KLM is giving the Queen of the Skies a reprieve. KLM flies a fleet of 12 Boeing 747-400 Combis. The plan was to fully retire this aircraft type by end of 2020, replacing it with Airbus A350-900s. But KLM is deferring...
Air France Unions May Give New CEO A Chance Before Striking (But Not KLM)
We are still a long way from kumbaya around the campfire, but labor unions at Air France have dialed down the the harsh rhetoric and threats to strike against the new leader. Last week I wrote about the ice cold...
New Air France-KLM CEO Already Has A Target On His Head
Poor Ben Smith has his work cut out for him. The Air Canada President and Chief Operating Officer was named CEO of Air France-KLM today. Already, unions representing Air France are up in arms, threatening strikes and condemning Smith’s...
Air France Profits On The Back Of KLM
The numbers are looking mighty fine for Air France-KLM. The carrier just reported a healthy second quarter profit. But dig deeper and you’ll find a disparity…and a ticking time bomb. With a net profit of 345MN Euros (405MN USD),...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: May 20, 2018
Good evening from LA. For the first time in weeks, it appears I will not set foot on a plane this week. I’m looking forward to it. Honestly. Last week, the Gulf Carriers “kissed and made up” with their...
KLM Increasingly Frustrated With Air France Marriage
While Air France continues to strike and lose money, KLM is growing angrier by the day. Is the marriage in jeopardy? An unnamed source told Bloomberg that KLM is exasperated and is now looking at retooling management structure to...
Smart or Stupid? KLM 747 Lands in Hong Kong in Midst of Typhoon
Early yesterday morning a KLM 747-400 touched down at Hong Kong International Airport in the midst of a fierce typhoon. It would turn out to be the only plane that landed during the storm. Typhoon Hato tore through Hong Kong...
Virgin Atlantic to Join Air France-KLM + Delta Joint Venture
Delta currently has a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic and a separate joint venture with Air France-KLM (and Alitalia). Today, the carriers announced the two JVs would merge into one. China Eastern and Delta also get a seat at...
The King of Holland is a KLM Pilot
As I mentioned in my KLM 787-9 World Business Class trip report from San Francisco to Amsterdam, KLM struck me as a very egalitarian airline. Now I know it is true. The King of Holland is also a KLM...
Stroopwafels: United vs. KLM
Both United Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines serve stroopwafels onboard their flights. The all-important question of the day: which airline has better waffles? A stroopwafel is a “waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: March 4, 2017
Hello from Santa Monica, CA. I dined with some very dear clients who have become friends last night. Not knowing LA traffic, I hedged my bets and left early. Thankfully, traffic moved much better than my GPS suggested and I made...
Review: KLM Crown Lounge Amsterdam
KLM’s flagship Crown Lounge in Amsterdam is the biggest business class lounge I have ever seen. The entrance does not look all that imposing, but walk in and the seating areas stretch as far as the eye can see...
Review: San Francisco to Amsterdam in KLM 787-9 World Business Class
Flying KLM for the first time was already a treat, but flying on KLM’s 787-9 in business class turned me into the child eagerly waiting for Christmas morning. KLM World Business Class Flight Preview Email After checking in online,...
Introduction: Adventures on SkyTeam
I’ve flown most Star Alliance and oneworld carriers, but very few on SkyTeam. When Garuda Indonesia offered 90%-off first class award redemptions, I sensed an opportunity not only to try SkyTeam’s premier first class product, but also sample additional...
I Scored Three Little Houses on KLM!
It’s funny how little things like Rimowa amenity kits or teddy bears on Gulf Air can be so exciting. Perhaps a bit pathetic. But my current kick (much to my wife’s chagrin, I’m sure, in our small house) is miniature Delft...
KLM 787 Dreamliner World Business Impresses
I just stepped off my first ever KLM flight and found it to be a great overall experience. The full SFO-AMS flight review will be published next week, but for now some initial impressions: KLM’s 787-9 Dreamliner features comfortable...
My Awesome Routing to Jakarta for Garuda First Class
I’m enroute to Jakarta for the long-awaited 90%-off first class award redemption on Garuda Indonesia. Although I am very excited to try Gardua First Class, I must admit my routing to Jakarta is giving it a run for the...
Flying Blue Now Lets You Book Award Travel One Year in Advance!
Traditionally, Air France/KLM Flying Blue only allowed award bookings 10 months in advance. Now you can book up to 12 months in advance! I was working on an award to Tel Aviv this morning for an Award Expert client...
My Advice to KLM
Dear KLM, You’ve got a new ad-campaign out called “KLM — It’s An Airline” that seeks to be light-hearted and humorous while introducing your airline to some who think your brand is a tennis shoe or ice cream company. ...
Caution: Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards to Flying Blue
Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France/KLM, has become the latest Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner. This is good news, not only because Flying Blue offers award chart sweet spots and attractive and unique partner redemption options, but...
