Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class

KLM have flown out of Bristol Airport for many years, and now operate three times a day on what in summer can be a very busy route, with many passengers connecting to long haul services, and avoiding the trek up to Heathrow which could add many hours. With the time saved, it can be well worth while flying out of Bristol.

• Bristol Airport Guide

  It was to be a long day, flying as I was from Britol to Amsterdam on the new Embraer 190, then to Paris on a 737, and finally to Venice on the rare Airbus A318. All in Business Class, and earning a stack of Qantas points, thanks to the new agreement between Qantas and KLM.

  Bristol Airport is a small regional airport at Lulsgate Bottom in North Somerset.

  
  Bristol AirportCopyright lux-traveller

  Larger than you might expect, it is the ninth busiest airport in the United Kingdom, handling nearly 9 million passengers. It is a major base for EasyJet and Ryanair. Even BA occasionally use the airport on a weekly basis in summer. However, all the transatlantic flights have now been axed.

  
  Bristol Airport Express BusCopyright lux-traveller

  Bristol Airport may only be 13 miles from the city centre, but it felt a lot further than that on the little local bus heading out into the countryside from Bristol, from the decidedly run down bus station just off Cabot Circus. Let's just say the post-war reconstruction of the city wasn't kind, and it's not very pretty. At least the bus went via Bristol Temple Meads railway station and along the Avon Gorge giving me a chance to see the sights. An hour later, I turned up at Bristol Airport.

  
  Bristol Airport Bus to cityCopyright lux-traveller

  KLM check in was swift, indeed very quick without a single other passenger in the Business Class queue. However, the staff were taken by surprise both by my three sector journey, and by my Qantas card. At first they protested that KLM had nothing to do with Qantas. Then they said they'd see if the computer would accept it, and when I asked about status benefits as a Qantas Platinum, finally they dug out a manual, and (by now resorting to astonishment) confirmed I should be Sky Priority. It seems Bristol didn't get the memo about the KLM Qantas partnership.

  
  Bristol AirportCopyright lux-traveller

  I went straight through security fast track, again thanks to my Qantas card, and into the terminal.

  
  Bristol Airport TerminalCopyright lux-traveller

  Bristol KLM Lounge - BRS Aspire lounge review

  There are no less than two (woo!) lounges at Bristol Airport you can use as a KLM premium passenger.

  • Bristol Airport Aspire Lounge Review

    My Qantas Platinum card gave me access on KLM to the main Bristol Aspire lounge, which is a smallish pay-in lounge, although I did have to argue a bit on the door to get access, as again the staff never seemed to have seen a Qantas card.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    It was packed, and remember this is very much at an off peak time. However at least the Bristol Aspire lounge has comfy seats, a free bar and and hot food.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    The view from the lounge windows is also decidedly less than impressive, of the check in area. However, there is a large bar.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    I spent a little time here, in the quiet area around the corner from the main lounge, and found this to be far more preferable than the main noisy busy area.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    Looking at the food there were four hot options.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    Plus a salad bar in the Bristol Aspire Lounge.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    The bar had champagne on request (and at an extra charge) but basic lager was free.

    As a Business Class customer on KLM, I also had access to the AspirePlus Lounge at Bristol Airport. It is just a little bit of a step up from the main Aspire lounge, and found at the other end of the terminal.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire Plus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

    It is much smaller, but there is a staffed cocktail bar, and better food.

    
    Bristol Airport Aspire Plus loungeCopyright lux-traveller
    • Bristol Airport Aspire Plus Lounge

      The food is certainly better than in the main Aspire lounge. While the Aspire Plus lounge has four hot dishes, which change every other month, it also has some extra hot snacks and a better salad bar.

      Today it was lamb casserole. And pasta, rice, or chickpeas. On the side there was a selection of curry and Indian snacks.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire Pus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      The salad bar was good too, with several ham cold cuts, plus a bowl of lettuce, and three of four other salad options.

      Lovely deserts, including cheesecake, and some deserts in bowls. And hot scones too, with strawberry jam.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      Of course the bar dominates the main area of the lounge. It is a large circular affair, half self service, and a half do-it-yourself affair.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire Plus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      There were seven bottles of red on the counter, and lots of bottles of spirits with everything from Martini, to Jameson, and Plymouth Gin. Mixers are in the fridge, along with plenty of cans of Guinness, and bottles of Tiger and 1664.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire Plus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      It's all free pour, no extra charge, and you can serve yourself.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire Pus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      However for draft beer, you have to ask the staff, who will pour a quite decent Birra Moretti, in proper logoed glasses - both a third of a litre, and a half litre.

      I really enjoyed the Bristol Aspire Plus lounge.

      It's not quite the Concorde Room of the West, but with waiter service and a quiet serenity atmosphere, it's not far off.

      
      Bristol Airport Aspire Pus loungeCopyright lux-traveller

      Soon, it was time to board. Alas, at Bristol that means venturing out into the cold and walking up the steps to the aircraft.

      KLM Embraer 190 Business Class

      The KLM Embraer 190 had the new leather-look KLM interior, which was comfortable. Legroom was a bit tight, but that was to be expected on a small regional jet. However I was easily able to fit into the front row seat so I didn't have much trouble with it.

      
      KLM Embraer 190 Business ClassCopyright lux-traveller

      Indeed, I did have to keep on reminding myself that this was a small regional service, operating out of a rural airport on a flight that was as best 40 minutes long. I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. It did help that I was the only passenger in Business Class on KLM from Bristol to Amsterdam, and the crew seemed surprised to have a customer.

      KLM have regional routes out of the UK from Southampton, Humberside, Norwich, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Aberdeen, among others. They have the regional to longhaul market pretty much sewn up around the UK.

      
      KLM Embraer 190 Business ClassCopyright lux-traveller

      There was of course no inflight entertainment, but a nice mix of reading material in the seat pocket.

      Before takeoff the sole crew member in the Business Class cabin came around offering pre-flight drinks of a water bottle, a hand towel, and asked if I'd like to see both the menu and the wine list. Of course I said yes.

      
      KLM Embraer 190 Business ClassCopyright lux-traveller

      The menu and wine list comes on a single piece of card, with the meal on one side, and the three wine options on the other. To my surprise, there is just one copy of the menu on board, which the crew like to retain.

      
      KLM Embraer 190 Business ClassCopyright lux-traveller

      We took off over Somerset, and headed out via Frome - not a route I'd normally be taking.

      As soon as we were aloft, I was offered the Bento Box of the meal on board.

      Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class Copyright lux-traveller

      KLM Cityhopper Business Class Meals

      The one meal came in just a simple box. It was cold tuna salad, with two hot rolls, olives, and a muffin.

      
      KLM Business Class MealCopyright lux-traveller

      The salt and pepper pots were in the shape of Dutch Clogs, which was a nice touch.

      It was surprisingly good, with lots of flavour, and larger than I would expect for such a short flight. KLM were clearly not stinting on the food.

      
      KLM Business Class wineCopyright lux-traveller

      Drinks were on offer, and of course I had to try the 'sparking wine' as the crew were careful to announce it. It was Cava, rather than Champagne.

      
      KLM Business Class inflight mealCopyright lux-traveller

      Almost immediately we were descending over the Dutch coast, but I took the chance to order one more bottle of wine.

      
      KLM Business Class inflight wineCopyright lux-traveller

      We circled a bit before coming into a dull and grey Amsterdam, then landing was pretty swift.

      
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      Over the canals of Amsterdam.

      
      Copyright lux-traveller

      There was then amazingly long taxi, which took in the sights such as redundant 747s parked around the airport.

      
      KLM 747Copyright lux-traveller

      We parked up on a remote stand with all the other KLM Embraer 190, some KLM Fockers.

      
      KLM Embraer 190Copyright lux-traveller

      Again, deplaning was via stairs to the aircraft, and a long bus trip to the airport. I should have timed how long we spent on the ground in Amsterdam getting to the terminal: it seemed to be almost as long as the aircraft spent in the air to get to Amsterdam from Bristol.

      KLM Business Class Cityhopper

      So is KLM Cityhopper worth it in Business Class?

      If I was paying the whole cost for a one way flight, at nearly six hundred pounds, no. Not for a free cold lunch and a couple of wines.

      However, I took the trip as part of a long convoluted three segment journey, booking the day before, and partly just to gain the miles - which were considerable.

      The cost for three segments to Venice, was actually much less than just one to Amsterdam.

      Add in lounge access at Bristol, and the miles, and I felt that it wasn't such a bad deal at all.

      Sure, the Business Class seats on the KLM Embraer 190 were no different to economy, but there was plenty of space, and the meal and service was pleasant. On the whole, there are worse ways to fly.

      See the full Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class video:

      Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class video Click to play
      
      Lux-traveller paid its own way for this Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class, and travelled incognito.

      Trip Report: KLM Bristol to Amsterdam Business Class
      Lux-traveller.com rating:7 out of10
      Seats:	4 - Standard economy seats with a little more space
      Food:	6 - Surprisingly good
      Service:	7 - Decent, not exceptional
      IFE:	n/a - None

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