Route: DXB – AMS
Airline: KLM
Aircraft: 777-300
Cabin: (New) Business Class
Seat: 4J
Departure: 00:10 (actual 00:40)
Arrival: 05:30 (actual 05:00)
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge DXB

I wasn’t really sorry to leave Dubai. Not my city. I was dreading the trip to the airport since I had heard horror stories about the traffic. Luckily it all went very smoothly and I was dropped off at 22:00, 135 minutes before departure. Ample time to look around and try the lounge. Or so I thought.

Dubai has a ‘somewhat stringent’ security process. Before clearing passport control you and your bags are checked a minimum of 4 times. My bags where scanned twice and I went through a metal detector twice. My passport was checked twice as was my boarding pass. This was of course before I got to the gate where my passport would be checked twice again.

This all sounds like a lot but in fact it all went rather smoothly. I passed passport control about 30 minutes after I was dropped off. The walk to the terminal is a long one. It took at least 20 minutes. Well, who can mind a little exercise? It was eating into my quality lounge time.

All in all I arrived at the terminal at 22:50. I asked an employee where to find the KLM lounge and was told to look for it near gate 18. I read and heard terrible stories about DXB. You would have to jump over sleeping people. It would look like a Delhi market. I would need to hold my nose the entire time and so on. Well, maybe I was lucky, but it wasn’t that bad actually. Not on the way in (arrival 05:10) nor at this time. Mind you, summer time is the quiet time in Dubai, so that may have had a lot to do with it. I looked around a bit for cheap bargains but could not really find any, so I proceeded to the lounge. Took another 15 minutes.

The area around Gate 18


First I went into the AF lounge to have a look around. The lady there friendly but decisively pointed out I should really use the KLM lounge. “No, no pictures, please use KLM lounge.” Ok, ok, don’t get your panties in a twist. Not wishing to cause a seizure in this well intending woman I proceeded to the KLM Crown lounge. After my experience with the KLM lounge at Schiphol I was hoping that KLM would revenge itself.

Entry to KLM Crown Lounge near Gate 18


I was impressed. It is very small but with only 2 planes a day what do you expect? The seating was nice, the food selection perfectly adequate (and fantastic compared to the lounge at AMS) and the attendants very friendly. I soon found a seat and took out my camera to take some pictures.

The entrance from the other side


Overview of the small but charming lounge


Seating and look at the nice architectural features


Since the lounge was so small and intimate I did not want to start snapping away to much, but I think these pictures give a nice impression. They also have free wireless. Oddly enough this internet access is less restricted than most of Dubai. I really hate it when a government decides what I can and cannot watch or read. One of my greatest annoyances with Dubai.

I spent a nice half hour at the lounge when at 23:40 we were urged to go to the gate because the flight was already boarding. We left from gate 9, a 5 minute walk from the lounge.

Gate 9


When we got there the flight was anything but boarding. There was a long cue for (another) security check and no priority line. We were told by the staff to just cut in line. It was busy and the flight was 100% full, or so I was told.



In fact, the load factor in C was 80%. At least it was until they moved two women in burka’s and 1 screaming child into business class. Are you kidding me? Of all the people to upgrade you choose a screaming child? Not only that, but apparently they were travelling with 5 nannies who constantly came walking in from Y. That all stopped after take off (yes, also the screaming), but still.

But I am getting ahead of myself. When I looked out the window I noticed we all got upgraded. KLM used the 777-300 for this flight today. I was finally going to sample their ‘new’ business class product. Since I hate(d) the old one I was expecting a very comfortable journey.

The 777-300 waiting for us at the gate


Boarding was chaotic. Soon after the small children call was made everybody started pushing and shoving. What is it with Indians and cues? But hey, what do I care? I was going to fly the new business class!

The minute I walked in I was hugely disappointed. The cabin feels much more cramped. Sure, it is nice to see KLM using a product that belongs in this century, but did they cramp more seats into the cabin? No, still only 5 rows.

Storage


The shell design makes for a couple of issues. The top end protrudes into the space of the passenger behind, so that you have very little maneuvering space, especially when there is a larger person beside you. Getting in and out is difficult even with the seats in the upright position. It feels very cramped. Now that is the only bad thing. The loss of the sensation of space you have in the ‘old’ c-class. I flew AF a couple of times and even though these are the same seats they feel more cramped with KLM. Does anybody know if KLM has put them closer together?

Compare:
OLD

The NEW 777-300 Cabin


Now for the good part. First thing you notice is the large screen in front of you. That view is certainly better than in the old one. I did not get to use the IFE much, since I slept like a baby, but the view from your seat is certainly more 2008. It is just a lot closer than before.

OLD view

NEW view


The seat itself is very comfortable. At least for an angled lie-flat. The cover is less slippery than the older KLM seats and it seems to go just a little flatter. It also has better storage in the seat itself. Less storage around you. You cannot put a bag in front of you on the floor.

One danger is that when you go from flat to upright the chair ‘eats your shoes’ if you took them off and left them in front of you. They get lost when the leg rest sweeps over the floor when folding in.  

My seat: 4J


The last row


The seat controls


Another thing I never saw before was the way the seatbelt was attached to the seat. Picture taken with night view.


As I said, I slept though most of the short flight. I did eat my late night snack. It was tasty, but cannot remember what it was exactly. Some kind of sate I guess. I also had breakfast. Tasteless eggs with rather nice assortment of fruits and stuff. I really am not a fan of eating in the sky like some of you…  

After breakfast


The flight was 1 hour shorter than advertised. Too short for a good night sleep, so I was cranky and tired when we approached AMS. I hate these short night flights.

The stats


The very detailed flight tracker.


Touchdown was around 05:00 at the infamous Polderbaan. Normally this leads to a 10 minute taxi at speed but not this time. I guess there was a cyclist in front of us because I never taxied so slowly before ever… Was the captain impressed with his shiny new plane? Did he let the cute stewardess drive? Was he deliberately slow because we were early and the gate was not ready yet? It took 20 minutes and remember: I was tired and cranky…  

I was the first of the plane and it took me 15 minutes to exit the airport. 7 minute bus ride, got the car and went home.

My verdict:
The new seat is a lot more comfortable. The cabin feels very cramped however, so I am not sure I prefer the new to the old. Push comes to shove I dislike any angled lie-flat anyhow.

The new product puts KLM more in line with AF for instance, but not yet in the same ballpark with BA. KLM staff will however always be the best in the sky and not in the overly subservient way oriental airlines staff is. Good work KLM!

(And it is always nice to put two new Delft Blue houses on the shelf.)

Feedback always appreciated!

[Edited 2008-07-29 04:31:50]