Our Europe Trip Report, Day 21!
Posted by
Mop🧹 (aka rburriel)
Nov 15 '24, 15:08
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FINISH IT!!!
The most important part of any trip is a flight that doesn't require you to get out of bed at 4 AM. Our flight out of Amsterdam Schiphol was around 11-ish. Plenty of time!
We packed our stuff then went downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, we grabbed our bags and went across the street to the train station.
From what I can tell, regardless of what direction your train goes, the way the city is laid out, that train is likely going to stop at Schiphol. So whether it's a long haul train to some far flung country, or a local train in the Netherlands, or some direct train to the airport, you just buy an airport ticket at the kiosk and board the next train that departing the station.
I think we ended up on a local train so it was 2 or 3 stops to the airport, but arrived at our destination in maybe 15 minutes.
As is frequently the case throughout our trip in Europe, signage was lacking. The train station at the airport is huge and it's hard to tell where you truly are, from the train station, to the accompanying mall, to the subsequent airport. Finding the check-in desk was challenging, in part because what signage we did find pointed to different terminals and it was unclear what terminal we were supposed to visit in order to check-in. But we found the right terminal and made it to the JetBlue counter.
First things first... check-in! We got in the Mint line. "Dad, it looks like this is for their premium passengers." Don't worry about it. We check in and check in our one suitcase. Then it's time for security. Once again, we turn to the premium line, although for everything I've heard about lines at Schiphol, neither line here seemed particularly long. And once we got to the actually scanning machines, everyone was treated the same, unlike with TSA pre-check where you don't have to take out your liquids or take off your shoes, etc. Indeed, *EVERY* kid had their bag flagged for additional inspection. It wasn't the kids. They were flagging almost everyone's bags and while they were very pleasant about the whole thing, the process of searching all these bags really slowed things down. But it was finally done, and then it was the border check, which barely took a moment.
Schiphol, if nothing else, is *HUGE*. After a bathroom break and an opportunity to fill up the numerous water bottles we had accumulated during our time in Europe, we spent a good 20-25 minutes hiking across the airport to our gate. I wish we'd had more time as I know Schiphol has a lot of shops but by the time we made it to the gate, there was maybe 30 minutes before boarding. With our gate all the way at the end of one of the airport's branches, there was only enough time for me and one of the kids to double-back to one of the shops to load up on snacks. Before we were even back, another of the kids was already texting us that boarding had begun. I'd love to have had the opportunity to stand up and board first... for the first time in my life... but the snacks were essential. Still, with snacks in hand, I collected the kids and we got up to go to the gate. Once again, confusion from the kids as we got in the fast last. No waiting in line for us. We walked down the jetway, got on the plane, and two rows down, I called to my kid out front "That's far enough. That's your seat." Now, is it worth it to drop thousands of dollars on plane tickets and thousands more for a trip to Europe just to see their reactions? I'd say so.
We had the JetBlue Mint seats. If you're not familiar, you can just Google them. I've watched plenty of videos about these seats. The big interactive screens where you order your meals is a highlight. One of the flight attendants spotted us playing with all the trinkets and came over to walk us through everything.
As luxurious and impressive as it all was, any of the YouTube videos on JetBlue Mint will cover the highs. But I think I need to discuss some of the things that often get glossed over in these videos:
- The shoulder belt isn't necessary at all times, but is necessary during take off and landing. It doesn't click in securely. Any kind of shifting in your seat will unclasp the shoulder belt.
- When you arrive in your seat, there's a sleep kit, a bundle with a blanket and pillow. There is *NO PLACE* to put this kit. I spent a lot of the flight with this thing literally sitting on my lap. There is a cubby at your feet that looks like it's where you would put your shoes, so I also shoved the kit in there a few times, but it's not enclosed, so the kit would often just fall out onto the floor and onto your feet.
- There is also no storage for your bag. My backpack spent most of the trip in the overheard compartment because there was no other place for it.
- The tray stows horizontally. You pull it out from the structure to your right and then push it back in when you don't need it. It doesn't click solidly when you pull it out so it's basically floating in front of you. When you have food or your laptop on the tray, any movement can push the tray away and send everything tumbling to the ground.
- The seat controls - you know, the controls that will turn your seat into a lie-flat bed - are at your elbow. I mean, if you rest your arm on the arm rest, YOU WILL brush the controls, and your seat will start to move. This happened to me maybe a dozen times. Not nearly the worst nitpick (certainly, pushing the tray away and knocking my meal to the ground would have been worse) but easily the most annoying as it kept happening.
All that being said, being in a big open seat with lots of space around me and being able to stretch out my legs was incredible. I never used the lie-flat bed, but my kids did, and given that one slept throughout the entire flight, I'd say they sure enjoyed the experience.
The sliding door - FWIW - has a lock on the outside and you won't be able to close the door to your little cubicle until you - or the flight attendant - unlocks it. The fact that two of us could close the door and two of us couldn't was very confusing until I realized this.
The toilet at the front is exclusive for their Mint passengers, although some passengers from the back did find their way here. I don't mind or care. I did visit the toilet to have a look and it was pretty basic.
The food was definitely a notch above, although given my simple palate, most of it wasn't to my tastes. Still, we all traded plates and found something we liked.
There is, of course, a travel kit with socks and an eye mask and the like. Nice to have, but nothing we needed. The headphones they loan you are *SPECTACULAR*. They're custom JetBlue headphones from Master & Dynamic and - to me - more important than the sound is the comfort. Whether it's earbuds or headphones, after a couple of hours, they all start to hurt. But these didn't hurt the entire trip. It's a shame that you have to give them back.
The flight was about 8 hours, after which we landed at Boston Logan. Unfortunately, we had another 6+ flight to Portland from here, and that was after a nearly 5 hour layover. JetBlue doesn't have lounges, but they're starting to introduce them at JFK and BOS, just not yet.
We made it through the passport check with no trouble at all. While I have Global Entry, the kids do not, but it didn't matter. Everything went quickly. We picked up our suitcase, then immediately dropped off our suitcase again and made our way to the domestic terminal. Another security check - fortunately, our TSA Precheck paid off here - and we were through.
As we walked through Amsterdam the day before, one of the kids spotted a Dunkin' Donuts. "Don't worry, hun," I told them. "Tomorrow we'll be in Boston. I'll find you five."
We settled in for a long wait, but not before I loaded up on Munchkins at one of the five Dunkin' Donuts I found at the airport. I checked the airport menu for anything that might be serving Beyond burgers or mac & cheese but never really found anything that would appeal to everyone. We loaded up on snacks but otherwise the wait in Boston was just tedious.
FWIW, just because the first part of your JetBlue trip is via their Mint business class doesn't mean that your second leg will also be Mint. These trans-continental flights don't even have business class. I paid for extra legroom, but otherwise, there was nothing special about this flight. The trip from AMS to BOS was spectacular. I wouldn't have done it any differently. But if we ever go to Europe again, I'd find a flight directly to SEA or PDX. The long haul from BOS to PDX just sucked. I have nothing to say about this flight. I'm not sure I even remember it.
It was pretty late by the time we arrived at PDX, about 11 PM. The new terminal had opened just the day before, and it is a sight to behold (look up some pictures). And we walked past a Laika exhibit where they had some of their puppets, but we were all too tired to admire it. We picked up our suitcase from baggage claim and got picked up ourselves. It's a two hour commute home from PDX so I'm very grateful to have had a ride hope that night. The following day was Labor Day so we all got to sleep in, but the day after, the kids started school and I was back at work.
It was fun. Maybe we'll have to do it again sometime.
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