We're travelling to Quito via Amsterdam as at the time of booking it was the most cost effective way and as there is only an hour between flights on Saturday morning and knowing the size of Schiphol Airport we decided it was safer to go there a day early.
Our flight from Heathrow T4 isn't until 14:40 but in view of what the M25 can be like, especially on a Friday, we left quite early at 09:30. However, shortly after joining the M20 the matrix signs warned us first of delays on the M25 and then closure. A quick Google check showed delays of 90 mins so we decided to come off at Reigate and trust my map reading skills (generally known to be quite poor). Luckily and with considerable assistance from the aforementioned Google we got through the traffic and to Heathrow at about 11:15 - although by then the motorway had reopened, traffic reports talked of considerable delays.
Our short journey from Long Stay parking to the terminal was amazing, we had the whole bus to ourselves and an absolutely delightful driver who actually checked that we were seated and ready before he pulled away - unheard of.
Now we are sitting in the very nice SkyTeam Lounge, not one we've been in before but the food is delicious and the sparkling wine plentiful (although you do have to pour it yourself, ie. unrestricted!)
This may go a tiny way towards KLM getting back in my good books - to follow!