s and 747s but this was my first trip on their new 777. I had pre-reserved seats and these had extra legroom and the PTV screens mounted on the armrests(Most are fitted in the seatback). The a/c was only about 4 months old and the IFE was impressive. The AVOD system offered @100 films, 10 TV programmes, 20 music channels and even a channel for creating you own music collection. There was also numerous games available….These are the best KLM a/c by a country mile..
Food was good and 7h25m flight passed quickly. On landing at JFK, spotted an Emirates A340-500 amongst the usual a/c.
Flight 3 Tue 7/9 JFK-AMS KLM B747-406M PH-BFR(Rio De Janeiro)
Again, managed to get decent seats just behind business class in the nose. Unfortunately IFE similar to 767; ie. only 1 choice of film. Flight left at 2330 so I didn’t see film. Evening snack was possibly the worst I’ve had; breakfast was no better. Cabin service was good though. Strangely the standard of seats in Economy varied between forward and rear cabins. Landed on time.
Flight 4 Wed 8/9 AMS-LHR B737-9K2 PH-BXP(Crested Coot)
Unfortunately our last flight was cancelled even though @80 passengers were on the flight. KLM also managed to cancel it after we had walked to the very last stand on Pier D at Schiphol. I had hoped for a B737-900 and KLM redeemed themselves; flight was still 75mins late departing. We made an interesting approach over North London(great views)before making a 180deg left turn to land on RW27L.
Good trip overall..now need to book my next one..
By: tenthije - 15th September 2004 at 17:05
B747-400 … … 7/22 … … PH-BFI/K/L/M/O/T + 1 other?
That’s the lot, I made a typo in my previous reply. There are only 6 passenger 747s in the new livery.
By: dc10fan - 14th September 2004 at 23:56
Based on above info, I thought I’d go one further…
B737-300 … … 8/14 … … PH-BDE/G/I/K/N/O/P/BTI in the new cols..
B737-400 … … 6/14 … … PH-BDR/T/U/W/Y/BPB
B737-800 … … 5/13 … … PH-BXA/C/F/G/H
B737-900 … … 1/5 … … PH-BXT
B747-400 … … 7/22 … … PH-BFI/K/L/M/O/T + 1 other?
B747-400ERF … 3/3 … … PH-CKA/B/C
B767-300 … … 2/12 … … PH-BZI/K
B777-200 … … 7/7 … … PH-BQA/B/C/D/E/F/G
MD-11 … … … 2/10 … … PH-KCA/I
all … … … … 41/100 … … 41%
By: tenthije - 14th September 2004 at 19:26
Strangely the standard of seats in Economy varied between forward and rear cabins.
PH-BFR is a combi plane. Perhaps the seats in the first half of the plane are the fixed seats, with the last half filled with palletised seats. The seats on the pallets would probably be damaged sooner because they are pulled in and out of the plane whenever required.
Excellent report, that looks like a decent size viewing deck at Schiphol.
Those shots have not been taken from the viewing deck. They have been taken airside through the windows. But, Schiphol does have a massive viewing deck.
…any idea what percentage of the KLM fleet has had the modified livery applied to date?
B737-300 … … 8/14 … … 57%
B737-400 … … 6/14 … … 43%
B737-800 … … 5/13 … … 39%
B737-900 … … 1/5 … … 20%
B747-400 … … 7/22 … … 32%
B747-400ERF … 3/3 … … 100%
B767-300 … … 2/12 … … 17%
B777-200 … … 7/7 … … 100%
MD-11 … … … 2/10 … … 20%
all … … … … 41/100 … … 41%
By: Pembo330 - 14th September 2004 at 12:20
Excellent Report. 🙂
Was very interested to read about your 767/777 KLM reports as I flew their 767 to and from EWR last November and will do the same this, only I get to return on a 777 from JFK this time.
I have to agree with your analysis of the 767; its a pretty basic aircraft but nothing out of the oridinary for 767 Transatlantic ops. I flew BZB and BZD in November.
Your 777 report is excellent; I really am looking forward to flying the 777 home with that kind of entertainment. The only problem is, the home flight is the sleepy one, so I’ll probably end up nodding off and missing all the fun!
By: Ren Frew - 14th September 2004 at 00:08
Good report and pics, any idea what percentage of the KLM fleet has had the modified livery applied to date?
By: GLAsgow - 13th September 2004 at 19:47
grate report and love the pics
By: MEA380 - 13th September 2004 at 15:42
nice report, and very nice pictures there !!
By: steve rowell - 11th September 2004 at 04:11
Excellent report, that looks like a decent size viewing deck at Schiphol
By: dc10fan - 10th September 2004 at 22:48
LBArules,
Thanks; corrected.
RIPConcorde,
These are the better seats fitted throughout some B747s but only in rows 9-18(between Door 1 & 2) on others:http://www.airliners.net/open.file/380555/L
These are the more basic seats: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/124882/L.
By: LBARULES - 10th September 2004 at 11:28
Great report – just one thing, your last flight was AMS-LHR not AMS-JFK 😀
By: RIPConcorde - 9th September 2004 at 23:06
Good report
Strangely the standard of seats in Economy varied between forward and rear cabins
In what way? Which was better, which was worse?
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September 9, 2004 at 10:22 pm