About this flight
The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines routes from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta and Singapore to Jakarta are short in flight time, yet they offer the highest level of Business Class products and services typically seen on long-haul flights. These routes are especially delightful for aviation enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, these flights have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic, but we hope for their swift resumption. (KLM does not operate a First Class cabin.)
This is a trip report of flying KLM Business Class from Singapore to Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia).
The Dutch are said to be the tallest people in the world, and indeed, I was surprised to see how tall the KLM crew members were at the boarding gate in Singapore. The seats onboard were also noticeably spacious, clearly designed to accommodate the tall stature of Dutch passengers.
This time, I enjoyed various chicken dishes both in the lounge and on the flight—fried chicken, sautéed chicken, and Indian-style chicken tikka masala, among others.
One of the special touches in KLM Business Class is the gift of a ceramic Delft Blue house, a charming miniature of a traditional Dutch house. I always look forward to receiving one—it’s a unique and memorable service that sets KLM apart.
Table of Contents
Changi Airport
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Rest Area
I took a seat in this relaxing rest area inside Singapore Changi International Airport.
Star Alliance Livery Aircraft
I spotted a Singapore Airlines aircraft with special Star Alliance livery, which is quite rare, so I snapped a photo.
Airbus A350-900
A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 was parked nearby, and I found it rare enough to take a photo.
Back in 2018, the A350-900 was a newly introduced aircraft type and gaining attention. Although it hadn’t been introduced in Japan yet, Qatar Airways was already operating it.
KLM Crew
As I headed to the boarding gate, I saw the cabin crew and pilots waiting nearby.
People from the Netherlands are known for being very tall—many Dutch women probably average around 180 cm.
[(Editorial note by the Real Blue Team) According to statistics, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world.]
Boarding Gate
This is the boarding gate for the flight to Bali.
Lounge
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Seating Area
At Changi Airport, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines uses the DNATA Lounge in Terminal 1. This is the seating area of the DNATA Lounge in Terminal 1.
Food (1)
Here are some of the dishes I had in the lounge:
- • Scrambled eggs
- • Fried chicken (karaage)
- • Waffles
- • Sweet and sour pork
- • Sweet and sour carrots and lotus root
- • Japanese-style udon with spicy red pepper and green onions
Food (2)
Here is a separate plate with the main dishes I tried:
- • Shrimp shumai
- • Steamed Chinese bun
- • (Orange-colored) Chicken Tikka Masala
- An Indian dish where chicken is marinated in spices and yogurt, grilled in a tandoor, and then simmered in a tomato and cream-based curry sauce.
Food (3)
- • (Orange-colored) Chicken Tikka Masala
- It was so delicious I went back for seconds.
- • Pasta
- • Spiced chicken stew
- • Tomato soup with croutons
In-Flight Seat
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Business Class Seat
This is the Business Class seat.
Spacious Seat
This is also a Business Class seat.
The seat is very plush and quite wide, almost like a sofa. Even passengers with larger builds should find it quite comfortable. Given how tall Dutch people are—many over 2 meters—it seems these seats are designed to accommodate such height.
Welcome Drink
A glass of champagne served as a welcome drink.
It looked like the person sitting next to me also ordered champagne.
In-Flight Meal
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Aperitif
Shortly after takeoff, I enjoyed a glass of champagne and red wine.
Chicken Sauté and More
This was the in-flight meal served on this flight.
- • Chicken sauté with risotto and steamed vegetables (broccoli and tomato)
- • Mashed potatoes
- • Boiled eggplant and cabbage with mayonnaise
- • Fruit cake with whipped cream
- • Bread
After-Meal Tea and Dessert
Dessert and tea after the meal.
- • Earl Grey tea with cookies
- • Fruit cake with whipped cream
- • Champagne
In-Flight Service
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Delft Blue House
In KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Business Class, passengers receive a commemorative Delftware miniature of a real Dutch house.
This is the one I received on this flight.
The Delftware miniature giveaway is a long-standing KLM tradition that dates back to the 1950s. A new model is introduced each year, and there are already over 100 different types. Which house you receive is a surprise until boarding. Many people around the world collect them. Each miniature house contains Dutch gin inside.
This Delftware gift is a service unique to KLM and truly captures the joy and charm of traveling.
I sincerely hope they continue this tradition for years to come.
