What Is It Like to Fly the New KLM World Business Class on its Boeing 777?

In mid-2023, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines launched its long-awaited new World Business Class seats on its Boeing 777-200 and -300 airplanes.

The new seats have a sliding door and are 10-15 percent lighter than other business class seats in the market segment, which supports KLM’s sustainability goals. I tested the new hard product on a flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town aboard a Boeing 777-300ER—an aircraft that also flies to the airline’s U.S. gateways on a daily basis.

Check-in

Upon checking in for my KLM flight, I received a notification via the airline’s mobile app that there was a 90-minute delay. As a Business Class passenger, I was granted access to SkyTeam‘s SkyPriority security with no wait time.

I then proceeded to the non-Schengen KLM Crown Lounge, which spans two floors and offers various amenities, including a bar terrace with a view of the apron during the summer season. I found a peaceful spot in the upstairs bar and indulged in premium alcohol.

Photo: Courtesy of KLM

The lounge also boasts a fine dining restaurant called “Blue by KLM,” which I highly recommend trying. It is one of Europe’s most beautiful airline lounges, featuring vintage KLM models on display.

Boarding

Half an hour before the revised departure time, the lounge’s flight information display showed “Go to gate.” I had to walk a long distance to get to my gate at the far end of the E concourse.

When I arrived, I saw that there were hundreds of passengers still waiting, and I couldn’t find a dedicated lane for SkyPriority boarding. The situation seemed slightly disorganized and cramped. However, after a while, Business passengers were called to board, and the boarding process went smoothly and was surprisingly well-organized.

The Seat

KLM’s new Business Class on the 777 fleet features the same Jamco Venture seat already present on the 787-10, but the seat has undergone improvements in 14 aspects for the 777 version.

Photo: Courtesy of Andreas Spaeth

The most noticeable change is the addition of an extendable visual barrier made of synthetic leather material—a Dutch version of the sliding door. The seat and cabin ambiance’s dark grey and blue tones are a bit austere, but the off-white dividing walls and light blue suite doors do not provide enough counterbalance.

Photo: KLM’s new World Business Class sliding panel. Courtesy of Andreas Spaeth

Fortunately, KLM has eliminated the dreaded 2-2-2 premium seating in its largest widebody and now offers a 1-2-1 arrangement. The seat provides plenty of storage space, including a lockable compartment at shoulder level, which has a mirror at the back of the door, a laptop slot under the 17″ screen, and additional stowage beneath the ottoman.

Photo: New World Business Class seat onboard the Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of KLM.

The sideboard table underneath the window is relatively broad and long and has a contactless phone charger and a recess for holding bottles or glasses to prevent them from shifting during turbulence. All seat function buttons are illuminated and integrated into the edge of the sideboard, making them easily visible and accessible without the need for frantic searching for tiny buttons.

Photo: New World Business Class seat onboard the Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of KLM.

The charging sockets are visible to the left of the screen, with USB-A and USB-C sockets and a power outlet. Passengers can enjoy music albums and movies from the IFE and convert the seat to a full-flat bed measuring 198cm (78″) in length for a nap. Inflight wifi is available, but it requires payment, which is disappointing. Passengers can purchase wifi access for one hour, the entire flight, or stream until landing.

The Flight

After a two-hour delay due to a last-minute aircraft change and oxygen replenishment, we departed two hours and 49 minutes behind schedule. Once in the air, passengers are offered drinks and snacks, including the KLM signature cocktail, “Very High Fashioned,” and nuts with gouda cheese cubes served in Delft blue porcelain bowls. The amenity kit is basic, but the tailored glasses are delightful.

Photo: Courtesy of Andreas Spaeth

The service was slow, and the starter arrived over an hour after departure—a smoked salmon rouleaux on a beetroot panna cotta with goat cheese and fennel. I had vegetarian Portobello ravioli with oyster mushrooms, artichoke, and mozzarella pearls for the main course.

The other options were “Tasting of Delicacies,” chicken with sweet basil, cod, and vegetables, or Beef Jawa. I tried French Sauvignon Blanc and South African Chardonnay, which both were pleasant. The traditional Dutch dessert of Bavarois caramel on an almond cookie was equally delightful.

Photo: Courtesy of Andreas Spaeth

The crew has trouble finding savory snacks, but ice cream and candy bars are available.

The second meal is served late in the evening, and passengers can choose between Thai vegetable curry, chicken sudachi, and Kohoko salad with chili prawns, followed by a panna cotta dessert. The purser then delivers the KLM Delft blue porcelain houses filled with Genever (Dutch gin) on a tray, a signature gift of KLM long-haul premium flights.

Arrival

After exactly ten and a half hours of flight, I arrived in Cape Town 115 minutes behind schedule. It was already a quarter to one in the morning local time, and I was pleased to find that the immigration process was quick.

KLM’s new long-haul Business Class on 777 is a highly attractive product. The service includes no unnecessary frills but is well thought out, focusing on fulfilling actual passenger needs and making it particularly user-friendly.

The quality of catering from Amsterdam is first-rate and may surprise some customers. However, the only missing feature is limited wifi access in the premium cabin. If the airline could provide this service, it would complete the outstanding offering.