Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 11753 times:
Hello and welcome back. This is the second part of a recent trip to Cordoba. This part features Korean Air, KLM, Renfe, many delays, a rerouted ticket and an upgrade. If you're interested in reading the first part, here it is: Air Europa, KLM & Renfe: From Zurich To Cordoba (by Knightsofmalta May 2 2012 in Trip Reports)
Date: Monday, 30. April 2012
From: Cordoba
To: Madrid
Carrier: Renfe
Vehicle: AVE Highspeed train
Class: Club Class
Seat: 7C, aisle
On Monday I leave Cordoba to head back to Madrid. As you probably already expect, the weather is much nicer today, it's sunny and quite mild.
But never mind, I shall return to this place again anyway. At around 11:15 I check out of the hotel and make my way back to the station.
The train is on time. There are only three passengers in the Club Class carriage. Service is cool and efficient. Given the light load the attendants refrain from using the trolley, and instead the service is individual, which also makes it more personal. To eat today we have some kind of brioche toast with a cream cheese and marmalade, olive and a bowl of fruit. I'm quite alarmed as I am not really a fruit person and I already had fruit for breakfast. Any moment now I expect to collapse with a case of vitamin shock, if there is such a thing. The meal ends with a nice cup of coffee with milk. And an hour later we're already pulling into Atocha station.
Our top speed on this trip was 280 km/h
The arrivals hall at Atocha.
I decide to visit the Queen Sophia Museum of Art, which is only a short distance from Atocha. And that is a good thing: I make my way to the correct exit of the station, step outside and 15 seconds later find myself being pelted with hail stones, quite large ones too. Luckily the hail subsides just as quickly as it starts and I arrive at the museum more or less dry.
After the museum I walk about for the rest of the afternoon and then finally make my way back to Atocha to catch the train to the airport. I take the train from Atocha to Terminal 4, even though the Hilton is closer to the old Barajas and my flight the next day will leave from Terminal 1. It's just that the direct trains from Atocha only go to Terminal 4. For all other Terminals you have to change at Nuevos Ministerios. And I can't be bothered.
I am spending the night at the Barajas Hilton, which kind of has views of the airport, although it's quite a distance away. There is a free shuttle that runs every 30 minutes and connects the hotel to the airport's four terminals.
I do a web check-in of sorts for my flight with Korean Air next day. I say 'of sorts' because when you check in online with them, you are only printed a voucher which then has to be exchanged for a proper boarding pass once you arrive at the airport. I always thought the whole point of doing web check-in was that it allowed you to bypass the queues at the airport.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 1, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 11664 times:
Date: Monday, 01. May 2012
From: MAD
To: AMS
Carrier: Korean Air
Vessel: Boeing B 777-200
Class: Economy
Seat: 43A, window
Today I wake up at 05:30. This gives me enough time for a leisurely shower and breakfast before heading for Terminal 1 at Barajas. As I check out, the Korean Air crew of the inbound flight are just checking in. This is somewhat surprising to me, as it means all passengers continuing to Amsterdam will have a layover here in Madrid of about three hours.
The shuttle drops me off right in front of the entrance to Terminal 1.
Korean Air's check-in counter are opposite the entrance. I exchange my voucher for a real boarding pass, head through security and then through passport control to the Cibeles Lounge which is used by Korean Air here in Madrid.
When I arrive, the place is empty, save for one other passenger whom I suspect of being in transit from Seoul to Amsterdam. The lounge is enormous and has excellent view of the apron.
Here are some of the views.
Kids and glass don't go together...
And here's my bird, resplendent in the morning light in her elegant hues of white and blue.
Boarding starts right on time. I avail myself of the priority and am the first one to be heading down the airbridge. This is so exciting! I've always wanted to give Korean Air a try.
Boarding is a calm and efficient affair. But alas, the powers that be will not permit an on time departure and we are informed of a delay of 40 minutes due to the shitty weather in Amsterdam. This is kind of starting to become the central theme of this report.
But never fear, never mind. I am on board Korean Air's mighty 777, in the capable hands of an excellent cabin crew, which pass through the cabin offering cups of water. How very considerate. I like.
Shortly before the 40 minutes are up, the captain is on the blower again. There will be a further delay of 40 minutes due to the weather situation in Amsterdam. For the time being there's nothing to worry about. I originally had three hours to make the connection to Zurich. That should still be enough, even with the delay. Says me hopefully...
In the meantime, the crew come by dishing out more drinks and peanuts.
Eventually, take off took place at 10:55, 85 minutes behind schedule.
Waiting for the service to start.
As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign goes off, the cabin crew spring into action. The captain is determined to make up some of the delay and has even loaded additional fuel to this end. Subsequently, the flight time is expected to be 1 hour and 42 minutes. That is how much time the cabin crew have to serve a hot meal to a full Economy Class.
First refreshing towels are distributed, they're quite refreshing.
Next comes the meal and I am delighted. The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake with pieces of pear in it. I have a diet coke with the and finally wash it all down with a cup of coffee.
Shortly after the trays are cleared away we already start a very gentle descent into Amsterdam. We spend one round in a hold pattern above Rotterdam before continuing to Amsterdam and eventually landing on the remote Polderbahn. By the time we arrive at the gate, we're one hour behind schedule. I will make my connection to Zurich effortlessly.
As we deplane I can't but help notice the aircraft looks a right mess!
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 11580 times:
Date: Monday, 01. May 2012
From: AMS
To: BSL
Carrier: KLM
Vessel: F. 70
Class: Business
Seat: 1D, aisle
But then things start to become interesting. I arrive at the lounge, get myself a drink, have a look at the departure screens and only then realise that my flight to Zurich has been cancelled. So I pick a number to be processed. When I take a ticket they're servicing ticket number 903, I have 943...
By the time my number is up, it's already past my original departure time. The nice lady at the counter informs me that the next flight to Zurich at 17:15 is full and even with my
Platinum Status I don't stand a chance in hell of getting on that one. She also informs me that the next flight after that, the last one for the day, is also full. So I suggest sending me to Basel instead. After all, that's where I live and I don't much fancy taking the train from Zurich Airport home anyway. The nice lady does a bit of telephoning here and there, combined with what sounds like some pretty heavy duty flirting with the guy at the other end of the line and eventually she rings off, smiles at me and informs me that 'ticketing' has accepted the bargain. What on earth has this woman promised the guy from ticketing?
So, it's close to 16:00 and I still have another five hours to kill before my flight to Basel. So I put my bag in a locker within the transit area and head into town. I have afternoon tea at De Backerswinkel, an excellent bakery right on the periphery of the seedy part of town, and then do some shopping before eventually returning to the airport and the lounge. By which time I am really exhausted!
I will not go into too much detail here. Plenty of KLM F70 trip reports on here. In fact I was not even planning on doing a trip report on this sector. But then as I was the gate I am informed that I have been upgraded to Business Class and will be seated on 1D. But alas, I can contain myself at the prospect of being upgraded after the botched up affair Air Europe made of it. And quite rightly so! After we take off, the flight attendant informs me that no additional meal has been loaded, and therefore I will be receiving the usual routine of Bretzels and a whole meal biscuit. But, as I am after all seated in Business Class, the coffee is served in a proper mug and I get a full can of Perrier, which is also served in a real glass and not a plastic cup. Spontaneous upgrades do not appear to be the Skyteam's forte it seems...
I arrive home at 22h30 and fall into bed. It's been a fun trip. Cordoba is an interesting place well worth the visit. And I hope I will return one day.
Korean Air was great fun, and I would not mind trying them on long-haul in Business of First. As for Air Europa, they have crap reputation and I can see why.
I hope you enjoyed this report. Your comments are, as ever, much appreciated.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 11175 times:
NIce report - great that you were able to fit KE into a Europe trip!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): I do a web check-in of sorts for my flight with Korean Air next day. I say 'of sorts' because when you check in online with them, you are only printed a voucher which then has to be exchanged for a proper boarding pass once you arrive at the airport. I always thought the whole point of doing web check-in was that it allowed you to bypass the queues at the airport.
So pointless
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Boarding starts right on time. I avail myself of the priority and am the first one to be heading down the airbridge. This is so exciting! I've always wanted to give Korean Air a try.
The cabin loks great - shame you're only going to AMS!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Next comes the meal and I am delighted. The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake
Great looking catering
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 2): So I suggest sending me to Basel instead. After all, that's where I live and I don't much fancy taking the train from Zurich Airport home anyway.
I supposed it worked out well in the end then?
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 2): What on earth has this woman promised the guy from ticketing?
haha
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 2): But then as I was the gate I am informed that I have been upgraded to Business Class and will be seated on 1D. But alas, I can contain myself at the prospect of being upgraded after the botched up affair Air Europe made of it. And quite rightly so! After we take off, the flight attendant informs me that no additional meal has been loaded, and therefore I will be receiving the usual routine of Bretzels and a whole meal biscuit. But, as I am after all seated in Business Class, the coffee is served in a proper mug and I get a full can of Perrier, which is also served in a real glass and not a plastic cup. Spontaneous upgrades do not appear to be the Skyteam's forte it seems...
So you weren't really upgraded, but reseated in a business class with all the "frills" of economy (plus some chinaware). Still, better than nothing.
flightsimboy From Canada, joined Sep 2005, 848 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 10622 times:
Hello William,
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The train is on time. There are only three passengers in the Club Class carriage. Service is cool and efficient. Given the light load the attendants refrain from using the trolley, and instead the service is individual, which also makes it more personal. To eat today we have some kind of brioche toast with a cream cheese and marmalade, olive and a bowl of fruit. I'm quite alarmed as I am not really a fruit person and I already had fruit for breakfast. Any moment now I expect to collapse with a case of vitamin shock, if there is such a thing. The meal ends with a nice cup of coffee with milk. And an hour later we're already pulling into Atocha station.
Looks all very classy!!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I do a web check-in of sorts for my flight with Korean Air next day. I say 'of sorts' because when you check in online with them, you are only printed a voucher which then has to be exchanged for a proper boarding pass once you arrive at the airport. I always thought the whole point of doing web check-in was that it allowed you to bypass the queues at the airport.
It is probably only at certain Korean Air Stations that you can get a boarding pass. Some carriers won't even allow you to check in online from certain destinations, if I recall JFK for some airlines.
Tuesday, 1st May . Also did you realise that this was the "last" MAD-AMS-MAD sector. Effective May 2nd AMS and MAD are now two separate flights. MAD still gets the 777 while AMS uses the A330. AMS retains KE 925, while MAD has a new flight number KE 913. I was browsing their flight schedule to see the frequencies of this MAD-AMS-MAD and was pleasantly surprised to see these changes.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1):
And here's my bird, resplendent in the morning light in her elegant hues of white and blue.
And still in her old colours. Those look like the old sized fonts.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): Today I wake up at 05:30. This gives me enough time for a leisurely shower and breakfast before heading for Terminal 1 at Barajas. As I check out, the Korean Air crew of the inbound flight are just checking in. This is somewhat surprising to me, as it means all passengers continuing to Amsterdam will have a layover here in Madrid of about three hours.
Very bizzare! The flight would arrive at 0545 and not leave until 0920. Imagine final destination AMS passengers having to sit in MAD for 3 hours 35 minutes!! No wonder they changed it.
Where there are big glass windows with planes to look out, there you will find kids lol...hey it does not stop us adults from dirtying it too lol
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): This is so exciting! I've always wanted to give Korean Air a try.
Glad you could do it in style on the last flight on this sector.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): But never fear, never mind. I am on board Korean Air's mighty 777, in the capable hands of an excellent cabin crew, which pass through the cabin offering cups of water. How very considerate. I like.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): In the meantime, the crew come by dishing out more drinks and peanuts.
They really took care of you guys.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): Next comes the meal and I am delighted. The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake with pieces of pear in it. I have a diet coke with the and finally wash it all down with a cup of coffee.
Nice meal!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): As we deplane I can't but help notice the aircraft looks a right mess!
That is clean compared to say a 14 hour long haul on some other carriers.
Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Reply 5, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 10009 times:
Hi again William,
Excellent follow up report and I was quite curious about the KE flight. I’m glad it did not dissapoint! Too bad about all the delays and cancellations but I’m glad you took the good with the bad and still had an enjoyable afternoon in the city.
I just wonder: how was the load on Korean?
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Any moment now I expect to collapse with a case of vitamin shock, if there is such a thing.
Nah - you’ll be fine. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): I say 'of sorts' because when you check in online with them, you are only printed a voucher which then has to be exchanged for a proper boarding pass once you arrive at the airport.
But then again: the most important thing with OLCI: a good seat!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): But alas, the powers that be will not permit an on time departure and we are informed of a delay of 40 minutes due to the shitty weather in Amsterdam.
For once it’s not MAD causing the delay but AMS. I had my fair share of this situation on that day as well. Report to follow
LXM83 From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 569 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (1 year 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 9751 times:
Hello again,
Always great to be on a 5th freedom flight! I did KE twice from VIE to ZRH and was equally impressed. I got exactly the same set of stickers as you did.
I'm surprised that KL would not let you waitlist for the next flight to ZRH. On the other hand, the solution with BSL was a good one that saved KL and you some money.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 7, posted (1 year 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 8745 times:
Hi Gabriel
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 3): great that you were able to fit KE into a Europe trip!
Yeah, I like these 5th freedom flights. Next I'd like to try Air China's Munich-Athens.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 3): The cabin loks great - shame you're only going to AMS!
Actually I did wonder what would happen if they just decided to bypass the shitty weather and head straight for ICN. But I'm off to South Korea at the end of the month anyway. I can wait!
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 3): I supposed it worked out well in the end then?
Yes, I'm glad they were so cooperative. And I like Amsterdam. So an opportunity to go for a walk through the city was much appreciated.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 3): So you weren't really upgraded, but reseated in a business class with all the "frills" of economy (plus some chinaware). Still, better than nothing.
Precisely, a kind of pseudo upgrade. Not quite sure if the missing meals were a result of the unexpected upgrades of if they just couldn't be bothered. They had to order one extra meal for a paying C class passenger anyway.
Hi flightsimboy
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 4): It is probably only at certain Korean Air Stations that you can get a boarding pass. Some carriers won't even allow you to check in online from certain destinations, if I recall JFK for some airlines.
Perhaps it may have had something to do with my Maltese passport. As an EU citizen I don't need a visa obviously, but perhaps they just like to make sure.
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 4): Also did you realise that this was the "last" MAD-AMS-MAD sector.
Yeah I know. How cool is that? Other people do inaugurations, I do outaugurations.
Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 4): And still in her old colours. Those look like the old sized fonts.
Why, have they got a new livery?
Hi Nils
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 5): I just wonder: how was the load on Korean?
Must have been very full. When I checked in online there were no seat choices. Luckily I'd prebooked my seat.
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 5): Nah - you’ll be fine. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
That's what my mum used to tell me when I was a kid too!
Quoting Sultanils (Reply 5): For once it’s not MAD causing the delay but AMS. I had my fair share of this situation on that day as well. Report to follow
Interesting point. I've been to Amsterdam many times and never had any slot issues. But since that trip I did to Lisbon via Amsterdam there's been a weather related delay on nearly every trip I've done to Amsterdam.
Hi LXM83
Quoting LXM83 (Reply 6): I did KE twice from VIE to ZRH and was equally impressed.
I'm hoping to give that one a try some time soon. Must be brilliant to do such a short sector on a large aircraft.
Quoting LXM83 (Reply 6): I'm surprised that KL would not let you waitlist for the next flight to ZRH.
I suspect that if I'd insited they would have put me on the list. But then again by that time I preferred going to Basel instead anyway!
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2329 posts, RR: 53 Reply 8, posted (1 year 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 8364 times:
Hi William,
Two important things of your exciting report, Córdoba and Korean Air, reminded me of my own experience. Córdoba from last year and Korean Air during the Christmas of 2009 with printed voucher after checking in online and delightful meal tray you can ever imagine nowadays on any intra-European flight in Economy.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): Any moment now I expect to collapse with a case of vitamin shock, if there is such a thing.
Did you tell the lounge agent about the dirty spots?
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): But alas, the powers that be will not permit an on time departure and we are informed of a delay of 40 minutes due to the shitty weather in Amsterdam.
Interesting! We had a delay as well on our way back to AMS for two hours. The crew members eventually decided to serve the meal during our wait on the ground.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 2): What on earth has this woman promised the guy from ticketing?
In any case, don’t you think she deserved a compliment from you? I am sure she would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for sharing and have a nice weekend,
Suryo
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (1 year 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 8090 times:
Hi Suryo!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 8): Córdoba and Korean Air, reminded me of my own experience. Córdoba from last year and Korean Air during the Christmas of 2009 with printed voucher after checking in online and delightful meal tray you can ever imagine nowadays on any intra-European flight in Economy.
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2202 posts, RR: 14 Reply 10, posted (1 year 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 7774 times:
Hi William,
Great trip report! Thanks for sharing. Nice to see KE's new product, just too bad to see that the 2-5-2 config as gone.
Nice to catch it on MAD-AMS while it was still there.
Renfe looks top notch as well.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 7441 times:
Hi Marc
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 10): Great trip report! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, my pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 10): just too bad to see that the 2-5-2 config as gone.
Yeah, the three-three-three configuration is a bit strange. The woman sitting on the aisle had obviously started her journey in ICN. As soon as she sat down she started nodding off. And one stage the passenger with the middle seat wanted to get up but the woman on the aisle was so exhausted she did not even hear him! No wonder they switched to a nonstop service!
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 6787 times:
Hi Knightsofmalta,
nice conclusion to your short trip, and a good catch to make the last 5th freedom. KE seems to be very nice, good service, excellent food in Y. Though the online checkin procedure seems to be somewhat pointless, as you say.
KL too seem to have had a mess with their upgrade, at least you got to sit in the front!
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 6482 times:
Hi Signol
Quoting signol (Reply 14): KE seems to be very nice, good service, excellent food in Y.
Definitely, especially the food. Hotmeals are really becoming more and more of a rarity in Economy Class in Europe these days. Such a pity! And an Economy Class hotmeal that's actually tasty is really pushing it!
Quoting signol (Reply 14): Though the online checkin procedure seems to be somewhat pointless, as you say.
Yes, but I suspect it may have had something to do with my travel documents.
Quoting signol (Reply 14): KL too seem to have had a mess with their upgrade, at least you got to sit in the front!
Yeah, but i don't hold it against them. I must have been quite a chaotic day for them. And I can't complain. Besides, I'm travelling on KLM Business Class on a booked seat in July. So I'll get my chance!
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 16): I was quite sure what your routing would be after reading the title. Since I hadn't realised korean had a 5th Freedom.
It's always good to keep the reader guessing until the very end!
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 16): And the blue theme continued through to klm. Fantastic.
Yeah, don't you just hate it when the colours of your flight connection clash!
Quoting lukeyboy95 (Reply 16): Plane looked beautiful. The FA's sounded very proactive on account of the delay and in general it was great.
Yes, very much so. The Korean Air plane looked very well looked after both inside and outside (save for the mess the passengers made inside on the way to Amsterdam...). As for the delay, I think it was handled perfectly. The cockpit crew kept us informed, giving deadlines for the next information and actually sticking to them. Excellent crisis management. As for the cabin crew, they were just really professional.
That's quite impressive. The fastest train in Sweden is 200ish km/h.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter):
Next comes the meal and I am delighted. The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake with pieces of pear in it
Very impressive for a intra-Euro hop, even if it's a 5th freedom flight.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 2): eventually she rings off, smiles at me and informs me that 'ticketing' has accepted the bargain. What on earth has this woman promised the guy from ticketing?
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 19, posted (12 months 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 5547 times:
Hi again Martin
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 18): Nice report again! As I said, good idea to try KE, seems like you had a really nice (if delayed) flight with them.
Very much so. Korean Air were very good. And a flight with the mighty triple seven is always a pleasure!
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 18): That's quite impressive. The fastest train in Sweden is 200ish km/h.
Every time I arrive in Stockholm on the Arlanda Express I think to myself that one of these days I'll have to take a Swedish Highspeed train some place. Just to give it a try.
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 18): Well it least it worked out quite well for you!
Yes, and from what I understand I think I was quite lucky. I was talking to a long-standing Flying Blue Platinum member and said they never rerouted him in such situations, even when he asked them to.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6183 posts, RR: 79 Reply 20, posted (11 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 4547 times:
Hi William,
very interesting report about your first KE flight! I had considered taking one of their intra-European flights for a long time, but I finally ended up on KE between TPE and ICN earlier this year. I could try the new J Class product on a refurbished A333 which was nice - but there were numerous weaknesses. Report to follow - the question is when!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): And here's my bird, resplendent in the morning light in her elegant hues of white and blue.
The livery is just great!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter):
Next comes the meal and I am delighted. The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake with pieces of pear in it. I have a diet coke with the and finally wash it all down with a cup of coffee.
Wow, that looks very impressive. I wasn't satisfied with my J Class meal at all!
abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4915 posts, RR: 55 Reply 21, posted (11 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 4292 times:
Thanks for writing this report. I am impressed with the level of service and found the food to be rather impressive. These intra-European routes by Asian carriers remain such delight. Even LA's FRA-MAD is an OK alternative to the regular European airlines.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 22, posted (11 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 4048 times:
Hi PlaneHunter
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 20): very interesting report about your first KE flight!
Thank you. I'm still working on a plan for a next trip with them. The A 380 figures heavily in my planning...
I had considered taking one of their intra-European flights for a long time, but I finally ended up on KE between TPE and ICN earlier this year. I could try the new J Class product on a refurbished A333 which was nice - but there were numerous weaknesses.
Lucky you! I'd love to give their new Business Class a try. TPE to ICN should be a pleasant flight, how long is that, three hours? So what were the weaknesses, more to do with the hardware or the software?
It is definitely a timeless classic. And it even makes the A 380 look elegant and sleek!
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 20): Wow, that looks very impressive. I wasn't satisfied with my J Class meal at all!
How come? Was the quality of the food not good or did you just not like the choices they had? I think if you like spicy food then you can't go wrong with the Korean option, if there was such a thing.
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 21): I am impressed with the level of service and found the food to be rather impressive. These intra-European routes by Asian carriers remain such delight. Even LA's FRA-MAD is an OK alternative to the regular European airlines.
The food and service really were outstanding, especially given the fact that what Iberia and Air Europa have to offer is certainly substandard. With Korean no longer operating the Madrid to Amsterdam service, KLM remains the only viable option on the route in my opinion.
Planehunter, A., thanks for taking the time to comment.
ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8259 posts, RR: 56 Reply 23, posted (11 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3973 times:
Great read William, thanks for posting
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 1): I do a web check-in of sorts for my flight with Korean Air next day. I say 'of sorts' because when you check in online with them, you are only printed a voucher which then has to be exchanged for a proper boarding pass once you arrive at the airport. I always thought the whole point of doing web check-in was that it allowed you to bypass the queues at the airport.
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): The starter is cold chicken with potato salad, followed by chicken breast in a mustard sauce as the hot meal, served with noodles in a pepper and tomato sauce. Dessert is a lovely, diabolically chocolaty piece of cake with pieces of pear in it. I have a diet coke with the and finally wash it all down with a cup of coffee.
- What a great meal for Y in Europe, though not keen on the mustard sauce myself....
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Thread starter): as I was the gate I am informed that I have been upgraded to Business Class and will be seated on 1D. But alas, I can contain myself at the prospect of being upgraded after the botched up affair Air Europe made of it. And quite rightly so! After we take off, the flight attendant informs me that no additional meal has been loaded, and therefore I will be receiving the usual routine of Bretzels and a whole meal biscuit. But, as I am after all seated in Business Class, the coffee is served in a proper mug and I get a full can of Perrier, which is also served in a real glass and not a plastic cup. Spontaneous upgrades do not appear to be the Skyteam's forte it seems...
- Nice to get the upgrade, shame your not catered for, rubbish!
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 24, posted (11 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 3597 times:
Hi Mark
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 23): Great read William, thanks for posting
Thank you. My pleasure.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 23): - What a great meal for Y in Europe, though not keen on the mustard sauce myself....
Neither am I usually, but this way quite okay actually. It was in some kind of cream, which made it milder.
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 23): - Nice to get the upgrade, shame your not catered for, rubbish!
Oh well, win some, you loose some. Still, on such a short trip it's nice to have the extra leg space of the bulkhead row.
There were quite a few cancellations and disruptions that day. So I can't complain really.
Thanks for commenting!
Cheers,
William
25 PlaneHunter: Hi again! KE's A380 is definitely tempting...would love to try it. Slighty more than 2 hours - just enough to try the product. Both. The seat wasn't
26 Knightsofmalta: Hi again PH Yes, perfect for a taster. I've heard that about the Korean Air crews and the ones I had were quite a reserved bunch as well. Yes, if you
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. Also did you realise that this was the "last" MAD-AMS-MAD sector. Effective May 2nd AMS and MAD are now two separate flights. MAD still gets the 777 while AMS uses the A330. AMS retains KE 925, while MAD has a new flight number KE 913. I was browsing their flight schedule to see the frequencies of this MAD-AMS-MAD and was pleasantly surprised to see these changes. 
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