Transfer in Barcelona
I just arrived in Barcelona on the Singapore Airlines flight from Sao Paolo. We arrived in at 07h40, fifty minutes ahead of schedule. And I now have until 13h20 to make my connection to Amsterdam and then Basel on KLM.
The Pau Casals Lounge
Location: In the Schengen area, on the far right as you come down the escalators from security. The lounge is one floor up from the main airside area.
Type of Lounge: Premium Traveller contractor lounge.
Facilities: Toilets and showers available in the lounge, workstations, dining area.
Catering: Limited selection of cold breakfast dishes, like bread with puréed raw tomato and olive oil.
Internet: Free wifi is provided by the airport authority.
I need a shower to wake me up. For EUR10.- you can buy a set of one towel, shower gel and shampoo and a pair of slippers at reception. The shower is clean and spacious. However, there is no toilet in the shower room.
Boarding
Boarding begins with the gate attendant announcing that the flight to Amsterdam will be rather full today. Therefore, oversized baggage will have to go into the hold. Fortunately, being a Platinum member I will not to hand in my suitcase, which is good because I only have a short connection in Amsterdam.
The Cabin
Configuration: 2 + 2, in Business Class the middle seat is kept empty.
Seat: Originally I am seated on 6A, but then I am upgraded to 1F in Business Class. However, once I board the plane, there is a girl sitting on 1D and her dad is on 1C. Apparently, the girl would like to sit next to the window. So I suggest swapping places with her dad so they can sit together on 1D and 1F, while I take 1C. Admittedly, my motives are not all together innocent. If you are seated on 1C on the B 737-900, you call fully stretch out your legs without getting in anybody’s way.
Pitch: 33 inches
Width: 17 inches
Facilities: 110V ac power port at every seat.
The Crew
The service is typically KLM. No more, no less. All of the cabin crew are female and there is a good mix of older and more experienced cabin crew and some fresh young ones too.
The Meal
Towel before the meal: Hot towel served after take-off.
Choice: There is a choice of chicken or pasta.
Delivery: Trolley service
Type of meal: Lunch
- Mixed salad.
- Ricotta Tortellini with Zucchini, Bechamel and tomato sauce.
- Selection from the breadbasket.
- Something sweet with cherries.
- Tea or coffee.
Strangely enough, the food on the tray is not entirely what is says on the menu that is distributed by the crew. Apparently, the salad should have been something with mozzarella balls. But it makes not difference, the salad is good enough as it is.
Inevitably, one the meal is over I drop off to sleep immediately. I am just so tired.
Arrival
Oh crap! As we approach Amsterdam the weather starts to deteriorate. In fact, it is so bad that spacing between arriving aircraft has to be increased. And indeed, it really is a very bumpy ride into Amsterdam. By the time we arrive and dock at the terminal it is 16h03 and we are parked at the C dock. My onward flight to Basel departs at 16h20 from the B dock and boarding is expected to close in two minutes. Run Forest, run…!
But I actually make it. Fortunately, the aircraft is parked at the gate and not on a remote stand. Otherwise I doubt it KLM would have left the bus waiting just for me. There has also been an aircraft change, and instead I shall by flying on an Embraer 190 instead of the usual Fokker F 70.
I board the aircraft, take my seat and buckle up. And then I drop off to sleep again. I do not notice us taxiing out or taking off. Nothing. The next time I open my eyes, we are just turning off the runway after our arrival in Basel. It is so good to be home!
knightofmalta 