KLM:- MAN-AMS-MAN

Read the forum code of contact

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

For my half term holiday, i decided to book a trip to AMS for 2 nights with KLM. I booked the flights back in December, and time had flew, and before i knew it, Amsterdam was my next destination.

KL1082 15/02/05 MAN-AMS
Departure Time : 1235 Actual 1250
Arrival Time 1545 Actual 1540
Aircraft: Fokker 100 PH-KLD

After the ritual that i usually do to get to MAN, train that is, i met MarkL on the platform, before we both went to T2 so i could check-in. Despite checking in home and getting seat 6A, i was re-assigned 5A, which was to be to my advantage as i'd find out soon enough. I then powerwalked with him to Level 13 T1 and stayed there for 30 to wait for yet another friend, before i had to say farewell to them, and powerwalk yet again to T2. A brisk passing through security, meant i was airside within 2 minutes!
I decided to walk down the finger of T2, saw the VS gate, with no VS 742 there! (I believe the aircraft didnt go till late Tues night!)
You can't get any closer to those 747's than at T2 where the PIA 743 nose was nearly touching the glass.
My F100 arrived a bit late, and after a moderate turnaround, we were given the all-clear to board.

We had to get aboard via stairs, and i sat down in my 5A seat, which had more legroom than the other Economy seats as it was the 1st economy row after Business class. With nobody by my side, i had plenty of room for myself. All 84 of us were on board within 10 mins, and we pushed back a bit late, and taxied to 06L.

After waiting for one or two movements to pass, we took off, with the Rolls-Royce engines pushing us along quite nicely! We rotated just infront of Peir B, and we followed the DESIG1S departure, which was a long straight climb then a shallow right turn towards Hull. We passed over Skeggy with all its caravans, before the North Sea was beneath us, and the cloud started to bubble up. Sadly i saw nothing until we came out of the clouds, and we landed gently on 06 @ AMS. To my surprise, we were handed mints on landing, im sure Danairboy would be pleased :D
As we taxied, we passed TF-ELZ with was doing the MAN-AMS Jet2 service, and had departed moments ahead of us!

A short wait at the gate, and i was out, with my bag from the carousel within 5 minuites. Then i took a bus to the Center of the city, which was abosultey freezing!!!

On Weds, all i did was go to Utrecht as i didnt fancy standing on a freezing terrace @ AMS! I met with an old mate who lives in Holland, and had an interesting evening (too crude to put on here LOL :D)

KL1075 17/02/05 AMS-MAN
Departure Time : 0920 Actual 1000
Arrival Time : 0940 Actual 1030
Aircraft: Boeing 737-406 PH-BDU

So after an eventful couple of days, it was time to head home. I got the 1st bus from the hotel to the airport, checked in via the easy self-service kiosk, which i highly reccomend, and i was in the departure lounge with a good 2 hrs to spare. I watched the American arrivals, and watched the early KLM departues come and go. Then we were called to the gate. Whay i feel is frustrating about AMS is the 2nd security check as you board the aircraft. I feel its fine doing it once, but twice, and just as you board the plane!? No thanks! I took my seat, which was 12F and an emergency exit row. I was fully breift on how to operate the door in an emergency, which luckly didn't happen!

I knew that we were in for a delay, as the Air Bleed was switched from the APU to the Ground Power, and seconds later, the captain said that due to bad weather in the Manchester region, we had to wait an extra 30 mins on the fround at AMS for the fog to pass. Groans went around the aircraft, but there was nothing we could do, but just sit back, and i had the pleasure of having more legroom, so i had a chance to take a few moments kip before the flight.

We pushed back at 0955, and we made the long trip to the Polderbaan runway, which took us a good 15mins! Why do they insist on using that one, when 36C or R could be used! We waited for 2 KLM's to go before us, and it was our turn. I've got to say, being where i was, the engine was very quiet! It took us a good 25 seconds to get airbourne, and then we turned away from the city, and into clouds. We climbed to 30,000ft, where the Capt warned us of even more delays as we had to hold over ROSUN, and after two circuts of the hold, we turned and intercepted the ILS. The couldbase wasnt that bad, and we touched down gracefully, with idle reverse, but harsh braking, and we were at MAN! I had a train to catch, so i looked at the watch every 30 seconds or so, but things were about to get even worse. Due to all the traffic that had arrived @ MAN very suddenly, everybody was lost, or jumbled up. We waited a good 20 mins in one place, waiting for a Luthy 733 to pushback, and to give way for the T2 traffic to come round.
As we waited, an SNBA Avro did a go-around. By the time we got to our gate, nobody was there, they werent expecting us! Even the Guidance system didnt expect us, as that was off, so we had to wait 5 mins for that to be switched on. Once we had shut down, the groynd staff couldnt find anybody to work the airbridge, so that was another 5 mins lost for me!

Everybody just wanted to get off, and there was a releif when we were finally back on solid ground. I then had to collect my bag, which took its time, run to the station, try and get down to platform level, with the 2 escilators and 1 lift out, it was even more nail-biting, and as i got to the station, my train arrived! PHEW!!

So there we are, a mad 3 days. My impression of KLM? Hmmm...not bad tho i felt that the Cityhopper service took more care of us, but thats because there were less of us onboard.

Where next? Dunno yet, SOU and BRS planned, maybe IOM again, buf deffo USA in 6 months!

Cheers

Pics Sorry quality not so good, sue to resizing!:-
1. Snowflake MD-80 doing a SAS flight
2. DL 763
3. My F100
4. View of the Terminal area on take off
5. My lunch, Chicken Fillet Sandwich!
6. Landing at a dreary and cold AMS
7. Lining up on the Polderbaan (36L)
8. Climbing to FL300
9. Dinner = Cream Cheese Sandwich
10. Landing at a not so foggy MAN

Original post

Member for

19 years 10 months

Posts: 3,808

Fanastic report, and love the pics! Well done!

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Cheers Matt!

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 5,019

Good pics and report. Good read and viewing. Thanks for sharing

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 1,887

Great pics and report

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Cheers all!

Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 2,495

Great report I really enjoyed it. Can I ask why didnt you fly Jet2 or another carrier. Was the KLM price right or did you just want to fly KLM?

Member for

20 years 10 months

Posts: 9,401

Great report Elgan :)

When I have caught up on posts/reports, mine will be up, unfortunately no pics though, I got EI-CNW MAN-DUB ( :D ) and EI-CSM DUB-MAN ( :( ).

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Shamrock, i booked KLM in December, and a week or so later, Jet2 announced that they were to operate MAN-AMS! I was gutted, tho it was nice to fly a new airline, my 3nd new airline of the year!

God to hear you have a 200 Tom!!

Member for

20 years 2 months

Posts: 2,495

Awww I see I hope you dont think I was beiong nosey just curious. I wonder how KLM are doing now with LS on the route?

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

LOL not at all mate!! :D
Well Tuesday's flight has 84 our of 100 seats filled, while there were only 2 empty seats on yesturday's flight!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

God only knows how I managed it, but I somehow overlooked this trip report and have only just had the chance to read it.

Great report and first class photographs! The shot of the Manchester Terminal as you took is really something.

I had a look on the KLM website the other day because I'd love to take a day trip to Amsterdam but I'm not in the mood for travelling to Gatwick and flying with easyJet. Instead, I'd rather go from Heathrow, but KLM were quoting totally unaffordable prices for flights that are months away.

Looks like my day trip will have to be bmi or British Airways instead. :rolleyes:

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Thanks Michael!
The terminal shot was rejected by A.Net, ah well their loss!
KLM were good but as you say, prices are a bit high, allthough they were cheaper than BA from MAN, and the times were better

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,539

I too managed to miss the report. Interesting read and great pics. A.net should be persuaded to accept that overview shot with a little sharpening of the edges and levelling of the horizon. I'd say the un-level horizon is probably the main reason for the rejection, they usually require them dead straight.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,503

I personally wouldn't bother sharpening the edges and straightening the horizon. A photo doesn't have to appear on Airliners.net to be any good.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

You want to try and edit it for me Dan? If yes, i'll send the original to you tonight?
Don't have to, but you did some good work on Mark's shots.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

Plus do remember that the shots that i put here have been resized and the quality is bad ;)

Member for

20 years 8 months

Posts: 3,539

You want to try and edit it for me Dan? If yes, i'll send the original to you tonight?
Don't have to, but you did some good work on Mark's shots.

Yup no probs, send full size original to [email]daniel_nicholson2000@yahoo.com[/email] . I'll get onto it asap and send it back to you.

Member for

20 years 1 month

Posts: 4,255

On its way to you sir, tho sorry i forgot to write a message with it :D