Flying KLM via Amsterdam to and from the Philippines

I have quite recently returned to Davao from a visit to the UK and flew KLM pretty much door-to-door - well, almost! Here are my experiences and reasons for suggesting that this route is probably, maybe, the best available.

Following the airline's closure of its Manila base, KLM has re-timed its departures from both Schipol and Manila to be evening flights. This means one can take a flight from anywhere in the Philippines to Manila and connect with KLM without having to stay overnight in a Manila hotel. Similarly for flights to Manila, there's now a far greater choice of KLM's regional services that connect with its Manila flight and as the flight from Manila now arrives at Schipol in the early morning, similar connection choices abound.

I was on one of the last (KLM) flights to leave from the old International Terminal (T1), they now all arrive and depart from Terminal 3 which is a vast improvement. However, if you're flying from a provincial airport on PAL you will need to allow TWO HOURS just to get from PAL's Terminal 2 to Terminal 3; the traffic is that bad. There's now only one shuttle bus between the terminals - there used to be two - and it only stops at the arrivals areas of Terminals 1 and 2 (it used to stop first at departures) and is no longer free (20/50 Pesos depending on nose length). And be warned: there are NO metered taxis at Terminal 3, a "coupon taxi" will cost up to 1,000!!

We left Manila bang on schedule at 7.40pm and no sooner had the seatbelt sign been switched-off, the combined dinner and drinks service was underway even though the flying time to Taipei is just 80 minutes. Nevertheless they did serve a proper dinner, with several choices of main course. Probably just as well because you'll need the calories to provide the energy for the "Taipei Marathon".

KLM normally uses gate D8 at Taipei and the Chinese authorities require all transit passengers to disembark, taking all their carry-ons with them, and make their way to the Transit Area which is around half a mile away. It is very important that you collect a blue Transit Boarding Card from one of the ground crew who'll be standing at the top of the air-bridge: without that card, you'll not be able to enter the Transit Area and subsequently reboard your flight. When you arrive at the central concourse, follow the signs to the Transit Area and go up the escalator at the top of which there's the normal pre-boarding security area. The Chinese are very hot on security, their equipment is very sensitive and you may be "patted-down" by a security officer of either sex. They did not require laptops and phones to be switched-on when I travelled but that may change.

Having cleared security you'll enter the departure concourse where there is a good selection of eateries and duty-free shopping - but you won't have much time to linger there as you'll have to retrace your steps the half-mile or so back to your gate where you may well arrive to find that boarding has already commenced. And when you retake your seat, you'll probably find that you can no longer spread-out to the seat next to you as (new) passengers do join the flight.

After take-off, another main meal is served however this time, you'll be offered the choice of a full meal or quite a substantial snack and the drinks cart will make a couple of trips up and down the aisles. Breakfast is served 90 minutes prior to landing.

The flight is timetabled to arrive in Amsterdam at 6.25am (local time) but that allows for up to a 3 hour technical stop in Taipei. As we left Taipei after only 90 minutes, we touched-down at Schipol at 5am and parked at a gate on Pier F. As my connecting flight to Cardiff wasn't until 9.10, I had plenty of time to supplement my caffeine level and take advantage of the free WiFi in one of KLM's lounges. Oh and have a smoke too!

Apart from flights to London and Manchester, KLM's UK regional flights all depart (and arrive) from "B" which is very close to the central concourse and from where you are bussed to your waiting Fokker. I arrived in Cardiff ten minutes early, at 9.20am, and by 9.45 was driving out the airport in my hire car.

The return trip was pretty much a reverse image of the outbound with the Taipei/Manila flight departing from gate D8 at 8.40pm and dinner being served shortly after take-off. Breakfast was served at about 1.30pm (local time), two hours before landing at Taipei. However one of the two parallel runways was closed and our departure for the short hop to Manila was delayed but nevertheless we managed to arrive on time at Manila (6.20pm).

The cost? It was $3,413 (excluding the additional Davao-Manila-Davao sectors) and that's Business Class. Economy would have been considerably cheaper but at 6'1" tall, being confined in a cattle-class seat with the seat in front reclined on to my knees is not my idea of having a fun time; I did fly economy domestically though. Besides which I'm building up a nice collection of Delft houses, each of which is filled with a very generous measure of Dutch Giniver which KLM gives to its Business Class passengers.

I did consider PAL but that would have taken me to the wrong airport (Heathrow) but it was almost $1,000 more expensive for my dates of travel and its departure at 7am from Manila would necessitate an overnight stay. Cathay via Hong Kong and Singapore Airlines were both similarly more expensive and, quite frankly, I am more than hesitant to patronise a middle-eastern airline these days.

KLM is in the process of refleeting its City Hopper fleet with Embraer 190s and appears to have replaced all its Fokker F100s but there are still a few of the smaller F70s in service including the one that's based at Cardiff. For the 50 minute flight to/from Amsterdam, they're not too bad. They seem to spend almost as much time taxiing to and from the runway at Schipol as they do in the air!

There is only one problem with KLM, its a crap airline whether business class of serf class, ok for flying around Europe but that's about it. Used them many many times, or the company I worked for did.

Reasonably priced though, cheap and cheerful

I will probably fly KLM from Humberside to Manila this Xmas then pay separately for a ticket to Cebu, thus saving quite a lot of money. But I assume that will mean having to transfer hold luggage myself from one terminal to another?

EDIT: It seems if I fly Cebu Pacific (rather than Asian Air) for the MNL-CEB hop then I won't need to change terminals!

I hear what you say, Tim, and to an extent I agree, there are far better airlines than KLM. However, between the Philippines and the UK - or anywhere in Europe, come to that, I reckon KLM is the best there is on a number of counts:

• Best connections to/from the UK with all regional airports served (except Douglas)
• Decent baggage allowance (piece system)
• 2 carry-ons PLUS laptop
• Flight times in and out of Manila are convenient for domestic connections
• Food is excellent and there is a good range of snacks available during the flight if you get peckish

What I didn't mention in my OP was that on my return trip, we were quite late leaving Cardiff and there was a strong possibility I would miss my connection. Shortly after take-off, one of the cabin crew came and told me they knew I had a connecting flight and that I would be met at Schipol. When we landed, I was met by a car and driven straight to the terminal where a golf cart met me and whisked me to the gate where the Manila flight was about to close - I wasn't quite the last passenger to board, but almost. As I took my seat, the Captain announced over the intercom something like "We're just waiting for some last minute bags and then we'll be off". We were pushed-back a couple of minutes later - and yes, my bags did make the flight and were, in fact, the first two unloaded on to the carousel.

That is not an isolated instance, there have been others over the years and it is touches like that, that makes me want to continue using the airline.

If it were not for KLM, our local airport (Humberside) would not even have international connections (except for charter, mostly seasonal, flights) RyanAir did briefly fly from Humberside and were due to return in 2011 but I don't think it ever happened; they certainly don't operate from Humberside now.

It is a real benefit being able to fly to Philippines from a local airport, especially for someone disabled. Local airports are smaller and a lot less walking and I don't fancy driving far these days, especially if it means an overnight stay in a hotel. The downfall, is no air bridges, which can be a problem when arriving at Schipol and being refused disembarkation until a wheelchair was obtained!

Firstly, Howerd, travel mid-week (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) both ways, it will be cheaper. Neither PAL nor Cebu Pacific have interline agreements with KLM so you will have to reclaim your bags in Manila and then check-in for your onwards flight. However all three airlines have web check-in that opens 24 hours prior to departure which will save you some time.

For your outbound domestic flight, you have several choices:

Cebu Pacific - Terminal 3
Tues/Thurs : 5J 587 - Departs Manila 21.05 Arrives Cebu 22.20
Daily : 5J 579 - 22.05 23.15
Daily : 5J 577 - 23.00 00.15

Philippine Airlines - Terminal 2
Daily : PR 2867 20.05 21.20
Daily : PR 2869 21.10 22.25
Tues/Thurs: PR 2879 22.00 23.15

By the time all taxes, fees and pre-paid baggage allowances are added-in, there's very little difference between them price-wise although, from experience, PAL is often marginally cheaper. Cebu Pacific is a low-cost carrier with less seat space per passenger, non-reclining seats and has strict carry-on restrictions. Also at both Manila and Cebu, there's no guarantee your flight will leave/arrive at a gate with an air-bridge, meaning you may have to negotiate steep steps.

On arrival in Manila, you will have to reclaim your baggage and proceed through Customs. As KLM arrives at a quiet time for the international part of Terminal 3, you should be through Immigration and Customs within 30-40 minutes of arrival.

If you decide to fly with Cebu Pacific, then, having gone through Customs, follow the signs to Domestic Departures. There are a few elevators in the building - some of them actually work! - so getting from the arrivals level to departures isn't too much bother.

If you take my advice, you'll book with PAL - and select a fare that does NOT include any baggage allowance but instead select that separately (from the "next" page in the booking process). This will be cheaper! Also you may experience problems with Cebu Pacific's online booking system as it often rejects non-Philippine credit cards - or worse, it debits your card but fails to issue an e-ticket. PAL's site has no such problems and is much more user-friendly. However, you will have to transit between Terminals 3 and 2.

As you have mobility problems, I suggest you notify both KLM and PAL; both airlines will happily provide special assistance - and that may include help getting between terminals in Manila, though I am not certain of this. Alternatively, book your flights through a travel agency and get them to arrange it.

Not flown long-haul to Manila for a couple of years, but KLM is also my airline of choice, decent service and connections from Leeds or Manchester airports to most places I need to travel.

Wow Markham! As always, a comprehensive answer!!

My avatar tells you where my loyalties lie, and at Christmas I will be flying Cathay Pacific to HK, thence to Cebu, and then to either Ozamiz or Pagadian depending on what Cebu Pacific have to offer. I have the advantage of knowing that my transfer at Chep Lap Kok will be seamless.

I have flown KLM a number of times over the years. I have found them acceptable. Not fantastic. But not bad either.

Something to their advantage is that when you board, from wherever you are on the globe, good, bad or otherwise, its as if you are in Europe from the off, rather than some less than savoury alternative vicinity. And one of the key reasons I had my wife fly them from Manila.

I always used Cathay Pacific, which I'm always happy with. Plus you get the added bonus of easy changeovers in Hong Kong, which are short delays and Hong Kong airport is marvellous.


The only problem I had was when I used Dragon Air as a connecting flight, which got delayed.

I flew to the USA on KLM once and they were fine.

Worst I've been on for seat space was JAL. Flew all the way to Japan squashed between the arm of the chair, and I was a skinny bugger at the time too.

Anybody can tell me is the KLM checking the weight of hand baggage ?

Its around 10 or 12kg if you are travelling economy, more if you are travelling business class, I had to take some heavy luggage on a plane the other week and I was flying KLM.

I think it may vary a little depending on your route, just check the KLM website, its as simple as that.

Sometimes they will weigh your hand luggage sometimes they wont.

http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prepare_for_travel/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.htm

So they will weight my hand baggage in the same time as they check in my main baggage but not any more ?
I mean when the check in will be done i can add more weight to my hand baggage and nobody will check it ?
How about Amsterdam ?