AF Cabin Crew From French Polynesia, joined Sep 1999, 1036 posts, RR: 37 Posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4472 times:
Ia Orana gang !
I have to go to Billund next month and am planning on using my miles for the trip. Which would you recommend ? KLM 747-400 ? upper deck ? main deck or PrivatAir 737-700 ?
BMI727 From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14342 posts, RR: 26 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 4473 times:
Having looked at the seats, I would definitely go with PrivatAir.
Why do Aerospace Engineering students have to turn things in on time?
DutchBoeing From Netherlands, joined Apr 2010, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4454 times:
I believe KLM doesn't give award seats on the PrivatAir flights, to keep it exclusive - at least, they never used to, perhaps policy changed. That would solve your problem immediately of course!
Seats on PrivatAir are basically the same as on KL B744, however, I believe the recline is worse on the B73G. Service is the same.
Personally I'd go for the B744. They won't be around for ever and for me, nothing beats a seat in the (low deck) nose section of a B744! It is so different and has such an exclusive feel... A B73G is just another B737 with C-class seats after all... Wouldn't like to fly it for 9 - 10 hours. A B747 is majestic and big! I like BIG planes...
HT From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, RR: 27 Reply 3, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 4447 times:
Quoting DutchBoeing (Reply 2): I believe KLM doesn't give award seats on the PrivatAir flights, to keep it exclusive - at least, they never used to, perhaps policy changed. That would solve your problem immediately of course!
Negative. Award seats (only shown when looking for "Business Class") are plenty on the AMS-IAH-AMS flights; actually, often this very flight operated by the BBJ is the only option for award flights in Business Class to the U.S.
I have taken that flight myself 2 years ago and very much liked it, although I was worried about flying for 10+ hours in such a narrow tube. These concerns were unjustified, however, there are some backdrafts ...:
Seats on Privat Air are of older style, no flatbed, no fully reclining, but still comfortable to sleep on.
IFE is very lacking; the portable DigiPlayers were of no good use to me.
Headsets coming with DigiPlayers had 3 pins in order to function as noise-cancelling headsets - however, the relevant pin remainded unconnected / unpowered, so no noise cancelling.
The aft of the cabin is notably more moisy than the front section of a widebody, but still okay.
Lavatories are very small; hardly one can turn in one.
On the positive side:
Boarding (incl. extra security check at the gate at AMS) is very relaxed and speedy (outbound we were 20 pax, on the return I had a full flight).
Food is standard KL-Business Class food, however PrivatAir's cabin staff appears to be highly trained (they actually take big pride in their training) and food presentation and servicing was among the best I encountered.
The BBJ carries a better (and heavier) noise insulation than a standard B73G.
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The upper deck of a B744, OTOH; is also very good. Cabin even smaller than the BBJ. Better overview when taxiing, but due to the curvature of the fuselage, problematic view downwards in flight (windows are a good distance away from one's face). IIRC, pretty limited overhead bin space, but some extra storage capacity between seat and wall.
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So, if you really cannot decide, why not use the B744 on the night flight to AMS (use the better seating for sleeping) and return on the BBJ (but only if you do not heavily rely on IFE / PTV etc. ).
-HT
Carpe diem ! Life is too short to waste your time ! Keep in mind, that today is the first day of the rest of your life !
swissair4ever From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 125 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 4094 times:
I am taking the PrivatAir BBJ 73G in a few weeks from AMS-IAH and am very much looking forward to it!!
Will be nice to try this elite service.
Service people have highly recommended this service due to the special training of the crew, finesse of service, luxury exclusive feel and chance to fly transatlantic with only a max of 44 other pax!!
Julian773 From Australia, joined Aug 2009, 105 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 4061 times:
Quoting BMI727 (Reply 1): Personally I'd go for the B744. They won't be around for ever and for me, nothing beats a seat in the (low deck) nose section of a B744! It is so different and has such an exclusive feel... A B73G is just another B737 with C-class seats after all... Wouldn't like to fly it for 9 - 10 hours. A B747 is majestic and big! I like BIG planes...
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From French Polynesia, joined Sep 1999, 1036 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 14342 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Apr 2010, 95 posts, 
From Germany, joined May 2005, 6473 posts, 
From Australia, joined Aug 2009, 105 posts, 
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