First Timer Flying with KLM
It was
almost midnight in Jakarta when she ordered so that I google here and there and
found out that KLM was on special offer that would end just for another one
day. I searched for the date while she did the same in Rome. We kept
communicating thru whatsapp. When the date was fixed, the problem was that my
credit card was not sufficient for buying 3 tickets that cost us $ 2721.
The next
day I went to KLM office in Summitmas Jakarta with such different design
compared to other airlines’ offices that made me wondered. Anyhow, the assistance was great. The woman was helpful specially when this $ 21 need to
be paid in cash or bank transfer.
Less than
two weeks later, I was in the plane flying from Jakarta to Amsterdam then
Amsterdam to Rome with 9 hours transit time (yeah, for any less than 9 hours
transit time, we had to pay more)! It was not a big matter since our last visit
there was 19 years ago,lol.
Jakarta –
Amsterdam
It is a
1 stop flight in Kuala Lumpur where we have to disembark for refueling, cleaning
and catering. Good news is that we can just leave our luggage in the overhead
compartment.
It takes
12 hours from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam. Geez. This is totally hard. It was
tiring. I who mostly slept, felt that i had slept more than enough. The flight
serves 2 hot meals during this 12 hours where in between snacks are available
in the galley.
The snacks
are varieties of Dutch’s products from biscuit, candy, and chips (as I
remembered). Taking those snacks meant it was time for me to stand up and
having chit chat with the flight attendants to kill my time from being bored.
It was a
night flight even after we reached Amsterdam around 6 am. So, it was time for us as Muslims to pray. As i have read
before, there is a meditation room in Schiphol but really , I am not good in
remembering places. So i asked a KLM ground staff for its location and if it is
open. Anyway, those KLM’s ground staff roaming around in the airport are such a
big help. They are mostly kind and helpful.
We exited
through gate E and this meditation room is in the gate F. It is just nearby and
it is open. Many Muslims performed their fajr praying there. The ablution area
is in the toilet downstairs. It is not a special place for ablution but it is ok
since we are not in the Islamic countries.
Meditation
room is a place for any religions to have quite some times if they want to
perform their ritual. There are mattress for Muslims who pray, books of any religions
and priest on duty during working hours. The place is big enough with some
chairs and tables. It is a neat and clean room.
Then
after the sun showed up, we roamed around Amsterdam central for few hours before
continuing our flight to Rome with Alitalia. Since this trip was considered as
domestic (yes, the passport was stamped only when we exited in Amsterdam), it
was only security control we need to pass.
I found
out that there was no meditation room within this C gate. Yeah, it was another
praying time for Muslims. If i want to pray, I had to go to gate F and meaning
is we had to go through the passport control and it was kind of impossible for
them to let us in just for praying reason – told the KLM’s ground staff.
Yeah,
this is Europe! But Schiphol is a big hub! This small thing should be
considered to spare a small room (even it is only tiny) so that Muslims can
easily pray in an easily reach area. Well, at the end, we prayed sitting
overlook the ramp with the crowd of people around.
Rome –
Jakarta
Lucky
enough, there was this choice of KLM from Rome to Amsterdam. I am not gonna
compare Alitalia to KLM – Europeans know well how their airline is,J
So, it
is a 2 hour flight with sandwich served first then stroopwafel. Yeah!!! I love
stroopwafel. The sandwich was with vegetable and sandwich is sandwich. Hehe.
Another 5
hours transit time in Amsterdam but it was not a big deal. Schiphol is too huge
to explore. You can find everything here. My advise is go to HEMA store for buying anything. They have
lots of biscuits’ types and also stroopwafel with such reasonable price and
great taste!
The flight
to Jakarta is also with transit in Kuala Lumpur. It is just almost the same
with the flight taking me to Amsterdam.
On ground
With 1
luggage of 23kg maximum is kind of difficult for me. But hey, it is the airline
policy. I wish they change it to 2-3 luggage , if possible (you know, woman
would never have enough things!).
Service on board
Hot/cold
towels each time before the meal service
Ear phone
Drink services
before the first hot meal
Duty free
goods
Staff
Flight attendants
and ground staffs are mostly kind and helpful.
No complaints about them.
Flight
Entertainment
system is just okay. I mostly sleep during short or long flight.
No USB connector
Seat (the regular one) is also okay. I am just happy with the width and space for my leg
I wish
there is this kit with socks or anything to remind me of KLM
Food
There are
no more choices if you are served last.
Catering
from Kuala Lumpur is better than from Amsterdam in term of taste
Perhaps,
desserts of something represents Holland is better. I could say desserts from
Kuala Lumpur and Amsterdam are quite disappointing
Flow of
service is kind of confusing. I don’t know if the aircraft type was the same
from CGK-AMS and AMS-CGK but i just remembered that the flow of service was
different.
How would i recommend KLM?
I’d
strongly recommend in term when there is special offer. There are lots of rooms
for improvement for the airline itself. I truly happy with the humbleness of
each people working under KLM’s flag. Way to go and looking forward to flying
with KLM in the future. Danke Well...
Yunika Umar
2 Oct 2014 KLM 810 CGK
– AMS
29 Oct 2014 KLM 1602 FCO
– AMS
29 Oct 2014 KLM 809 AMS
- CGK
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| Just after landing in Schiphol Airport |
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| My first meal from AMS - KUL |
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| Parents' first meal from AMS - KUL |
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| Breakfast from AMS - KUL |
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