KLM World Business Class
In mid 2023, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched its long awaited World Business Class seats on its Boeing 777-200 and -300 airplanes. The new seats have a sliding door and are 10- to 15-percent lighter than other business class seats in the market segment, which supports KLM’s sustainability goals. I tested the product on a flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town aboard a 777-300ER.
Check-In
Upon checking in, I received a notification via the airline’s mobile app that there was a 90-minute delay. As a World Business Class passenger, I was granted SkyPriority security with no wait time. I then proceeded to the Non-Schengen KLM Crown Lounge, which spans two floors and offers various amenities, including a bar terrace with a view of the apron during the summer season. I found a peaceful spot in the upstairs bar and indulged in premium alcohol. The lounge also boasts a fine-dining restaurant called Blue, which I highly recommend. This is one of Europe’s most beautiful airline lounges, featuring vintage KLM models on display.
Boarding
Half an hour before the revised departure time, the lounge’s flight information display showed, “Go to gate.” When I arrived, I saw hundreds of passengers still waiting, and I couldn’t find the SkyPriority boarding lane. The situation seemed slightly disorganized and cramped. However, after a while, Business Class passengers were called to board.
The Seat
KLM’s new World Business Class on the 777 features the same Jamco Venture seat already present on the 787-10, but the seat has undergone improvements in 14 aspects. The most noticeable change is the addition of an extendable barrier made of synthetic leather. The dark gray and blue tones are a bit
austere, and the off-white dividing walls and light blue doors do not provide enough counterbalance. Fortunately, KLM has done away with the dreaded 2-2-2 premium seating in its largest widebody, now offering a 1-2-1 all-aisle-access layout.
The seat provides plenty of storage space, including a lockable compartment at shoulder level (with a mirror on the back of the door), a laptop slot under the 17-inch screen, and additional stowage beneath the ottoman.
The sideboard table underneath the window is broad and long and has a wireless phone charger and a recess for holding bottles or glasses. All seat function buttons are illuminated and integrated into the edge of the sideboard, making them easily visible and accessible without the need to frantically search for tiny buttons.
The charging sockets are visible to the left of the screen, with USB-A and USB-C sockets and a power outlet. Passengers can enjoy music and movies from the IFE and convert the seat to a full-flat bed measuring 78 inches in length for a nap.
In-flight Wi-Fi is available but requires payment, which is disappointing. Passengers can purchase Wi-Fi access for one hour or the entire flight.
The Flight
After a two-hour delay due to a last-minute aircraft change and oxygen replenishment, we departed two hours and 49 minutes behind schedule. Once in the air, passengers were offered drinks and snacks, including the KLM signature cocktail, Very High Fashioned, and nuts with Gouda cheese cubes served in delft blue porcelain bowls. The amenity kit was basic, but the tailored glasses were delightful.
The service was slow, and the starter arrived more than an hour after departure—a smoked-salmon rouleau on a beetroot panna cotta with goat cheese and fennel.
For the main course, I had vegetarian portobello ravioli with oyster mushrooms, artichoke and mozzarella pearls. The other options were chicken with sweet basil, cod and vegetables, or beef Jawa. I tried French sauvignon blanc and South African chardonnay, which both were pleasant.
The traditional Dutch dessert of bavarois caramel on an almond cookie was delightful.
The second meal was served late in the evening, and passengers could choose between Thai vegetable curry, chicken sudachi and kohaku salad with chili prawns, followed by a panna cotta dessert.
The crew had trouble finding savory snacks later during the flight, but ice cream and candy bars were available.
The cabin purser then delivered the collectible KLM delft blue porcelain house filled with genever (Dutch gin), a signature gift on KLM long-haul premium flights.
Arrival
After exactly ten and a half hours of flight, I arrived in Cape Town 115 minutes behind schedule. It was already a quarter to 1 in the morning, and I was pleased to find that the immigration process was quick.