KL891 AMS-CTU

May 10, 2018

In-transit:

I had just flown in from the US to connect to my flight to Chengdu. I was excited about this flight because KLM chose the reverse herringbone seats for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. It’s a huge step-up from its previous business class seats in 2-2-2 configuration. Not only that, it would be my first ever flight on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the oldest airline in the world.

Lounge:

The journey started with the lounge, which was KLM’s flagship Crown Lounge at its home Schipol Airport.

Upon entry, KLM’s signature delft blue branding was noticeable everywhere. The lounge was massive, with two floors and a little mezzanine level tucked in between.

The lounge was well-lit, with plenty of natural light. The first floor was completely swamped when I visited, so I retreated to the second floor. I sat by the area where it had backlit wallpaper of the delft blue houses, which were the replicas of famous Dutch-style houses along the canals in Amsterdam. The food options resorted to the typical European lounge fare, with cold cuts, cheeses, vegetables and two unappetizing hot dishes. It was overall uninspiring.

What really sets KLM apart from other European carriers is its onboard experience, so I headed off to my gate when it was go time. On the walk there, I spotted this Turkish Airlines A330 in a stunning retro livery.

Boarding:

I was immediately impressed by the interior of the cabin, which basically had all 50 shades of blue.

The details were ubiquitous - the metallic cobalt coat hook, single line stitch on the seat, azure checked pattern on the side panel, indigo table, navy blue cushions and cerulean mirror shutters. Different shades worked in perfect cohesion, and, if you don’t know already, KLM’s planes and flight attendants also wear blue.

Once settled in, the male purser came by to introduce himself and offer welcome drinks. I selected champagne and sparkling water from his tray, as well as a little bowl of Dutch cheese, available only on flights departing Amsterdam. I was addressed by name throughout the flight.

Just look at how ethereal the glassware and china were. In the meantime, I was also offered an amenity kit, which came in his and hers versions.

The attention to detail and opulent design on KLM were consistent throughout the whole experience. The menu and wine list were presented in a silver and gold duo. The menu was specific for each flight, with date and destination printed on the introduction and the last page.

KLM’s B787s featured individual air nozzles, which is something I value immensely.

Inflight:

Service was quick to commence, with an apéritif. I was obligated to order something with Ketel One, so I asked for a cranberry vodka. The middle-aged Dutch purser told me he had never served that before. I wonder what’s the national drink for the flamboyant gays in the Netherlands… Heineken with tulip liqueur???

For the main meal service, a Chinese female flight attendant from Chengdu took over, with whom I became quickly acquainted (I had lived in Chengdu for some years). She told me she used to work for Etihad, but KLM allowed her to only work on flights between Chengdu and Amsterdam, which meant she could spend more time with her family. To start, I chose the smoked beef carpaccio with cream of almond oil, sweet and sour beech mushrooms and onions, green olives, celery and black garlic and caper dressing. There was also a sesame bun and a simple arugula salad with shaven pecorino romano.

What an outstanding dish to have on an airplane. Even though everything was served on a tray, the opulence radiated from the carvings on the dinnerware and the subtle knitted pattern on the tray. And how cute are those little shoe-shaped salt and pepper shakers?

For the main course, the Chinese option came in three small dishes of chicken thigh in black bean sauce, prawns in sweet and spicy sauce, and oriental-style veggies with steamed rice. While delicious, the portion was relatively small. So for review purpose, obviously, I requested a second main course, which was the Mexican-style chicken thigh in mole sauce with a spinach and smoked bell pepper flan, served on top basmati rice with olives and corn.

Smoked bell pepper flan? It tasted like a Mexican grandma was grinding the bell peppers with love and care at the airport kitchen. Más por favor! To conclude the meal, a green apple dessert with creamy caramel sauce and hazelnut and a Leonidas ice cream were served. I was once again impressed by how adorable the little dessert cup was.

After a satisfying dinner, it was time to rest. Unfortunately KLM didn’t offer a mattress pad. The seat was otherwise comfortable, reclining into an over 6ft long flat bed.

The flight was a little under 10hrs, and soon we were approaching Chengdu. The breakfast consisted of gruyère omelette with semi-dried cherry tomatoes, some fresh fruit, a hard-boiled egg, some packaged cheese and ham and a warm croissant. For breakfast, the silverware was tied up with a silver-colored napkin ring, in contrast to the golden-colored napkin ring for previous dinner service. The silver and gold combination was also echoing the color scheme for the menu and wine list.

On our descent, the flight attendant passed through the cabin with a selection of delft house miniatures, a gift for business class passengers on every KLM flight. Each house was filled with gin, so the flight attendants would carefully seal them in a duty-free plastic bag.

On Arrival:

KLM is such a special airline. The attention that went into the design of its products was magnificent. The flight attendants were warm and fun, especially the Chinese girl taking care of my aisle. The KLM delft houses, the blue uniform of the cabin crew, the quality catering and the genuine and casual service all remind you that you’re on a KLM flight, and that’s a good place to be.