KLM today officially opened the all-new KLM non-Schengen Crown Lounge at Schiphol Airport. The brand new lounge offers its visitors an unforgettable experience thanks to the high-quality service level, new Food & Beverage concepts and the application of innovative technologies.
The KLM non-Schengen Crown Lounge – as the lounge is officially called – is located between the E and F piers at Schiphol. ‘The House of KLM’ immediately catches the eye because of the illuminated glass wall with some five thousand Delft blue houses. Visitors to the lounge take the escalator upstairs, a time travel past these iconic World Business Class gifts. At the house, they are welcomed by personal lounge assistants and gain quick access by scanning their boarding pass at the self-service machines. The white marble lounge desk is the base of a giant KLM logo with a beautiful view of the runways, piers and KLM fleet behind it.
Double crown
The capacity of the KLM non-Schengen Crown Lounge has doubled. The lounge now covers 6800 square feet with approximately 1000 “full free service” seats. On top of that, there are around 200 exclusive seats in Blue Bar and Blue Restaurant with an equally exclusive level of service. Customers can pay there with their Flying Blue miles. By doubling capacity, KLM is taking into account the expected growth in lounge visitors. It has truly become a feat where we offer our customers and those of our partner airlines an unforgettable experience. A crowning glory to the 100th KLM anniversary!
Concept
KLM aims to provide customers with a completely new experience with innovative service concepts. KLM has designed five different “Dutch landscapes” in close cooperation with the Dutch architectural firm “concrete” to meet the diverse needs and desires of customers. To work, to relax, to refresh, to eat and drink, for entertainment and for fine-dining. These 5 landscapes are:
In ‘Polder ‘ one can ideally work and relax at the same time. The carpet of different shades of green is reminiscent of the vast Dutch meadows. A 110-meter-long LED light wall simulates the Dutch sky. The lighting adjusts to the time of day, including a beautiful sunset.
In the lively “City,” customers can enjoy live cooking, a specially designed – in collaboration with Heineken – Heineken Bar and a coffee bar with a barista. The new Food & Beverage concept – characterized by stylish, high-quality and fresh seasonal products – is provided by KLM’s partner Vermaat. Reducing waste is a key pillar of both companies’ lounge catering business.
‘Sea ‘ offers everything customers need to re-energize during their journey. The area has 20 free showers, which can be reserved in advance at the various self-service kiosks in the lounge. The luxury sleeping cabins offer – paid for with Flying Blue miles or 3 hours for €49.50 – privacy, peace and comfort. It is the perfect environment to close your eyes and rest during a transfer or from a long trip. Both the showers and the sleeping cabins will have an automatic digital key system with QR codes in the future.
The striking “Dutch Mountain” area offers visitors a variety of options for work and entertainment. From a TV room to a DJ booth for special events. There is also a lot of attention for Dutch design and historical attributes from the KLM heritage.
‘Sky ‘ is an exclusive area located on the second floor. In Sky’s high-end setting with – at the explicit request of KLM’s customers – a terrace that provides a stunning view of Schiphol Airport, one can enjoy excellent meals and a wide range of beverages in Blue. Blue by KLM is a (paid) restaurant with adjoining (paid) bar. Blue’s menu was created by Joris Bijdendijk of RIJKS®, the Rijksmuseum’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Blue offers a fantastic gastronomic experience that carefully considers individual timing and personal needs.
“We could hardly give our global and Dutch customers a nicer birthday gift. KLM stands for hospitality. For 100 years, we have been connecting with our customers by continuously putting them first.
The KLM Crown lounge is a high-quality resting place for our top customers. Whether you’re leaving, coming back, or having a transfer, this is where you’ll truly unwind. The whole design, the customer-friendly approach of our KLM staff, is geared towards that. The lounge is an example of a unique combination between the human “touch” and digital convenience. Here, we believe we have created the most attractive lounge in the world with hospitality and innovation at its core: a customer experience of an unprecedented level. The KLM Crown Lounge is a destination in itself! The bottom line for our customers is like coming home to a good friend for a while, and that friend is called KLM.
