20 hours ago.

Updated 14 hours ago

This may be a reasonably priced option to fly Amsterdam to Singapore but spartan meals, overly snug seats and no Wi-Fi make it very uncomfortable.

On the ground

I’m transiting at Amsterdam’s Schiphol for my flight to Singapore and things are a touch warm in the airport. It is only about 24C outside but there is construction work afoot. The situation calls for old-fashioned fans, and these vertical monsters are easily 2m by 2m in size, and noisy to boot. By the time I settle in near the boarding gate, things are a bit cooler and airconditioned, but there is still plenty of scaffolding around. There are few power points and the seats are hard, then boarding is delayed because time is needed to allow the just-arrived aircraft to “cool down”.

Take a seat

Once inside the cabin, the heat continues and there are no adjustable air vents overhead. Passengers are given a bottle of water and a “refreshing towel”; fortunately, the temperature soon stabilises and becomes more comfortable. The blue Standard seats of the economy cabin are arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration. I’m positioned in an emergency exit row for extra leg room (seat pitch elsewhere is 79cm), but at 44cm wide the seats are tight and have minimal cushioning. They recline by 12.5cm. Because the tray tables are in the armrest rather than on a seat in front, there is no room to spread out a little under the armrest. I also have no window. A blanket and pillow are provided but there is no amenities kit.

Tech talk

Earlier in the day, I received a text message informing me Wi-Fi will be out of action on the flight for technical reasons. I haven’t downloaded any viewing onto my personal device so I’m relying on KLM’s in-flight entertainment, on a 9-inch screen, to keep me occupied. There is a USB-A port built into the monitor, but it is broken so I’m unable to charge my phone. A 110v power socket is embedded in the armrest but I haven’t brought an adaptor, which would have done the trick. Although power banks must be brought on board, they can’t be operated.

On the menu

Because of the late hour of the flight, food offerings are on the light side. I choose the Catalonia tapas, ayam goreng with lemon rice, and a lemon crumble tartlette. Wine is offered but I’m skipping alcohol on this overnighter. For breakfast I have some fresh fruit (pineapple, apple and grape), strawberry yoghurt and a cheese strudel. Both meals suffice but are on the bland side.

That’s entertainment

Fortunately, there is plenty to choose from and, being a Dutch flight, I opt for two films from The Netherlands. I have my own headphones, thankfully, as they are vastly superior to the in-ear set provided to passengers. There is a broad selection of films and TV shows as well as games. In the music space, the options comprise mixed playlists with an emphasis on “chill” and “relax”.

At your service

Everything is straightforward on the journey, and the staff are friendly and efficient. The only thing close to a directive from staff is the message for passengers to please close the window shades two hours into the flight.

In the bag

KLM allows one carry-on bag (55cm x 35cm x 25cm) and a personal bag (40cm x 15cm x 30cm), with a maximum 12kg in total. Check-in baggage has a 23kg limit.

Make your points

I’ve booked through Air France, which is a joint company with KLM, and it has the Flying Blue frequent flyer program, which is connected to the SkyTeam global alliance of airlines as well as select partner airlines. Qantas points can be claimed for flights with an Air France or KLM code flight number.

The bottom line

One-way flights on this route are about $2200, based on airline website search departing two months from publication. An upgrade to “economy comfort” is available for less than $200 but this should not be mistaken for premium economy. Its main selling points are 10cm of extra legroom and 5cm additional reclining.

The verdict

KLM is a reasonably priced option when flying from European cities such as Amsterdam, but it comes at the cost of comfort. The lack of Wi-Fi and a functioning USB port, along with a somewhat spartan meal offering, make the journey an endurance test. The staff are friendly but that doesn’t make up for seats that are overly snug and uncomfortable.

Neil Melloy travelled at his own expense.

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