mikele

I found a very attractive fare from West Coast U.S.A. to Amsterdam and then from Paris back to U.S. on Northwest in the first two weeks of December.<BR>I'd be taking nonstop KLM flight SFO to AMS (aircraft MD-11). The return would be from Paris to Detroit on a DC-10.<BR><BR>I'm aware that NW is no one's favorite airline, but for a non-picky person, would this routing be so bad? I know that DC-10's and MD-11's are not the newest planes, but they're reliable, I hear.<BR><BR>Any comments based on similar routing, time of year, etc. welcome. Also, I've never gone through customs in Detroit - would my projected layover of 2 hours be O.K.?<BR><BR>Thank you, fellow travelers!

SiD

Since NW & KLM are codesharing partners, maybe you have a KLM flight.<BR><BR>But anyway, even if it's a NW flight, I recommend you eat a BIG meal before you board and take a few Tylenol PM's and sleep through the flight.<BR><BR>I JUSt came back from AMS it's a awesome city!!!

Jim Rosenberg

My guess is that you're flying KLM to Amsterdam and the flight back from Paris will be on Northwest, based on a cursory look at the flight numbers. (Checked the fare, btw, and it IS very good). <BR><BR>Personally, I prefer DC-10s to 747s because of the 2-5-2 seating in coach vs. 3-4-3 (more middle seats). Are you traveling by yourself? Try for seat number 20C or 20F on the DC-10 back from Paris. If you look at the seat maps, you'll see that is a middle row that is last in the section with only 4 seats instead of 5. That gives it a little inset on the ends of the row, which keeps you from being brushed against by beverage carts and passers-by. The seats do recline. The only disadvantage is the fixed armrest units, but that only comes into play if there would be a vacant seat next to you that you might have been able to spread into.<BR><BR>Two hours will cover you for customs and plane change in Detroit. Thing run a lot more smoothly through the new terminal there. You will have to pass through security after customs, but again, it's set up a lot more efficiently than the bad old days of busing you from the customs house, etc.<BR>

mikele

Thank you both very much for sharing your information with me, I really appreciate it.<BR><BR>SiD, what part of Amsterdam did you stay in? Recommend a hotel?<BR><BR>Jim, I've flown through JFK and O'Hare quite a few times in winter. Would Detroit be comparable in terms of probable weather delays, etc.<BR><BR>Thanks again.

Jim Rosenberg

Yes, I think you would find Detroit comparable to Chicago or JFK for weather -- a little less subject to weather delays than Minneapolis at that time of year, but they still happen from time to time. <BR><BR>A couple of hotels I've used in Amsterdam include the Sofitel and (for a more budget-minded choice, but plenty suitable) the Mercure Arthur Frommer. DO stay inside the canal rings, for sure.