Last year, we covered the long-overdue upgrade to Dutch carrier KLM’s Boeing 777 Business Class product, which saw the outdated 2-2-2 seating layout replaced with a modern all-aisle-access 1-2-1 configuration, including privacy doors, greatly enhancing the passenger experience.

The airline promised an ambitiously rapid 12-month refit programme for its fleet, and the good news is that all 16 of the carrier’s Boeing 777-300ERs that ply its Singapore routes already have the new seats installed.

That means this new seat product is now effectively guaranteed not only on KLM’s daily 13-hour Amsterdam flights, but also on the airline’s popular “fifth freedom” hop between Singapore and Bali, which can be great value in Business Class, especially if you can score a paid upgrade on the day.

All Singapore flights now have new KLM Business Class

KLM completed the Business Class cabin refit on its first Boeing 777-300ER (PH-BVA) in late June 2023, and quite impressively it has managed to progressively complete the same work on all 16 aircraft in this fleet in less than a year, with the final one (PH-BVU) now in the hangar having its modification.

In fact the last KLM flight through Singapore with the old 2-2-2 Business Class seats was many weeks ago, on 15th March 2024, but since the final Boeing 777-300ER to have its refit has been rolled into the hangar for completion, the product is now effectively guaranteed on these routes.

Here’s how the total seat configuration looks on the airline’s refitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, compared to the older layout:

Overall 25 seats have been lost, but the airline is no doubt eyeing increased revenue with one additional seat in the Business Class cabin, plus 26 Premium Economy seats – a new option on the carrier’s Singapore routes.

New KLM 777 Business Class

KLM’s new Business Class seats on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are a modified version of the carrier’s Jamco America Venture seat product, already installed on its Boeing 787-10s.

These are arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, allowing all passengers direct aisle access, and the major difference between these seats and those on the 787-10 is the addition of the sliding privacy door.

The seat retains its dark fabric, offset by lighter panel surrounds including the airline’s trademark blue.

Primary features include:

• Direct aisle access for all Business Class passengers.
• A lightweight sliding door that can be easily opened and closed, offering more privacy when working, relaxing, or sleeping.
• More personal seat adjustment options and user-friendly functionality, including an adjustable lower-back support and a ‘relax’ setting with a subtle back-massage feature.
• The seat reclines fully flat to form a 198cm-long bed.
• Multiple charging sockets, including AC multi, USB-A and USB-C, that are easily accessible and clearly visible.
• A wireless charging pad for each passenger.
• A lockable side compartment, which also has a built-in vanity mirror.
• Open shelves below the IFE screen for storing personal items like a laptop or tablet.
• A recessed drinks holder, so that passengers can safely leave a water bottle (or a stronger tipple!) on their tabletop, even during turbulence.

Seat width is 20 inches, marginally wider than its predecessor.

The sliding privacy door does not fully enclose the seat like the Qsuite, for example, since it does not extend all the way to the floor, but should provide a more cosy experience, especially while sleeping.

Moving the charging ports from the back to the front of the seat is a logical move, and it’s great to see both USB-A and USB-C charging options in easy reach.

There’s also the inclusion of the latest Business Class trend – wireless charging pads. These can be used to recharge a variety of portable devices, but most typically your smartphone, with the pad in easy reach at the side table ahead of the storage compartment.

Touchscreen IFE is via an 18.5in HD display, which can also be controlled via a remote if you prefer.

The storage compartment at head height has now gained a closing door compared to the same seat on the Boeing 787-10, incorporating a vanity mirror.

The compartment is large enough to accommodate your headset and a bottle of water, plus a small personal device or the amenity kit.

As with most 1-2-1 Business Class seat arrangements, a privacy divider is installed between the middle seat pair if you are not travelling with the person seated next to you, allowing you to enclose your own space without being overlooked.

Each seat features an adjustable armrest at the aisle side, which completely recesses to provide more space, especially useful in bed mode.

Business Class seats on KLM’s Singapore – Bali route can often be booked cheaply, either as confirmed tickets or by upgrading with cash at the check-in desk, so it’s great to now be able to do so in these new seats.

For more details about the product and additional photos, check out this recent detailed review.

What has it replaced?

It goes without saying that these seats are a significant improvement on the airline’s former 2-2-2 product by B/E Aerospace (now Collins Aerospace), first introduced over 10 years ago.

We took the older seats on a Bali – Singapore flight a few years back, and in fairness they weren’t bad for couples, but didn’t offer much in the way of privacy.

One of the popular perks in Business Class on KLM, including on the shorter Singapore – Bali flights, is that each passenger is offered a complimentary ‘Delft Blue house’, a small bottle of Dutch gin (actually called ‘Genever’).

This is a longstanding KLM tradition since the 1950s and it’s great to see it lives on, as it does of course in the new Business Class cabins too.

Every Delft House depicts a real Dutch building, and each year in October KLM celebrates its birthday by adding a new one to the collection. There are now 104 types to collect.

Seat selection fees in Business Class

Both Air France and KLM, part of the same airline group, have followed British Airways in Europe and started charging Business Class passengers for advance seat selection, something we thankfully don’t currently see much in Asia.

One-way seat selection fees are:

• EUR30 between Singapore and Bali
• EUR85 between Singapore and Amsterdam

Seat selection fees in Business Class are not payable by Flying Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum members, or those booking the airline’s more expensive ‘Business Flex’ fares.

Once online check-in opens 30 hours prior to departure, there are no seat selection costs for any Business Class passengers, but of course you’ll then have to choose from what’s left.

Also note that KLM’s ‘Business Light’ fares don’t include lounge access unless you’re a SkyTeam Elite Plus member, and only come with one 32kg checked bag instead of two.

Premium Economy, even on Bali flights

KLM has also retrofitted its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with a Premium Economy cabin called “Premium Comfort”, first introduced on the carrier’s Boeing 787-10s in August 2022.

This features 26 Collins Aerospace MiQ seats in a 2-4-2 configuration on the 777-300ER, directly behind the Business Class cabin.

The seats include a personal device holder, a winged head rest, a leg rest and a foot rest.

Other principal details include:

• Seat width: 18.5in
• Seat pitch: 38in
• Seat recline: 8in
• IFE: 13.3in HD touchscreen
• Power: AC, USB-A and USB-C outlets

KLM’s Premium Comfort fares come with a more generous baggage allowance of 2 x 23kg checked bags per passenger, plus priority boarding.

On board, passengers receive the same bedding provided in Business Class, noise-cancelling headphones and get a dedicated menu with a wider range of alcoholic beverages to choose from.

This one could prove to be an even cheaper upgrade on the Singapore – Bali route, if all you’re looking for is a bit more space to stretch out.

Indeed KLM is now the only carrier operating a Premium Economy cabin between Singapore and Bali, with Singapore Airlines flying only two-class aircraft on this route.

Bali fares

Most of our readers are interested in experiencing KLM’s cabin products on the “fifth freedom” Singapore – Bali flights, and the good news is that fares in all three cabins can be quite competitive, especially if you want to try out the new Business Class.

Round-trip Singapore to Bali fares on KLM, based on travel in September 2024, start at:

• Business: S$599
• Premium Comfort: S$263
• Economy: S$193

Previously we have been able to upgrade from Economy Class to Business Class on the day of travel at the check in desk for US$150 one-way, but we haven’t heard any recent reports about whether this remains possible.

Award flights on KLM between Singapore and Bali using KLM Flying Blue miles are ridiculously priced at 22,000 miles one-way in Economy Class, increasing to 35,000 miles in Premium Economy and 55,000 miles in Business Class.

Even using Etihad Guest miles for this routing at slightly lower rates isn’t worth the minimal cash saving in our book.

All these rates are clearly uncompetitive on a route where revenue fares are so low, so stick to a cash booking.

KLM Singapore schedule

KLM operates 14 weekly departures from Singapore Changi Airport; seven to Amsterdam and seven to Bali.

These flights all use the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, all of which have now been refitted with this new Business Class product.

Here’s how the airline’s schedule looks on these flights.

Singapore Amsterdam
Now – 26th October 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 777-300ER
SIN 00:40		AMS 07:55
Duration: 13:15
	KL835 777-300ER
AMS 20:50		SIN 15:30*
Duration: 12:40

* Next day

Singapore Amsterdam
27th October 2024 – 29th March 2025

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 777-300ER
SIN 01:40		AMS 08:30
Duration: 13:50
	KL835 777-300ER
AMS 20:55		SIN 16:15*
Duration: 12:20

* Next day

Award flights on KLM between Singapore and Amsterdam using KLM Flying Blue miles cost from 50,000 miles each way, but are often much more than that due to the programme’s dynamic pricing model, plus taxes and fees of up to around S$290.

Singapore Bali
Now – 26th October 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 777-300ER
SIN 16:50		DPS 19:25
Duration: 02:35
	KL835 777-300ER
DPS 20:35		SIN 23:10
Duration: 02:35

Singapore Bali
27th October 2024 – 29th March 2025

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	KL836 777-300ER
SIN 17:35		DPS 20:20
Duration: 02:45
	KL835 777-300ER
DPS 21:40		SIN 00:10*
Duration: 02:30

* Next day

KLM’s fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs has been entirely refitted with the carrier’s latest Business Class seats, featuring direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration and closing doors for increased privacy.

That’s great news for the Singapore route, which now sees these seats guaranteed on daily Amsterdam and Bali flights, a significant upgrade from the former 2-2-2 layout.

There’s also a new Premium Economy cabin available on the refitted aircraft, making KLM the sole carrier offering this enhanced comfort option between Singapore and Bali.

(Cover Photo: KLM)