Review: KLM’s A330 (new) Business Class from Kigali to Amsterdam (via Entebbe)

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a sublime holiday in the amazingly beautiful country of Rwanda. You can read my trip reports here:

• Review: KLM A330 (new) Business Class from Amsterdam to Rwanda
• Review: Kigali Serena Hotel
• Review: Bisate Lodge by Wilderness Safaris (Volcanoes National Park)
• Review: Encounter with the mountain gorillas (my best travel experience ever!)
• Review: One&Only Nyungwe House (Nyungwe National Park)
• Review: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Akagera National Park)
• Review: KLM A330 (new) Business Class from Rwanda to Amsterdam via Uganda (today)

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Today (March 20, 2019): Review of KLM’s A330 (new) Business Class from Rwanda to Amsterdam (via Uganda).

On January 20th 2019, I flew Business Class with KLM Royal Dutch Airline from Kigali (Rwanda’s capital) to Schiphol airport in the Netherlands, with a scheduled stop-over of 60 minutes in Entebbe (Uganda’s main airport). The flight from Kigali to Entebbe took only 40 minutes while the flight from Entebbe to Amsterdam was around 8 hours. During the short stopover at Entebbe Airport – which is best known for Operation Thunderbolt, a hostage rescue mission carried out by Israeli commandos following the hijacking of an Air France plane in 1976 – there was a change of the cockpit and cabin crew and some passengers disembarked while others boarded. The flight was operated by the exact same A330 aircraft – nicknamed ‘Times Square – that flew me to Rwanda one week prior to this journey. While KLM offers a very enjoyable Business Class experience (with enthusiastic flight attendants and plenty of funky design details), its A330 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 layout are not the most competitive in the skies: they feel not as comfortable as KLM’s B777 Business Class seats (which are also arranged in a 2-2-2 layout but are much wider) and they are definitely a step down compared to the carrier’s B787 Business Class seats, which come in an excellent herringbone 1-2-1 layout.

Have you ever flown KLM’s Business Class? What was your experience? Leave a comment below.

• Trip: Kigali (KGL) to Amsterdam (AMS) via Entebbe (EBB)
• Airline: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300
• Aircraft registration number: PH-AKA (nicknamed ‘Times Square’)
• Flight Number: KL537
• Date: 20 January 2019
• On time departure: yes (8.20 pm)
• On time arrival: yes (6 am)
• Miles: 424 + 3950
• Flight time: 8 hours
• Seat: 1A
• Class: Business Class

In this review (more information & photos below my Youtube clip & slideshow):

1. Cost of my ticket
2. Pearl lounge at Kigali International Airport
3. Facts & figures about KLM
4. Business Class cabin
5. Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
6. Amenities
7. Meals
8. Entertainment
9. Onboard internet
10. Other inflight experiences (crew, bar, lavatory & views)
11. My verdict (score)

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1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid 1750 euros for my KLM roundtrip Business Class ticket from Amsterdam to Kigali. I booked the ticket online on KLM’s website during a great sale.

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2. PEARL LOUNGE AT KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Kigali International Airport is very small and has only one Business Class lounge – called the Pearl lounge – which is open to all passengers flying out of Kigali in Business Class. The lounge is basically a rather unattractive but clean and rectangularly shaped space with a traditional decor that features some subtle African touches. Several rows of leather arm chairs are centered around a bar area, where you also find some dining tables. The lounge offers free WiFi, several work stations (with computers), a kids corner, shower facilities and a separate VIP lounge for government officials. A decent buffet is on display in a separate room behind the bar area and in the evening hours, it offers sandwiches, fruits, cheese, cold cuts, pastries, snacks and several hot items (e.g. ginger rice, peas, pasta Napolitane, spring rolls, vegetable lasagna, and samboussa).

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3. FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT KLM

• Founded on October 7, 1919, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the oldest scheduled airline in the world still operating under its original name.

• Last year, KLM operated worldwide flights with over 200 aircraft, generating €10 billion revenues and employing 32.000 staff from its Amsterdam basis. KLM is the third-largest employer
  in the Netherlands.

• Besides the well-known KLM airline, the KLM Group also includes the wholly owned subsidiaries Transavia and Martinair. Transavia is the leading low-cost carrier from The Netherlands operating from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam, welcoming 8 million passengers last year. Martinair focuses on airfreight, pilot training, and aircraft maintenance.

• On May 6, 2004 KLM merged with Air France. The Air France-KLM group is operating as one company in which the two airlines keep their brand identifies, both with a focus on three core businesses (passenger, cargo business and engineering & maintenance). Air France-KLM is the world’s 5th largest airline by company revenue.

• KLM was the first airline to use biofuels on commercial flights: on June 29 2011, a KLM Boeing 737-800 carried 171 passengers from Amsterdam to Paris, burning a 50/50 blend of traditional jet fuel and used cooking oil. Together with its venture SkyNRG, KLM introduced the world’s first Corporate BioFuel Program through which companies can use sustainable biofuels for parts of employees’ flights, thereby stimulating the further development of a market for biofuels.

• KLM ’employs’ a famous co-pilot: Dutch King Willam Alexander. The father of three and monarch to 17 million Dutch citizens calls flying a ‘hobby’ and has been piloting KLM aircraft for years, albeit always under the radar (not literally of course). The King is trained to fly B737s, and when he makes pilot announcements, he does so anonymously.

• The KLM fleet is composed of the following aircraft:
  • 50 Boeing 737NG for short- and medium haul destinations
  • 13 Airbus A330-200 and -300 for medium and longhaul haul destinations
  • 14 Boeing 747-400 for longhaul haul destinations
  • 29 Boeing 777-200ER and -300ER for longhaul haul destinations
  • 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for medium and longhaul haul destinations

• KLM names its aircraft after city squares worldwide (A330s), birds (B737s), UNESCO world heritage sites (B777s), world cities (B747s), flowers (B787s) and ships of the Dutch East India Company (B747 freighters).

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4. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

KLM recently completed a (long needed) refurbishment and upgrade of its A330 fleet. KLM’s A330-300 aircraft now features 30 lie flat seats in Business Class, 40 standard seats in Economy Comfort (with more legroom) and 222 standard seats in Economy Class; the smaller A330-200 planes have 18, 36 and 214 seats in Business Class, Economy Comfort, and Economy Class respectively. All Business Class seats are located in one cabin, with either 5 rows (A330-300) or 3 rows (A330-200) of seats. The new A330 cabin interior – which was designed by KLM in collaboration with Dutch designer Hella Jongerius – feels fresh, modern, and above all typically KLM. Different shades of blue are used throughout the cabin, complementing the dark brown color of the seat covers. All Business Class seats face forward and are arranged in a standard 2-2-2 layout, which means that passengers in the window seats don’t have direct aisle access (as they will have to climb over the legs of the passengers seated next to them). Fixed dividers are installed between paired seats, which are inconvenient when you want to talk to your travel companion in the other seat and not large enough to provide enough privacy when you are seated next to a stranger (although paired seats are staggered by a couple of inches, so it doesn’t feel too uncomfortable).

This Business Class layout isn’t unique to KLM as other airlines have installed the same type of Business Class seat (e.g. Ethiopian Airlines B787/A350s; Qatar Airways’ A330s; and United B787s).

Click here for a seat map of KLM’s Airbus A330-300.

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5. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

KLM’s A330 Business Class seat is 25,5 inch (65 cm) wide and has a pitch of 60 inch (152 cm); the latter is defined as the distance from any point on one seat to the exact same point on the seat in front or behind, and thus a good indication of the legroom.

One side of the seat shares a console with its paired seat, which can be used as a small table for a drink and also holds the tray table (that needs to be pulled out for any use). This side of the seat also features a fixed privacy screen (which I already described above), a reading light at eye level, and an armrest with an electronic control panel to adjust the seat position. The seat’s other side (towards the window or aisle, depending on your seat location) has an easy-to-reach fixture above the armrest, which holds a universal AC power outlet, a USB port and a wired controller for the inflight entertainment (more on that below). There’s also a small compartment behind the headrest, where you can store items like your wallet, glasses or smart phone; actually, it’s the only storage space around the seat (you need to store all your carry-on luggage and larger items in the overhead bins). 

In front of each seat is a 18.5” touchscreen high resolution TV in 16:9 format and a small footrest. The latter becomes part of the flat bed when the seat reclines 180 degrees into its horizontal position. The fully flat bed is a massive improvement over KLM’s older A330 Business Class product (which featured angled lie flat seats). With its length of 206 cm long (6 ft 9 inch), the bed is very comfortable, even for taller passengers. Although the bed is a tad narrow, you can lower one of the arm rests to increase its width and enhance your sleeping comfort.  

What are the best Business Class seats on KLM’s A330-300? Click here for a seat map.

• All seats in the cabin, except for the first and last row, are quiet good, especially for couples. Make sure to prebook your seat online (which can be done free of charge) to avoid disappointment at the airport, since QA flights are often fully packed.

What are the worst Business Class seats on KLM’s A330-300? Click here for a seat map.

• The 2-2-2 Business Class layout does not make the cabin very attractive for solo travelers, since you will always end up sitting next to a stranger. There is a small screen though between paired seats for added privacy.
• Window seats don’t offer direct aisle access.
• Passengers seated in the first row may be bothered by the noise of the galley and passengers going to or returning from the lavatories.
• I also suggest to avoid the last row of Business Class, which is close to the Economy bassinet seats.

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6. AMENITIES

Business Class passengers receive the following amenities on one of KLM’s longhaul flights :

• An amenity kit, which comes under the form of a brown comfort bag. The bag is created by successful Dutch fashion designer Jan Taminiau (in 2014 he was awarded the Netherlands’ most prestigious fashion prize the Grand Seigneur). It contains an eye mask, ear plugs, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, and Rituals lip balm & face moisturizer.
• A comfortable pillow
• A stylish and comfortable, marine blue blanket
• Noise cancelling headphones (which can only be powered within the plane and need to be returned to the crew prior to landing)

Before landing, Business Class passengers also receive a wonderful gift: a Delft Blue miniature traditional Dutch house, filled with Dutch gin, also known as jenever. Each miniature depicts a real Dutch house. KLM has been presenting Business Class passenger with this gift since the 1950s. Every year on October 7th, the airline celebrates the anniversary of its founding in 1919 by presenting a new house. Over the years, these miniature houses have become desirable collectors’ items, even generating a lively trade among passengers. KLM has a site where you can keep track of all of the houses, as each one is unique and has a special story to tell.

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7. MEALS

KLM pays a lot of attention to the design details of its meal service. For example its stylish food and wine menus feature references to Delft tiles and houses. Another design detail that KLM gets totally right is the unique tableware. The porcelain, glassware, cutlery, linen and tray have all been designed by Marcel Wanders, a famous Dutch designer. Even the salt and pepper shakers come in the form of clogs, one of Holland’s symbols.

But despite the chic menus and tableware, the food itself was mediocre on this flight. Cheese biscuit were offered during the short 40 min flight from Kigali to Entebbe. Shortly after takeoff from Entebbe, supper was served, with all courses served at once on the same tray (which I liked because of the late hour of meal service, allowing for more sleep). I selected the following items from the menu:

• Appetizer: smoked salmon rillettes with herbed cream cheese and pickled onion
• Main course: seared Nile perch with Balti sauce, three color pepper korma and white rice with cumin
• Side dish: Edam and Brie cheese plate
• Dessert: chocolate éclairs with coffee cream

Ninety minutes prior to touchdown at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, breakfast was served. It comprised the following items:

• Fresh fruit salad, Edam and Cheddar cheese, ham, hot rolls and croissants
• Yoghurt with granola
• Hard-oiled egg