Introduction
Today marks the beginning of a fairly busy travel period for me. First, I’m heading back to Norway. I’m travelling on KLM, but instead of going to Trondheim, this time I’m heading for Oslo. This post covers the first leg – from Zürich to Amsterdam – my signature route.
Check-In
I arrive at the airport at 16h21, mainly because I missed the train I was originally intending to take. My flight departs at 17h30. I’ve checked in online, but for whatever reason, the KLM app won’t let me save the boarding passes to my Wallet app.
Airside
The airport is rather busy. By the time I’m through security, it’s 16h35. The lounge Air France KLM use in Zürich is not very nice and roughly the size of a very, very small shoebox. I won’t bother. Instead, I make my way to gate A 75, where boarding should start at 17h05.
Just as I arrive at the gate, I spot my aircraft taxiing in. During the summer schedule, the 17h35 service to Amsterdam is usually operated by a Boeing B 737-800. And judging by the seemingly endless stream of passengers deplaning, the inbound was busy. As I’m about to find out, so’s the outbound.
Boarding
Boarding starts on time, and takes for ever as the crew try to find place to store the copious amounts of hand luggage passengers are trying to bring on board. And three, two, one… yep, we’ve missed our slot again – and we’re also missing a passenger. Fortunately, the missing passenger is only travelling with hand luggage, so they are quickly offloaded so the crew can close the door.
The Cabin & Seat
As on my previous flight to Amsterdam, this aircraft is sporting the new seats and overhead bins.
The new cabin dividers and curtain are rather flimsy. My understanding has always been that the cabin dividers is intended to give premium passengers a bit of extra privacy. But what KLM has installed on its B 737s is about as useless as Helvetic’s red curtain.
The Service & Crew
The crew are great, as usual on KLM. They make very clear announcements and proactively keep passengers informed about the aircraft’s progress and the expected delay on arrival.
The Meal
The flight time today is 75 minutes. We take-off from runway 28. Very soon, the seatbelt sign is turned off and the service begins. Today’s sandwich is Beemster cheese with a rather sharp mustard that stings just right. To drink, I have a sparkling water.
Arrival in Amsterdam
The flight passes quickly, and soon we’re passing Rotterdam as we descend into Amsterdam. The captain informs us that we’re running twenty minutes behind schedule. Even so, all flight connections will be reached. We’re also lucky that they bring us in for the approach on runway 18C – saving us a long taxi to our stand on the D concourse. I might even have some time to visit the lounge!
I always think that SBB train interiors are so much more understated and stylish than most others——- particularly the dreaded UK class 800 that i have to use!
Well, I guess they are. And usually they’re well maintained. However, that particular train is one of those that has a propensity to shake rather violently from side to side for no reason. Apparently, there are SBB staff who refuse to work on them because they say their joints ache at the end of a working shift. And I believe it. I was working on my laptop on one of those trains one day. I tried to move a file just as the train jerked again and ended up inadvertently binning the file.
I also like the older double deck Intercity trains[IC2000?] which have been smartly repainted——- the seats seem slightly plusher than the ones in the photo?.Always head for the quiet zone on the lower deck!—— which of course in Switzerland IS quiet!