Contents
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
KLM’s World Business Class is known for an utterly Dutch experience, showcasing the best of Dutch design, cuisine (of course, there’s cheese), and the famous Delft Blue houses that the airline has been giving away to premium cabin passengers for decades. While perhaps not the fanciest or most plush business class in the skies, KLM takes the award for offering one of the most distinctive premium cabins on the market.
What to know about flying KLM business class
There are two KLM business class products: World Business Class on long-haul routes from Amsterdam (and a few routes within Asia and South America), and Europe Business Class everywhere else. Generally speaking, if the flight is on a widebody aircraft, it’s World Business Class; if it’s on a narrowbody, it’s Europe Business Class.
This review primarily concerns World Business Class. Europe Business Class features regular economy seating, a blocked middle seat, lounge access, and upgraded catering.
The best routes to fly in business class on KLM
KLM's World Business Class is available on intercontinental flights from Amsterdam.
KLM’s business class seating on long-haul flights varies by aircraft, so it makes sense to pick the aircraft that has the features that meet your preferences. While the service is generally the same, the big difference is whether or not there’s a seat between the window seat and the aisle. On Airbus A330 aircraft, the configuration is without aisle access for all seats. On Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, all seats are lie-flat with aisle access.
What to expect when flying KLM business class
World Business Class is a fine experience from start to finish, with a delightful “touch of Dutch” throughout the onboard service. Travelers can expect all the SkyTeam premium cabin standards, such as SkyPriority, and the airline’s signature amenity – the Delft blue house as a parting gift at the end of the flight.
Check-in and security clearance
KLM offers SkyPriority status to all business class passengers, with dedicated check-in counters and expedited security lanes at most airports. These lanes are also made available to SkyTeam Elite members, regardless of class of travel.
Luggage allowance
On intercontinental flights, KLM World Business Class passengers can check up to 2 bags, weighing up to 70 pounds each. This represents an increase from economy class, where the standard free allowance is one bag of up to 50 pounds. Business class bags get standard SkyTeam Alliance priority tags.
Lounge access
KLM operates several KLM Crown Lounges in Amsterdam and at select locations around the world. In North America, KLM operates its own lounges at Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ). At all other North American airports, KLM offers access to an Air France or another SkyTeam partner lounge.
Most North American airports have a SkyTeam lounge available for KLM passengers. At many airports, this is either a Delta SkyClub or an Air France lounge. KLM World Business Class passengers can also access Delta One lounges, but only when traveling in World Business Class.
For example, if a passenger is flying Delta economy class from Los Angeles to New York-JFK and connecting in KLM World Business Class from New York, they’ll have Delta One lounge access only in New York. In Los Angeles, they can use the Delta SkyClub or another SkyTeam lounge.
In Amsterdam, KLM’s Crown Lounges offer hot-food buffets, shower rooms, separate areas for work, relaxation, socializing, a restaurant offering premium dishes for purchase, and an outdoor terrace at the main Non-Schengen lounge.
Seats
There are two types of KLM business class seats. Onboard the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, seats are lie-flat in a 1-2-1 configuration; all seats have aisle access. On the Airbus A330 aircraft, you’ll find the slightly older lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, so window seats have a seat between them and the aisle.
The Boeing seats are similar to each other, although the 777 seats include a lightweight privacy door, massage functions, and a do-not-disturb light. All business-class seats have a large entertainment screen.
The Airbus A330 aircraft features the older design seat, although there’s sufficient space in front of the seats to allow window seat passengers to reach the aisle while their seatmate remains seated. The entertainment screen is fixed to the seat in front and can’t be moved. Regardless of seat type, we’ve found KLM’s seats to be well-padded and comfortable, with easy-to-use controls that can be adjusted to an ideal angle.
If you’re looking for the privacy of a suite, the 2-2-2 configuration seats can feel a bit exposed. However, the trade-off for those seats is that they feel roomier, with much more open space in the cabin, and without all the partitioning built around the suite. If you run hot, we’ve also found the 2-2-2 configuration seats can feel a bit cooler because the air tends to circulate around them better. The suite seats, however, feel very cocoon-like - especially the window seats. If you’re traveling solo and prefer privacy, those are probably the best pick.
Food and drink
Meals in World Business Class are reliable, but rather small in portions. Meals are served on very Dutch-accented tableware (think Delft-inspired blue-and-white dishes and intricately patterned Marcel Wanders-designed flatware). Drinks are typically served with nuts or Dutch cheese.
For starters, there’s a cold appetizer or a vegetarian soup, alongside a salad. There are typically three mains, at least one of which is vegetarian. One of the meat dishes will also typically be Indonesian in style, and KLM’s kitchens aren’t shy about adding spice. Meals end with a sweet dessert, or there’s an option of a cheese plate. KLM, being Dutch, tends to offer some very nice Dutch cheeses.
There are usually small warm bites offered midflight, and a variety of snacks, including chocolate houses, available in the galley. The second meal is either a breakfast, with KLM offering a choice of savory or sweet option; or a light meal on daytime flights, with a choice between a cold plate and a hot item, like a KLM-branded cheeseburger.
The selection of beverages is pretty standard, though KLM offers a frequently refreshed signature cocktail made with Dutch genever, a spirit closely related to gin. On flights departing Amsterdam, the orange juice served on board is fresh-squeezed on the ground and loaded in a refillable carafe; other juices are boxed.
The salt and pepper shakers on each tray are a pair of Dutch clogs made of single-use plastic. Go ahead, they want you to steal them.
Service, amenities, and in-flight entertainment
KLM’s service is very Dutch – that is, it’s pleasantly informal.
Amenity kits are designed by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau, and the design changes once or twice yearly. They’re filled with the usual socks/dental kit/eye mask combo, but of note is the lip balm and hand cream from Rituals (the hand cream is Tulip-scented). You’ll also find the hand cream in the lavatories.
At the end of each flight, passengers are given a Delft porcelain miniature house filled with genever, a decades-old KLM tradition dating back to the 1950s when international price fixing rules prohibited airlines from giving passengers gifts. KLM got around this rule by filling the houses with genever, as a farewell drink “on the house.” Today, passengers can request a house without alcohol, and on flights to and from some Muslim-majority countries, none of the houses have alcohol to allow for import restrictions.
The houses are numbered, and KLM introduces a new one every year on the airline’s anniversary. There’s even an app for frequent travelers to track which houses they have in their collection, and which they need. If they can’t find the one they like onboard, there’s additional inventory at the KLM Crown Lounge in Amsterdam, where they can swap out the house they’ve gotten with the one they’re looking for – just be sure not to open the seal and drink the genever, as houses must be sealed and full to be swapped out.
There’s one house that’s reserved for honeymooners and other VIPs – the Royal Palace Amsterdam. So if you’re flying KLM World Business Class on your honeymoon, it might be worth adding a note to your reservation.
KLM is also one of the few airlines to continue publishing an onboard magazine, called the Holland Herald.
How much it costs to fly KLM business class
Generally speaking, KLM business class is one of the more expensive business class products out there. Fare sales are not as frequent and discounts are often not as deep as those of other airlines. There are a couple of markets, like the tag routes, where World Business Class is typically the cheaper option compared to other airlines. But in most other markets, KLM is rarely the leader in low business class fares.
When paying in cash
When shopping for business class flights, KLM tends to be one of the more expensive options for intercontinental flights, starting around $3,000 for the shortest round-trip across the Atlantic. KLM’s fifth freedom flights, like Singapore to Bali Denpasar, are much cheaper; round-trips are often available for as little as $575, usually lower than the competing airlines on the route.
When paying via points in a credit card portal
Several flexible reward currencies offer booking sites where you can book flights with points instead of transferring them to an airline mileage program. These include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Bilt Rewards.
These portals generally offer a value of roughly 1-1.5 cents per point. They’re not really the best value redemption compared to transferring points to loyalty programs directly, but they have their advantages. They work best when you have a lot of available points to spend and want to book specific flights that don’t have award space or if you want to book with an airline that doesn’t have a particularly rewarding points value. You might also redeem points through a portal if you need to book quickly and can’t depend on the points to transfer in time (though many programs are getting faster with transfers).
At 1-1.5 cents per point, you can expect to spend at least 350,000 points for a round-trip flight from the U.S. to Europe in World Business Class.
When booking using Flying Blue miles
KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program uses dynamic pricing for award flights, meaning prices can change based on demand and the number of seats KLM has allocated for awards. You can use Flying Blue’s reward calculator to estimate the base number of miles needed for a World Business Class seat.
For example, a one-way premium economy seat between New York (JFK) and Amsterdam (AMS) should cost around 60,000 miles each way. Flying Blue also frequently offers Promo Rewards, which include discounted redemption rates on certain routes.
When booking via partner airlines
KLM flights can be booked with any SkyTeam partner. Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club sometimes offer better value redemptions on KLM flights, so it’s worth checking their redemption levels for the flight you want before booking using Flying Blue miles.
How much it costs to upgrade to business class on KLM
KLM doesn’t offer a ton of opportunities to upgrade –there are fewer ways to upgrade after the initial booking than on many competitors; you won’t find upgrade bidding or a host of e-mailed upgrade opportunities. Nevertheless, there are ways to fly World Business Class for less.
When paying in cash after booking
Between booking and check-in, the only way to upgrade to World Business Class is to pay the applicable fare difference.
During check-in, KLM offers set-price upgrades that can be paid entirely in cash or a mix of cash and Flying Blue miles. KLM occasionally offers upgrades at the ticket counter and onboard. If you upgrade after checking your bags or after it’s too late to visit an airport lounge, the upgrade price isn’t usually lower to offset those benefits. So it’s best to upgrade before arriving at the airport, if possible.
Depending on whether you’re upgrading from economy or premium economy, the last-minute upgrade price can also vary, based on seat availability. For Transatlantic flights, around $1,000 one-way is a good average.
When upgrading using Flying Blue miles
It’s possible to upgrade before check-in using Flying Blue miles, but availability is generally quite limited. You can call the Flying Blue service line or check the KLM app to see if seats are available for upgrades using Flying Blue miles. There’s no set timeframe when upgrade space becomes available, but some Flying Blue representatives have suggested checking within 30 days of departure.
How to save on KLM business class tickets
KLM business class tickets are generally pretty expensive, but there are ways to save a bit of money, including:
Waiting for last-minute upgrade offers: These are available during check-in, at the departure gate, or onboard, for cash or a combination of cash and miles. Availability varies, but it can sometimes be possible to upgrade for far less than the cash fare. You can upgrade to business class if you’re booked in economy or premium economy.
Setting a fare tracker: Pricing in all city pairs, regardless of airline and cabin, can fluctuate, and KLM is no exception. If the fare you want is higher than you’d like to pay now, it doesn’t mean it will stay that way. Even if you purchase a ticket in a lower fare class, you can always exchange the ticket and pay the fare difference if the business class fare drops.
Checking fifth-freedom routes: If you’re in Singapore, Malaysia, Argentina, or Chile and traveling regionally, KLM offers competitive fares on select short-haul flights.
How to book KLM business class with points
KLM business class can be booked with miles from the airline’s Flying Blue program or another SkyTeam partner program, from your credit card portal. Flying Blue is known for having pretty good award availability, which is one of the reasons it’s our favorite program.
How to book KLM business class using your credit card portal
With most credit card portals, you can select the city pairs you’re looking for on the first page and get all the possible fare options on the next page. From there, it’s typically possible to filter the results by airline and class of service, so if there are options for “KLM” and “business class,” simply select those.
For class of service, many of the point portals will also ask for your preferences up front, rather than filtering search results.
When comparing redemption options, remember that most credit card portals offer redemptions at a value of between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, so it helps to check the cash price of the fare on the airline’s site for comparison.
Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is known for having a wide range of points transfer partners, including:
HSBC Rewards
How to book KLM business class using Flying Blue points
You can book KLM business class using Flying Blue miles online. On the KLM website, select “Book with Miles.” You’ll need to be logged into your Flying Blue account to shop for flights on KLM. From there, put in your city pair and dates, then select “Business Class.”
On the next page, you’ll see a number of flight options, along with alternate dates that may be available at a lower redemption rate.
It’s worth noting that Air France (and some SkyTeam) flights will also be shown, in addition to KLM flights. So pay attention to which airline will operate the flights if you’re hoping to fly KLM. Once you’ve selected your flights, you’ll complete the booking as normal.
What other loyalty programs can you use to book KLM business class?
KLM business class can be booked from the programs of any SkyTeam member carrier, including:
Aerolineas Argentinas Plus
Aeromexico Rewards
Air Europa SUMA
China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
China Eastern Miles
Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
Kenya Airways Asante Rewards
Middle East Airlines Cedar Miles
Saudia Alfursan
Vietnam Airlines LotuSociety
Xiamen Air Egret Miles
Some non-SkyTeam carriers also allow redemptions on KLM, including:
China Southern Sky Pearl Club
Etihad Guest
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
Malaysia Airlines Enrich
WestJet Rewards
How to book KLM business class using points from a partner airline
Flying Blue is generally the best way to book a KLM flight using points. Redeeming Delta SkyMiles for a KLM flight in business class can be difficult, particularly if there’s a Delta flight to that city. KLM may play nicer with other SkyTeam members, like Virgin Atlantic.
Tips for finding business class award availability on KLM
KLM prices awards dynamically, so the mileage price per flight can vary greatly – even between different flight options in the same city pair on the same dates. KLM also tends to have much better availability on flights to Amsterdam than partners like Delta. So redeeming from Flying Blue typically offers the most dates and flight options.
Sometimes Delta won’t even offer flights operated by KLM for award redemption, even in markets where both airlines operate flights (e.g., JFK or LAX to Amsterdam). We’ve noticed Delta tends to offer KLM as an option more often for travel via Amsterdam, rather than to Amsterdam – particularly if Delta doesn’t offer its own flights to that city.
Flying Blue opens its inventory for both Air France and KLM 359 days in advance of the flight date. This doesn’t mean they will always release business class inventory immediately at that time, but there can sometimes be availability right on the release date.
Since travelers might cancel award tickets closer to departure, it’s best to keep checking back if the flights you want aren’t available.
KLM business class vs first class
KLM doesn’t have first class on its own flights, but you can book first class on its partner Air France (though only Flying Blue Platinum members can book Air France La Premiére in advance). The difference between those cabins is that first class cabins are much smaller (typically only a handful of seats, vs. up to 50 on some KLM business flights). They offer very personalized service. For example, Air France transfers La Premiére passengers to the aircraft in luxury cars. First class includes even fancier dining and more onboard space.
Should you book KLM business class?
KLM’s World Business Class is a good way to spend your time in the air, especially if you’re looking for a business class experience that is a little more distinctive than some competing airlines. The airline has built a loyal following in World Business Class on the merits of the Delft Blue house giveaway on its own – and it has the app to prove it. Although KLM World Business Class is a bit more expensive than some competitors and a bit harder to book award travel using miles from a program other than Flying Blue, business class on KLM is a comfortable, memorable experience that we easily recommend.
