seattlepilot

I am planning on taking them over the pond and want to find out if you had a great / bad experience at all ? I know DL treasts non revs like royalty but want to find out if KLM is the same or not.

Thanks

velosnow

Trying to get out of ATH tomorrow and might try the Dutch up to AMS. Will let you know how it is if we do. Although might not be the best comparison to long haul service.

howzitchina

Easy and accommodating. But will only upgrade if economy is 100% full. (I travel AMS-JNB often)

mike734

Lol thank you for asking. I get to tell my favorite non-rev story.

In the summer of 2005 my wife and I and our three kids, aged 9, 8 and 4 were traveling back to the USA on Northwest Nonrev passes. At the time those passes were only good on NW. KLM had a different pass, I think they were ID 90s or something. Anyway, they were trying to get from AMS-SFO. I was going to SEA. I tried to see them off at several gates on NW flight through Detroit and Mini, all full. The KLM agent asked us why we didn't try to take the KLM nonstop 747? I showed her the passes and said, "that's why." She was undetered. "Follow me" she said. So we did.

Even though the 747 was full she worked the computer trying to find us seats. It was after departure time and security (done at the gate) was gone. She said she was sorry but the plane was full. Just then the captain came out the jetway door and walked over to us. "Are you the Alaska guy trying to get to SFO?" I said I was, or at least my family was. He looked us over and asked if my kids could keep quiet. "Of course!" I said. He took them down the jetway as I waived goodbye. All the CSA could do is mutter, "This is highly irregular!" I waited until the jet pushed and found my plane home to SEA.

When I got home I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Turns out there were still 4 seats available. The captain sat my wife and daughter in the center galley jumpseats and took my 9 and 4 year old sons up to the flight deck. After a short tour he put them in the sleep closet behind the flight deck until after takeoff. They spent the rest of the flight in the center galley with the wife and daughter. Pretty freaking cool captain.

The moral of the story, anything can happen. KLM captains have a little more authority than we do. I shouldn't have been surprised. I flew some KLM flights as a contract captain 14 years earlier. I was treated like gold when working KLM flights.

I might suggest you bring along a small box of fine chocolate or something like that and give it to the cabin purser. She will like that and you might find yourself upgraded just prior to or just after take off.

Good luck.

LostInPA

Coworkers have all had good experiences on KL, but I have yet to take them (always have bought their ZED as a backup). In AMS, KL agents work the DL flights and I have had good experiences with them there as well.

My experiences in Europe (mostly with LH) is that agents always enforce carry on baggage size and weight rules. Just make sure whatever you're bringing with you actually fits their policy.

savall

I can't speak for LH, but have never had that issue of carryon with BA, KLM, or AFR.

seattlepilot

Thanks for all the good responses.
I had the same experience with the LH agent in SEA. I had my Purty Neat RON bag which weights more than 8 kilos empty! I was connecting in FRA with 4 Lufthansa totebags..

My company got rid of all the ZEDs except few. I wish i could buy ZEDs on Turkish again

Thedude

And some of their agents also try to enforce "their" rules on US carrier flights too.