Air France-KLM has done an impressive job investing in its cabin products, particularly on long haul flights. In mid-2022, KLM began installing premium economy on its long haul aircraft.
The airline has now reached an impressive milestone, as around 2.5 years later, this product installation is complete. You’ll now find premium economy on all KLM Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s (the airline won’t install the product on Airbus A330s). Separately, I’ve written about how KLM has also finished installing its new business class on 777s, as the retrofits happened at the same time.
In this post:
Details of KLM’s premium economy experience
Premium economy has become an increasingly popular cabin in recent years, especially among European long haul airlines. While Air France has offered premium economy on long haul flights for many years, KLM only started introducing it as of 2022.
The timing makes sense, since Air France-KLM, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic, have a transatlantic joint venture. Delta has aggressively retrofitted its long haul fleet with premium economy, so it was logical for KLM to do the same, so that the transatlantic business could more easily sell premium economy fares.
KLM’s premium economy cabin is branded as Premium Comfort. The seats were designed by Collins Aerospace. Here are some of the key features of KLM’s premium economy experience:
- Premium economy is now available on all 777s and 787s, and the cabin features 21-28 seats; on the 787 the cabin is in a 2-3-2 configuration, while on the 777 the cabin is in a 2-4-2 configuration
- Premium economy features 38″ of seat pitch and 8″ of recline (compared to 31″ of seat pitch and 5-7″ of recline in economy)
- Premium economy offers better entertainment and connectivity, including a 13.3″ personal screen (compared to 9-11″ in economy), and both USB and 110v outlets (compared to just USB outlets in economy)
- Premium economy offers priority services, including SkyPriority check-in and boarding and an extra baggage allowance
- Premium economy features improved inflight amenities, including noise canceling headphones, an amenity kit, and better meals and drinks than you’ll find in economy
Here’s how Barry ter Voert, KLM’s Chief Experience Officer, describes this project:
“Over the past two years, colleagues have worked very hard to make the addition of this new class possible. Passengers now have an extra option when booking a ticket, in addition to World Business Class and Economy Class. The first feedback from our passengers has been very positive. Passengers specifically mention having more comfort and tastier meals. That exactly matches our intentions.”
Below are some pictures of KLM’s premium economy cabin, which I took on a flight earlier this year in the carrier’s new 777 business class. As far as premium economy goes, I’d say the product is solid, and it certainly offers significant incremental comfort over economy.
How KLM reconfigured planes with premium economy
KLM currently has 31 Boeing 777s and 23 Boeing 787s. How did the airline go about reconfiguring planes? Between the middle of 2022 and the middle of 2023, KLM reconfigured its 787 fleet with the new premium economy cabin. Then between the middle of 2023 and late 2024, the airline reconfigured its 777 fleet, while installing the new business class product at the same time.
Each of the 54 jets took anywhere from four to 16 days to retrofit, with the 777s taking longer than the 787s (due to the introduction of a new business class).
How has seating capacity changed on KLM jets with the introduction of premium economy (and the new business class on 777s)?
- The Boeing 787-10 has see an overall reduction of 26 seats; economy lost 66 seats, while there are 28 premium economy seats and 12 additional extra legroom economy seats
- The Boeing 787-9 has seen an overall reduction of 19 seats; economy lost 40 seats, while there are 21 premium economy seats
- The Boeing 777-300ER has seen an overall reduction of 27 seats; economy lost 68 seats, while there are 24 premium economy seats, one additional business class seat, and 16 additional extra legroom economy seats
- The Boeing 777-200ER has seen an overall reduction of 32 seats; economy lost 71 seats, while there are 24 premium economy seats, one additional business class seat, and 14 additional extra legroom economy seats
Bottom line
KLM has completed the rollout of premium economy, as the airline has now installed these new cabins on a total of 54 jets. Boeing 777s and 787s feature anywhere from 21 to 28 premium economy seats. It’s logical that KLM would introduce premium economy, as this is no doubt becoming increasingly popular, and it also makes sense in the context of the SkyTeam transatlantic joint venture.
KLM premium economy passengers receive more spacious seats, priority services, and better amenities, including improved food and drinks. KLM’s premium economy looks solid, though frankly I have a hard time getting too excited about airlines introducing these cabins, since they almost always look very similar. It’s not like business class, where you see airlines take wildly different approaches.
What do you make of KLM’s premium economy rollout?
I booked economy comfort seats at a substantial premium for my family on our linghaul flights frim Cape Town to Amsterdam. Our seats were in the last row of the comfort class area and could not recline. This was very uncomfortable and annoying on a ling haul flight. The cabin crew would not re-seat us. I sent several e-mail complaints to KLM but they did not bother to respond. It was a total waste of money and no benefit to fly KLM economy comfort class.
I'm taking a flight on KLM PE next year, do you remember if you were on a 777 or 787? IIRC not all 777s were upgraded with the new PE until very recently. I did front bulkhead seats on my last trip but booked the last row for the next one to keep me away from the lavs, I'll need to change that if those seats can't recline.
Well, BR and VS both introduced Premium Economy in 1992. But better late than never, eh? ;)
Though for the fares that KL is asking, I'd expect a better P.E. seat, like those of JL, CI, and LH (new) with a shell design that doesn't recline into the pax behind you, and that provides dedicated elbow space for everyone.
Hey Lucky, any plan to review the Delta One lounges anytime soon?
“noice” headphones
Premium Cabin: I think that couples reserve the aisle and middle (with three across in PE, or even four across). That beats a standard coach seat that is narrower, less recline, and maybe less comfortable. I say, couples, but thats when the two across is not available. Remember many aircraft have only three rows of PE seats.
Yikes. Three in the middle PE is becoming rarer and rarer.
I’m always curious who grabs those inner seats — surely can’t all be families of four. If it’s a couple or single traveler, aren’t you better paying for an extra leg room/bulkhead/exit aisle Economy seat and paying for some food/drinks?
Huh?
PE on 777s has (always?) been 2-4-2, and on 787s it's 2-3-2, just like on these KLM planes.
That's why premium upgrades often clear relatively easily on United I guess. Personally, I still thing the seat width (and having two armrests) is still very noticeable and a significant comfort upgrade, but others disagree.