KLM Schengen Lounge

In the wake of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, KLM was compelled to close its Schengen Lounge in March. Effective 1 July and in accordance with guidelines published by the Dutch health authorities (RIVM), the Schengen Lounge will again be open to customers travelling within Europe throughout the week from 06:00 until 12:00 hours. 

Temporary measures in the KLM Schengen Lounge in connection with Covid-19:

*Opening hours: daily from 06:00 to 12:00 hours;

*After closing at 12:00 hours, customers are most welcome in the KLM Non-Schengen Crown Lounge;

*Extra hand sanitiser dispensers are available and more frequent cleaning will take place;

*Special walkways have been demarcated, along with protective partitions and banners / signs;

*More pre-packed fresh products will be available. The buffet will remain closed temporarily. We kindly request that customers use trays from the pick-up point in the lounge to select food & beverage products;

*The showers have reopened;

*By law, the smoking area was definitively closed effective 1 April.

KLM Non-Schengen Crown Lounge 

Passengers travelling internationally with KLM or one of its partner airlines are welcome to use all the facilities available at the KLM Non-Schengen Crown Lounge. Only the Blue Restaurant remains closed for the time being. KLM reopened its fully refurbished Non-Schengen Crown Lounge last year. The lounge offers visitors an unforgettable experience based on top-notch service levels, new food & beverage concepts and the application of innovative technologies.

Temporary measures in the KLM Non-Schengen Lounge in connection with Covid-19:

*Extra hand sanitiser dispensers are available and more frequent cleaning will take place;

*Special walkways have been demarcated (using arrows and stickers on the ground), along with protective partitions and banners / signs;

*Food & beverage products have been available since 1 June;

*The City and Heineken Bar reopened on 1 June;

*More pre-packed fresh products will be available. The buffet will remain closed temporarily. We kindly request that customers use trays from the pick-up point in the lounge to select food & beverage products;

*Customers can select food & beverage products downstairs and enjoy them there or at the Blue Bar upstairs;

*The terrace has reopened; 

*A dedicated “wellness host” will be present to ensure that everything runs smoothly;

*The sleep cabins and (luxury) showers are again open for use;

*While “service on the spot” will not yet be available in the lounge, it is available at the service desk; 

*By law, the smoking area was definitively closed effective 1 April.

KLM welcomes customers back to its lounges.

The Platinum Service Line is available Monday to Friday from 08:00 hours to 20:00 hours and on Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30. Platinum members are being personally informed about how they can access this service.

From 1 October 2014, all FB Ivory members will receive a 50% discount on the first piece of hold baggage when booking a KLM ticket to a European destination. This will then cost them EUR 7.50 for a one-way trip when checking in online, and EUR 15 if they check in at the airport.

In line with the usual range of alternatives open to customers, KLM also offers its passengers the option of covering the hold-baggage fee with FB Miles.  FB Ivory members can cover the baggage fee with 1500 FB Miles per flight via My Trip on KLM.com. In this way, KLM continues to reward customer loyalty.

The new policy for FB Ivory members applies for all tickets issued on or after 1 October 2014. Naturally, customers always have the option of travelling without hold baggage when flying Economy Class to European destinations.  

BlueBiz participants and other contracted corporate clients will not be charged.

KLM has had a special bond with the island of Texel since the 1930s. From 1 July 1937 until 22 August 1939, KLM operated a scheduled service between Schiphol and Texel Airport. By choosing the Oudheidkamer as its 94^th Delftware miniature, KLM reaffirms its ties with the island.

The Oudheidkamer was built as a poorhouse in 1599, providing shelter and support for those in need. People who were temporarily homeless or strangers to the island were allowed to stay in the house free of charge for three nights. The house was later used as a family home until it became a museum in 1954, exhibiting a variety of artworks and historical objects, most of which date from the 19^th century.

KLM has presented its Delftware miniatures on board since the 1950s. The miniatures are replicas of remarkable buildings in the Netherlands. Since 1994, the number of houses in the series has kept pace with KLM’s anniversary. Since then, a new miniature has been added on 7 October each year. The miniatures are presented to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights.

Until 26 June, participants will have the opportunity to win a number of prizes every day, representing a value of 500 to 10,000 Miles. At the end of the game, a prize draw will be held to select the winner among the participants who successfully tracked down Mr Miles. The lucky winner will scoop up the winner’s prize of 500,000 Miles, corresponding to more than 2 round the world trips! In total, over 3 million miles will be up for grabs.

This game is open to all, both Flying Blue members and non-Flying Blue members.
 

Dive into a fun-packed universe
The illustrations by Hélène Builly combine archive images and modern graphics in an original, playful style. Each time they connect to the Mr Miles game site, participants will experience a symbolic, virtual and entertaining immersion into the world of Flying Blue and will appreciate the full diversity of this attractive programme.

The game aims to strengthen ties with programme members as well as increase Flying Blue’s reputation with the general public.

A leading programme in Europe
Flying Blue is Europe’s leading frequent flyer programme with over 21 million members. It has 35 airline members and over 100 non-airline partners. With the Flying Blue card, customers can access numerous services specially designed to make travel more enjoyable. There are four membership levels: Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of Air France and KLM, HOP!, Tarom, Kenya Airways, Air Europa and Aircalin.

On April 25, 2013, in Washington DC, Flying Blue was awarded prizes at the Freddie Awards, the most prestigious awards ceremony which recognizes the best loyalty programs. Flying Blue won five awards for the Europe/Africa region: Best frequent flyer program of the year in the field of air transport; Best frequent flyer program for Elite members; Best frequent flyer program for using/earning Miles; Frequent flyer program with the most attractive promotions; Air France KLM-American Express: best credit card linked to a loyalty program.

More than 3 million people voted to award these prizes that reward the initiatives of Flying Blue, which is in tune to its members’ needs more than ever before.

The SieboldHuis is a museum on Rapenburg in Leiden exhibiting objects collected by Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) between 1823 and 1829 during his stay in Deshima, the Dutch trading post at Nagasaki in Japan. The SieboldHuis is also a more general museum for Japanese culture, celebrating the longstanding ties between Japan and the Netherlands.

KLM first began presenting its Delftware miniatures in the 1950s. The little houses are replicas of monumental buildings in the Netherlands. Since 1994, the number of houses in the collection has kept pace with KLM’s own age, with a new miniature being added to the collection on October 7 each year, marking KLM’s anniversary. The miniatures are presented to World Business Class passengers on Intercontinental flights.

The SieboldHuis is the fourth building in Leiden to become a KLM miniature. The other houses are Hooglandse Kerkgracht 19, Stadstimmerwerf aan het Korte Galgenwater 1, and Rapenburg 31.

• the amount of the fuel surcharge is now directly included in the cost of miles when purchasing award tickets for medium-haul flights. Only the airport taxes have to be paid separately.
• customers retain their Elite (Silver, Gold, Platinum) status more easily: all status miles in excess of the customer’s current card threshold level are automatically carried over from one year to the next**.

Flying Blue Store, an online store for earning and using miles
Since April 2012, the Flying Blue Store, a real online shop dedicated to Flying Blue members has been accessible on the www.flyingbluenews.com site. It notably allows:

• to purchase awards with 31 airlines and over 100 non-airline partners: Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Best Western, Hilton, UGC, resort car hire, etc. ,
• to earn miles with some one hundred partners (Amex, Accor for example) by making purchases with brands recommended by Flying Blue members which offer travel, design, art and decoration-related items such as Galeries Lafayette, Zara, Adidas, iTunes, FNAC.com, Fauchon and Lavazza,
• to benefit from promotional awards regularly published on the site. 

*including North Africa and Israel

**For e.g., a Flying Blue Silver member with 35,000 status miles at the end of the year will be able to retain his Silver status the following year thanks to his 25,000 status miles. Moreover, he will begin the year with 10,000 status miles, corresponding to his 35,000 status miles from which the 25,000 status miles required to reach Silver are deducted. Previously, he would have had to reset his status miles account. This innovation will allow each customer to attain a higher status more quickly.

Using miles to travel to New York

For Ivory customers

• 3 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-Nice round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 4 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-Barcelona round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 7 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-New York round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.

For Silver customers

• 2 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-Nice round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 3 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-Barcelona round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 5 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-New York round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.

For Gold customers

• 2 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-Nice or Paris-Barcelona round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 4 Paris-New York round-trips in Voyageur class entitling customers to a Paris-New York round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.

For Platinum customers

• 1 Paris-New York round-trip in Business class entitling customers to a Paris-Barcelona or Paris-Nice round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.
• 2 Paris-New York round-trips in Business class entitling customers to a Paris-New York round-trip award ticket in Voyageur class.

A miles calculator is available on the site to calculate the number of award miles required for a specific flight.

Flying Blue in figures

• Europe’s leading frequent flyer programme with 21 million members in 2012
• 2/3 of members are international
• Miles are valid for life providing that customers travel once every twenty months or pay for their purchases with the Flying Blue American Express card
• Award tickets represent on average 4% of available capacity, i.e. 13 Airbus A380s per day.
• 31 airlines and over 100 non-airline partners.
• Four levels: Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of Air France and KLM, Tarom, Kenya Airways, Air Europa and Air Calin.

“With SkyPriority, we can offer our most loyal passengers an improved travel experience,” says Erik Varwijk, KLM’s managing director. “Travel includes everything from check-in desk to baggage carousel, and we make it all faster and easier. We can offer our SkyTeam customers an even better, more consistent product.”

Travellers can see the SkyPriority mark on their boarding pass and know immediately if they qualify for this special service. From check-in to departure, they can follow the red SkyPriority signs so they can check in, drop off their bags, and board faster and easier. What is more, SkyPriority makes it easier for airport staff to recognise and assist passengers.

SkyTeam is the first airline alliance to offer consistent priority services worldwide, in which all member airlines take part. All SkyTeam airlines have established their implementation dates and introduction periods. Some of the first airports to introduce SkyPriority include Paris Charles de Gaulle (today), Atlanta, Guangzhou, Nairobi, Shanghai, and Taipei.

KLM’s Dutch roots are also a central theme in the From Holland Festival. In October and November, passengers on all flights originating in Amsterdam can enjoy products and articles with a Dutch touch.

The starters, main courses and desserts served in World Business Class were created by the successful chef Mario Ridder of the two-star restaurant De Zwethheul in Schipluiden near Delft. Aside from wines grown in the Netherlands or created abroad, passengers will also have the chance to sample a variety of Dutch snacks such as kroketten, poffertjes and cheese cubes. The Economy Class menu includes meatballs with mashed potatoes, white beans and French beans. Dutch films will also be available on the inflight entertainment system.

And, during the first month, all passengers can send home a picture postcard designed by the Dutch duo BLOND. KLM will send the cards with the help of PostNL.

“KLM is once again proud to be working with one of the Netherlands’ most successful chefs. Mario Ridder is the latest in a series of great chefs to create meals for KLM; other names include Sergio Herman and Jonnie Boer,” said Erik Varwijk, Executive Vice President KLM Commercial.

KLM President & CEO, Peter Hartman explains, “Our Delft Blue houses are popular collectables. Around the world collectors do all they can to complete their collections. And I can promise, they can’t stop collecting yet, because KLM will be presenting these houses for many years to come. We have faith in the future and plan to celebrate many more birthdays.” The 90th house is a replica of ‘Wester-Amstel’ house, one of the oldest existing merchant’s houses in Holland. ‘Wester-Amstel’ house was built in 1662 by Nicolaas Pancras, then Mayor of Amsterdam and a governor of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Peter Hartman presented the first copy of the 90th KLM Delft Blue House to the Mayor of Amstelveen, Jan van Zanen, and to the owner of the original building, Mr. Søren Movig.

To mark KLM’s 90th anniversary a special book has been compiled on the KLM House Collection, entitled ‘House No. 90’. It contains all 90 houses along with a history of the original buildings and stories about the previous residents. Mr Hartman presented the first copy to Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven.

The book presentation was followed by the opening of the photographic exhibition ‘90 Years of KLM’ at Museum Van der Togt. The exhibition presents images of KLM’s rich history and has drawn strongly on the KLM Historical Photo Archive, which is managed by the Maria Austria Institute. Paul Huf and Rineke Dijkstra are among the photographers whose work gives a wide-ranging impression of 90 years of KLM history. There are historical images of Amsterdam, old Schiphol, the airfield at Waalhaven in Rotterdam, and famous and less well-known passengers. Ten recent photographs by Hans Willemsen and Marco Borggreve are also included. The exhibition of photographs is supplemented with historical posters, material that used to be used on board, and the new women’s uniform, designed by Mart Visser. The complete collection of KLM Delft Blue Houses is also on display at Museum Van der Togt.