INTRODUCTION
I think I’m depressed. This is just so sad. Because I think this time, this really is it: my last trip on the beautiful MD-11 before she is decommissioned from passenger service with KLM at the end of the summer schedule of 2014. I know, one shall not be greedy and I’ve had a few very good flights on this magnificent aircraft. But it’s still a shame to have to watch her go.
I have promised my colleague not to embarrass him by crying my eyes out at the end of the flight, or by clinging to the MD-11 as we disembark and refusing to let go. But to be honest M., I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. Just pretend you don’t know me…
So, this is what I’ll be doing over the next three weeks: fifteen flights. With the exception of Warsaw the whole thing has a decidedly Atlantic theme going on and is perhaps a tad KLM heavy. Forgive me.
Another trip to Montreal for a meeting with ICAO marks the beginning of my flying extravaganza. This report covers the return flight form Montreal back to Amsterdam.
GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
Transport: bus line 747
Departs from: various stops in downtown along René Lévesque street
Frequency: every 10 minutes
Journey time: ca. 30 minutes
Fare: CAD 10.-
The appropriately numbered bus line 747 runs from downtown Montreal to the airport at Dorval. The trip normally takes about 30 minutes to complete, but can take as much as an hour, depending on traffic. There is also a train station at Dorval, but that is not in walking distance to the airport. I board the bus at Mansfield, which is the closest station to ICAO HQ and the main railway station.
The bus stops on the ground floor of the terminal, which is the arrivals level. Also keep in mind that you can only use coins to purchase tickets on the bus.
CHECK-IN
Facilities:
- multipurpose check-in kiosks & check-in counters for baggage drop
- separate counters for SkyPriority passengers.
Check-in and departures are located on the first floor. The staff are always very friendly here in Montreal. The check-in agent comments that she’s never seen a passport like mine. No wonder. We have a little natter about her job, then she checks me in, gives me directions to the lounge and sends me on my way.
There is no priority queue for security. There always something rather anticlimactic about leaving Canada I find. You trundle down a long corridor after you’ve passed security until you reach a sign marked as ‘International zone’. There is a gentleman standing near the sign to check your boarding pass and to make sure you’re alright to enter the international zone. You don’t even have to show your passport. And with that, you’ve left the country.
LOUNGE
Location: one floor up from the departures level, the entrance is right next to gate 55, from where the Air France and KLM flights normally leave.
Type of Lounge: Air France and KLM lounge
Facilities: showers, washrooms, buffet with salads, cold dishes and a buffet with warm snacks
Internet: free wi-fi, with passwords available at reception
The lounge in Montreal is quite large, and rightly so: Air France operates up to three daily flights from Paris, in addition to the daily KLM flight to Amsterdam. What’s more, Florence Nightingale, the MD-11 carrying me across the pond this evening, is parked right in front of the lounge. The elevated location of the lounge provides an excellent vantage point from where to admire the elegant lines of the MD-11. I feel a kind of melancholy to look out at this magnificent aircraft, with the sun slowly setting behind her, and knowing that very likely this will be my last flight before she quietly slips into aviation history.
The lounge is quite full but not crowded. Apart from the KLM flight there is also the last one of the Air France flights to Paris, which also hasn’t started boarding yet. Boarding announcements are made in the lounge. Passengers are also advised to wait in the lounge to avoid having to wait in the queue.
Eventually a boarding announcement is made at 19:40, inviting passengers to Amsterdam to board.
I’m one of the last passengers to enter the plane. I am greeted at the door in the usual friendly KLM style and given directions to my seat on 2G, an aisle seat in the smaller forward Business Class cabin.
CABIN
Configuration: 2 + 2 + 2 in the forward Business Class cabin, 2 + 3 + 2 in the rear Business Class cabin
Seat: angled seat
Pitch: 60 inches
Width: 20 inches
Facilities: electricity outlet, reading lamp, overhead lamp, stowage next under the seat (not on the first row)
Audio and video: individual screens, video on demand, noise cancelling earphones
SERVICE
As soon as I take my seat, one of the flight attendants brings me the menu, vanity kit and earphones. She takes my jacket and asks me if I’d prefer champagne or orange juice to drink. As usual I take the orange juice.
And then comes that magical moment. I’m sitting there sipping my glass of orange juice, when suddenly I become aware of the fact that the strobes have been turned on in preparation for out departure, I can see the red light reflecting on the cowlings of the Air France A 340 parked next to us. There is a silent sense of anticipation, our journey across the Atlantic is about to being. And that is perhaps what makes the MD-11 so special to me. On this aircraft you do not travel, it’s not a question of making a flight from A to B. But rather, it is a journey in the old-fashioned sense of the word, a grand event, a voyage.
Gently the aircraft is pushed back from the gate under the watchful eyes of the marshallers, their illuminated red batons waving in the dark. The engines come to life with a sorrowful wail. We disconnect from the tug vehicle and then, very gently we start to move under our own power. We’re on our way.
We’re departing from runway 24 this evening. There are two other aircraft ahead of us before eventually it is our turn to line of for take-off. We stand there on the piano keys for what seems like a very long time. I can feel the excitement rise as I wait with bated breath for the mighty MD-11 to give her guests this evening a powerful demonstration of her abilities. And then it comes, the engines spool up and we go thundering down the runway with a lightness that always surprises me and an effortless acceleration that never seizes to amaze me.
We climb into the night sky, leaving the city of Montreal behind us. As we ascend we execute a wide left hand turn, I suspect it must be something like a 180 degrees turn, to point us towards the sea.
FIRST MEAL SERVICE
Hotel towels before the meal: yes, scented
Pre-meal drinks: Ginger Ale, served with a bowl of nuts
Choice: there are three dishes to choose from
Delivery: tray from a trolley
Type of meal: dinners
Menu: wine list and menu together
Meal:
- smoked salmon filled with cream cheese and mango on a bed of cucumber and served with a spicy Thai chilli sauce
- mixed salad of green leaves, served with cherry tomatoes and bread croutons
- pan-fried halibut with a tomato and olive sauce, green beans and mashed potatoes
- panna cotta with mango and fresh fruit
The crew on this flight are very professional and obviously determined to get the meal service through as quickly as possible in order to give passengers a chance to rest. Refreshing hot towels are distributed ahead of the drinks service. I have a Ginger Ale.
The tray arrives with the first course and a side salad already on it. Cherry tomatoes and croutons are added at the passenger’s seat. The service is well timed and as soon as I have finished my starter, a flight attendant arrives to remove my plate, to make some space for the main course.
It’s a very tasty meal. And what it obviously lacks in terms of sophistication and complexity, it easily makes up for with the fact that it’s a lovely, meaty chunk of fish.
After the main course, the crew remove the trays before serving dessert. I decide to have the panna cotta and a small bowl of fresh fruit. Alas, I only remember to take a picture of the dessert after I’ve already tucked in.
The meal concludes with a selection of pralines and chocolates and the distribution of water bottles.
Incidentally, on the subject of water, I found this rather cool feature on the MD-11 while I was waiting for the lavatory: a water dispenser:
By the time the meal service is over, it’s only another four hours and five minutes left to Amsterdam. This will be a short night. Then the lights go out. I extend the seat as far as possible and fall into a deep slumber.
I awake abruptly from deep and restful sleep. As I remove my eyeshades I am surprised to find the lights have already been turned on again and we’re only just over an hour out of Amsterdam. As soon as the crew notice I’m awake, one of them comes to ask if I’ll be joining for breakfast. I say yes, despite the fact that the last meal was only three hours ago.
SECOND MEAL SERVICE
Hot towels: yes, after the meal
Choice: there are two choices for breakfast
Delivery: tray service from a trolley
Type of meal: breakfast
Meal:
- bowl of fresh fruit
- broccoli strata
- selection from the bread basket
- ham and cheese
I choose the broccoli strata, which is a kind of egg omelette with broccoli, as far as I can tell. I suppose the dish is okay, but it’s just a bit too eggy for me. Besides, I really am still quite full from the first meal.
The trays are quickly removed and shortly thereafter we’re already descending through the murk to make our final approach into Amsterdam. I decide to head back to economy class to capture a few last shots of the wing before we land.
The service ends with the distribution of the little delft houses.
ARRIVAL
Concourse: D
Fortunately we’re able to make a straight in approach into Amsterdam.
We land and I decide to ask the crew if perhaps I might just be allowed to visit the cockpit before I bid the MD-11 my last farewell. Luckily the crew are very obliging, and once the aircraft is safely parked at the gate and the other passengers disembark, I make my way to the front office to have a look around. The captain tells me that the MD-11 has the best cockpit of the entire KLM fleet because of all the space it provides. And it’s true, eventually we’re five guys standing in the cockpit and there is still some room left.
If any of the crew of that flight read this, thank you very much. You were very kind and very patient with me!
And with that my last flight on the mighty MD-11 comes to an end. What remains? What remains are very fond memories of enjoyable journeys to exotic and far away places. The MD-11 has safely carried me away, across the globe to cities I only used to dream of visiting when I was a child. And so I will always remember the MD-11 with a lot of fondness. For certain I don’t think I will ever forget her.
