Wed 13th Nov 2024
We flew with KLM Helsinki - Amsterdam - Porto last week. 'KLM' on those legs. It was nice to see they give water/juice/CocaCola/tea/coffee for 'free', plus a bit of cake, and a sandwich. Unlike Finnair who just give you their 'emblem blueberry juice' (some horribly artificially sweetened bilberry concentrate) and some water for 'free'.
The return trip's first leg OPO - AMS was with their 'daughter cheapo airline' Transavia. Not through our choice as such, that's what came after we had booked with KLM.
I've just been reading about the 12kg hand luggage (in total) limit with KLM vs the 10kg limit imposed by Transavia. My take would be that we paid for 12kg, and our contract was for 12kg. As it turned out with us, my partner's larger hand luggage went to the hold at check-in (for free, as the "flight was full") so she only had a tiny backpack. My larger (but within limits) daypack was looked at in such a fashion as if the 'Gate Dragons' wanted to see if they could grab some commission out of it. But they decided nope, and I was free to board with no hassle. They got 65 Euros out of the nose-ringed hippy in front of us with an obviously outsized bag.
What we were puzzled with is that we could not check in on-line for our return trip (Transavia then KLM). KLM said go to Transavia, Transavia said "We have no knowledge of who you are!". I guessed we could get our boarding passes at the airport so drove there on the last evening, after checking in to our hotel 22km from Porto airport. That was a good ruse as we could see where to fill the rental car with petrol for the next morning, and also do a dry-run of how to return the car to the airport rental place. At the Info desk we were told we could only check-in 2 hours before the flight. I mean, what's that all about? Immediately gives Transavia the 'iffy' reputation. Even with Ryanair we can check in weeks ahead if we have paid for a seat.
The issue is that KLM seem to fob you off, even though tickets have been bought from them (and not Transavia). This has left a distaste for KLM in my mouth. I cannot regard KLM as a 'professional outfit' anymore.
Just expressing my feelings and experience. As for an 'international airport' I found Schipol to be lacklustre and disappointing, with dirty toilets.
We flew with KLM Helsinki - Amsterdam - Porto last week. 'KLM' on those legs. It was nice to see they give water/juice/CocaCola/tea/coffee for 'free', plus a bit of cake, and a sandwich. Unlike Finnair who just give you their 'emblem blueberry juice' (some horribly artificially sweetened bilberry concentrate) and some water for 'free'.
The return trip's first leg OPO - AMS was with their 'daughter cheapo airline' Transavia. Not through our choice as such, that's what came after we had booked with KLM.
I've just been reading about the 12kg hand luggage (in total) limit with KLM vs the 10kg limit imposed by Transavia. My take would be that we paid for 12kg, and our contract was for 12kg. As it turned out with us, my partner's larger hand luggage went to the hold at check-in (for free, as the "flight was full") so she only had a tiny backpack. My larger (but within limits) daypack was looked at in such a fashion as if the 'Gate Dragons' wanted to see if they could grab some commission out of it. But they decided nope, and I was free to board with no hassle. They got 65 Euros out of the nose-ringed hippy in front of us with an obviously outsized bag.
What we were puzzled with is that we could not check in on-line for our return trip (Transavia then KLM). KLM said go to Transavia, Transavia said "We have no knowledge of who you are!". I guessed we could get our boarding passes at the airport so drove there on the last evening, after checking in to our hotel 22km from Porto airport. That was a good ruse as we could see where to fill the rental car with petrol for the next morning, and also do a dry-run of how to return the car to the airport rental place. At the Info desk we were told we could only check-in 2 hours before the flight. I mean, what's that all about? Immediately gives Transavia the 'iffy' reputation. Even with Ryanair we can check in weeks ahead if we have paid for a seat.
The issue is that KLM seem to fob you off, even though tickets have been bought from them (and not Transavia). This has left a distaste for KLM in my mouth. I cannot regard KLM as a 'professional outfit' anymore.
Just expressing my feelings and experience. As for an 'international airport' I found Schipol to be lacklustre and disappointing, with dirty toilets.