Latest news with #KLM
Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business Insider
I traveled through 5 different airports during a summer trip to Europe. The best one surprised me.
Some would say it's crazy to squeeze four countries into a two-and-a-half week trip to Europe. That "some" would include my parents, but I've always liked a challenge. My June Eurotrip took me through five different airports, which provided five very different experiences. So I figured, why not rank them? It should go without saying that travel is unpredictable and experiences can vary widely due to weather, national strikes, and time of year — not to mention the size of the airport. This is more to help with your own Europe travel planning than anything else. 5. Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola in Florence, Italy My experience with the Florence Airport was rocky from the beginning. It was the first stop on our trip, and my fiancé and I decided to grab a cab to our hotel after a full day of traveling from Los Angeles. However, peak tourism season was already in full swing, and we waited almost 45 minutes outside for an available car. Our problems persisted when we returned to the airport four days later. There were no self-service kiosks for British Airways, which I was flying to London, or KLM, which my fiancé was flying to Amsterdam, leading to very long check-in lines. But that would be the least of our struggles. Florence Airport only has one short runway, frequently leading to diverted and canceled flights during bad weather. It was somewhat windy that day, leading 30 people — including my fiancé — to get kicked off the KLM flight. He waited at the airport for hours to get rebooked on a new flight at 6 a.m. the following morning, then was taken via bus to a hotel 45 minutes away. A spokesperson for the airport told me a project to modify the orientation and length of the runway is "currently undergoing approval." 4. Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom I studied abroad in Cambridge and lived in the UK during my 20s, so I've flown in and out of Heathrow at least a dozen times and have had fairly good experiences overall. It's also ranked 22nd in Skytrax's 2025 list for top 100 airports in the world, which is considered the Oscars of the aviation industry. But Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, can be chaotic. My first issue was during the self-service bag drop. This is a great time-saving feature at Heathrow, but my luggage got flagged for being one pound overweight. A nearby staff member told me the scales are extremely sensitive, and I'd have to shuffle some things around. It's not a huge deal, but definitely something to know if you're flying through this airport and happen to be a chronic overpacker (ahem, me). The staff member then said I could go to the north or south security zone. I opted for the north, only to be turned away because the entire zone had suddenly closed. This led to a massive rush of people heading to the south zone. The security line also took longer because of the general confusion around Heathrow's very strict policy for liquids in carry-ons. People held up the line as they tried to organize their bottles into plastic bags, and carry-ons kept getting flagged if a stray bottle was found. So, if you're heading to Heathrow soon, be extra careful with your luggage and liquids and bank some extra time in case of long lines. That way you won't have to be the person sprinting to their gate (ahem, me again). 3. Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland Zurich, ranked 10th in Skytrax's top 100 list, was my connecting airport as I flew from LA to Florence. I was in the airport for less than two hours, but I was impressed with how they handled a lost item issue. I was just about to wander away from our gate and grab a snack when my iPhone alerted me that I "seemed far away" from my AirPods, which I had apparently left in the seat-back pocket on the plane. I was already in a different terminal, and my flight was set to board in 20 minutes. I went up to the first desk I saw, where an attendant was happy to help. She showed me how to submit the airport's lost item report, a quick form I could complete from my phone. Within two days, I received confirmation that my AirPods had been found and were being stored in the lost and found. I paid a fee to get them sent back to LA, where they were waiting for me when I returned from my trip. 2. Athens International Airport in Athens, Greece I spent a lot of summers as a kid at the airport in Athens, often snacking on a ham and cheese toastie while we waited for a connecting flight to visit Thessaloniki, my parents' hometown. So yes, I'm a little biased! But my most recent experience at Athens International Airport, ranked 88th on Skytrax's list, couldn't have been smoother. We were able to quickly grab our luggage and order an Uber when we landed, and the check-in and security process was a breeze when it was time to catch our flight home. What I really love about this airport is the dozens of shops where you can buy whatever Greek snacks you couldn't fit into your luggage, which in my case was a lot. I was so content browsing through the bottles of olive oil and shelves of cookies (Caprice wafers are always a must) that my Norse Atlantic Airways flight was halfway through boarding when I got to my gate. 1. Düsseldorf Airport in Düsseldorf, Germany I flew into Düsseldorf Airport — ranked 28th on Skytrax's list — for a wedding in Recklinghausen, and from the moment I landed, everything just felt so easy. I swiftly grabbed my checked bag and followed the signs to find the SkyTrain, a fully automatic railway that took me straight to the Düsseldorf Flughafen station to catch my train to Recklinghausen. The return journey was just as effortless. My fiancé and I were able to check in with the airport's self-service kiosks and bag drop, and this time, my luggage didn't get flagged by a sensitive scale. We didn't even have to wait in any lines! The security check was quick and efficient, and there were tons of great food and shopping options available at our terminal.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Flight attendant claims airlines are too scared to address embarrassing issue
Marcus Daniels, a former flight attendant who spent five years in the job, claims that airlines are too afraid of offending passengers to resolve an apparently longstanding toilet-related issue A former flight attendant claims that airlines are afraid of teaching passengers how to use toilets properly, for fear of offending them. Marcus Daniels spent five years working the aisles at 30,000 feet. He loved his job, but not all aspects of it. Marcus says he was disgusted on multiple occasions by messes left behind by passengers. He believes many of these incidents occurred because some flyers were unfamiliar with these types of toilets, and he noticed a trend emerging on certain routes. 'On those flights, passengers will defecate on the floor, and you just do your best to smile and not say anything. You get used to it after a while and can start mentally preparing yourself for those flights,' Mr Daniels said. The flight attendant added that the language barrier made it difficult to address this delicate topic with passengers. Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ 'It would be great if there were visual guides showing how to use the toilet properly, rather than just guides for flushing,' he added, according to the Daily Mail. Daniels recalled one occasion when he had to lock off the toilet for the remainder of a flight after a passenger repeatedly urinated on the floor. 'Airlines are very particular about how they communicate with customers because they don't want to offend anyone,' he said. In other plane-toilet news, a flight attendant recently revealed that birdsong is now being played in lavatories to mask embarrassing 'toilet sounds.' KLM attendant Esther Sturrus posted a video on TikTok demonstrating this new feature inside the bathroom of a brand-new Airbus A321neo. Sturrus, 24, who has worked for the Dutch airline since 2020, laughed as the sound of birds chirping filled the space. Since summer 2024, KLM has gradually replaced its Boeing 737 fleet with A321neos, according to its website. 'The birdsong definitely catches people by surprise the first time. You're expecting the usual hum of the engines or total silence, and instead you're suddenly surrounded by chirping birds. The idea behind it is to make the onboard experience a little more soothing and enjoyable, even in the smallest and most unexpected places,' said Sturrus, who is from Rotterdam. 'The birdsong gives a sort of spa-like vibe. Let's be honest, it also nicely covers the classic toilet sounds, so it might just be functional too. I found it unusual and amusing and just had to capture the moment. It's little touches like these that show how much thought can go into even the tiniest details of a flight experience.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Airport worker names exact time to swap seats and it's not when on the plane
A former Heathrow Airport employee has revealed an easy trick to getting your seats changed at the very last minute, avoiding the extra fees - but there's a catch When it comes to travelling for long hours, especially on a plane, everyone wants to sit next to their loved ones. But sometimes, big parties get split up. Here's how travellers can change their seats at no extra cost. Many of us are counting down the days until our much-deserved holidays, away from the busy city life and spending some time at the beach soaking in all the UV rays. But at the time of checking in for our flight, we've all been in a situation where seats have been allocated poorly. A former check-in agent at the UK's busiest airport Heathrow shared some insightful information as to when the most appropriate time to ask for a seat change is - and it's not at the check-in desk. She said: 'Online check-in doesn't always offer the best seat selection, and let's be honest, no one likes getting stuck in the middle seat.' The former airport worker revealed that the best time to ask for this is after the check-in closes. It's important to note that all airlines operate differently, and different rules apply based on the routes. Although most airlines will automatically seat you with the people under the same reservation, sometimes, sudden changes occur. For those who wish to have their seats changed, they must wait until the check-in time closes, or in some cases, after all passengers have boarded. 'This is when all unclaimed seats, such as those from passengers who haven't checked in, become available,' she added. According to Forbes, airlines allocate seats for weight and balance reasons, which is why it's important for passengers to sit in their designated seats. Gerrie Brand, a spokesperson for Dutch airline KLM, said: "The captain calculates weight and balance for take-off. If the occupancy is low, passengers tend to want to change seats, but that could change the weight distribution and balance for take-off." However, the former Heathrow employee warned that this trick doesn't always work, especially during peak season. In this case, passengers can ask the cabin crew once on board, or the passenger who's seated next to them. As holidaymakers look forward to their much-deserved breaks, it's important to remember that check-in agents are human too and will always try to accommodate all passengers, especially those travelling with small children. Nonetheless, as much as travelling can be expensive and stressful, taking out your anger on the staff won't benefit you at all! Kindness goes a long way, so just be nice!
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Arjun Erigaisi lashes out at British Airways: ‘Rude employees… bags delayed for over 48 hours'
Indian chess star Arjun Erigaisi has lashed out at British Airways in an angry set of tweets after he was reportedly downgraded without an excuse before they delayed his bags by 48 hours. Arjun will soon be in action at the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in USA, which starts this week. Arjun is not the only one who experienced airline turbulence on their way to the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. Vidit Gujrathi and his wife Nidhi had to book another flight out of Mumbai after spending nearly three hours on a KLM flight before being told that the airplane could not take off because of a deflated tyre. Vidit had to return home and then took a different flight out of India. 'Terrible experience flying with you,' Arjun posted in a tweet tagging British Airways. 'Got involuntarily downgraded at the last moment with no explanation. After speaking with your rude staff I was told that I'm eligible for reimbursement. No explanation on why I was downgraded. Oh and getting my bags a day later is the cherry on top! Unfortunately I've to fly back to India with you this time but you've lost a customer.' A day later, on Monday morning, Arjun posted another tweet making the same complaints. 'Worst experience flying with the British Airways. Involuntarily downgrade, rude employees, no communication, bags delayed for over 48 hours. This is frustrating. Messages, emails, forms everything done & submitted. It's been over 2 days and still no word. I don't know how an airline can afford to treat its customer in this way. Even worse part is I've to fly back with you,' wrote Arjun. The Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour will be played in a 16-player format with a double elimination structure. This means that after an initial group stage with rapid time control (10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move), the players enter a championship or placement bracket depending on their results. All knockout rounds will be played with a 30+30 classical time control, counting toward the official Freestyle rating. Besides Vidit and Arjun, Praggnanandhaa will also be in the Las Vegas Freestyle event, where players like Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana will take centre stage.
Khaleej Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Middle East, India key strategic markets for Air France-KLM
The Middle East remains a key market for Air France-KLM, and the European carrier is taking steps to expand capacity here. 'Overall, the aviation sector in UAE is experiencing growth. For Air France and KLM, we've good load factors and positive trends, which has enabled us to increase capacity in Dubai, with the deployment of the Boeing 777s. There are opportunities for further expansion in the region, our willingness to add more capacity from Dubai is strong, however, we are currently facing constraints, as the slots are limited,' Stefan Gumuseli, Air France-KLM's general manager for India and the Middle East, told Khaleej Times in an interview. Currently, Air France and KLM serve eight cities across Middle East and India, operating 89 weekly flights. 'In the Middle East, our network includes Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh and In India, we operate from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai and soon Hyderabad. Air France and KLM offer seamless connections for both business and leisure travelers, with smooth access for our customers from Middle East and India to over 300 destinations worldwide through our hubs in Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris, Charles de Gaulle,' Gumuseli said. The Middle East is witnessing a positive growth in aviation, further accelerated by ambitious initiatives such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to position the region as a key global hub. 'Our operations are well-structured to meet this growing demand,' Gumuseli said. In the region, the airline group is expanding its network in the Middle East and India. 'In the Middle East, our codeshare partnership with Saudia significantly enhances connectivity between France, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. This partnership was further strengthened through a strategic MoU last year, which aims to further improve connectivity between Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh) Paris, Amsterdam & beyond. In return, Air France and KLM will also gain access to Saudia's extensive network, offering passengers more travel options,' Gumuseli said. In India, the group has a successful codeshare partnership with IndiGo. With this partnership, Air France and KLM customers have access to over 30 destinations in India. This partnership opens the opportunity for IndiGo customers to connect to the vast global network of Air France and KLM,' Gumuseli said. Fleet renewal is one of the key aspects of Air France-KLM's strategy. The group has been investing 2 billion euros per year in the renewal of its fleet. In September 2023, the group placed an order for 50 Airbus A350 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 40. These aircraft, comprising both A350-900 and A350-1000 models, are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2030. This move aims to replace previous generation aircraft i.e. Airbus A330s and older Boeing 777s, positioning the Ar France-KLM as the world's largest operator of the Airbus A350 family. 'The A350's advanced technology offers 25 per cent better fuel efficiency and a 40 per cent reduction in noise compared to previous generations, aligning with our sustainability goals. By 2030, the share of new generation aircraft in the Group's fleet is expected to reach 80 per cent,' Gumuseli said. The Middle East is a strategically important region for the Air France-KLM Group. It serves as a key hub for both passenger and cargo operations. Air France and KLM share a rich history with the UAE, having operated in the region for over 50 years. 'Over the years, we've seen increased demand, which has led us to increase our capacity, including the deployment of the Boeing 777 to Dubai. This allows us to meet the growing needs of both leisure and business travellers,' Gumuseli said. One of the highlights for the Dubai market is the Air France La Première cabin, available on only 10 destinations worldwide, with Dubai being one of these exclusive locations. 'Our presence in the region is strong, with services connecting major cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, Beirut and Cairo to our European hubs in Paris and Amsterdam. We are continuously enhancing our footprint in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where we have recently launched a new direct service between Riyadh and Paris-Charles de Gaulle from May 20. Air France will operates five weekly flights. Riyadh and Dammam are already being served by KLM. With the launch of Air France operations, our customers can experience the best of both brands. Transavia, the subsidiary of Air France – KLM also has a prominent position in the region. Transavia connects customers from many cities in the region including Beirut, Cairo, Jeddah and soon the holy city of Madinah, Gumuseli said.
