The boarding was one of the worst I’ve ever experienced. The fault lays on Ohare Airport and not so much the airline. The waiting area by the gate was the size to accommodate a regional flight for 20-30 people and right next to a busy walkway. When you cramped nearly 300 passengers into that space is was unbearable.
Boarding in NCL is really bad. I'm sure part of that is a directive from the airport that KLM can't change but part of that is due to KLM policy. NCL doesn't announce the gate of departure until 30 minutes before departure. However, when you arrive at the gate area, the gate agents file everyone into one long line and everyone boards from one line at one time. This line can stretch for 200m...easily. There is a separate line for groups 1 and 2 but you don't know it until you get to the gate area and agents don't announce/advertise it. Everyone else is grouped into one line. Are you in group 3? Doesn't matter...you board with group 5. Traveling with a child? Tough luck...you're stuck at the end of the line and board last. The last part is very annoying because none of the gates at NCL (with the exception of 1 used by Emirates) has a jetway. To board, you must leave the gate area, walk downstairs, walk onto the tarmac and walk up stairs to board the plane. Highly challenging if you're traveling with small children. That boarding process begs for a concession to allow people with children to board first because they will need extra time. But there is no such policy. Just a really horrible boarding experience all around.
Pros: "The crew is excellent but the seats are not comfortable enough. There should be a way to balance money and comfort,not just placing people in seats they do not fit into"
Cons: "Nothing,just the seats. Cleanliness was perfect"
Pros: "The crew was professional & friendly"
Cons: "Food was terrible honestly, entertainment system didn't work on 1st flight."
Cons: "I paid for the preferred seat .and i found that people beside me didnt pay anything when i asked them ,"
Pros: "Seats were super comfortable, bigger than most planes with extra leg room. Food was excellent and fresh, amazing Dutch cheese sampler was divine. No nonsense staff who had all connecting flight info on hand when we arrived in Abu Dhabi. KLM staff were friendly and efficient. Fabulous airline."
Pros: "The crew was amazing, flight on schedule and good entertainment."
Cons: "Space is just reasonable on a long flight, even if there's seats more spacious that you could choose if you pay more."
Pros: "Seat comfortable"
Cons: "Flight was delayed and overhead bin space was very small"
Pros: "The space at my feet with the chair in front was a bit akward."
Cons: "Not being seated next to small kids. Perhaps they should have a separate section? ;-)"
Pros: "Best airline in the business quick efficient and outstanding service What else can you say"
Cons: "Exiting passengers from the rear exposed the entire flight as people had to walk past those seated from the back to front. Great social distancing and we'll done British Airways"
Cons: "I really did not find anything to improve, it was a pleasant flight"
Cons: "No assistance to mothers with strollers. While boarding, picked a few people randomly to inspect our bags right before getting on a plane. Held us in a separate room including me who is single mother traveled with 2 year old for 3 flights in the row. My son didnt get his meal. Also had to ask for any juice. Horrible menu. Late food serving, but quick to clean up in a rash. Loud people on phones and nobody stopped them. Horrible experience."
Pros: "The flight was on time and landed early"
Cons: "The bags could have come out earlier and the food could be better"
Pros: "The crew were very attentive and there was a large variety of in-flight entertainment."
Cons: "I am not a heavy set guy but the seats were unreasonably close to each other, this meant that when you eat a meal your elbows push into your sides making it hard to bring food to your mouth."
Cons: "Announcements at the gate: there were none. The flight was slightly delayed and there was not a word from BA agents."
Cons: "Seating is a big problem. I am only 192 cm tall and cannot really fit my legs into the space. Have them out in the corridor"
Cons: "Seat was broken. Reclines without requesting. Tray also needs attention. Seat 15C"
Pros: "Pleasant staff, very poor entertainment systems, screens too small and kept needing to be reset."
Cons: "Poor entertainment systems Plane too cold Only 1 meal Ran out of gin for the second flight in a row"
Pros: "Friendly crew and a good value for money flight"
Cons: "Very bumpy ride but this wasn’t anyone’s fault"
Less packaged foods in between meals Appreciated fruits cheese platters ice cream
Noticing spectacular about the flight. It got me fro m point a to b. High priced
The flight itself was fine and the pilots were great. The crew was awful - the purser WOULD NOT SHUT UP, they ran out of food, I would not serve the “beef” dinner option to my dog. The boarding process was a clusterfuck-no announcements were made about boarding groups, and when we did get on the plane, attendants were blocking the aisles taking orders for the premier lounge and not letting the poors get to their seats
Cons: "We had to wait for about seven hours at the airport because the flight was delayed."
Cons: "When flight is delayed (by taxing for 45min or delayed take off of 3h40) allow passengers who are trying to connect disembark first."
Cons: "The connection time at the Dulles airport was ridiculous. To get from gate C to A in 20 minutes was difficult and I almost missed my flight"
Cons: "Get seated in a seat i paid extra 37$ for .very disappointed"
Cons: "Flight carry on baggage mandatory green tag check in. Very small flight. green tag Baggage being asked to be taken from b baggage carousels after waiting for a while. At baggage carousels the baggage arrival delayed by 30 mins. Flight had rough landing"
Cons: "The seats where very uncomfortable One of the bins would not close and flight attendant stressed out show frustration in front of the passangers"
Pros: "Boarding was quick.... I am just filling space to get to 50 characters as United was quite bad and that’s paying for first class"
Cons: "First class doesn’t get you into their United Club before the flight. You still have to pay for any food in first class. And they tell you need to download the app after you exit the airport area and lose WiFi and coming international couldn’t go and download before flight. United was a huge disappointment."