Introduction
A few months ago I flew KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Johannesburg to Amsterdam in Economy Class.
From the moment I checked in at O.R. Tambo International Airport until we landed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the experience was smooth, comfortable and enjoyable.
This article shares my experience of flying KLM Economy, including the aircraft, meals, service, seating, onboard entertainment and my overall rating.
O.R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport is South Africa’s busiest airport and the largest airport in Africa. It serves Johannesburg, Pretoria (Tshwane) and the surrounding Gauteng region, and is recognised as one of Africa’s leading international airports. A few months ago, it was ranked as Africa’s second-best airport, behind Cape Town International Airport.
As I had plenty of time before departure, I arrived early to explore the airport.
I was pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of restaurants and cafés available before passport control. Besides familiar favourites such as Mugg & Bean, Nando’s, Spur and Wimpy, there is also a Woolworths Food store where I enjoyed my favourite Double Cream Plain Yoghurt with Live Cultures. I actually had two tubs before heading to Wimpy for eggs, chips and mushrooms.
Transport to and from the airport is convenient via the Gautrain, Uber, Bolt or taxi services.
For travellers staying overnight, there are hotels directly at the airport, including the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport and the Protea Hotel by Marriott O.R. Tambo Airport, together with several quality hotels located only a few minutes away.
Boeing 777
The Johannesburg-Amsterdam route is operated using a Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft.
The Economy Class seating configuration is 3-4-3, providing ample seating capacity for long-haul international flights. The flight time is approximately 11 hours, making comfort, onboard entertainment and good meals especially important.
Meals
One of the highlights of the flight was the quality of the meals.
Dinner was served shortly after departure from Johannesburg, followed by breakfast approximately two hours before landing in Amsterdam.
On long-haul intercontinental flights, passengers receive a complimentary bottle of water after boarding.
Dinner included a hot meal, fresh salad, dessert, bread roll, drinks and coffee or tea.
Several vegetarian options were also available.
Between meals, KLM provided complimentary snacks and sandwiches, and passengers could also help themselves to snacks available in the rear galley.
Breakfast was excellent.
I particularly enjoyed the cheese omelette, fresh fruit salad, yoghurt with blueberries, orange juice, bread roll, cheese, butter and tea
Everything was fresh, well presented and delicious.
Galley and Snacks
One feature I particularly appreciated was the self-service snack station located in the rear galley.
Passengers could help themselves throughout the flight to a variety of snacks and drinks.
Available between meal services included:
Snacks, biscuits, sandwiches, soft drinks and water.
Tea and coffee were always available on request, and the cabin crew were friendly and happy to assist whenever needed.
Onboard Entertainment
The entertainment system offered an excellent selection of:
- Movies
- TV series
- Music
- Flight map
- Games
The personal entertainment screen was easy to use and helped make the 11-hour flight pass quickly.
Service
The KLM cabin crew were consistently friendly, professional and attentive throughout the flight.
Meals were served efficiently, requests were handled promptly and the crew regularly walked through the cabin offering refreshments.
Their cheerful attitude contributed greatly to an enjoyable journey.
My Rating
The only area where I deducted one star was seating comfort. Like most Economy Class cabins, legroom is naturally limited. Business Class offers considerably more comfort, but at a significantly higher fare.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed flying KLM and would happily choose the airline again for future trips to Europe.
Walking Starts Before You Reach Your Destination
One of the reasons I enjoy flying to Amsterdam is that the adventure begins almost immediately after landing. Whether you’re exploring Schiphol Airport or walking through Amsterdam’s canals, the city is ideal for discovering on foot.
Walking, Dining and Discovering Amsterdam Airport Schiphol >
Amsterdam Most Scenic 4–6 km Walk from Centraal Station (Self-Guided Canal Route) >
What Amsterdam taught me about Dutch Cycling Culture >
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
KLM Economy offers a comfortable long-haul travel experience with friendly cabin crew, quality meals, complimentary snacks between meals and a good entertainment system. Like most Economy Class cabins, seating space is naturally limited on an 11-hour flight.
Passengers receive dinner shortly after departure and breakfast before landing in Amsterdam. Complimentary drinks, snacks and sandwiches are also available during the flight.
KLM typically operates a Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft on this route, configured in a 3-4-3 Economy Class seating layout.
Absolutely. The flight departed and arrived on time, the service was excellent, the meals were delicious and the overall experience exceeded my expectations.
Conclusion
Flying KLM Economy from Johannesburg to Amsterdam exceeded my expectations.
From the excellent service and delicious meals to the clean aircraft and punctual schedule, the experience was consistently enjoyable.
If you are planning a trip between South Africa and Europe, KLM is certainly an airline I would recommend.
Discover more from FitFunFusion.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
