MSY-AMS-ARN, 23-24 May, 2010

Submitted by YatPundit on Fri, 06/11/2010 - 20:37

My most recent trip to Europe for Hitachi Data Systems took me to Stockholm, Sweden, to teach three classes on their enterprise storage arrays. I was there for ten days, teachng a 3-day class from Wed-Fri, then two classes Mon-Fri of the next week.

Most of my adventures to Europe begin with a trip on a Delta Air Lines MD-88, as I fly from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), to catch a ride to Amsterdam or Paris. This week, the long flight was to AMS, on an ex-Northwest Airbus A330 wide-body jet.

On wide-body jets like the B767 or the A330 (below), I usually try for a window seat. Aisle seats invariably mean you have to let someone out so they can use the lavatory.

I had seat 16C from ATL-AMS. Not my preferred choice, but the young man next to me only got up once, so I was able to watch "Sherlock Holmes" on the in-flight personal video system and get some sleep. The food was totally forgettable, like most Delta flights in coach. That's not a big deal, since I had a fantastic meal at One Flew South at ATL "E".

Breakfast! The KLM Crown Club on the "domestic/Europe" side of Schipohl (AMS). Dutch passport control now has an "elite" line for first/business class and gold/platinum flyers. I sailed through the checkpoints and had time for a bite and a coffee. My PortAPocket wallet was doing its job nicely so far!

Gotta love this place, in the big duty-free shopping mall at AMS.

My flight from AMS-ARN (Arlanda Airport, Stockholm) was an uneventful two hours. KLM flight crews are great. They always offer a ham or cheese baguette sandwich, along with something to drink. I passed on food in favor of more sleep. Once at ARN, it's just a matter of picking up the bag and grabbing a taxi--no passport control (I guess the Swedes trust the Dutch).

Home for the next ten days! HDS is located in the same building as a Radisson Blu hotel in the Stockholm suburb of Solna. Time for a hot shower, check in to see what's happened in the world while in-transit, and have a nap!