KLM's 787-10 Business Class Impresses Despite Climate Control Gap

KLM's World Business Class product aboard its Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner continues to deliver a solid premium experience on long-haul routes, with standout catering and comfortable reverse-herringbone seating offsetting a notable climate-control limitation, according to a recent transatlantic flight review.

The Amsterdam-to-Los Angeles service, booked for 60,000 Flying Blue miles, showcased the carrier's signature touches that have become hallmarks of the KLM experience. Passengers in the premium cabin received commemorative Delft Blue ceramic houses—miniature replicas of historic Dutch buildings that the airline distributes as keepsakes. The reviewed flight featured house number 105, representing The House on the Three Canals, a Dutch Renaissance structure dating to 1610.

Meal service proved exceptional throughout the journey. The multi-course dinner began with a cheese starter and smoked tuna with orzo, followed by a main course of hot smoked salmon filet with fennel over mashed potatoes. A mid-flight snack service offered French fries—branded as "Flying Fries" by the carrier—alongside stroopwafel ice cream. The pre-arrival meal maintained KLM's tradition of Indonesian and East Asian-influenced options, featuring pulled chicken salad with edamame and wasabi cream served with sushi rice, plus a hot dish of marinated chicken with cashews and vegetables over fried rice.

The reverse-herringbone seat configuration, while lacking the privacy doors found on the airline's newest business class product, provided adequate comfort with quality bedding. However, cabin temperature control emerged as a significant shortcoming. Without individual air vents—a feature absent on the 787-10—passengers had limited recourse when the cabin grew warm during the flight, a condition that reportedly occurred on previous journeys as well.

Despite SkyTeam Elite Plus status, advance seat selection carried a 129-euro charge, though window seats became available at check-in without fee. The overall assessment characterized KLM's offering as consistently reliable rather than industry-leading, with dependable service quality and thoughtful amenities compensating for a product that has remained largely unchanged year-over-year.