As an avowed frugal traveler, the destination has always been more important to me than the service class. Be it in economy, premium economy, or even on a train, getting somewhere new has always taken priority over comfort. Perhaps this is why I was rather excited to accept the invitation of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to join them aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in World Business Class to Amsterdam and back.
Returning to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), my first stop (after the duty-free shopping) was the KLM Crown Lounge. Despite going through a renovation, the lounge was spacious and offered the usual fare of complimentary food and beverages.
A small selection of warm foods and cold snacks were available, along with a moderately stocked bar. Heineken was available on tap complimented by a selection of liquors, which were all complimentary for international flyers. I elected for a simple meal of pork and ramen noodles, with a Coke. Albeit being a smaller portion, the meal was flavorful and the perfect size for a pre-flight snack.
The last time I flew in a premium cabin was 2005, as a college student traveling home for the summer. Since then, business class has come a long way from oversized recliners and moderately larger entertainment systems. Today, the luxury traveler is greeted to high-end beverages, entertainment centers that rival some hotel rooms and fully lay-flat seats. These were all things I was not accustomed to, but was pleasantly surprised to find aboard my flight.
Because of passing storms, our takeoff from AMS was delayed by around 40 minutes. During this time, both the captain and senior purser took the time to come around and apologize to everyone in the World Business cabin. I used the opportunity to thank the captain for his consideration and get a picture to commemorate the flight.
Two meals were offered on each flight. Outbound to AMS, a light dinner was served followed by a breakfast tart. Coming home, I was offered a cheese plate with a cocktail, followed by my choice of three lunch meals and a snack portion prior to landing. I decided to sample the airline’s signature cocktail, The Flying Dutchman, with my cheese plate. The beverage, a combination of Dutch gin, blackberry liqueur, lemon and simple syrup, was a fruity and refreshing beverage perfect for my day of flying. My only disappointment was I could not order a bottle to take home, as much of the on-board duty-free shopping must be done three days ahead of a flight.
Getting in and out of the seat was not a problem whatsoever, as each seat had direct aisle access in a reverse-herringbone configuration. While I was not able to get a window seat flying to or from JFK, the middle seat was just as comfortable, giving me full virtual views of the outside as we flew via the traveling map. During my flight, I elected to use the cockpit view during the map – giving me the feeling of being in front with the cabin.
For my meals, I elected for the Irish beef, followed by a Black Angus hamburger before landing. Shortly after takeoff, the meal service was prompt, with the snack service following around 90 minutes before landing.
Though I was tempted to ask: “What’s the deal with airplane food?” that question was not necessary during this flight. Each of the meals were simple, flavorful and filling for their fare. My only concern was with the hamburger: albeit a little dry, I was not about to complain about a free snack.
Having flown one of the original Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2013, I was accustomed to all of the cabin improvements, including the quieter cabin and improved humidity. Experiencing that overnight was a completely different experience. While it felt odd to nap on a completely lay-flat seat while flying, the cabin pressure and natural lighting made the flight a very comfortable experience. I was even able to plug in my travel CPAP machine, ensuring a restful sleep when I did find it.
Perhaps the most memorable part of the flight came at the end, when I was presented with my own KLM Blue Delft house, filled with Bols gin. These houses are a trademark of flying in a premium cabin with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and are only offered to business and first class flyers. I now have a budding collection of two houses, with hopes to gain more in the future.
Overall, my impressions of the KLM World Business class were quite favorable – and gave me a new respect for those travelers who collect points and miles to fly in business class. A round-trip in KLM World Business class can cost 125,000 Flying Blue Miles. KLM World Business can also be booked with Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, but finding award space may be difficult.
FlyingBlue is also a partner of American Express Membership Rewards, allowing cardholders of the Platinum Card from American Express or the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express to transfer a minimum of 1,000 Membership Rewards Points to the program at a one-to-one ratio.
Disclaimer: As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided some services for free in exchange for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, FrugalTravelGuy believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com