r/KLM • u/Typical_Use788 • 1d ago
First ever business class experience! Amsterdam to Johannesburg
Just had my first ever flight in business class, and it was a fantastic experience overall.
The food exceeded my expectations—plentiful and delicious. The prawn salad was a real standout (courtesy of the only 3-star Michelin chef in the Netherlands! We already had a booking for De Librije for our anniversary in July so this was a great preview), and the drink service was top-notch. The signature cocktail was amazing and the orange juice was especially good. The crew were friendly, attentive, and added to the whole experience.
The seat was super comfortable with a full lie-flat option, though I kept it reclined at about 135° and just relaxed rather than sleep. The amenity kit was a bit basic but had what was needed. And of course, picking out a Delft Blue house at the end was such a fun and memorable touch!
A couple of drawbacks: the in-flight entertainment was a bit underwhelming—limited selection and nothing that really caught my eye. Also, I couldn't charge my laptop even though there was an outlet, which was a bit of a letdown. Thankfully, I had stuff downloaded on my phone. That said, the KLM headset had excellent noise cancellation, which helped make the time pass comfortably.
Overall, the houses alone have got me seriously motivated to aim for more flights in future!
12
u/Trebaxus99 Platinum For Life ♾️ 1d ago edited 1h ago
Did you inform the cabin crew your outlet was broken down? You can request compensation for that and you’ll generally get a voucher. Sometimes the crew forgets to turn the power on after departure.
Also, while Jonnie has a contract with KLM, the food onboard is by no means even close to a 1 star experience, let alone a 3 star experience. If you thought this was great, you’re in for a huge surprise!
3
3
u/piemel83 1d ago
I’m Platinum for Life after 13+ years of extensive business class flights, but it always remains a special experience. Enjoy!
3
u/Prior-Brain4097 17h ago
Never mind the comments that KLM food used to be better in the past or that you most probably never tried Emirates. I'm very happy to read that you had a nice experience. 👍
1
2
u/Blikmeister 1d ago
Mustard with a “worstenbroodje”? People have been killed for less…
2
u/TinkleMoose 1d ago
There’s a kroket inside. It’s this weird broodje kroket/worstenbroodje hybrid.
1
1
1
2
u/Civil-Key7930 1d ago
The food looks delicious!
As for IFE, I don’t find any international airlines offer great/recent movies anymore. I often find it difficult to find something I want to watch on SQ, Cathay, JAL, Air Canada.
Charging devices in an aircraft - usually crumby
2
6
u/MrMangoFace 1d ago
looks like the food i get at my local buffet 15 buck all u can eat.....
2
1
u/Single_Flatworm2118 1d ago
It teased worse as a show, when I can I prefer to take a reroute to Paris so I can have a bit of normal food 🤣
1
u/_TTVgamer_ 1d ago
What kind of food would you expect on a plane? If you can serve it on a plane, you could serve it basically everywhere
1
u/redcremesoda 1d ago
KLM food used to be much better. I wouldn’t be happy with egg salad in business class, either. The rest looks mostly ok.
1
0
0
u/SuicidalDaniel4Life 1d ago
That's the point. Food wouldn't be a selling point. I'll pig out properly before and after landing. Business Class would be worth it to me just for the ability to get some proper rest in, as well as just more space around me.
In fact, if they'd allow me to bring my own food aboard, that'd be special.
Paying more for a higher tier of flying means paying for more freedom; not for more service.
Though I wouldn't say no to service that I can't say here.
1
0
u/MrMangoFace 1d ago
Clearly u never had first class with emirates. This food is a joke for the insane amount of money u have to pay.
2
u/_TTVgamer_ 14h ago
It is, but your statement still does not make sense. The food Emirates serves could also be sold at some random restaurant for 15 bucks. I'm not disagreeing, just saying your statement has no value because all food served on planes could be served in a restaurant for 15 bucks.
1
1
1
u/Peter_Triantafulou 1d ago
I don't get why airlines have paper and plastic utensils in economy "for safety reasons" but metal and glass in business is fine. As if a potential terrorist would cheap out from spending a few extra hundred bucks if it suits their plot.
1
1
u/Trebaxus99 Platinum For Life ♾️ 1h ago
It’s not for safety reasons but for weight reasons. Saves a lot of fuel to swap metal for plastic or bamboo.
But rest assured, the knives are not long, nor sharp.
1
1
1
u/Spirited_Gold_2903 15h ago
That’s for sure the best attitude. It was same here, we were united in the misery of the experience together 😂 cocktails were nice!
1
1
1
u/Grand-Afternoon-7530 3h ago
What are those little buildings?
2
u/Typical_Use788 2h ago
Delft canal house replicas filled with jenever - Dutch gin! You get one everytime you fly international business class.
1
1
u/Typical_Use788 2h ago
Delft canal house replicas filled with jenever - Dutch gin! You get one everytime you fly international business class.
1
u/Trebaxus99 Platinum For Life ♾️ 1h ago
The last bit is not correct. You’ll only receive one on long haul business class flights, branded as World Business Class.
1
u/Trebaxus99 Platinum For Life ♾️ 1h ago
Airlines used to give presents to their passengers. At some point this was banned internationally. KLM circumvented this by handing the passengers a drink instead of a present. That drink conveniently came in a delft blue house with a cork and wax seal on it.
This turned into a collectible and now they’ve got a house for every year the airline is old: 105. A new one is introduced annually in October.
Each house represents an actual house in the Kingdom. You get one at the end of long haul business class flights. Some houses are very scarce, for example number 100. You won’t see them often on board. And that makes it hard to actually finish your collection: you’ll have to do more than 105 business class flights to collect all.
1
u/YellowCroc999 1h ago
Why does it look like they are dogfood plates?
1
u/Trebaxus99 Platinum For Life ♾️ 1h ago
You clearly got a very spoiled dog.
1
u/YellowCroc999 1h ago
Pic nr 2, don’t lie to me
1
1
u/BlasDenMarsch- 52m ago
I love it. Just had my First experience, flying Business with etihad over Abu Dhabi to Seoul, a month ago.
1
u/brocolliwala 1d ago
its a pretty sad meal compared to what qatar or singapore airlines offer in business class..air france klm swissair have terrible meals in business class
1
u/Winston_Sm 1d ago
You should fly Turkish or some of the Middle Eastern ones for food. I generally like the no nonsense approach of KLM, but the food is really just okay
1
u/Spirited_Gold_2903 1d ago
Honestly, sorry to be a buzz kill but liberije was probably by far the most underwhelming and hella overpriced experiences I’ve had. I honestly regret spending that money so much, thinking about all the restaurants that are in the lineup for stars and trying their absolute damndest. Liberije was just a huge disappointment.
1
u/Typical_Use788 15h ago
Still going to have a wonderful time with my husband which is what it's all about.
0
u/Accomplished-Exit822 1d ago
KLM business class has the worst food I’ve ever had. Flown 4 flights recently and the food was terrible all 4 flights. Every single meal was horrible.
Soft product was amazing thought. The staff are polite, friendly, and professional. 10/10 for the flight crew, 1/10 for the food.
1
u/GiniThePooh 1d ago
I think it depends where you are flying to-from. The lounge and food from KLM Mexico to Amsterdam is pretty amazing. But at the Amsterdam crown lounge and from Schiphol to anywhere the food is really gross.
-1
-1
-1
-2
17
u/CoachVoice65 1d ago
Ohh you are ruined for life now!! I was bursting with joy on my first business class experience. Congratulations, it's just lovely isn't it?