I arrived in Dulles at 4:20PM on my Air France flight which left me with over six hours until my flight home to Indianapolis was scheduled to depart. Since this was booked on a separate ticket, I intentionally scheduled a very long layover to ensure no complications.
It took just five minutes for me to get through Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) thanks to Global Entry. I quickly cleared security again thanks to TSA PreCheck. Within 30 minutes of landing, I was already back airside heading towards the United Club.
The United Club in the C Concourse was located a floor below the main terminal level. There was no natural light within the lounge but it was really well-lit. The main seating area featured a few sofas and dining tables. In the back was a bar area with a variety of complimentary alcoholic beverages.
There was also an area with high tables, stools, and more sofas.
In the corner of the lounge was a business area with individual desks.
Food options included chips with salsa, cookies, rice crispies, and fruit. There was also a salad bar, cheese cubes, and various cold sandwiches.
Hot options included meatballs with sub rolls. There was also a variety of crackers.
Drink choices included a Coke Mix machine, flavored water, and a coffee machine
After spending a few hours in the United Club business area working, I headed to the gate with 20 minutes until boarding was scheduled to begin. It began promptly at 9:51PM.
Our aircraft was an E175, registration N746YX, that was delivered brand new to Republic Airways in 2017. She was operated by Republic Airways on behalf of United Express.
The Flight
United Airlines offers a total of 12 domestic first and 64 economy seats on board their E175 operated by Republic Airways. Of the 64 economy seats, 16 were marked as EconomyPlus. The economy cabin was arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
I was seated in 8D in the second EconomyPlus row. Each seat was 18 inches wide and had 34 inches of pitch. Recline was advertised at three inches.
I found the EconomyPlus seats very comfortable. The seat was well padded with an ample amount of shoulder room.
The seatback featured a basic tray table, a literature pocket, and a small pouch. Unfortunately, there was no in-seat power in the economy cabin.
We pushed back at 10:13PM but had a fairly long taxi to the runway. After waiting for three aircraft ahead of us to take off, it was our turn at 10:29PM.
The moment we reached cruising altitude I promptly fell asleep given the long travel day I had had. There was a drink and snack service that flight attendants offered but I missed it. I woke up as we were on our final approach to IND.
We landed at 11:43PM and then arrived at the gate five minutes later. Thanks for the ride!
I found this regional United Express flight perfect for its comfort and length. I really enjoy the wider seats on the E175s compared to mainline aircraft which are in a 3-3 configuration rather than a 2-2 configuration. The extra legroom for EconomyPlus was definitely appreciated and allowed me to comfortably nap the entire flight.
Route: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)-Washington Dulles (IAD)
Distance: 3,937miles
Duration: 7hrs 59min
Departure: 2:20PM
Arrival: 4:20PM
After landing at CDG in Terminal 2F on my previous flight from Stockholm, I had to leave the Schengen zone through the passport check to get to Terminal 2E. There was a tremendous amount of passengers in a mass of poorly organized lines to get up to the border agents. In total, it took me over fifty minutes to get from my arrival gate to the Air France lounge.
The lounge in Terminal 2E was recently renovated and the entrance featured a nice champagne-styled logo.
The lounge itself was mostly one large rectangular room. There was a variety of comfortable sofas, couches, and tables available. Unfortunately, the lounge did not have any views of the apron but rather faced the road.
At one end of the lounge was a dining area with a bar and two buffet stations.
Breakfast options included a large number of pastries, bread, and gluten-free bread. Hot options included scrambled eggs, bacon, as well as sausage.
There was also an assortment of yogurt, fresh fruit, smoothies, and cold cuts with cheese.
Sweet options included brownies, muffins, and crepes.
There was also a respectable alcohol selection which included medium-shelf liquor as well as two white and two red wines.
Coffee was available from espresso machines.
The middle of the lounge was a stylish seating area with velvet-clad booths arrayed around a central marble table.
The marble table had a selection of boxed cookies along with additional wines.
To the left of the velvet booths was another small buffet area. The offerings were similar to the main dining area ones.
Additional sofas, couches, and tables were arranged on the far side of the lounge.
Behind the main lounge area was a hallway that led to the showers and other lounge amenities.
This lounge featured a complimentary Clarins Spa.
There was a sign-up seat directly outside of the spa with slots every 30 minutes. Luckily, with my long layover, I was able to score a slot two hours after my arrival into my lounge.
The complimentary spa treatment for men was a facial with hand massage which I enjoyed. At the end of the treatment, I was given a complimentary moisture balm.
Next to the spa was a quiet area with a few curtained rooms with recliners.
There were also excellent showers available in the lounge. The shower featured a rain shower head and the water pressure was fantastic. Amenities in the shower included towels, a toothbrush, as well as Clarins branded shampoo, and shower gel.
There was also a small beverage area and dining table.
At 11:00AM, lunch was brought out. Hot options included beef pasta, roasted pork, and roasted veggies.
There was also a more extensive dessert and sweet selection.
Additional lunch options included carrot soup and sandwiches.
The dining area in the middle also featured a small salad bar.
I left the lounge with 30 minutes until the scheduled boarding time of 12:50PM to walk around the terminal and get a nice view of our aircraft. The B777-300ER taking us to Washington Dulles, registration F-GSQI, was an 18-year-old aircraft that was delivered brand new to Air France in 2005.
While our scheduled departure time was supposed to be 1:45PM, it was pushed back to 2:00PM without any clear explanations. Boarding began at 1:00PM with separate lines for business and economy passengers opening at once.
The Flight
Air France has a total of four different B77W configurations in their fleet. 19 of their B777-300ERs (including this aircraft) have four La Premier seats, 58 business, 28 premium economy, and 206 economy seats. This configuration is the Air France flagship and flies the highest-yield routes from Paris.
The front of the aircraft features four La Premier first-class seats separated from the business-class cabin by a wall. A small business class cabin of 24 seats is directly behind first class. A larger business-class cabin of 34 seats is behind the second set of doors.
The Safran Cirrus II reverse herringbone seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with each seat offering direct aisle access. I was seated in 6A, the last row in the small business cabin. Since I was in the last row of the cabin, I had an ample amount of privacy despite the lack of doors on the seat.
Each seat was 20 inches wide. When fully reclined, the seat was six feet and seven inches long.
Directly in front was a 16-inch HD touchscreen that folded outwards. There was also a built-in coat hook to the right of the screen.
Below the inflight entertainment screen was the footwell. I find the Cirrus seats to have the largest footwells of reverse herringbone seats. Underneath the cushion was a small storage space perfect for shoes.
On the left of the footwell was a literature pocket with a dedicated bottle holder.
In-seat power included a USB port as well as a 110V outlet.
Each seat also had a large countertop space with a built-in cup holder.
Seat controls were rudimentary.
A retractable bi-fold table was located beneath the countertop. It was sturdy and large when fully expanded.
Each seat also had a large storage bin where the headphones and amenity kit were placed. There was also a built-in mirror on the door.
The inflight entertainment control was stowed next to the storage bin. Above that was a small retractable reading light.
I always appreciate it when the IFE remote can double as a second screen. I was able to keep the IFE map loaded on it while I watched movies throughout the flight on the main screen.
The seat itself was fairly comfortable with comfortable padding. The four-way adjustable headrest was also well-padded. Awaiting each passenger at the seat was also a clothes hook, pillow, and blanket.
The Air France branded noise-cancelling headphones were OK. Not the best but also not the worst.
A small Evian water bottle was also provided.
The business class amenity kit was fairly basic. Contents included socks, an eye mask, a toothbrush, toothpaste, ear plugs, a pen, and Clarins branded lotion and moisturizer.
I found the pillow to be very comfortable. The blanket was dense and warm.
Forty minutes after boarding, flight attendants came through the cabin to offer a pre-departure beverage. Options included water, orange juice, or champagne.
The menu was handed out a few minutes later.
Flight attendants also passed out a hot towel.
We pushed back twenty minutes late at 2:05PM. As we taxied to the runway, I enjoyed the forward-facing external camera that Air France installed.
We took off from runway 26L at 2:19PM.
Service began quickly with a beverage service thirty minutes after takeoff. I went with a glass of the excellent Pommery Brut Royal champagne. It was served with a box of salted crackers.
The first course was served 25 minutes later. There was a basic salad, shrimp tartare with mango, as well as a pea cream with lemon. I found the shrimp and pea dishes very tasty. A warmed bread basket was also offered.
For my main course, I had the pollock with lovage sauce served over a bed of spinach and fennel compote. This was phenomenal, by far the best fish dish I have been served on any aircraft.
After the main course, flight attendants offered a cheese course with three delicious slices of goat cheese (crottin de chavignol), blue cheese (fourme d’Ambert), and Cantal cheese. Another round of bread again.
For dessert, there was a trio of small cakes including a vanilla cream puff, opera cake, and cherry tart. All three were fantastic. Throughout the four courses, flight attendants made numerous passes throughout the cabin offering additional drinks and topping off my champagne. In total, the meal service took 90 minutes.
Flight attendants also set up a small snack and beverage station between the two business class cabins halfway through the flight.
There were a total of three lavatories available for business passengers in between the two cabins. Amenities included Clarins branded lotion and freshener.
After the delicious meal, I set up the bed and tried to fit a nap in. Unfortunately, Air France does not provide a comforter but regardless, the seat was still comfortable to lay in.
I could easily fit my size 11 feet into the footwell. It was perfect for both side-sleeping as well as sleeping supine.
I was able to nap for about two hours before waking up. Once up, I watched a few movies including a sad romannce called All My Life.
Ninety minutes prior to arrival in Dulles, a snack was served. The single option was a cold croissant sandwich with smoked salmon over coleslaw. The two sides were blueberry yogurt with a vanilla cream puff. While I was disappointed no hot food was served, the dishes were tasty nevertheless.
At the completion of the second meal service, another hot towel was provided.
The cabin was prepped for landing forty minutes prior to landing. On our approach, we had great views of the surrounding suburbs of Maryland and Virginia.
We touched down at 4:20PM local time, just five minutes after our originally scheduled arrival time.
The taxi to gate A20 took just six minutes. Thanks for the ride!
I found the Air France business class experience to be one of the best for crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The food was phenomenal, the service efficient, and the seat comfortable. I would definitely choose Air France over other carriers if available.
Route: Stockholm Arlanda (ARN)-Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Distance: 1,009miles
Duration: 2hrs 38min
Departure: 6:15AM
Arrival: 8:53AM
The Preflight
After a wonderful week in Sweden with my father, it was time for me to fly back home to Indianapolis. My journey started at 4AM in the morning when I took the first Arlanda Express train ride from Central Station to Terminal 2 at ARN. The check-in area was busy. When I arrived, the Sky Priority lane was being used to check in a very large tour group forcing me to wait 15 minutes before I was able to get my boarding pass.
Air France partners with the airport to give passengers access to the Fast Track security lane. I was through security in about five minutes. Unfortunately, given the early hour, no lounges were open. The one lounge in the terminal, The Aurora Lounge, opens at 8:30AM. Boarding began at 5:27AM with business and elite members invited to board first.
Our A319, registration F-GRXK, was delivered to Air France in March 2003 making her almost 17 years old.
The Flight
As standard with European carriers, Air France offers a 3-3 business class configuration with blocked middle seats. While business class could have a maximum of 40 passengers (up to row 10), today’s flight was just two rows. I was seated in seat 2A.
Air France features B/E Aerospace Spectrum seats on their A319s. I did appreciate the well-padded leather seats. There was also a four-way adjustable headrest. Each seat was 18″ wide with an armrest that had a USB port built-in. The seat recline was about three inches.
Air France did have a below-average 29″ of pitch upfront on their aircraft. Most other European carriers offer 30″ of pitch in the first few rows on Airbus aircraft. I definitely felt how tight the legroom was. The seatback had a coat hook, tray table, as well as a flip-out cup holder.
The tray table was very generic. Again, I found the legroom to be very very tight.
Upon boarding, our fantastic purser for the flight came by to pass out bottles of water as well as a refreshing towel. I appreciated this small gesture of a pre-departure beverage as many other European carriers do not offer anything while at the gate.
Boarding took 31 minutes and at 5:58AM the doors were closed. We pushed back seven minutes later for an on-time departure at 6:05AM. The taxi to the runway took 10 minutes.
Thirty-five minutes after takeoff, breakfast was served. It was extremely carb-heavy with a cold bread roll, three cold sandwiches, two pancakes, and a croissant. There was a side of fruit as well. Breakfast was definitely light on protein.
I decided to have a screwdriver with the meal. Throughout the flight, our purser ensured that my glass was never empty.
An hour after breakfast was served our purser passed out a small chocolate and cookie box.
We began our descent into Charles-de-Gualle at 8:09AM but due to rain storms in the Paris area, we were forced into a holding pattern.
After 30 minutes of flying in a holding pattern, we received clearance to land. We landed at 8:53AM just three minutes later than scheduled.
On our way to Terminal 2F, we passed by the Air France Concorde on display.
After spending the night in Kiruna with a trip up to Abisko National Park to view the Northern Lights, it was time for my father and me to fly back to Stockholm. We arrived at 12:20PM in the afternoon two hours prior to departure.
The terminal was one long rectangular building with a small check-in area.
Security did not open until 90 min prior to the scheduled departure time. Airside, there were two gates and one long room with a variety of chairs and tables. There was also a small cafe with food, drinks, and souvenirs.
Boarding began at 1:37PM and Plus passengers were invited to board first. We had a great view of the aircraft in the Arctic sun as we climbed the air stairs. Our aircraft, an A320neo with registration SE-ROR, was delivered brand new to SAS in July 2019. It was named Gandalff Viking.
The Flight
SAS does not offer a true business-class product on their intra-European flights. Instead, they offer a “Plus” cabin onboard their short-haul aircraft. The key difference between “Plus” and other European business-class products is that the middle seat is not blocked. The first eight rows on the A320neo are designated Plus seats while the remainder of the cabin is called “Go”. SAS offers a total of 180 seats onboard their A320neos arranged in a 3-3 configuration.
Each Recaro BL3520 slimline seat had 30″ of pitch in the first 10 rows. The seats were 17.7″ wide. Special seat features included a USB port and a built-in coat hook on the side of the seatback.
Beneath the literature pocket was a simple tray table with two cup holders and a storage pouch. Of note, the middle seat legroom was restricted due to a large box.
At 1:59PM the boarding doors were closed. Ten minutes later we began our taxi to runway 21.
We took off at 2:11PM with a stunning view of Kiruna and Northern Sweden.
One benefit of SAS Plus tickets is the access to free WiFi onboard. WiFi was fast and easy to connect to. In addition, passengers in the Plus cabin are provided a cold snack as well as free drinks.
The cold snack was served 40 minutes after takeoff. It was a Greek-style filo wrap with spinach. Drink options included either beer, red wine, soda, coffee, or tea. Hard liquor was not offered on intra-Scandinavian flights.
The forward lavatory was reserved for Plus passengers. It was basic without any clear unique features.
At 3:16PM, we began our initial descent into Stockholm. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon which gave us great views of the countryside.
We touched down at 3:30PM on time.
The taxi to gate 43 took just six minutes. Thanks for the ride!
I found the SAS Plus experience entirely unremarkable. While they do not specifically call Plus a “business” class product, the additional extras did not justify the additional supplement over the Go price.
We left central Stockholm onboard the Arlanda Express and arrived at Terminal 5 in Arlanda two hours prior to our scheduled boarding time. Check-in was quick with no line. Thanks to our American Express Platinum Cards, we had access to the Fast Track lane. There was a single line so it took about 15 minutes to get through security.
We made our way to the SAS Lounge located on the second floor of Terminal 5. The lounge was split between the Star Alliance Gold Lounge and the business class lounge. Thanks to our United Platinum Premier status we had access to the SAS Gold side of the lounge.
There was a variety of sofas and chairs along the windows with views of the apron.
Further inside the lounge were additional seats along with working tables.
There was the main dining area with a buffet and communal tables.
Breakfast was on offer when we arrived. Options included the standard European cold cuts, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs. There was also yogurt, oatmeal, and bread.
Drink options included beer, wine, soda, water on tap, orange juice, and a coffee machine.
While we were in the lounge, breakfast was switched to lunch around 10:30. The hot oatmeal was switched to chicken soup. Nachos were brought out. A variety of fresh salads were also offered along with a salmon salad and couscous.
Additional alcoholic drinks were also made available.
Boarding was scheduled to begin at 11:30 and we headed to the gate 10 minutes early.
Our A320neo, registration SE-ROD, was leased from SMBC Aviation Capital. She was delivered brand new to SAS in July 2017. SAS currently has a total of 36 A320neos in their fleet.
Boarding started at 11:43AM and was quick. The flight was less than 20% full today.
The Flight
SAS offers a total of 180 seats onboard their A320neos arranged in a 3-3 configuration. The first eight rows can be designated as SAS Plus which is their business class offering. A small placard divides the two cabins.
I was seated in 9A, in the row just behind the Plus cabin. My father was one row behind me in 10A. SAS went with the Recaro BL3520 slimline seats for their A320s. Each seat was 17.7″ wide and the first ten rows had 30 inches of pitch. After the exit-rows (11 and 12), the pitch decreased to 29″ in rows 14-29 and then 28″ in the last two rows.
Each seat had a dedicated USB-A socket, a simple tray table, and a literature pocket. Below the literature pocket was a small pouch. The window seat legroom was not restricted by a box.
Within four minutes of boarding, the doors were closed and we pushed back at 11:54AM. The taxi to runway 19R was quick and we took off at 12:03PM. The climb out was smooth and soon we were above the clouds.
Passengers in the economy cabin can purchase food and drinks from the buy-on-board menu. Coffee and tea are complimentary. Service was quick and efficient.
For the rest of the flight we had intermittent views of the Swedish countryside through the clouds.
At 1:13PM we began our descent into Kiruna. The initial approach gave us a birds-eye view of the small town and the world’s largest iron mine.
We landed at 1:23PM, seven minutes ahead of schedule, and then pulled up to two airbridges four minutes later.
Thanks for the ride!
SAS offers a reasonable economy-class experience for domestic Swedish flights. I appreciated the USB power and complimentary coffee onboard.
After landing in Amsterdam on our connecting flight from Chicago, my dad and I had a two-hour layover. We made our way from the F gates to the Schengen part of the airport and entered the European Union. The Schengen Crown Lounge 25 was located on the upper level of the departures terminal. Upon entering, there was a circular buffet area with a variety of dining tables and sofas.
On the other side of the lounge were some high tables and stools.
There were glass windows overlooking the departures terminal with sofas.
Behind the main buffet area was a bar area with self-serve alcohol. At each end of the lounge were a few self-serve coffee machines and water.
For breakfast, there was a variety of cold and hot foods available. Cold options included yogurt, fresh fruit, cold cuts, and cheese slices. Hot options included scrambled eggs, beans, tomatoes, sausages, mushrooms, soup, and pancakes. There was also a variety of bakery items.
At 8:20AM, we headed toward gate D66 where our flight to Stockholm was departing. Our B737-700, registration PH-BGK, was delivered brand new to KLM in June 2010. She briefly flew for Transavia for two months in 2010 before being transferred back to KLM in September 2010.
Boarding began at 8:18AM.
The Flight
KLM offers a total of 142 seats onboard their B737-700s arranged in a 3-3 configuration. Business class is the standard European arrangement with a blocked middle seat. The first seven rows of the aircraft can be designated business class with an adjustable cabin curtain. Today, business class extended to just row four. These seats were likely unrefurbished from the early 2010s as the armrests still had the audio channel guide.
The seats themselves were definitely showing their age and felt very worn down. Each business class seat had 33 inches of pitch which is more generous than other European airlines (where the industry standard is 30 inches).
There was a simple bi-fold tray table with two cupholders.
The leg room was restricted due to the presence of 110V outlets.
Upon boarding, each passenger was given a wet wipe.
We took off from runway 24 seven minutes after pushback at 8:47AM. On the climb out, we had a nice view of AMS.
Fifteen minutes after takeoff, breakfast was served. KLM offers boxed meals on their intra-European flights.
Breakfast was very healthy and I appreciated the presentation of the box itself. There was a fruit salad, yogurt, granola, smoked salmon, and egg salad. Hot bread (white or whole grain) was also provided. Crew members also served carrot juice. Coffee or tea was also provided.
As we neared Stockholm, I went to use the forward business class lavatory. It was stocked with Rituals branded soap.
We began our descent into ARN twenty minutes out flying over the idyllic Swedish countryside.
We landed at 10:31 at ARN and had a nine-minute taxi to gate 65 in Terminal 2. Thanks for the ride!
I found KLMs Europe Business class perfectly adequate. The lounge was nice, food was fresh, and seat pitch more generous than other European airlines.
Route: Chicago O’Hare (ORD)-Amsterdam Schipol (AMS)
Distance: 4,244miles
Duration: 7hrs 8min
Departure: 4:21PM
Arrival: 6:29AM (+1)
The Preflight
After getting off my positioning flight from Indianapolis, I spent some time at the United F Club waiting for my father to arrive from San Diego. Once his flight landed, I collected him and we both made our way to Terminal 5 where KLM and Air France depart from.
Check-in was quick and thanks to TSA PreCheck we skipped the massive TSA line. We spent just five minutes in line before getting airside.
KLM and many other airlines use the terrible Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5. There used to be an Air France/KLM lounge which was demolished during the Terminal 5 renovations. This particular lounge is one of the worst in the world.
The lounge consisted of a single L-shaped room with barren white walls, a few chairs, tables, and a small buffet. I found a total of two outlets in the wall but otherwise, there were no outlets or USB ports. All five of our devices (two laptops, two phones, and my tablet) could not connect to the WiFi. The lounge got crowded quickly so a few passengers resorted to sitting on the floor.
The food options were terrible and included chips, Nature Valley bars, cookies, oatmeal, muffins, and fruit. I appreciated the medium-shelf hard liquor. There was also a self-serve coffee machine and a variety of cold packaged sandwiches, salads, and other snacks.
We quickly left the depressing Swissport lounge and spent the remainder of our time before the flight in the nice and airy renovated T5 gate area. We had a slightly obstructed view of the KLM 100-year-livery B787-10, registration PH-BKA, behind tinted windows. She was delivered to KLM brand new in June 2019.
Boarding began at 3:25 PM.
The Flight
KLM offers a total of 38 business class seats onboard their B787-10s in a single cabin between the first and second set of doors. They are currently retrofitting their entire fleet of B787-10s to include 28 Premium Economy seats by removing 54 economy seats in the rear of the cabin.
KLM B787-10s feature the Jamco Venture business class reverse herringbone seat set across 10 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration.
While the seats lacked a door, there was a large head shield next to the seat which provided an adequate amount of privacy. I enjoyed the large amount of legroom and area for exiting/entering the seat.
Each seat had a large modern18.5″ HD touchscreen IFE system. Next to the IFE screen was a small coat hook.
The Panasonic eX3 IFE system was great and I appreciated the detail of the IFE map.
Below the IFE screen was a small shelf with a USB port that was perfect for storing personal devices. The leg well underneath was a good size.
Along the window was a small countertop space along.
The seat controls were built into the armrest. There was also a dedicated Do Not Disturb button.
Below the seat controls was a large bi-fold tray table, a small pouch, and a literature pocket.
One thing I found lacking in this seat was storage space. Besides the shelf under the IFE screen and the small pouch under the tray table, the only other space was a small exposed shelf next to the window. Space was limited if the water bottle and headphones were stored here.
Built into the wall were a reading light and the IFE remote holder.
Beneath this shelf was a headphone jack, 110V outlet, and USB port.
I found the seat padding to be comfortable. When fully flat, the four-way headrest was slightly elevated and gave my head additional support.
The armrest along the aisle could be raised or lowered.
At each seat were a pair of headphones, a water bottle, and wet wipes. A plush pillow and heavy blanket were also provided.
Twenty minutes after boarding, flight attendants came through the cabin with a tray of predeparture beverages. Options included water, orange juice, Heineken, or sparkling wine. I had a glass of bubbly.
Menus were distributed just prior to pushback.
The boarding doors were closed at 3:58 and three minutes later we pushed back.
Right next to us was a beautiful Air France A350-900.
The taxi to runway 9C took twenty minutes and soon we were off towards Europe.
Thirty minutes after takeoff, flight attendants came through the cabin and passed out amenity kits. I found the Rituals-designed bag very stylish. Contents included Rituals branded lip balm, face moisturizer, eye mask, socks, pen, toothbrush, toothpaste, and ear bugs.
Next up was a refreshing hot-scented towelette. Towelettes are back after COVID!
A full hour after takeoff cold nuts and drinks were served. I went with a glass of the Bernard Lonclas Blanc de Blancs Brut which was good. Dinner orders were taken at this time. Unfortunately, by the time flight attendants reached my row, the crab salad had run out.
Appetizers were served 30 minutes after the mixed nuts with another beverage service. The corn chowder was very tasty. A warmed bread basket of white and whole wheat bread was passed out as well. A side salad of watermelon, cucumber, and mozzarella was also served.
For my main, I went with the “local delicacies” which I assumed to be interpreted as from Chicago? There were two samosas (described as “quesadillas”) filled with spicy cheese, a dish of pulled pork, six sweet potato fries, and “Mexican” corn. The samosa/quesadillas were very tasty. However, despite being at almost 38,000 feet with dulled taste buds, I found the pork and corn to be extremely salty.
My father had the slow-grilled chicken breast which was average.
For dessert, I had an excellent cheese plate. Flight attendants also offered either tea or coffee with this service.
My father went with the dessert plate which he said was good. Small chocolate houses were also passed out afterward.
Once dinner was finished, flight attendants dimmed the cabin lights for the night. Although there was no comforter offered, I still found the bed comfortable.
The leg well did not feel restrictive, even when lying supine.
Unfortunately, I could not fall asleep so I spent a few hours enjoying the inflight entertainment. KLM offered a few new box office movies.
A snack basket was set up at the front of the cabin. Options included chips, stroopwafels, nuts, and cookies.
Flight attendants did make a few passes through the cabin offering water and orange juice.
An hour and 45 minutes prior to arrival, the entire business class cabin lights were turned on for the breakfast service. I found this to be super early and did not feel the need to wake everyone up. A hot towelette was passed out.
Twenty minutes later, breakfast was served on one tray. I found the breakfast to be very good for a trans-Atlantic crossing. There was a hot poached egg with spinach and roasted potatoes in a decadent Hollandaise sauce. Hot white bread or croissants were also offered. The cold dishes included gouda cheese and turkey ham along with chia oatmeal with caramelized banana, pomegranate, and pistachios. All three plates were very tasty.
At the conclusion of the meal, flight attendants came by to pass out the famous blue Delft Houses. The only option on this flight today was the newest release, House #103.
The cabin was prepped for landing twenty minutes out. We had a smooth descent and landed in Amsterdam at 6:29AM on runway 8C.
Our taxi to gate F3 took just seven minutes. There was a slight delay with a malfunctioning jetbridge but three minutes later it was fixed.
Thanks for the flight!
I really enjoyed this business class flight with KLM across the Atlantic. The seat was great, the food was better than other airlines, and the service was friendly. Until next time KLM.
I was going on vacation with my father for the first time in over six years and we would be flying together with KLM in business class from Chicago to Amsterdam and then Stockholm. We planned to meet together in Chicago and I had to position myself from Indianapolis. I booked a separate one-way United ticket which would give me over six hours at O’Hare to safely make our onward Europe flight.
The United flight was departing from IND Terminal 1 at 9:46AM. I arrived at the airport at 8:10 in the morning, an hour prior to boarding, to find no one in line at the United counters. TSA was equally empty on this Monday morning.
The inbound flight from Chicago landed at 9:11AM. Boarding commenced 10 minutes later at 9:21 exactly on time. This was my first time flying onboard a CRJ-200ER and I was excited to try another aircraft type. The CRJ-200ER, registration N446AW, was operated by Air Wisconsin on behalf of United Express. She was delivered to Air Wisconsin in June 2003 and had been flying with them ever since.
Due to the size of the overhead bins, all carry-on luggage had to be gate checked. Only personal items were allowed onboard.
The Flight
The CRJ-200ERs operated by Air Wisconsin, feature a total of 50 economy seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration. There are no business class or Economy Plus seats available on board these aircraft.
I was seated in 8A, in the single exit row of the aircraft. Each seat was narrow at 17 inches wide and had 31 inches of pitch. The exit row maybe had an additional inch or so in pitch.
Due to the narrow fuselage of the aircraft, I felt very cramped in the window seat with my elbows touching the wall. The narrow armrest separating the two seats was definitely not enough for both the large gentleman next to me and me.
There was a simple tray table at the seat along with a literature pouch. The legroom was unrestricted.
Upon boarding, each passenger was given a sanitizing wipe by the lone flight attendant serving the aircraft. Boarding was completed at 9:40 and we pushed back three minutes later. The taxi to runway 23R took nine minutes and soon we were off towards Chicago.
There was a quick service on this 40-minute flight with a snack basket followed by water or coffee. Snack options included Stroopwaffles, pretzels, or Biscoff cookies.
After cruising at 20,000 feet for just a few minutes, we began our descent into Chicago
It was a beautiful day and I had majestic views of downtown.
We landed at 9:35AM on runway 27C. The taxi to gate F11 was quick for O’Hare times at just 11 minutes. Thanks for the ride!
Since I had seven hours until our scheduled departure time onboard KLM to Amsterdam, I first decided to check out the United Club in the F concourse at O’Hare. Located on the second floor, it was a nicely renovated space with large windows and a decent food selection. The centerpiece of the lounge was a long bar with a variety of drinks.
Behind the bar and along the sides of the lounge were a variety of sofas and tabletop chairs. Each seat had USB ports and 110V outlets.
Lunch was brought out at exactly 10:45AM. Hot options included meatballs and soup. There was also a cheese board along with croissant sandwiches and wraps.
Other snacks included trail mix, fruit, cookies, and brownies. There was also a build-your-own salad bar and chips.
Besides the bar, drinks options included two espresso machines, filtered coffee, and lime-cucumber-infused water.
I enjoyed a Bloody Mary and spend a few hours doing work until my dad’s flight arrived at 12:50PM. I met him at the gate before making our way to Terminal 5.
After arriving in Boston on the British Airways A380, we had only 45 minutes to clear custom and make our way to the gate for boarding due to the hour long delay departing London. I was a bit nervous since these were two separate tickets on separate reservations.
We got to the gate in Terminal E at 2:45PM and then quickly cleared the border thanks to Global Entry. Since JetBlue departed from Terminal C, we walked for about 10 minutes from E to C to check-in. There was no line to check-in and no line for TSA Pre-check either. Within 30 minutes of landing, we had made it to gate C11 for our next flight.
It turned that the inbound flight from Florida was delayed. Boarding was scheduled for 3:20PM but the aircraft did not arrive until half past three.
Once the previous passengers disembarked and the cleaners cleared the aircraft, we began boarding at 3:59PM. Our A220-300 today, registration N3023J, was delivered brand new to JetBlue in April 2021.
The Flight
JetBlue offers a total of 140 seats on board their A220-300s arranged in a 2-3 configuration. There are a total of six rows of Even More Space seats which have 35″ of pitch compared to the standard 32″ at regular seats. My fiance and I were in seats 1A and 1C. I was excited as this was my first time onboard a A220-300. It was also my first time flying with JetBlue so I was eager to try their onboard experience.
The Collins Aerospace Meridian seats were 18 inches wide and had excellent padding. Each seat also had a four-way adjustable headrest.
Seats A and C had a small foot cubby in the bulkhead to give us additional legroom. The IFE screen was built into the bulkhead and there was also two small storage pockets. While the seat themselves were really nice, I found them incredibly dirty. Probably due to the delyed arrival, the seats had trash in the seat pockets and crumbs all over the floor.
The 10.1″ IFE touchscreen was responsive and high definition. There was also a built in USB port as well. JetBlue had an extensive IFE selection including numerous new release movies and TV shows. It was also Bluetooth capable to connect to our personal devices.
The bifold tray table was stored in the armrest.
Each seat also had a USB port and 110V outlet.
We pushed back at 4:29PM, 36 minutes late but the captain assured us that we would make up time when in the air. The taxi to runway nine took 15 minutes and soon we were off towards Chicago.
JetBlue offers an impressive array of complimentary snacks and beverage onboard. Service began 30minutes into the flight with a beverage service and I had a Blood Mary. The snack cart followed and options included Cheez-Its, plantain chips, pretzels, and cookies. There was also a buy-on-board menu with snack boxes.
There was a medium-sized lavatory at the front of the cabin. Much bigger and nicer than lavatories on A320s or B737s in my opinion.
We began our descent at 5:36PM and flight attendants came through the cabin to collect trash. It was a relatively cloudy day in Chicago and had hazy views of downtown on our approach into O’Hare.
Our flight landed at 5:50PM, seven minutes earlier than the scheduled time thanks to generous schedule padding. The taxi to gate G2 took 11 minutes and soon we were on our way home. Thanks for the ride!
I enjoyed the JetBlue A220-300 experience. The seats were nice, IFE industry leading, and snacks unique. Althought the departure was delayed, we still arrived on time. I would definitly choose to fly with JetBlue again.
After arriving at Terminal 5 over an hour late due to the previous flight delays from Vienna, we had only an hour until boarding was scheduled to begin for our flight to Boston. We arrived at Terminal 5 at 10AM from the bus gate and quickly made our way to the security checkpoint. Security was a disaster with multiple passengers requiring secondary screening on their bags. A passenger in front of us, English not being their first language, had security called on her due to an argument with the baggage screeners. We finally got through twenty minutes later which left us five minutes past the scheduled boarding time of 10:15AM. Since the flight was departing from Terminal 5C, we had to take the underground rail connecting Terminal 5A to 5C which took another 15 minutes.
We got to the gate at 10:35AM, only to find that boarding had not yet even begun. We caught our breath and I enjoyed the view of our A380. The A380 today, registration G-XLEG, was delivered brand new to British Airways in September 2014. During COVID-19, she was stored in June 2020 and then reactivated in November 2021.
Boarding began at 10:45AM, thirty minutes before our scheduled departure time of 11:15AM.
The Flight
British Airways offers an enormous 469 seats on board their A380s across two levels. There are two Club World cabins, one on the main deck with 44 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, and one on the upper deck with 55 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. We were seated in 56E and F in the middle of the cabin on the upper deck.
The British Airways Club World “Stretch” seats were introduced in 2010 and can be found onboard the BA A380s, B777s, and B787s. Each seat was 20 inches wide and when fully flat 72 inches long. There was a small divider screen that could be raised for privacy.
The Club World seats are arranged in a “ying-yang” configuration which meant the seats alternated between forward and backward facing. My fiance was seated in the backward-facing middle seat while I was in the forward-facing aisle seat.
British Airways has a terrible business model of charging business class passengers for seat selection. We refused to pay the $150 per person fee for a seat selection and during check-in, we were assigned our seats automatically by the BA system. Lucky me, as my seat was directly adjacent to the lavatory. Aisle seats are particularly terrible on British Airways as there is no privacy whatsoever. I felt very exposed.
To convert to a flat bed, there was a small footrest that could be lowered. It was not sturdy enough for another passenger to sit on.
The 15.4″ IFE screen folded out from the middle wall but had to be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing. The quality of the screen was decent.
Below the IFE screen was a simple bifold tray table.
Underneath the tray table was a literature pocket, 110V outlet, USB port, and small shallow drawer.
Straightforward seat controls were located underneath the privacy screen. There was also a button to raise and lower the privacy screen.
When raised, the privacy screen was effective at preventing any unwanted eye contact between passengers. However, my fiance felt like she was sleeping in a coffin when the screens on both sides were raised.
Next to the seat was the IFE remote, headphone jack, RCA port, and another USB port.
I found the padding on the seat to be comfortable and appreciated the headrest. There were two leather armrests that could be lowered. Awaiting us at the seat was a comfortable pillow, headphones, and zipper bag containing the comforter and blanket.
The BA-branded headphones were fairly basic.
I greatly enjoyed the pillow and found the bedding by The White Company to be excellent.
15 minutes after we boarded, our cabin crew came by to offer us a predeparture beverage. I went with a glass of champagne.
Next, she came by and provided us with an amenity kit. Contents included The White Company branded lip balm, moisturizer, and facial mist. There was also a pair of socks, an eyemask, a toothbrush, ear plugs, and a pen.
Our cabin crew member was amazing and prior to departure ensured that our drinks were never empty. A bottle of still water was also handed out.
The menu was also handed out and meal orders were taken on the ground. Unfortunately, by the time we were asked what we would like, the Chicken tikka masala had run out.
At 11:38, the captain came over the intercom to introduce himself. He then went on to apologize to us that we would be facing a significant delay of approximately 45 minutes. None of the checked bags had been loaded since there was a shortage of ground staff. During this time, apparently half of the IFE screens were non-functional and the cabin crew had to re-set them all twice. The boarding doors were closed at noon but we ended up waiting another 40 minutes after that. Finally, at 12:38PM, we pushed back an hour and 30 minutes late.
Our taxi to runway 27L took another 27 minutes and finally at 1:05PM we were bound for Boston.
Service was slow to start and 45 minutes after take-off a beverage service was offered. I had a glass of champagne with packaged nuts.
Lunch was served 90 minutes into the flight. The entire meal was brought out on one tray with the appetizer, main, and dessert. My fiance had the ricotta mezzaluna which she enjoyed. There was a side salad of avocado and lettuce, dessert of tiramisu, and two slices of cheese. The bread was served warm.
I went with the Welsh lamb shank served with a sweet potato mousseline. The lamb was terrible. Incredibly overcooked and dry without much flavor. Personally, I enjoyed the two slices of cheese (cheddar and red Leicester) with the chutney and crackers.
After lunch, I had a glass of black coffee which came with a Lindor truffle.
Halfway through the flight, the entire row of seats stopped working. The electricity to the seat was lost somehow and I was unable to recline the seat fully flat My fiance, who had already turned her seat completely flat could no longer raise it upright. Cabin crew members tried to troubleshoot the seat but were ultimately unsuccessful. The lead cabin crew member made a note on her IPad and I submitted a complaint form to British Airways a few days after our flight. For compensation, we received a total of 80,000 Avios and a $400 future flight voucher with BA.
There were a total of three business-class lavatories for Club World passengers on the upper deck. The two lavatories at the front of the aircraft were massive. Toiletries included The White Company branded hand balm and hand wash.
A staircase leading to the First class cabin on the main deck separated the two lavatories at the front of the cabin.
There was also a smaller lavatory directly next to my seat in the middle of the business-class cabin. As with most things on this aircraft, the sink also malfunctioned during the flight. The water would not stop running and almost overflowed in the sink. Cabin crew members had to manually turn off the sink and made the lavatory non-operational.
I managed to watch a few movies for the remainder of the flight including Top Gun Maverick which was entertaining.
The cabin crew also set up a small snack area for the passengers in the middle section.
As we neared Boston, afternoon tea was served.
My fiance had the vegetarian afternoon tea set with a pickled cheese and hummus red pepper sandwich. The sandwiches were not good and dry.
I went with the coronation chicken and prawn Marie Rose sandwich. The scone was served warmed which I appreciated. There was also a coffee and walnut cake which was very sweet.
We soon began our descent into Boston and the cabin was prepped for landing half an hour out. An hour after our scheduled arrival in Boston, we landed on runway 4R at 2:30PM. The taxi to gate E12 took 10 minutes and soon we were on our way to Global Entry and clearing customs.
Thanks for the flight!
Overall, I found the British Airways Club World experience severely deficient. The equipment (seat, IFE screen, and lavatory) were all malfunctioning. The food was terrible and the delays made the whole experience even worse. While I loved flying the A380, especially on the upper deck, British Airways would not be my first choice for flying across the Atlantic.
