I’m your typical eggs and bacon breakfast gal, maybe even a slice of toast and butter if I’m feeling adventurous! Recently I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Pop Up in Union Square, San Francisco at 9:00am in the morning and got to partake in the traditional Dutch Stroopwafels for breakfast! These are lovely chewy caramel cookies and are delicious with a morning coffee or heck just as a tasty snack anytime! A Stroopwafel in hand, I strolled the Pop Up, open till October 14-October 22, 2016 from 11:00am to 5:00pm at 445A Sutter Street.
I have to confess, as a frequent international traveler, I really hadn’t heard much about KLM the brand. I was vaguely aware of Air France of course but had never had the occasion to fly this airline and it bore no ties to the KLM brand in my mind. In fact in focus groups, KLM’s Marketing discovered many people thought KLM was a radio channel. KLM however is one of the world’s oldest airline and here are some reasons why this airline deserves to be top of mind for all discerning international travelers.
- KLM recently became the world’s first airline to offer full customer service on Facebook Messenger and thus 24×7 social servicing
- KLM also recently launched bio-fuel (think easy on the environment AND the wallet) flights from LA to Amsterdam
- KLM offers daily DIRECT flights from SFO to Amsterdam and recently added the Boeing 787 Dreamliner
- KLM recycles old uniforms into handbags and incorporates the fibre obtained from these uniforms into the carpets used in World Business Class – talk about upcycling, a fantastic way to reuse materials and reduce our footprint
What’s even more cool is that while I have not personally flown KLM yet (I hope to change that in the near future!), I was able to experience the brand for myself when I walked into the Pop Up.
What a cool idea! Using virtual reality simulation, I took a tour of the KLM Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was awesome. I loved the blue and white decor which gave the cabins a fresh, relaxed feel. All visitors are given an RFID bracelet at the entrance which will allow you to check in at the five interactive stations. Checking in is important because it gives you a chance to earn up to five entries for KLM ticket giveways! How great would it be to win a ticket to Amsterdam on a Dreamliner?!
The five stations allow the traveler to experience each of KLM’s features including the 24×7 social media servicing, sustainability, vast global network and best-in-class products. Parents can even use the Kid’s Corner to entertain with games and KLM’s cartoon plane mascot Bluey! Wondering how flying Business Class would feel? Stop wondering and experience it yourself live in the Business Class station. The seat reclines all the way and if you’re lucky, maybe the flight attendant on-site will get you a Stoopwafel!
If you haven’t had a chance to attend this Pop Up, the next best thing is to actually fly with KLM if you have the chance to in the near future. Who doesn’t want an airline that’s eco-friendly, innovative, accessible and responsible? If you do fly with them, drop me a comment and let me know what you thought!
Nice article, Eager Traveler. Thank you for the info. Pics are very nice. We’ve had a few very good flights on KLM to Europe from JFK Amsterdam & Brussels. We would fly KLM again. The service is right up there with Air France and It’s beats Alitalia by a mile.
M&G
NYC
Wow, good to know! I hope to fly them this summer! Thanks for your comment!