Review: KLM Short-Haul in Economy Class
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We flew from Lisbon to Helsinki via Amsterdam in the KLM economy class. Unlike many other airlines, KLM still offered complimentary onboard service. Read the full KLM review.
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the flag carrier airline of The Netherlands. KLM is the oldest airline in the world, and it still operates under its original name. The airline is a part of SkyTeam Alliance.
KLM's main hub is located in Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. The airline operates short-haul routes around Europe and long-distance flights to Asia, America and Africa. KLM, together with Air France, is one of the biggest airlines in Europe.
Cooperation with Air France
KLM and Air France merged in 2004. They formed a holding company called Air France-KLM Group that owns Air France and KLM. The holding company has also shares in a few other airlines.
Business Model of KLM
Airlines are normally divided into low-cost carriers and traditional operators. KLM profiles itself as a traditional carrier.Like many other traditional airlines, KLM's service level has gradually decreased. The cheapest ticket class does not include checked luggage, and you must pay extra for choosing your favourite seat. Meals and drinks are still included but are simpler than they used to be. KLM's service level is still much better than many similar European airlines.
KLM has also its own low-cost carrier called Transavia. It flies short-haul routes mainly within Europe.
Luggage Policy of KLM
The cheapest ticket class lets you have only a piece of cabin luggage and a small personal item. The cabin luggage can weigh 12 kilograms, which is quite a high limit. The personal item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.
Check-in luggage costs extra, or you need to buy a better ticket class where it is included. The weight limit for check-in luggage is 23 kilograms.
Our Flights with KLM
In February 2020, we flew from Lisbon to Helsinki via Amsterdam with KLM. The first leg operated with a Boeing 737-900 and the second with a Boeing 737-700. Both types belong to the Boeing 737 Next Generation family, widely used worldwide. Boeing 737-900 is the biggest version of the NG generation, while Boeing 737-700 is the smallest. Most operators fly only with Boeing 737-700 and 737-800, so we were surprised to board Boeing 737-900.
The first leg departed late from Lisbon but arrived in Amsterdam on time. The second leg departed late because of slow loading. It came almost on time in Helsinki.
Rating
Friendlines of the Crew
The Cabin crew was friendly. They served customers well but didn't overact. Also, the pilots sounded friendly. On the first leg, the captain gave an informative speech before the take-off and on the second leg, a clear announcement was delivered while cruising.
Something could be improved. The crew gave no information about connecting gates before landing in Amsterdam. In Amsterdam Airport, finding information screens was also difficult, making the connection more challenging. In addition, four moving walkways on our route to the next gate were broken.
Cabin of the Planes
The cabins of both aircraft were similar even though they were of a different type. Aircraft were old but clean, and the seats were renewed and slim.
There was enough leg space in the economy class, and the seats were reclining. It was also free of extra charge to choose standard seats during check-in.
Onboard Services and Entertainment
KLM still serves free drinks on board. The selection included water, juices, wine, beer, coke and Sprite.
On our first flight, KLM served a warm Chinese omelette (foe yong hai) and on our second flight, tor spinach ricotta. For dessert, we got a carrot muffin and a hazelnut muffin.
After the meal and drink service, tea and coffee were served on both flights.
Neither the aircraft had any video screen nor Wi-Fi connectivity. Only a KLM magazine was provided.
Ticket Price
KLM is not a cheap airline. Normally, tickets are more expensive than those sold by low-cost carriers. However, KLM often has good campaigns, and you may find tickets that give excellent value for your money. KLM is a good alternative for many low-cost airlines.
Price-quality Ratio
Price-to-Quality ratio depends on how much you pay for your ticket. We had affordable flight tickets but got the usual economy-class services. Flying with a low-cost airline would have been more expensive. That is why flying with KLM was a great choice this time.
Based on our flight experiences, the price-to-quality ratio was very good.
Overall Rating
In the traditional airline class, KLM is a good airline. It still has complimentary onboard service, which many other conventional airlines don't offer anymore. The aircraft is in good condition, and with excellent customer service, flying with KLM is a positive experience. For the reasons mentioned above, we will fly with KLM again.
Invalid format in FAQ Data.Bottom Line
We booked flights with KLM to fly between Lisbon and Helsinki for two reasons: Tickets were affordable, and the schedule was good. We were expecting good service, which is what we got.The Majority of KLM's routes require a connection in Amsterdam, so KLM is not always the fastest option. If the duration does not matter and you are looking for a safe and comfortable journey, KLM is a great choice.
Have you flown with KLM? Did you have a pleasant experience with them, too? Kindly leave your comment below.
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Comments (2)
I think they are brilliant, I been using KLM for the last 30 years. I never had a problem, always attentive and pleasant. I ❤️ KLM
Yes the best of all,I have used it more than twenty times from Canada to Africa,is the best I really don't see taking any other airlines