Transfer in CDG2

My flight from New York terminates in Terminal 2B. My onward connection to Amsterdam on KLM will depart from 2F.

The security check for my onward connection takes place on the ground floor of Terminal 2B. They‘re only just opening up the security checkpoint when I get there at 06:45, so it‘s not very busy yet.

Behind security, I follow the signs for transfers to 2F.

The transfer is by bus and takes about five minutes. There are only two more passengers with me on the bus.

Immigration and entry into the Schengen area take place in 2F.

Le Salon Air France 2F

The Air France lounge in 2F is one of my favourites. It’s very large and has excellent views of the apron.

The lounge is spread out on two floors. Seeing as it’s still early in the morning on 1 January, the place is not at all crowded. So I park myself by the window on the upper floor and then take the opportunity to take some photos.

Boarding

The flight to Amsterdam is departing from gate F33. As I reach the gate they‘re just about to finish off boarding SkyPriority passengers.

The Cabin

The flight today is operated by a rare Boeing B737-900, of which KLM is one of only a handful of European operators.

I‘m seated on 6A, which has windows that are perfectly aligned with the seat. Row six is an Economy Class Extra seat with additional legroom and more recline, although that latter is not so great because I always feel I‘m about to slide off.

The flight time is just short of one hour.

The Crew & Service

The cabin crew are always very predictable on KLM, and this crew is no exception. They’re friendly and professional. From my seat on the first row of the Economy Class cabin, I can see the service in Business Class. I think we have to accept that the dreadful Wandelsboxes are here to stay.

If I‘m honest, I can‘t help noticing that KLM has declined considerably in recent years, while Air France has not. I get that they‘re positioning Air France as the premium carrier while KLM is the more standard operation. Nonetheless, I think they better watch out to not let things get too far out of hand with the Dutch.

But I digress. We take off right behind the mighty triple seven. And then we make a wide right hand turn to point us in the direction of Amsterdam.

The Snack

Meanwhile, KLM still offers complimentary snacks and food in European Economy Class. On today‘s flight there is a wide selection of water, soft drinks, beer, and coffee and tea. With that they‘re offering a tasty oatmeal cookie. The cookie is great, just maybe a bit too big!

Arrival

The crew haven‘t even reached the end of the -900‘s long cabin when the aircraft gently dips its nose and begins its descent into Amsterdam. As usual, it‘s rather windy, which makes for rather a bumpy landing from the south. We touch down and taxi to our stand on the C concourse… And I‘m really very tired at this stage!