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Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject: GLA-AMS-GLA Trip Report

Good to be back and catch up on the news after a week away, didn't the
old firm do well.

Well it was the first time my wife and I had travelled a whole journey
in Business Class so, as I shall be doing a full trip report with
pictures on airliners.net I shall do a wee quickie here on the
GLA-AMS-GLA legs.
We had enough miles accrued in our Flying Blue accounts so as they had
to be used up before they expired we took advantage of an offer to
Cairo in Business Class for the same amount of miles as Economy.

We arrived at GLA just before midday on the 14th of October to be met
with a very busy check-in area and had to hang about for about ten
minutes for the KLM check-in to open I had guessed wrongly which desk
it would be so had to move over to where an already long queue was
formed and as we had Business Class we promptly squeezed past the line
of mystified faces to make our way to the front to the priority desk (I
always wanted to do that).

We were met by a dour blonde bimbo who had left her smile at home that
day, no good afternoon or any form of welcoming at all so my first
impressions of flying business were looking bad.
According to blondie we had checked in already, now I was the one with
the mystified look on my face, I said we hadn't, she said nothing, and
after messing about with her keyboard issued us with boarding cards for
both our flights to AMS and CAI, very little eye contact was
forthcoming from blondie as she forgot or didn't want to tell us to
have a pleasant flight. Not a very good first impression for customers
at GLA I'm afraid.

As we could use the KLM lounge we didn't hang about as the terminal was
packed so after collecting Egyptian pounds ordered from Travelex we
made our way through security without much trouble apart from me having
to take my shoes off, as the guy in front of me hadn't taken his off I
challenged the pleasant security lady who informed me that they do a
50% check which is fair enough.

After showing our boarding cards to the very nice woman at the lounge
desk we took a seat at the end where the drinks and snacks were located
.. I had read bad reports about this lounge but everything looked new so
I am not sure if it has been modernised but for us it was a very
pleasant and relaxing way to pass the time as it was so quiet compared
to the mayhem outside and a bonus was that it looked onto the apron, I
helped myself to a large gin and tonic and some crisps then had a cup
of coffee with some biscuits whilst my wife had some orange juice then
some tea and biscuits.

It was soon time to go to Gate 31 according to the screen.We could not
make our way very quickly as the whole gate area was blocked by
passengers who were either queuing up at the bar or toilets as well as
boarding for various flights, something needs to be done as it was like
exiting a football match and not a pleasant experience.
Eventually we made it unscathed to Gate 31 only to find Emirates was
boarding there and a late Zoom flight was at Gate 32 after enquiring we
found out that boarding would be at 32 then down stairs and a short
walk to the aircraft.
..
They called children and business first and we were once again met by
the blonde bimbo who took our boarding cards, again still without a
smile, she muttered something to me and I just ignored her.
The flight was to be on PH-KZD which is a little F**ker 70 and totally
unsuitable for business travel as you get the same cramped seating as
economy.
The flight was full from front to back which added to the
claustrophobic feeling and one of the toilets was unserviceable.
Thankfully we pushed back bang on time at 2.05 passing a busy looking
EK 777 and lifted off the runway at 2.15pm. The flightdeck informed us
that this was to be a fast flight at 1 hour 15 mins which was music to
my ears. On this flight we got the same food as economy passengers, a
totally inedible soft roll and cheese with some strange cake thing.
The FA was a very pleasant Scottish girl who offered some drinks and I
took a G&T, second drinks were also offered.

It is time that KLM get shot of these F70's as they are old and very
tired looking and if flying Business Class you are getting ripped off,
no way would I pay extra for the pleasure of a cramped seat, on some
airlines at least they block off the middle seat.

21st October.

Our flight from Cairo had arrived into AMS at 7.30am and so we passed
the time in one of the KLM Crown Lounges helping ourselves to the food
and drinks before our flight to GLA at 9.50am.
This flight was to be operated by a 737-400 which was again full to the
brim but with more leg and arm space than the F70 thank God.
A very enjoyable flight even though the two of us had had very little
sleep as the CAI-AMS flight had left at 3.15am, we were given an
adequate breakfast of fruit, yoghurt, cheese and meats, fruit juices
and coffee. The FA was excellent even calling me by name which was a
surprise.
Arrived in to GLA on time and didn't have to wait too long for the
cases although our priority tagged ones were nearer the back of the
belt than the front. On phoning the taxi company they told us we could
only be picked up at car park 3 which was a nuisance, at least it was
dry but will be crazy in the inclement weather ahead.

Summary.
Overall a pleasant experience apart from the blonde bimbo and the
GLA-AMS flight. Thankfully I had not paid hard cash for the flights
otherwise I would have thought differently. On the European routes the
only advantages I see in flying Business Class are the access to the
lounges and priority check-in and certainly would not justify me paying
the difference even if i could afford it. I doubt if many passengers in
Business are actually paying for the tickets out of their own pockets,
anyone who does, need their head examined.

Crawford

PS. Strangely we shall be doing back to back flights in Business Class
as we secured a fantastic fare to Buenos Aires in December flying with
TAM from LHR to EZE via GRU so after so many years in Economy things
are looking up.

John Dundas · Guest

<hiddelston (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message
news:1161531232.733670.34370 (AT) i42g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Iain · Guest

<hiddelston (AT) yahoo (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message
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Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: GLA-AMS-GLA Trip Report

Iain wrote:

Spod · Guest

">> The flight was to be on PH-KZD which is a little F**ker 70 and totally

Andrew Scotland · Guest

taxiwayalpha (AT) hotmail (DOT) co.uk wrote:

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: GLA-AMS-GLA Trip Report

Andrew Scotland wrote:

Danny · Guest

taxiwayal...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:

Iain · Guest

"Spod" <a (AT) bc (DOT) biz> wrote in message news:M8idnWLfeOr9MabYRVnysg (AT) pipex (DOT) net...

B · Guest

On Oct 22, 6:38 pm, "Andrew Scotland" <and...@aol.com> wrote:

Danny · Guest

B wrote:

Iain · Guest

<taxiwayalpha (AT) hotmail (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message
news:1161537596.951015.96770 (AT) f16g2000cwb (DOT) googlegroups.com...

B · Guest

On Oct 22, 6:53 pm, "Iain" <iain1...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

Danny · Guest

Iain wrote:

Danny · Guest

B wrote: