Bangkok to Amsterdam in business with KLM. The seat is the right one, the rest a little less so
Thailand has virtually reopened its borders without restrictions, after experimenting with various protocols: first the Phuket Sandbox [...]
Thailand has practically reopened its borders without restrictions, after experimenting with various protocols: first the Phuket Sandbox e then the Test&Go. Now visiting the Asian kingdom is almost the same as before, and in the coming weeks the remaining restrictions will be lifted.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- 787
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- BKK - AMS
- Price:
- 715 €
- Book
Traveling in Southeast Asia at this time is really beautiful: there are very few tourists and it will remain that way for quite a while yet, given the impossibility of travel for the Chinese and the fears that still hold back travelers around the world. This gives 100% the chance to enjoy a land that was eager to embrace tourists again : if usually one is treated with kid gloves here, at this time the pampering and attention is even greater.
From Ko Samui a Bangkok on this trip we felt pampered in every place we visited, all the more reason to return as soon as possible.
Reservation
We have Preferred to pay for this round-trip ticket in business class because the price was too cheap to waste Flying Blue miles, especially now that with the slow reopening of borders it is logical to expect prices to rise.
I also could have Take advantage of membership rewards points to book tickets without paying but at this stage of still low rates, it was definitely not a conversion to make. Unfortunately, the frequent Flying Blue offers to get discounted award tickets are rarely open to eastbound routes.
At the airport
We arrived at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi a few minutes before 8 pm, with our flight leaving at 11:30 pm. From downtown we booked with GRAB, an essential app if you want to move smoothly around the city by mototaxi, cab or limousine. There is no Uber here and taxi drivers often do not know the final destination.
The van that took us to the airport was a small spaceship that could also turn into a traveling disco at the occasion.
Thailand's main airport is still reawakening as it waits to return to accommodate thousands of passengers each day. Today it is still working at a cramped schedule, and the monitors are reading a lot of canceled flights.
If by Flying to Thailand requires several documents, virtually nothing is needed to leave except a PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to the flight, in which case the rules are those of the airline and the final destination.
The check-in procedures went very quickly, in fact the routine checks and a distracted glance at the outcome of the swab we had taken the day before.
At the moment the airport is a construction site, evidently they have taken advantage of the flight shutdown to do routine and extraordinary maintenance work.
In October, all but one of the lounges were still closed. Therefore, we were given an invitation to the Miracle Lounge, one of the independent lounges in the airport and also accessible via major cards such as Priority Pass and the like. Now the situation is greatly improved and also Thai has reopened its main VIP lounge.
The lounge is small, but it is not a big problem since flights are few and staggered throughout the day.
Nevertheless, the food and drink offerings were more than sufficient, although nothing comparable to the official lounges.
On board
Due to a mix-up, we had to wait for tickets to be reissued before we could board.
For an unspecified reason, our seats on the plane had been changed, and my daughter, a 7-year-old girl, ended up 2 rows away from us. We then lost our boarding priority and had to queue up with the rest of the passengers.
Boarding was only from the front door and this limited the ability to take shots with the plane still empty, too bad.
Flight KL804 is operated with a 787/900, the flight is a continuation of the route that departs from Manila in the Philippines, stops in Bangkok, and departs about 40 minutes later.
The business class cabin of KLM's Dreamliners is the only one in the Dutch carrier's fleet outfitted with a 1-2-1 configuration. This means that the 30 passengers in world Business all have direct aisle access. Throughout the rest of the Dutch carrier's long-haul fleet, all other business class cabins are set up in a 2-2-2 configuration, which is significantly less comfortable since passengers seated near the window do not have direct aisle access.
The outward journey we made with Air France and in their tremendous 2-3-2 version, In this case, the choice to fly KLM had two motivations. The cabin definitely better than the AF one and especially the business flight between Amsterdam and Nice, our final destination. Being an international flight allowed us to earn 30 XP points, essential to get us closer to 180 and thus achieve Gold status in the FLying Blue loyalty program.
The cabin is nice, it's just too bad that KLM has chosen to set up a single 30-seat cabin instead of splitting into two as other airlines do. This results in a less intimate and noisier environment.
Seats are a popular pattern in skies around the world, the herringbone configuration has the outer rows facing the windows.
The middle rows have inward-facing seats, which means there is no possibility of traveling close together in the so-called "homeymoon seats" because the two passengers are divided by the center console. Interior colors are classic KLM colors, various shades of light blue and the seat black.
The console also serves as a divider and there is no possibility of raising a divider if you do not know the passenger flying next to you, this generates a significant lack of privacy. My advice, therefore, is to aim for a window-side seat if you are flying alone, while opting for middle ones only if you are in company.
The main defect that these seats have is that the TV is inserted in the front seat panel, this means that it is not oriented toward the passenger, to unlock it just press the button on the front. The problem is. this prevents one from comfortably watching TV until the cruising altitude is reached.
Virgin Atlantic also uses this solution, but having designed the seat differently, the passenger is allowed to use the monitor even during takeoff and landing.
The configuration of the seats is very compact and does not leave much space for the passenger; there is only a small storage box at the top of the console.
The flap also doubles as a mirror, while inside the small compartment is a hook where the entertainment system (IFE) headphones and a water bottle hang. Unfortunately, it is not a very roomy space; it is fine for storing a cell phone and documents but not suitable for holding a tablet or laptop.
The chair is definitely not the best that is on the market today, neither as a size nor as extras. It has no optional extras such as a massage function or even the ability to set the seat softer or softer.
Legroom, however, is generous, and the fact that the tunnel where you tuck your feet in is not too narrow makes the position comfortable when turning the chair into a bed.
There are no bulkheads separating the chair from the aisle, privacy is provided by a small extension of the seat outline and the fact that the rows are staggered, allowing you to be less in the eye of your neighbor.
The coffee table comes out at the push of a button from the center console; it is folded in half. It is not large, but at least it slides far enough forward to allow the passenger to get up even without having to fold it back, a convenience especially during lunch.
A pillow, very large and comfortable, and a not-too-thick blanket are available.
No mattress to be placed over the seat to make the chair a little more comfortable when it turns into a bed.
One aspect I appreciate is the fact that KLM has retained the air diffusers even in business class, many airlines in fact have not installed the classic vents that allow the passenger to manage the temperature of his or her own position.
As on all 787s, and probably soon on A350s as well, there are no sun shades but an electronic system that allows you to choose the opacity of the window. Ours was a night flight that took off at midnight local time and landed in Amsterdam when the sun had yet to rise, so we were unable to appreciate this option.
I also really appreciated the presence of the adjustable headrest on the seat. This feature is standard now in economy seats, but in business seats it is often not installed; I, on the other hand, found it convenient.
The removable armrest of the armchair is also convenient. When it converts to a bed it gives a few extra inches, when sitting it is quite large as a support point.
The hand control on the small table allows you to operate the seat, as mentioned there are only the basic functions. Forward, back and then the ability to adjust the tilt and finally the button to turn on the seat light.
There are four bathrooms for the business cabin, two in the front and two in the rear. Unfortunately, there are no windows to peek out of the plane, as there are on Dreamliners from Etihad and other carriers.
Food and Beverage
Immediately upon being seated we were offered a welcome drink and the flight menu.
If the cabin of the 787 outclassed that of Air France's 777, the same cannot be said of the service and food offerings. The service is done with a trolley and a single tray where there is everything from appetizer to dessert, which in this case was not really there having been served as dessert a trio of cheeses.
This solution is more economy than business class, In fact the only difference is in the victuals. On this, however, it must be said that KLM is one of the best in the world. The cutlery has a beautiful design and the china used for the services, as well as the glasses, are also of excellent quality.
What matters, however, is what you put inside the dishes. In our case we had 3 options. The pea soup was served on the plate by pouring it from a thermos, not exactly the most elegant service you can find in business classes around the world. The other two options were a dish with Thai flavors of chicken and vegetables or a meat pie. I opted for the chicken, but I must say nothing special.
During the trip in the section separating the business cabin from the rest of the passengers a small self-service was set up, again presentation and contents are definitely to be reviewed compared to what other airlines even less emblazoned than KLM offer
On-board service
On an overnight flight, the cabin crew generally has 2 objectives: to perform dinner service as quickly as possible and then to turn off the lights until it is time for pre-landing breakfast. This flight was no exception.
In contrast, the courtesy kit for business class passengers, which was distributed in two different versions, was no different in content. Unlike what other carriers do, there is no difference between the gender of passengers with respect to the contents of the kit being delivered.
Shortly before landing, the following was distributed KLM's iconic ceramic cottage. A collector's item that is given to all business class passengers on intercontinental flights.
IFE and Wifi
KLM's entertainment system, screen aside, is the same throughout the plane. The most interesting feature is to be able to choose movies according to the available language, which is very practical and useful for those who do not want to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy in English.
The screen is touch but can also be operated from the remote control, also touch, a remote control that can also be used as a second screen or to consult flight information while on the TV watching something else.
Rich selection of movies and content such as TV series and the like.
Let's say much less qualitative game offerings.
There is no ability to connect Bluetooth headsets to the system, except via an external adapter, and as usual on the 787 no cameras giving the view out of the plane.
In conclusion
In the KLM fleet, the 787 is definitely the plane with the best seat configuration, as on the 777 the business class is set up with 6 seats, thus taking away from passengers sitting near the window to have direct aisle access. The difference with the service that Air France provides is remarkable, both in terms of staff and the quality of the food on offer. The stopover in Amsterdam is always pleasant especially if you have access to at KLM's non-Schengen lounge Which is really beautiful and full of amenities.
This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site, covid and restrictions permitting. Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.
Pro
- The chair
- The cottages
Against
- The catering was not the best
- Very hurried service