Lobster and poke at dinner, this is how you fly in KLM's new Premium Comfort
I'll say it up front, before today I was never a fan of premium economy, but probably as you get older you become [...]
KLM
SkyTeam
AMS
I'll say it right now, before today I have never been a premium economy fans, but probably as we get older we get lazy and then we look with curiosity at the intermediate cabin between business class and economy. The real reason, however, I think depends on the boom of this cabin and how it has changed from its beginnings. From the unmatched Emirates EP. to all the other new installations we have seen in this 2022.
Reservation
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- 787/10
- Class:
- Premium Comfort
- Treat:
- JFK - AMS
- Price:
- 22.5k Flying Blue + €135
- Book
When I was looking for a ticket back from New York I was tempted to invest a bunch of MR points for a ticket with Emirates, but the monthly offerings of the Flying Blue Program Instead, they convinced me to try the KLM's newest premium economy cabin for only 22,500 Flying blue points And 135.81€ tax.
The same ticket paid cash would have cost more than €1,000, so I would say a very good use of my FB points.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
I basically have this ticket taken for free thanks to the welcome bonus from when I signed up for the Mooncard corporate card, the only credit card that allows in Italy Of accumulating FB points with each expenditure.
In Airport
I arrived at JFK by helicopter, I tried Blade's service for the first time., which takes you from Manhattan to JFK airport in less than 5 minutes, and I was really satisfied. The cost is 195$, and thanks to this coupon. you can save 50$ per ticket. Sure it costs twice as much as a cab and slightly more than Uber, but it gives a spatial view of Manhattan and most importantly it takes 5 minutes and not 90 (when it's good).
KLM, unlike Air France, flies from T4 to JFK. T4 is the terminal that hosts Delta with which the Dutch carrier shares membership in Skyteam.
Having failed to check in online, due to an unspecified problem, I did everything the traditional way, within 3 minutes I had my boarding passes, and thanks to the shortcut for Sky Priority passengers I even managed to skip the checkpoint queue.
Checks that are still in the stone age, we take off our tablet pc shoes and please do not be selected for a second screening.
Having passed the controls, I headed into the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. If there is one thing T4 does not lack, it is beautiful lounges. In addition to Virgin Atlantic there is the Centurion by American Express, a new Primeclass, the Swiss lounge, the Delta, Emirates and Air India lounge that is also accessible to Priority Pass holders.
On board
The premium comfort cabin is the new feature on board this 787/10, the largest variant of the Dreamliner, and KLM began installing it this summer and it is currently only guaranteed on the AMS/JFK route; on other routes it is not yet officially sold, but is offered as an upgrade.
By the end of 2024, it will be installed on the company's entire fleet of 787s and 777s.
The colors are the iconic KLM colors, a declination of blue that makes everything very calm and not too cold.
The 2-3-2 configuration, a standard in this cabin. The seat space that is lacking compared to economy class is divided for other passengers.
My chair was the 14k, Unfortunately, when I booked the best seats, 11A and 11K, were already taken. These are by far the best since being in the front row they have even more legroom, you can get up without disturbing your neighbor and as many as 2 windows available.
Otherwise all the other chairs are identical.
The table comes out of the armrest and is large enough to allow you to use a tablet or pc without much trouble, it is also very solid and the support holds up well allowing you to work without any problems.
It is also large enough to work and also have room for a glass or other items.
In the back of the front seat are two pockets that can hold all the small items you want to keep close without having to get up for the hat rack.
In the middle armrest is a storage space, it is not huge, but it is enough for headphones and other items.
Here there is also a space designated for glasses. Finally in the lower part of the center armrest is a cavity designed specifically to accommodate the water bottle.
Entertainment system headphones, a small pillow and blanket are distributed at the place. The blanket is the same one that business class passengers receive and this only confirms my feeling after flying in biz aboard this Dreamliner, the deck is not from biz.
The chair has a very generous tilt and combined with the leg support deserves a very high grade.
Nothing is left to chance and you can tell by the details, because as always it is these that make the difference. A recess has been created in the seat structure at a height of about 5 centimeters. This "hole" was designed specifically to act as a step and allow less tall passengers to better reach to look inside the hat box.
A journey into the secret rooms of 787
Right after the service ended, one of the attendants on board made me a proposal of the kind you can't refuse. "Would you like to see the CB." code name for the crew bunk, which is the area where the crew goes to rest during the flight.
There are two resting areas on board this 787.. The first front one for pilots, is accessed directly from outside the cockpit and can accommodate two people at the same time, or it would be better to say 4 since there are 2 seats and two beds.
The second is in the tail of the plane And it is the one designated for euipage. There are 11 flight attendants on board and there are 6 small rooms here.
Here the flight attendants take turns going to rest during the flight. Each bunk has a curtain for isolation, a power outlet and a personal light.
The attendant then showed me the two emergency exits in the bunk area: "In case of an emergency, if we block the door (which opens from the outside only with a code ed.) we can get back into the cabin from the two hatches under two mattresses.
This explains why in the first (or last) rows. of long-haul aircraft often the overhead bins cannot be opened and/or used, simply because there is no overhead bin behind that door.
IFE
The screen is huge, it is touch and has a very high resolution.
The contents are the same for all passengers only the screen size changes. KLM focuses everything on the quantity of content and the quality of hardware.
Since we are talking about a brand new product the only flaw is the lack of Bluetooth to connect directly without having to use headphones or a BT adapter as I usually do. On the flip side, however. KLM distributes the same headphones to passengers as business class, a more than good product.
There are more than 300 movies, TV series, a few games (I like Angry Birds) and a decent selection of music content. I enjoyed a BBC Queen concert.
There's wifi, free 60 minutes of texting (messages only, no photos/videos) or for a fee one hour 8 euro, 18 euros for the whole flight with no traffic limits.
There is a lack of external webcams and a lack of live TV channels; with Holland in the World Cup, I wouldn't want to be an Orange fan while the Brazil game is on.
No remote control, but it is superfluous since the screen is at your fingertips and is as responsive as an ipad.
Food & Beverage
This was, in my memory, the best catering aboard an airplane on a non-business class ticket, but I can say without fear of contradiction that it was better even than some business class meals, indeed was better even than what I ate in business class aboard KLM.
Lobster as appetizer, seared tuna with fusion flavors as main course. And a vanilla dessert with caremello and hazelnut crumble.
Here in detail is the menu that is distributed before takeoff with the three options between vegetarian dish, chicken and precisely the seafood paitto that I chose.
Breakfast was also higher than expected. No "doggy bag" as some companies do, but mostly a salad with boiled eggs, salmon and cheese. A small hot crepe filled with fruit and jam. And a yogurt with fresh fruit.
The service is done through the trolley, as in economy. It didn't surprise me though since even in business KLM uses this mode for passenger meals.
The only lack, compared to other premium economy, e.g. Finnair's is that no hot towel is distributed and no pre-dinner drink is offered. But these shortcomings are compensated for by everything else.
Service
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The difference between a normal, bad or unforgettable trip is made by the flight attendants and If one of the Dutch airline's most famous stewardesses is on your flight. with over 50k followers on IG, you can't be disappointed.
From the moment I first set foot on the plane. I was pampered even more than when I flew business. However, it was not just feigned attention to a "special" client-it was like that with all my armchair neighbors.
When people are happy with the work they do, especially in a confined environment like an airplane cabin, interaction with the crew makes it much more enjoyable.
PE passengers receive a small, completely sustainable beauty kit. The bag is made of plastic recovered from the oceans, the toothbrush of bamboo, and there is no plastic inside except for the pen.
In conclusion
If premium economy is this it becomes a truly competitive product, especially on routes around 7 hours. The flight from JFK to AMS took just under 6 hours and 40 minutes. If we consider that two services are done there is just enough time to take a nap for a couple of hours and this seat is perfect to fulfill this role, so one can save money compared to business and still arrive relaxed at the destination.
Of course the discriminating factor is price, however if you can book with points at less than 25k FB is to be preferred all your life over a classic economy seat.
I have to say that I am looking forward to boarding KLM's Premium Comfort class again-it was really a perfect trip.
Pro
- The booth
- Catering
Against
- No welcome drink
- Lack of a dedicated bathroom for PE