Seats
Onboard Services
Cabins
Business Class
On short haul flights business class is known as Europe Business Class, while on long haul flights the service is known as World Business Class.
World Business Class offers a 60 inch pitch for passengers, with a 176 degree angled lie flat seat. Seat back TV monitors with AVOD (audio video on demand) and email text messaging capabilities are available, as well as a privacy canopy, a massage function and a power socket. Boeing 777-300ER flights also have personal; reading lamps, foot rests and personal telephones. Dining options include a three course meal, pre-departure snacks and drinks and additional small nibbles while flying. World Business Class passengers may also use the exclusive check in desks and airport lounge facilities where available. KLM World Business Class passengers are also presented with KLM Delft Blue Houses; small blue-and-white porcelain reproductions of old Dutch canal houses, filled with jenever as flight mementos. These houses are each numbered according to the year of the flight and can be highly sought after by collectors.
Europe Business Class offers the same lounge access and check in options, as well as a 33 inch seat pitch with additional incline and in seat power sockets. Passengers benefit from on board newspapers, a meal, more personal space and fully flexible booking.
Economy Class
Seats have a 31 inch seat pitch on all aircraft (other than the Airbus A330-200, which has a 32 inch pitch) but there is no in-flight entertainment on short haul flights. Longer flights on Boeing 747 aircraft have private seatback screens. Long haul flight passengers receive a hot meal service, while short haul passengers receive a snack and drink. All drinks (excluding champagne) are free on KLM for all passengers.
Economy Comfort Class is offered on all flights; the additional facilities vary depending on whether the service is inter- or intra-continental. Upgrading to Economy Comfort Class costs between 20 and 70 Euros, and guarantees a greater seat pitch and recline, and quick disembarkation. It does not change luggage allowance or in-flight services a passenger receives. Some Flying Blue members can upgrade to Economy Comfort Class free of charge.
Baggage Allowance
Hand baggage
One bag is permitted, not exceeding 22lb weight or dimensions 22 x 14 x 10in. One personal item is also allowed, such as a purse, umbrella or blanket.
Hold Baggage
Europe: one bag is permitted, with a maximum weight of 23kg and maximum linear dimensions of 158cm (length + width + height).
Rest of World (check to ensure your destination is covered): two bags are permitted, with a maximum weight of 23kg and maximum linear dimensions of 158cm (length + width + height).
For World Business Class and Europe Select passengers, an additional two pieces of luggage of the same size and weight as the above are permitted.
Passengers travelling with a child under two years old without a booked seat may also check in one additional piece of luggage (under 10kg) and one carry-on for infant food and other in-flight necessities. You may also check in one fully collapsible stroller, as a carry-on item if cabin space is available or else as checked baggage in the hold. If you have booked a seat for your child you may also take a car seat into the cabin, but there are regulations relating to the standard of car seat which are suitable; check with the airline before flying.
Sports equipment will be treated as part of your baggage and will incur excess baggage charges if necessary. This includes bicycles and SCUBA gear. The exception is golf equipment; one golf bag per passenger can be checked into the hold free of charge if the entire journey is operated by KLM or Air France.
Musical instruments are also treated as part of luggage and need to occupy an additional, paid for seat in the cabin if it is too large to be treated as hand luggage.
Air miles and alliances
Air Miles
KLM is a member of the Skyteam Alliance, which is made up of 13 airlines spanning the globe. The participating airlines are:
- Aeroflot, based in Russia
- Aeromexico, based in Mexico
- Air Europa, based in Spain
- Air France, based in France
- Alitalia, based in Italy
- China Southern Airlines, based in China
- Czech Airlines, based in the Czech Republic
- Delta Air Lines, based in the USA
- Kenya Airways, based in Kenya
- KLM, based in the Netherlands
- Korean Air, based in South Korea
- TAROM, based in Romania
- Vietnam Airlines, based in Vietnam
SkyTeam flies to 898 airports in 169 countries, serving 385 million passengers annually.
Passengers flying on a flight operated by any SkyTeam partner can earn miles towards benefits on any partner airlines flights, according to the rules of the individual airlines. Passengers can work towards SkyTeam Elite and SkyTeam Elite Plus status, gaining benefits such as airport lounge access, priority check-in, preferred seating and guaranteed reservations on sold out flights.
If you are already a KLM silver tier passenger you automatically qualify as a SkyTeam Elite member. If you are a KLM gold or platinum tier passenger, you qualify as a SkyTeam Elite Plus passenger.
Being part of the SkyTeam Alliance also allows KLM to offer flights as part of the SkyTeam Round The World (RTW) and country specific passes. The popular RTW pass allows passengers to travel to between 3 and 15 destinations across the globe, with flights spanning between 10 days and a whole year! For more info, take a look at the SkyTeam website.
Flying Blue
KLM passengers can become a member of Flying Blue, KLM’s airmiles rewards system. The system is simple; the more you fly with KLM, the more points you amass, which can be used to gain services on KLM flights. KLM offer two types of Miles; Award Miles and Level Miles, both of which are earned every time you fly on an eligible flight.
Award Miles: earned each time you fly KLM or with any eligible partner flight, Award miles can be spent on offers – from award tickets to hotel packages. Award Miles are valid for life, if you fly at least once every 20 months with Air France, KLM or any other SkyTeam partner.
Level Miles: Level Miles take you to a higher Flying Blue membership level: from Ivory to Silver, Gold or Platinum. Level Miles are valid until 31 December each year. On 1 January, your Level Miles are reset to zero for a new year.
Airline meals
KLM offers a range of dining options across all flights in each cabin class. Depending on whether your flight is short or long haul, Economy passengers will be offered either a small snack or a choice of two hot meals, respectively. Economy passengers also have the option of ordering from an a la carte menu on some longer flights.
For business class passengers, a larger selection of snacks and meals are offered, including fresh fruit and yogurt on short haul flights. Longer flights have hot meals, including appetiser and dessert served separately, for business class passengers. World Business Class passengers are offered three course meals prepared by top chef Jonnie Boer.
Other useful information
Special Fares
There are some discounts for children, but these do not include promotional or already reduced fares. Children under one always travel at reduced rates, but are expected to travel on the lap of a parent or guardian. There are no reduced rates for senior travellers.
Disabled passengers
KLM ensures that all disabled passengers have the required facilities for their flight; they offer assistance while boarding and disembarking, transport of mobility devices, facilities for assistance dogs and meals according to dietary requirements. It’s suggested that you let the airline know of your requirements at least 48 hours before your flight.
