AFF Review: KLM Boeing 777-300ER Business Class (AMS-PBM)

[AFF Editor]

KLM Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Review is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

KLM Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Review

KLM's new Boeing 777-300ER Business Class is a very comfortable lie-flat product, with great food and service to match.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Flyfrequently]

KLM Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Review is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

KLM Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Review

KLM's new Boeing 777-300ER Business Class is a very comfortable lie-flat product, with great food and service to match.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Great article @Mattg

We flew KLM 777-200 HKG-AMS-HKG and although the older aircraft, really enjoyed all aspects of the flight and the crew on both flights were exceptional.
Wouldn't hesitate to fly with them again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wow, what a great flight! What was availability like on QFF? Did you have to plan/plot a long time ahead?

How did you get out of Suriname? Or is that another article?

I desperately tried to get on KLM revenue from AMS to the Caribbean but just couldn't make it work .

 

[AIRwin]

I found the safe-tile video:

 

[Pushka]

We flew AMS to KL on one of these planes. Best ever seat and great for sleeping.

 

[Mattg]

Wow, what a great flight! What was availability like on QFF? Did you have to plan/plot a long time ahead?

I booked about four months out. There was a choice of a few dates across the month with Business availability via Qantas Frequent Flyer on the AMS-PBM route.

How did you get out of Suriname? Or is that another article?

I desperately tried to get on KLM revenue from AMS to the Caribbean but just couldn't make it work .

I flew out on Copa Airlines. There'll be another review coming soon about that flight.

 

[Mattg]

How did you get out of Suriname? Or is that another article?

Here's the sequel: Copa Airlines 737 Economy Review (Paramaribo-Panama City)

 

[RooFlyer]

Ugh. Have been trying to get pricing and availability for return flights next June.

Website kept erroring: "We're having trouble finding flight options that match your search. (#7190)" - I checked the dates, the route is flying those days.

Called; got overseas as a Plat (of course). After a LOT of faffing about, the agent came up with $851 taxes, then after a lot more tapping etc plus 75K points one way for the outbound, but "no seats on the return". Was that because there were no Award seats available, or no flight? "No flight". I knew that it was scheduled (its for sale on KLM website), but asked for the next day - yes, available.

So the 'taxes' almost doubled over what you paid, @Mattg . I tried to call back to check, but the line was unintelligible (interference) both times.

But now I've just checked the schedule again, and the revenue fares.

In business, PBM-AMS is $4K-$5.5K on the days I want to fly in late June, down to A$1654 for the last few days of June and A$648 in early July!! All B777-300, operated by KLM. Must be a website glitch. But very tempted to book revenue, right now!!

 

[Mattg]

Ugh. Have been trying to get pricing and availability for return flights next June.

Website kept erroring: "We're having trouble finding flight options that match your search. (#7190)" - I checked the dates, the route is flying those days.

Called; got overseas as a Plat (of course). After a LOT of faffing about, the agent came up with $851 taxes, then after a lot more tapping etc plus 75K points one way for the outbound, but "no seats on the return". Was that because there were no Award seats available, or no flight? "No flight". I knew that it was scheduled (its for sale on KLM website), but asked for the next day - yes, available.

So the 'taxes' almost doubled over what you paid, @Mattg . I tried to call back to check, but the line was unintelligible (interference) both times.

But now I've just checked the schedule again, and the revenue fares.

In business, PBM-AMS is $4K-$5.5K on the days I want to fly in late June, down to A$1654 for the last few days of June and A$648 in early July!! All B777-300, operated by KLM. Must be a website glitch. But very tempted to book revenue, right now!!

I was able to book online from AMS to PBM. Not possible to book online if you're starting the ticket in Suriname though, unfortunately.

The taxes you were quoted by the offshore agent sound incorrect. Might be worth trying to keep calling until you get Hobart or Auckland

 

[Berlin]

Has anyone recently done the short KLM tag on flight from Bali to Singapore or vice versa?

We’re doing it over Xmas this year, was a very competitive business class fare. I’m just wondering how “complete” this experience will be on such a rather short flight. Surely we will be able to test out those new seats but else- food/drinks and are they hanging out those adorable cute ceramic houses or is this only on longer flights? If anyone knows, please post- thank you!

 

[Scarlett]

Gday @Berlin,
I flew KLM DPS-SIN in J in Dec22. (even had to get a whY connecting flight CGK-DPS with GA to try it out…)

Lounge in DPS was mediocre.



Even with the late hour of departure there was a full meal served and then during descent I was given a Delft Blue house. The guy seated beside me was continuing on to AMS so he didn’t get his on that leg.

 

[Berlin]

Gday @Berlin,
I flew KLM DPS-SIN in J in Dec22. (even had to get a whY connecting flight CGK-DPS with GA to try it out…)

Lounge in DPS was mediocre.

View attachment 413341

Even with the late hour of departure there was a full meal served and then during descent I was given a Delft Blue house. The guy seated beside me was continuing on to AMS so he didn’t get his on that leg.

Thank you so much @Scarlett and glad to hear there’s a full meal service and even one of those beautiful houses

And “KLM ASIA”- interesting! Whenever I see KLM, it reminds me of my very first flight to Australia which was on a KLM 747. A very long time ago, obs!

 

[ANstar]

I really like the new KLM business with the sliding door. Great "quirky" dutch service and I love the delft houses they give out.

 

[jase05]

Has anyone recently done the short KLM tag on flight from Bali to Singapore or vice versa?

We’re doing it over Xmas this year, was a very competitive business class fare. I’m just wondering how “complete” this experience will be on such a rather short flight. Surely we will be able to test out those new seats but else- food/drinks and are they hanging out those adorable cute ceramic houses or is this only on longer flights? If anyone knows, please post- thank you!

Flew DPS-SIN in J about 4 weeks ago.
DPS lounge isn’t the best but had not bad food this time and ice cold beers.
Seats were comfortable and the sliding privacy doors are always a welcome sight. Service was prompt and staff very good. Food was delicious, I had the Beef Rendang and it was superb and the orange chocolate cake was yummy.
Drinks proactively refilled and they handed out the Delft houses which unfortunately I had to crack open and drink at the hotel that night as we were heading to Qatar the next morning

 

[Berlin]

Flew DPS-SIN in J about 4 weeks ago.
DPS lounge isn’t the best but had not bad food this time and ice cold beers.
Seats were comfortable and the sliding privacy doors are always a welcome sight. Service was prompt and staff very good. Food was delicious, I had the Beef Rendang and it was superb and the orange chocolate cake was yummy.
Drinks proactively refilled and they handed out the Delft houses which unfortunately I had to crack open and drink at the hotel that night as we were heading to Qatar the next morning
View attachment 413852View attachment 413853View attachment 413854View attachment 413855View attachment 413856View attachment 413857View attachment 413858View attachment 413859

Thank you so much for posting, how exciting! And an interesting wine list- never had a wine from the Netherlands I don’t think and there’s a Red from Austria on it which is a rare sight in this part of the world too. Can’t wait for our flights now!

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, I've had to sacrifice AMS-Suriname for now, in favour of AMS-INV (Inverness)

Looked up QFF for a week either side of 1 Oct next year.
* No business class offered on the KLM direct flights (they do exist)
* Economy, 10,000 points and Euro151 (A$250 - of this A$110 carrier fees 'payable to Qantas'). On KLM's site an economy seat costs A$267!!

BTW
* On BA for flight AMS-xLHR-INV, economy QFF 30,000 points + Euro 168 (A$277)
* Same flight Economy on Alaskan, 7,500 points + US$125 (A$190), business 15,000 points + A$193 !!!

 

[jase05]

Great article @Mattg .
Looking at this option to return from the Caribbean In July. Plenty of J award seats available on VS Flying Club and have a stack of miles so looking at booking PBM-AMS and perhaps tack on a free Euro connection.
What was the visa situation like?
Had a quick look and seems Australians can a travel card online but does require letter of invitation and yellow fever cert, is that still the case?

 

[Berlin]

Well- our Business class booking to Bali and back turned into an absolute nightmare. On the outbound, the flight was “overbooked” and after lengthy discussions, we got accommodated on Singapore Airlines the following day. Getting the required paperwork from KLM for our travel insurance to cover accommodation was nothing but a disaster- anyone complaining about being on hold with Qantas should try to get ANYTHING out of KLM/Airfrance. One of the worst customer service experience of my life and of course KLM would not offer anything themselves. Actually, the oh so amazing EU laws complicated the matter because the airlines can just give you a useless €150 voucher for future travel (try to travel on KLM down here!) and then the case is closed for them.

On the return, the aircraft did have technical issues in Amsterdam so it never made it down to Asia and of course KLM would not have any replacement aircraft at their AMS hub. As a result, we got re-booked overnight Bali-Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Singapore. I was already suffering from a bad cold at that point which now turned into a full blown pneumonia (including hospital stay back here in Australia) and that nightmarish three legged re-booking certainly did its best getting it this far.

Never again KLM. We did not even set foot on any of their aircraft but the worst was their absolute ignorance to help out their customers. Fully outright paid Business class, no less. They can take their cute little gin houses and…

 

[AIRwin]

Whenever I see KLM, it reminds me of my very first flight to Australia which was on a KLM 747. A very long time ago, obs!

Best to just hold on to better memories?

Actually, the oh so amazing EU laws complicated the matter because the airlines can just give you a useless €150 voucher for future travel (try to travel on KLM down here!) and then the case is closed for them.

Doesn't sound like the EU air passenger rights apply to SIN-DPS?

Air passenger rights - Your Europe

Travellers' rights - flight delays, cancellations and overbooking (passengers unable to fly on flight they booked)

europa.eu

 

[Berlin]

Best to just hold on to better memories?

Good point- I’ll try and do that!

Doesn't sound like the EU air passenger rights apply to SIN-DPS?

Air passenger rights - Your Europe

Travellers' rights - flight delays, cancellations and overbooking (passengers unable to fly on flight they booked)

europa.eu

I would have not thought so either. But KLM used the €150 “compensation” (on future flights only, no less) as a reason to otherwise “close shop” and ignore any of our requests.

Took us days of escalation and trying various different channels to finally get at least a written confirmation of our denied boarding and re-booking to the day after. Outstation staff at Changi was absolutely useless and pushed us towards “contacting KLM” which sounds much easier than it is as they try everything in their might to push you off to “Digital channels” which, of course, cannot help you. It was a very depressing experience and hence super disappointing. We were very excited about those flights