Keeping my fingers crossed. Review on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

I am writing this Review from Ossining, NY, USA, where my daughter, Kasturi, lives with her family. I and my wife arrived here on 2 July after spending six days in London and in other counties of England. All the way from Calcutta we flew by KLM. On return also we shall fly to Calcutta by the same airline. We left Calcutta at 3.30 in the morning of 26 June. My nephew who lives in London had asked us to carry folding umbrellas, and so we did. At the Dum Dum Airport, both the police and the KLM staff did not allow us to take the umbrellas with us. The Police people drew our attention to a Circular issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation, in which umbrellas had been equated with knives and other prohibitive items. I argued that as a citizen of India I am entitled to right of Information, and the contents of the DGCA’s circular on Umbrellas had not been given any publicity. My argument backed by logic fell into deaf ears, and we boarded the aircraft leaving our umbrellas with them. I had also threatened that this was a fit case to go to the Consumer Court. I think they realized that their position was not on firm grounds. Our umbrellas were returned to us in the aircraft, before it took off. Although the flight schedule was a non-stop one from Calcutta to Amsterdam, it landed at Delhi to take some more passengers. Fair enough, but this should have been there in the schedule and in the Ticket Coupons. By doing this KLM took the passengers for granted.

From Delhi to London it was a daytime flight. The breakfast was good. For lunch there was no alternative item to Beef. This implies that either one should take Beef, or go for vegetarian lunch. This was rather funny. I have been an international traveler since 1963, flying by many IATA and non-IATA airlines, but never before I have been compelled to take a type of food, which was not to my liking. KLM should respect the religious sentiments of passengers. I had never faced such a problem in Garuda, a KLM partner. Even in Air India, which is not one of my favourite airlines, I have never faced such a problem.

Seating is very uncomfortable as leg spaces are cramped. To accommodate more passengers, this has been done at the cost of passenger comfort. Just before take-off and before landing, hot towels were not provided. Cotton wool should have been provided to safeguard the eardrums. Plenty of Orange juice was provided. The Computer Graphics were very informative giving at a glance the flight altitude, time at destination and temperature at destination.

When we were in the KLM Booking Counter at London’s Heathrow Airport, we booked our baggage directly to JFK Airport. At London, there was the change of Plane. After landing at JFK Airport, while claiming our baggage, I found my suitcase to be missing. Quite a few passengers had lost their baggage. Walking through the Green Channel was without any hustle. A formal complaint was lodged, and I was told that the baggage would be delivered at my daughter’s residence within a few days. This was 2 July. Surprisingly, it was delivered at my daughter’s residence on 4 July, which was the Independence Day of USA, and naturally a national holiday. Back home in India ? Impossible. Everything in the suitcase was intact.

Our return flights (JFK-AMSTERDAM-DELHI-CALCUTTA) are by the same airline. Only the DELHI-CALCUTTA Sector is by the Delta Airlines. KLM has stopped operating from Calcutta from 15 July. I am keeping my fingers crossed !