Jean-Noël Rault tests out the Economy Comfort seats
You can control the windows to make them as dark or as bright as you wish
KL’s safety video cleverly incorporates images using Holland’s famed Delft china
There’s something very odd about going to an airport without a ticket or any luggage. But it’s all worthwhile when it’s for an update from the folks at KLM (who also provided a taste of their cool new airside lounge).
Some 40 industry types including retailers, wholesalers and consolidators were all part of a group to get the update on the carrier’s new routes, an overview of how you can creatively kill time at AMS, and best of all tour the elegant new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of 6 in KL’s fleet.
“This 787 represents a new generation of customer experience,” Jean-Noël Rault, V.P. and G.M. for Air France/KLM in Canada told us. The dazzling new aircraft accommodates 294 pax: 216 Y (where the seatbacks now recline 40% further); 48 Comfort (Y-plus, with an additional 4” of legroom) as well as 30 Biz class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and featuring 16” entertainment screens.
Very cool are the 19 levels of in-cabin lighting plus the passenger-controlled dimming switch on the windows which replaces the rigid plastic blind.
The aircraft has been serving the YYZ-AMS route since 04JUL, and will commence YYC-AMS service 28OCT. Onboard WiFi is available to all pax for a fee of €9.95 for 40 MB and €19.95 for 120.
Matching the shiny new plane is the elegant airside lounge, which reopened 23MAR after complete renovations. Available to KL, AF and AZ business class pax and Elite Flying Blue members even if they are travelling in Y, or to any domestic or international (but not transborder) traveller for a fee of $40, the lounge accommodates 165 pax in comfy seats – many featuring a ring-side view of the tarmac – and work stations. A range of hot and cold foods, snacks such as fruit and cheese plus wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are all included.
In other KLM news, the carrier has added 8 new routes including Amsterdam to Valencia, Genoa, Ibiza, Kazakhstan and Colombo.
A smiling Evelyn An greets pax at the Lounge
