T RIED AND TE ST E D FL IGHT
KLM B777-200ER business class AMSTERDAM–HONG KONG
B A C KGROUND KLM’s Amsterdam- Hong Kong route operates once a day.
BO A RDING I was connecting from London Heathrow (to read reviews of that flight plus the new KLM Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol, visit
businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested). We boarded at Gate 22 at 1620 for the 1700 departure on KL887 from Schiphol to Hong Kong International, a flight time of 11 hours. I was greeted on board and directed
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to my seat, 1K, at the front of the cabin by the window. My jacket was taken and I was off ered water, orange juice or champagne, although there were also small cans of Heineken as an extra off ering. Very Dutch.
THE SE A T KLM uses a number of aircraft types on this route, including B747, B777-200ER and B777-300ER planes, with this flight being operated by a B777- 200ER. There are three classes – economy (ten-across), Economy Comfort (ten-across with more legroom) and business class – and the aircraft seats a maximum of 320 passengers. Business class is across two cabins configured 2-2-2 (A-C, D-G, H-K), with only aisle seats having direct aisle access. The rows are slightly staggered, so in the front cabin there are four rows of H-K seats but five of A-C and D-G. There is then an extra row on the other side of the galley (row six), separated from Economy Comfort by a bulkhead, giving 34 business class seats in total. To some extent, this seat has been
superseded by those on the carrier’s B787 aircraft, which off er direct aisle access. Still, while many regard it as essential, as long as I’m the one stepping over, rather than being fallen upon, I’m okay with it and these seats recline fully flat and have lots of room in this configuration. They are in a dark-blue fabric that has dated quite well, too.
DE C EMB E R 20 19
Seats recline fully fl at and have lots of room in this confi guration. The dark-blue fabric has dated quite well, too
Attractive amenity bags by Dutch
designer Jan Taminiau were handed out, plus slippers. A thick blanket and large pillow were provided. Seats have plug sockets (US, UK and EU) and USB ports. The IFE screen, although only 17 inches, is fine as it’s not far away. The choice of entertainment was good – there were several films I would like to have watched,
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
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