After Christmas, we decided we needed some sun and looked for last-minute award flights to get somewhere warm. Delta had 80,000 Skymiles business class availability on KLM flights from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and we jumped on the offer. After planning for a few days what we would do in Kuala Lumpur, I noticed that the forecast for the entirety of our trip was set to be rainy. Because the main objective of our winter trip was sitting by the pool, I jumped into action and booked us a Malaysia Airlines flight to Bangkok right after we were set to land in Kuala Lumpur. Luckily, in Thailand, it was sunny the whole time.
After taking the train to Schiphol Airport and spending a few hours in the KLM Crown Lounge, we boarded KLM’s Boeing Dreamliner for our flight to Malaysia.
First impressions of KLM’s World Business Class
The business class seat was larger than I remember from my last flight with KLM, especially the footwell, which made it easy for me to sleep for the majority of the flight. We had already eaten in the lounge where the food was extremely unpalatable (see the link to review above) so I didn’t have a full dinner, but enjoyed a cheese plate with some wine as I watched Past Lives (a bit overrated, I thought).
I would love for airlines to speed up the Bluetooth connectivity process with their inflight entertainment systems because goodness gracious, my ears really begin to get sore after even a half hour or so of wearing them. I also hope next time KLM updates their business class they will spring for larger IFE screens. Check out how much dead plastic area there is around the screen!
Still, I shouldn’t complain too much. When we were walking around Schiphol before our flight, I saw the seat map of a KLM 777-300ER on a screen at the gate area of the flight that was headed directly to Bangkok. It’s 2024 and KLM is still flying this plane with a 2-2-2 business class layout. According to their website, they are in the process of rolling out a refurbishment of these planes but if I was stuck on one of them, I would be quite disappointed.
We encountered some fairly intense turbulence during the first hour or so, but after that, it was completely smooth sailing. This, coupled with the fact that KLM has been considerate enough to include air conditioning vents above every seat (these should be as mandatory on aircraft as smoke detectors), meant that I had about seven hours of sleep before we landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
In-flight service in KLM’s business class
Rituals-branded amenity kits were passed off shortly after takeoff along with the menus and wine lists. The amenity kits included face moisturizer, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, hand cream, lip balm, eye mask, earplugs and a pen. The earplugs are not particularly heavy duty and I prefer the orange 3M branded ones handed out by Air France and made a mental note to bring those with me next time I fly KLM. Amenity kit bags fall into two categories for me, ones that are interesting enough to bring home and add to my collection (American Airlines/Shinola, Qatar Airways/Diptyque), and those that aren’t. The KLM amenity kit falls into the latter category, unfortunately.
One thing I don’t fancy about KLM is that they happily offer you a tiny glass of champagne as an aperitif after takeoff, but perhaps because they do not load many bottles, are not particularly willing to dole more bubbles out as a drink to accompany your meal, unlike some other airlines which will happily refill glass after glass.
Service on the European airlines, much like American airlines is hit and miss. Flight attendants on both continents seem to believe that it is as crucial to play Candy Crush and eat leftover meals and chat with each other as much as it is to check with the passengers to see if anyone is looking for another drink. I would say that this crew was slightly above average. The flight attendant who seemed to be assigned to me in particular was friendly and tried to insist that I have more to eat than just a cheese plate. However, given the menu listings (carrot cumin soup?), I was not particularly enticed to try anything else. The cheese plate was fine, not quite up to par with Air France’s offerings, although the spreadable blue cheese was a bit odd, but hey, that’s Dutch cuisine for you!
However, when she disappeared to take her break, it didn’t seem like there was much of a handover to another flight attendant. In the morning, after I woke up, though, she was back and cheerfully brought me a coffee before landing but after breakfast had been served. The other thing which was served right before landing were KLM’s famous Delft houses filled with Bols genever. We chose two more which are proudly displayed on our windowsill.
The bottom line
KLM’s World Business class does not match up with Qatar Airways, ANA, or Emirates, let’s be clear, so it is important to temper expectations. However, it offers a flat bed to sleep on, comfortable temperature thanks to the air vents, and a very good in-flight entertainment selection. When I’m not paying a dime for the flight outside of the taxes and fees associated with the reward ticket, it is a comfortable and convenient way to travel long-haul from Amsterdam and I appreciate that they had last-minute award availability at one of the busiest times of the year.
