Underhill

I'm looking at flights from IAD to Vienne at KLM, but the information says "Northwest Airlines operated by KLM." What does that signify? Anything to be concerned about? And how is business class there?

Thanks for any responses.

sandi

You might fly a NW flight number but KLM equipment, where you'll connect to an ongoing KLM plane to VIE. NW and KLM are partners/code sharers with miles accrued on one or the other.

Except for one unexpected upgrade to KLM Business, which was fine, I can't comment otherwise - I'm a "steerage" flyer and do just fine in the back of the plane.

I fly NW/KLM often between JFK and/or EWR (via AMS) to Africa. It's a silver bullet that takes off and lands - I have a drink, eat dinner and then off to sleep - that's all I consider important.

Patty

As sandi said, it just means it's a codeshare flight, sold as a NW flight but operated by KLM, so in other words you'll be flying on KLM equipment. Nothing to be too concerned about.

I flew AMS to Nairobi so probably different equipment than you'll be flying across the Atlantic (I was on their MD11) and found the seats, though not fully flat, very comfortable to sleep in with good seat pitch. I thought the food and service were very good too. A step above my AF experience with the exception of the KLM crown lounges in AMS which have horrible coffee and snacks

Patty

BTW have you thought about where you'll put the miles for this trip or even if that's a deciding factor? It'll be approx. 13000 miles roundtrip(including the usual 50% class of service bonus for business).

Underhill

I just signed up for the NW frequent-flyer program, since KLM wouldn't let me enroll in the Flying Dutchman (great name!). That means I can use miles for Air France when we fly between Paris and Nice--very useful.

sandi

Patty - amazing how we keep bumping into one another.

Underhill - what is a Francophile doing heading to Vienna?

On our upcoming trip to Africa, we're flying KLM-777 JFK/AMS, then a KLM767 AMS/JRO; KLM-777 NBO/AMS, then KLM-777 AMS/EWR. KLM-777s configure 3-3-3 in coach.

rkkwan

KL put 2-3-2 WBC seating on their 777, so they are probably narrower than NW's 330 and CO's 777. But if you're on a 747, then you can be either upstairs or at the nose - both nice areas.

Jed

A few years ago we had business class seats, bought through NWA, from Newark to Amsterdam. Of course, it was a codeshare, and we knew that we would be flying on a KLM plane. It was fine. Don't worry, be happy.

BTW, if you are going on a 747, we feel that the upstairs seats are better.

Underhill

sandi,

This Francophile is heading to Vienna to take a GCT cruise along the Danube to Nuremberg, stopping at various towns and Christmas markets.

Underhill

I love 747s but haven't been able to fly on one in years, as AA uses 767s to Europe, with an occasional 777 on a flight that doesn't work for us.

Patty

IAD-AMS shows a A330-200 for December. This will be a new aircraft for KL and if things go according to schedule, it looks like you'll be on a brand new plane. Can anybody locate a seat map? This is all I could find -

"The first Airbus A330-200 will be delivered to KLM in Toulouse in August 2005. The last is expected to join the fleet in December 2006. KLM’s A330-200s will be configured to carry 251 passengers; 30 in World Business Class and 221 in Economy Class. "

I'm guessing it will be 5 rows of 2/2/2 seating in business.

And it looks like I'll be on a 777 on the AMS-NBO route in November (if I'm successful in getting seats with my miles).

I almost gave away those little delft houses we got from KLM to some kids until I realized there was booze in them!

Underhill

The new plane sounds interesting; think I'll call KLM and see if they have information for my dates.

I still have two of the little Delft tiles from our one flight on KLM many years ago, and I treasure them. But I don't think our have anything hidden inside them, alas.

rkkwan

NW's A332 seats 32/211 with a 32" pitch in coach. KLM's probably have a 31", like all their other longhaul planes.

sandi

Patty -

I just check my hidden storage area where I keep extra trip sourvenirs - sure enough I have six of those Delft houses. Now I know why I was saving them. Thanks for the heads-up (or is that bottles up?)