KLM - too much hand baggage on board is bad

[northwichcat]

http://blog.klm.com/hand-luggage-ca....mc_id=15859615593405746151512491966141083639

So Ryanair are leading the way in cutting back hold baggage and KLM are trying to do the opposite.

 

[Old Timer]

http://blog.klm.com/hand-luggage-ca....mc_id=15859615593405746151512491966141083639

So Ryanair are leading the way in cutting back cabin baggage and KLM are trying to do the opposite.

How on earth do you reach that conclusion as its completely opposite to what was written ?

But passengers can also make a huge contribution to this by limiting their hand baggage to the minimum.

The cabin crew are not allowed to store baggage in locations that might endanger the safety of passengers and overhead luggage bins may never be too full to avoid falling baggage in the event of turbulence. This means that hand luggage that cannot be stowed has to be checked in and transported in the cargo hold.

So please, if you start your trip from Amsterdam or Paris, or continue your journey through one of these hubs, limit your hand baggage to the minimum. And if you travel with extra baggage, make use of the reduced fares at klm.com.

As a frequent traveller I get particularly ****** off by those who try to exploit the goodwill of the cabin crew and turn up with two bags rather than the one permitted. They then take up the space allocated to others in the row with the ultimate result that some poor soul will find their permitted sized luggage sent down to the hold, when they may have already planned a small bag so as to exit the a/c quikly for a connecting flight somewhere else.

When I travelled to Sweden recently my connecting flight was delayed inbound by fog and it was a rush to get to the next leg flight. When I and a couple of other connecting passengers got on board it was to find that the overhead lockers were jammed solid. Fortunately the flight attendant was able to make room for my small bag in the crews storage, however it was extremely annoying to watch a fair number of people who had taken double the permitted amount into the cabin, and who had thus contributed to the problem.

The rules are quite clear and having had several delays caused by those who are simply too arrogant to accept them, I dearly wish that Airlines would be more forceful and refuse access past the gate for those passengers with more than the permitted bags a matter of standard procedure.

I have seen KLM cabin crew refuse to allow bags to be brought on board and have re-directed them into the hold, and then been accused of being "customer unfriendly" simply because they were enforcing the rules, which other airlines did not. I just wish that airlines would all stand firm on this.

I know Ryanair have had a lot of flak about their policy but they are absolutely correct to do this, as any frequent flyer will attest to. The only vocal complaints emanate from those who dont believe the rules should apply to them, and those who fly once or twice a year on holidays anmd whose views should not count in any case.

 

[northwichcat]

How on earth do you reach that conclusion as its completely opposite to what was written ?

I got cabin and hold mixed up. If you'd read the title as well you would have realised that.

 

[Old Timer]

I got cabin and hold mixed up. If you'd read the title as well you would have realised that.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[stut]

Also remember that for an airline like KLM, it's more difficult to have a generous hand baggage policy.

With Ryanair, you'll be flying on a 737NG, with a uniform overhead locker maximum permitted weight.

With KLM short-haul, you could be on a 737-300, -400, -700, -800 or -900, or an ERJ, or a Fokker of various flavours (unless they've managed to get rid of all of them by now). All have different max weights for overhead lockers, and aircraft can be substituted according to demand. So, you have to go for the lowest common denominator (and allow gate-check for the props - KLM are actually very good at this).

But yes, I also find myself particularly annoyed at the DYKWIA types who insist on taking the kitchen sink on board with them, and blocking the lockers for everyone else.

 

[Old Timer]

KLM still have Fokker 50/70/100.

You will be in for a sad surprise though as KLM are proposing to match seats with a/c type more closely on the Cityhopper flights, so you can expect more Fokkers on services from the UK to the Netherlands next year.

 

[WestCoast]

KLM still have Fokker 50/70/100.

You will be in for a sad surprise though as KLM are proposing to match seats with a/c type more closely on the Cityhopper flights, so you can expect more Fokkers on services from the UK to the Netherlands next year.

KLM Cityhopper have retired their Fokker 50s (props), although Air France-KLM's subsidiary Cityjet still operate them.

Most of the Fokker 100s (jets) have left the fleet too. Replaced by Embraer 190s.

They still have many Fokker 70s (jets) though, a type I do like very much.
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As for hand luggage, the most I've ever seen was on one of Ryanair's longest flights - Edinburgh to Fuerteventura in the Canaries - booked for 4 hours 50 minutes! Fully booked with 189 passengers on a Boeing 737-800. Due to the really high baggage fees on this route, the vast majority of passengers brought one maximum size trolley bag as hand luggage, plus a duty free bag. I have never seen the overhead lockers so FULL! No room whatsoever for around 30 or so bags, loads had to go under the seat infront and some had to be put in the hold.

That was a painful flight - due to headwinds it took just over 5 hours. Trust me, 5 hours on a rammed Ryanair flight was not a pleasant experience! I thought we might not even make it that far with a heavy load on a 737! I was contemplating a diversion to Casablanca or Agadir!

Although, the flight was only £90 return, which is a bargain for the distance, and well worth it to see family.

 

[richw]

I went out to Athens from Manchester in November with easyjet, the return flight despite being only 75% full they were asking customers to volunteer their bags for hold as there was too much. I personally had a cabin suitcase as I was not paying £40 for hold baggage, when all I needed was 3 days worth of underwear, shirts and trousers. Cost me significantly less than 40 quid to buy wash gear out there. Appeared many people did the same!

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[Old Timer]

KLM Cityhopper have retired their Fokker 50s (props), although Air France-KLM's subsidiary Cityjet still operate them.

Most of the Fokker 100s (jets) have left the fleet too. Replaced by Embraer 190s.

They still have many Fokker 70s (jets) though, a type I do like very much.
.

My source (current to Oct 2011) still shows KLM having 26 x Fokker 70 and 5 x Fokker 100, although these are on standby/charter use.

I do like the Embraer 190, and the flight deck is pretty impressive too, and it has proper control columns !

 

[WestCoast]

My source (current to Oct 2011) still shows KLM having 26 x Fokker 70 and 5 x Fokker 100, although these are on standby/charter use.

Yes, but you mentioned the Fokker 50, a true classic prop which has left the fleet. They were noisy things, I remember them on the Humberside - Amsterdam runs...

The Fokker 70s could be replaced with Embraer 170s/175s.