Europe 2012: Leaving Paris to Amsterdam: The flight with KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines

From my last post about Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, I’m back barely 30 hours later to catch my flight to Amsterdam. I took the same shuttle to the airport and there were many confusion on heading to Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.

I was lucky that I headed out very early. The hotel shuttle stops at several hotels and at each hotel, and the passengers are never quite sure where to go. It’s the airport that they are heading to yes, but they will still end up asking the driver “terminal 1? Terminal 2? I’m going to Belgium/Norway/Amsterdam/China. Which terminal should I go to?”
More often than not, the driver themselves do not know which terminal. So the confused passenger will stand at the door and not know whether to go on the shuttle or otherwise, and the driver will wait impatiently for him/her to make up his mind.

Frankly I wish these travelers would do their research beforehand. Perhaps the CDG airport could help by erecting a huge FAQs board, have more information counters or give out flyers IN ENGLISH – “All about Paris Charles de Gaulle airport“. Or maybe there’s one that I’m not aware of?

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (7)

It gets worst at the Terminals. The shuttle will first arrive at Terminal 1 followed by Terminal 2. Everyone on the shuttle will ask the driver, “My flight is to XXX, should I get down here or Terminal 2?”. Then a whole long strings of questions and more delays as every passenger stood confused on whether to exit or not.

Here I would like to do my part (some sort as a guide to my readers & friends) by sharing what I know and experienced while I was at Paris  Charles de Gaulle airport.

If you are flying with KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines  or Air France, just go to Terminal 2. 

Terminal 2 is the dedicated KLM – Air France hub. That means it’s a dedicated KLM-Air France terminal for ease of transfer between these airlines especially for connecting flights.

Now that we got that sorted, here’s my experience at the Paris CDG airport – departure. If you compare it to my previous post of when I first arrived HERE, you will realize there’s a huge difference!

BELOW: Checking out and heading to the airport via the hotel shuttle.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (6)

Sights and scenery along the way to airport.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (5)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (4)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (3)

As I have mentioned before in my previous post, Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is humongous.  O_O

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (15)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (13)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (8)

Almost there!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (2)

I was dropped off at the same shuttle stop.

shuttle bus Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (16)

When in doubt, head to info counter. There weren’t many in the airport and from my previous experience I know only of this one so just to be safe I dropped to say hello and checked on my flight.

Paris - CDG Airport - info counter

Turned out that it wasn’t really necessary after all. This rather cool machine was sure handy.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (19)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (18)

I was at the airport really early (10am Paris time)  as I wanted to go to Paris city again.  I think I have mentioned before in my post that going to Paris from an airport hotel in CDG area = 2 hours.
1. 15-20mins wait for hotel shuttle to arrive at hotel
2. 30 minutes (or more, depending on the amount of passengers getting on the shuttle) to reach Paris CDG airport
3.  20 mins – walk from pick-up point of hotel shuttles to “Paris by Train” – where the trains are
4.  15 mins – queue to get your ticket at the machine (it’s normal to see a queue in front of EVERY machine). Be patient and make sure you have time on your side as it’s a certainty that there will be tourists in front of you and they will take some time to figure out the usage of the machine, plus fiddle with their coins while paying.
5. 20 – 30 minutes wait for the RIGHT train to come along. Please note that being at the correct platform doesn’t mean every train that passes that platform is going in the same direction as the ticket you bought.
6.  40 minutes to get to Paris city, depending again on which stop you choose.

So let’s see. How long was that? 2.5 hours?
Well, thereabouts for sure. You might shave off 30 minutes if you’re lucky i.e having the waiting time at  each stop lessen by 5 – 10 mins.

My flight is at 4.20pm Paris time so I planned to get back by 3.00pm Paris time.

KLM ticket - Paris - Amsterdam

But first, to check in my huge luggage. Here I am heading to Terminal 2F as informed on the screen.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (20)

The departure terminal is so bright and nice in comparison to the terminal I arrived in.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (22)

What did I say about HSBC? 🙂

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (23)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (25)

It’s a wise decision to check- in online prior to any flights.

Internet check in - flights on KLM and Air france

Now this is cool. These machines allows you to print your own luggage tag and boarding pass! This sure lessen queuing and waiting time.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (26)

Check out the machine! It’s simple to navigate and the menu instructions were very concise and clear.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (27)

I’m terrible with machines so if I could do it, anyone can! 😛

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (28)

I’m a gorgeous globe-trotting female, thank you very much! 😛

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (29)

This is freaking cool, all your details are extracted and displayed on screen.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (30)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (31)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (32)

Here comes my luggage tag!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (33)

And now my boarding pass! 🙂

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (34)

Easy-peasy wasn’t it? KLIA, please have these machines installed soon alright??

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (35)

Done with checking in of luggage, I tried to catch the train to Paris city.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (24)

Sigh. The perpetually long queue at the ticketing counter.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (37)

So I tried the machines, which also has a snaking queue. Anyhow, this is how the machine looks like.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (36)

It was 11.00am Paris time then. After much deliberation, I realized there won’t be much time for me to get to the city, walk around and get back. Furthermore, it’s Euro 9.25 each way = RM37 x 2 = RM74.

Thus I decided to go to Ikea instead, which was only a short train ride away (and cheaper too!). Since I’m IKEA Malaysia’s ambassador, I thought an article about the IKEAs overseas would be fun. That’s the story for another post so here I have have fast-forwarded to the time I arrived back at Terminal 2F for boarding.

BELOW: The boarding area of Terminal 2F.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (46)

I love the boarding area. It was so very spacious, clean and bright. There were cafes and ample seats to ease your wait..

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (43)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (41)

Thoughtful onveniences such as power plugs are much appreciated!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (39)

Hungry? Grab a bite here. All the cafes displayed scrumptious sandwiches, pastries as well as hot dishes like pasta.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (44)

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (42)

PAUL is EVERYWHERE in Paris! There’s one in Terminal 2F, outside the boarding area.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (38)

And another one INSIDE the boarding area!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (1)

La Maison du Chocolate – a famous chocolatier, which I just had to buy some!

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (49)

The washroom was clean, despite the heavy human traffic. There were different sections for grooming, shower and toilet cubicles.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (48)

In need of any toiletries? Buy it from this machine: condoms, tampons, toothpaste and toothbrush, Stain protector stick (I kid you not!) and razors.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (47)

For once waiting for boarding was comfortable and non-stressful.

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport - rebeccasaw (40)

Next, Amsterdam!
And here’s my overall video of the trip; do watch! 😀

Wackybecky’s Europe Adventures 16th -23rd May 2012 was made possible thanks to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Malaysia.
A fun travel prediction app to try –>http://www.travelpredictions.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KLMMalaysia
Website: http://www.klm.com/travel/my_en/index.htm 

KLM_Airlines_Logo

More of Europe:
The BEST of macarons and croissants in Paris – the legendary Pierre Herme!
The extravagant once in a decade FLORIADE – world’s biggest Horticultural Expo at Venlo, The Netherlands – a must visit!
Smoking weed in Amsterdam – a video.. – You only live once! :DD
PART I – Walking Food Tour in Paris!
PART II -Paris Food Walking Tour – a gourmand’s dream!

NOTE:

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is offering travelers 3 additional weekly flights out of KLIA to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, its home airport beginning on 29 October 2012 until 30 March 2013.

Part of KLM’s new winter schedule, the additional flights from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam depart at 9.35 a.m. every Tuesday,  Thursday and Sunday, arriving at 3.20 p.m. the same day.

The additional winter flights will depart from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 12.35 p.m. and arrive at 7.35 a.m. the following day.

This Post Has 23 Comments

  1. Sean

    gosh, that’s a lot of photos of the airport facilities! i actually didn’t think of snapping any pics in the airport 😀

    1. rebeccasaw

      One normally wont Sean , Haha..afer all most airports kinda looked the same after a while!
      I have been to too many! But for Europe I paid more attention as I was trying to figure if it was different from the SEA ones I have been to so far. Indeed there are some facilities upgrades compared to ours here!

  2. Tammy

    So different after seeing your earlier post! This one is so “pretty”, clean and bright!

    1. rebeccasaw

      This was the departure. I was surprised at the difference too! But so nice yes? 🙂

  3. Cindy Tong

    the machines is so convenient..can buy anything..

  4. Kang Li

    Woooho! Now you’re in Amsterdam! hope to see your post on your adventures in Amsterdam soon!

    1. rebeccasaw

      Yups! Soon soon! hehehe.. preparing the pics!

    1. rebeccasaw

      Thanks Anna! So happy got people to watch it! It was lot of work doing a video versus a written post + pics!

  5. Linda Lee

    yeah, amsterdam is a nice place, was there for only 3 days at end of june 2012. would love to visit the other parts of that place and looking fwd to see yr pic posting.

    1. rebeccasaw

      I ws there at the end of May! 😀
      Yuppsss.. more pics and the free tour soon. The tour was rather educational! 😀
      Where did you go bytw? I guess it’s the museums and all?

  6. Tanya

    KLM – I haven’t flew with them before! Should ask my Fin/Travel dept to check into their flights and rates for my office 🙂

    1. rebeccasaw

      OH you should! Actually, if you’re flying to Europe countries, I’m sure KLM is one of your choice for airline!

  7. Wong

    KLM is rather good choice for Europe travel!

    1. rebeccasaw

      I think so too! It’s their primary route after all! 🙂

  8. Kevin

    More on europe becky!!

    1. rebeccasaw

      Urghh! I have so much to post! Coming coming! 🙂

  9. Ginny

    Europe! Looks like you had a blast!

  10. Flora

    Oh becky! such a wonderful fun video! U smoked weed, ate raw herrings, went to Moulin Rouge!

Leave a Reply to Tammy Cancel reply

Related Posts

How to Afford Your Next Getaway

After a sustained period of lockdown, nothing will be more exciting than planning your next vacation. With freedom returning to our streets in the coming

Vago, The Baggage Compression Device

Did you hear about the brand new travel tool, now available in Malaysia (and also sold internationally)? It’s the ultimate baggage compression device perfect for

Phu Quoc Beer Festival 2017!

Phu Quoc island was on the tourist radar for the past four years but rapid development was only in place for the past two. With