The previous posts of this quasi-‘Round the World adventure:
- JFK Airport/Delta Skyclub and Delta Economy Class to London
- London Part 1
- London Part 2
- London Heathrow (LHR) and the Skyteam Lounge
This is my first time flying in a Boeing 737-900. I didn’t really get that close a look, but I guess its just a little longer than the more common 737-800 Delta flies. Wasn’t expecting much, just a quick flight (I think actual flying time was around 38 minutes or so). As we leave the LHR SkyTeam Lounge, we see a long queue again. Let me tell you….elite status is a blessing and a curse in disguise. I almost never have to wait in line traveling anymore, but its amazing the hook that status can put on you. I spent money on Delta I normally wouldn’t have just to maintain status. But that’s another post for another day. We take our row 16 exit row seats and wait for the plane to fill up.
🙂
My plan for the flight was to grab whatever kind of sleep I could, since I anticipated staying up all night in Amsterdam to take the earliest train back to the airport, around 7am or so. One of the most amusing things about this flight was the safety demonstration put on my the steward for the back half of the economy section. Check this out!
Didn’t get his name, but he loved the camera. Now that’s something you’ll never see on a US-based airline. We taxi up, and again, similar to our arrival flight, we have to wait for the “heavies” (big planes going long distances full of fuel) to take off. While I would normally hate this waiting time, I got to see some amazing planes take off.
Singapore Airlines A380 taking off
More crazy traffic. At least they're fun to watch, if you're a flying junkie like me. (click on me to see it in original size)
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-400
British Airways Boeing 747-400 taking off
Qantas A380 taxiing
We finally take off after waiting for all those flights to get off the ground. Another thing that you’ll never see flying in the capitalist USA…..complimentary beverage and snack service on a flight with a flying time less than 40 minutes. We had the standard beverage selection and the choice of a sweet or savory snack. I was already mid-nap when they woke me for the snack, so I was in a little bit of a daze when choosing. I just grabbed the first bag, which was a savory bag. The savory snack was a cheese cracker-like thing. And I believe the sweet snack was mini chocolate chip cookies? I stuff it in my backpack and try to get some more sleep. Unfortunately before I knew it, we were already on final approach. At this point I give up trying to sleep.
Some Dutch windmills, though not the cool kind.
The interesting thing about the Amsterdam Schiphol airport is its runways. It has its bank of runways near the terminal, then there’s the remote runway. My guesstimation is that it is a couple MILES away from the terminal.
Of course we landed on THAT runway. I timed the taxi; it took 9 minutes 40 seconds. There was no traffic, we never stopped sprinting along the taxiways. Looking out the window, we assumed we were moving around 30-35mph.
That was definitely the most interesting 71 minute flight I’ve ever taken. We deplane, thanking the steward one more time for his performance, and begin our Amsterdam adventures!
Get Gowing! 