KLM Business Class to Aruba
Discussion
I’m looking for people's opinions on KLM’s business class offering.
Ordinarily, I try and fly VA upper class, but they don’t fly to Aruba, so I have to go with KLM via Manchester > AMS > AUA.
It’s a long flight, and it actually stops at two other Caribbean islands before its final destination, so there's quite a bit of time on the runway (over 17 hours total journey time each way).
If you reserve a seat, business class tickets are currently just over £2.7k return, or £2.5k if you leave seat selection until check-in. It’s towards the top of my appetite for a ticket, but only if the service is good.
I’m a bit sceptical over the two-two-two seat configuration, as having to step over someone (or be stepped over) to get to the aisle seems a bit of a poor design choice.
There are also two transfer options while at AMS; one is an hour, and the other is four hours. Would I be right in saying one hour is cutting it very fine at Schiphol? All it would take is one short delay or a queue and snookered?
Ordinarily, I try and fly VA upper class, but they don’t fly to Aruba, so I have to go with KLM via Manchester > AMS > AUA.
It’s a long flight, and it actually stops at two other Caribbean islands before its final destination, so there's quite a bit of time on the runway (over 17 hours total journey time each way).
If you reserve a seat, business class tickets are currently just over £2.7k return, or £2.5k if you leave seat selection until check-in. It’s towards the top of my appetite for a ticket, but only if the service is good.
I’m a bit sceptical over the two-two-two seat configuration, as having to step over someone (or be stepped over) to get to the aisle seems a bit of a poor design choice.
There are also two transfer options while at AMS; one is an hour, and the other is four hours. Would I be right in saying one hour is cutting it very fine at Schiphol? All it would take is one short delay or a queue and snookered?
I did this (albeit pre Brexit, but as a NZ national) from Bristol.
Your luggage is checked through. You won't need to go through passport control as you are only transitting through the EU and staying air side.
I thought KLM were excellent and flew standard with them. I would go with the one hour transit and standard class. Save the money for Aruba. Which, if you haven't been before is like Tenerife for East Coast Americans. There is nothing Dutch about this particular Dutch Antillies island!
Your luggage is checked through. You won't need to go through passport control as you are only transitting through the EU and staying air side.
I thought KLM were excellent and flew standard with them. I would go with the one hour transit and standard class. Save the money for Aruba. Which, if you haven't been before is like Tenerife for East Coast Americans. There is nothing Dutch about this particular Dutch Antillies island!
Thanks for the replies.
I didn't realise I would avoid passport control while at AMS, so that's helpful.
KLM seem confident that the 1 hour transfer time is suitable. If my first flight is delayed, and I end up missing my transfer, then I assume KLM will arrange a suitable hotel for the night (if there are no other flights?). I presume this is standard etiquette?
I didn't realise I would avoid passport control while at AMS, so that's helpful.
KLM seem confident that the 1 hour transfer time is suitable. If my first flight is delayed, and I end up missing my transfer, then I assume KLM will arrange a suitable hotel for the night (if there are no other flights?). I presume this is standard etiquette?
dirty doug said:
Can’t comment on your flight choices - I flew direct from Gatwick, but Aruba is in my top 3 holidays ever - enjoy 
That's good to know! How long did you stay? Will 12 days be more than enough?I'd definitely go with the 4-hour layover from experience. I used to use KLM via Schiphol on a monthly basis, and they used to be great. After Covid they've gone to pot. My last two trips with them were Strasbourg and Geneva.
Strasbourg was delayed and I missed my connection, and they were poor at dealing with it, so I ended up having to sleep at the airport overnight. Geneva was a complete disaster. Too long a story to go into but I was with a large party, and we had to get home using BA to Heathrow. They changed the size of the plane taking us back but cocked up the rebooking. It took 2 months of complaints, calls, chasing and forms but we all ended up with 200 Euros each compensation.
Delays and poor customer service seem the norm with them, which is a shame as like I say, they used to be very good. I'd not take any chances and get a longer stopover. There's plenty of bars, shops and eating places to hold up while you wait.
Strasbourg was delayed and I missed my connection, and they were poor at dealing with it, so I ended up having to sleep at the airport overnight. Geneva was a complete disaster. Too long a story to go into but I was with a large party, and we had to get home using BA to Heathrow. They changed the size of the plane taking us back but cocked up the rebooking. It took 2 months of complaints, calls, chasing and forms but we all ended up with 200 Euros each compensation.
Delays and poor customer service seem the norm with them, which is a shame as like I say, they used to be very good. I'd not take any chances and get a longer stopover. There's plenty of bars, shops and eating places to hold up while you wait.
I transit through AMS monthly, but not KLM-KLM.
When I transit onto KLM I'm arriving from a "dirty" country so have to transit security & usually have a 50m connection. I've yet to miss the connection despite the best endeavors of Schipol.
However be aware that Schipol can get weather disruption & it's the short haul stuff that gets delayed first.
When I transit onto KLM I'm arriving from a "dirty" country so have to transit security & usually have a 50m connection. I've yet to miss the connection despite the best endeavors of Schipol.
However be aware that Schipol can get weather disruption & it's the short haul stuff that gets delayed first.
On the way back there may well be a need to go through security. I was working in curaçao a few years back and flights into Schiphol (via Aruba) were met at the gate by sniffer dogs and armed police with luggage collection via a heightened security area in the bowels of the terminal. Cocaine trafficking via that route is a major problem as offenders are simply returned to the island without penalty.
1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
shirt said:
On the way back there may well be a need to go through security. I was working in curaçao a few years back and flights into Schiphol (via Aruba) were met at the gate by sniffer dogs and armed police with luggage collection via a heightened security area in the bowels of the terminal. Cocaine trafficking via that route is a major problem as offenders are simply returned to the island without penalty.
1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
Its an Embraer 195 E2 between Manchester and AMS, and an A330-200 between AMS and AUA.1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
shirt said:
On the way back there may well be a need to go through security. I was working in curaçao a few years back and flights into Schiphol (via Aruba) were met at the gate by sniffer dogs and armed police with luggage collection via a heightened security area in the bowels of the terminal. Cocaine trafficking via that route is a major problem as offenders are simply returned to the island without penalty.
1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
It’s one of those “depends” things isn’t it. KLM’s A332 has the old business class which isn’t worth the strong money the OP is talking about, the newer seats are very good. Same as BA, old style not great, new club suites very nice.1hr is sufficient in the main. Any idea what type aircraft it is? KLM in general is quite dated, better than BA but that’s not saying much. They used to operate the 747 on that route but think they’re all retired now.
Jasmine1 said:
Yeah. You’re better off use aerolopa as seatguru was abandoned and hasn’t been updated in a long time.link
KLM appear to do a direct Aruba flight. Can you work that one into your itinerary rather than doing a tour of the Antilles?
djc206 said:
Yeah. You’re better off use aerolopa as seatguru was abandoned and hasn’t been updated in a long time.
link
KLM appear to do a direct Aruba flight. Can you work that one into your itinerary rather than doing a tour of the Antilles?
Thanks for sharing! link
KLM appear to do a direct Aruba flight. Can you work that one into your itinerary rather than doing a tour of the Antilles?
It's direct to Aruba, it's the flight back that stops off at two other islands.
Jasmine1 said:
Thanks for sharing!
It's direct to Aruba, it's the flight back that stops off at two other islands.
Ah ok. Have you looked at starting your ticket in Amsterdam? Ex EU fares can often be cheaper than booking from the U.K although AMS is not as cheap as it used to be. Pre covid we got AMS to Cape Town for £1100 in business and that included car hire for a week!It's direct to Aruba, it's the flight back that stops off at two other islands.
I flew KLM business once a month, was the first plane I flew business on. The seats didn't go flat so as soon as I started flying on planes that did, I never looked back.
Was a few years ago now. But I'd avoid KLM. They used to give us a little ornament thing, I didn't realise they had actually had a bit of alcohol in them!
Was a few years ago now. But I'd avoid KLM. They used to give us a little ornament thing, I didn't realise they had actually had a bit of alcohol in them!
The KLM nx2 BC seat is I think pretty good, if I was travelling with someone I knew well I’d have no hesitation with it for a good price. Would avoid if travelling alone because I don’t like interacting with/jumping over strangers. The seat is very wide which makes it comfy, much more so than the ‘capsule’ you seats. I’ve found the service on KLM is pretty good but very efficient and of course a bit less attentive/fawning than on the ME carriers.
The little houses full of gin are a nice touch.
The little houses full of gin are a nice touch.
Edited by GiantCardboardPlato on Wednesday 19th July 21:29
Jasmine1 said:
Would I be right in saying one hour is cutting it very fine at Schiphol? All it would take is one short delay or a queue and snookered?
Pre Covid I did it fairly regularly for work (it was possibly to have KLM book flights with 45min transfer times!!). , on paper it looks tight, but in practice the flights did always land 20-30mins early, stress does build if you are a little late though, & it was usually a bus to terminal so further pressure! I’ve seen me change planes in under 30mins at schippol, but I knew the drill there & sailed through, no beer/coffee/toilet stop!But, if I was on Holiday? I’d take the longer connection, purely to relax & have a beer/coffee/waffle & give me & my luggage the best shot of arriving at my destination.
Re the comment to look at splitting the journey to get a cheaper ticket to Aruba, whilst I believe this could be the case, does it cause issues having to collect & re-check luggage - re do security etc rather than simple transit….
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