My KLM Premium Economy Review: Is It Worth the Money?

If you’re a frequent flyer with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines like I am, and if you enjoy trying different classes and new experiences as I do, you might be wondering whether KLM premium economy is really worth the extra money compared to Economy Comfort or standard Economy. KLM calls its premium economy cabin Premium Comfort. I’ll guide you through my experience so you can decide whether the upgrade makes sense for you.

I’m going to give you my honest opinion about my own experience with KLM Premium Comfort: boarding, seats, onboard food, service, entertainment, and how it compares to KLM's Economy and Economy Comfort classes.

This KLM premium economy review is based on my 2024 trip between Cape Town and Amsterdam aboard a Boeing 777-300ER. My last personal experience in Premium Comfort was in 2024; the practical information below has been checked against KLM’s published conditions in September 2026.

I always focus on value for money in my reviews. I don’t mind spending a bit more, but the experience has to bring value to the table; otherwise, I get pretty frustrated. As I’ve written in many of my other reviews, like those for Air France Premium Economy cabin and Austrian Airlines Premium Economy cabin, upgrading can make a big difference if it’s done right.

Another thing that significantly improves your vacation is staying safe. You might want to read our Safety Hacks for International Travel.

KLM premium economy updates for 2026

• KLM completed the Premium Comfort rollout across its Boeing 777 and 787 fleet in December 2024. That is useful context when booking in 2026, rather than a new cabin launch this year. Check your particular flight and seat map before booking.
• The details worth checking now are your fare’s baggage allowance, advance seat selection, and flexibility. Light, Standard and Flex offer the same cabin, but different ticket conditions. I explain those differences below.

I demand total quality when I travel, whether it's accommodation or airlines

Here are my overall ratings of KLM Premium:

Value for money: 5/10 
Compared to KLM economy: 5/10
Food: 8/10 
Entertainment: 9/10 
Boarding: 7/10 
Service: 2/10 
Seat: 3/10 
Overall: 50% 

Ready for the details? Let’s begin!

What is the value for money? Not that great

The first and main question with these kinds of decisions—whether to buy KLM Premium Comfort or just stick with Economy—is all about value for money. Is it worth spending your hard-earned cash on that upgrade?

The value for money really depends on what kind of deal you can snag. For a return ticket, my personal limit would be around USD 300 extra compared to Economy. At that price, I’d consider it worthwhile. Much more than that? I’d save the extra cash for the vacation—or, if you’re a rich b**ch, compare Business Class fares before deciding. That is my spending threshold, not a guaranteed upgrade price.

For me, the price gap between Premium Comfort and standard Economy is quite steep, which is different from what other airlines typically offer. Most try to position their premium economy prices reasonably. But with KLM Premium, sometimes Premium Comfort prices get as high as Business Class fares on other airlines. They could learn a lot from their sister airline, Air France, which I consider one of the best in Europe.

If you’re comparing premium economy cabin products before booking, read my Lufthansa premium economy review and Air France premium economy review. They all take a very different approach to comfort, service, and value for money on long-haul flights. My ANA Premium Class review covers a different product: Japan’s domestic premium cabin.

My girlfriend and I successfully arrived in Cape Town thanks to KLM and enjoyed all the hikes, including Table Mountain, as you can see
 

You will get improved seats, power outlets, better food, and supposedly better service. As all premium economy passengers deserve.

For my 2024 Cape Town trip, the price difference was about USD 250 for a return ticket, which felt reasonable, so I went for the upgrade. Treat that as a historical example from my booking, not a current fare quote.

The name is a bit of a letdown, isn’t it? Why can’t they just call it "Premium Economy" like everyone else? No, they have to go with "Premium Comfort" just to be confusing. I work in marketing, and there's this rule: if you're too different, it usually doesn’t work.

I rate the value for money 5/10.

Pro tip: One of my favourite Kiwi.com tricks is the “Apply mixed classes” option. I use it when I want the long-haul in premium economy but don’t care about paying extra for a 90-minute hop. It’s the perfect balance of comfort and savings. 

KLM premium economy fares: Light, Standard and Flex

The price doesn’t differ much, but with Flex, you’ll get many more benefits. Check for yourself – klm.com
 

Compare the total price and the benefits you’ll actually use before paying extra for Flex. Check the conditions for your flight on klm.com.

KLM offers Light, Standard and Flex fares in Premium Comfort. Light does not include checked baggage. Standard and Flex include two checked bags of up to 23 kg each. Flex also lets you change the flight without a change fee, although a fare difference can still apply, and allows a refund. Light and Standard are generally non-refundable and can carry change fees; check the conditions for your booking.

Advance seat selection depends on the fare and route. Flex includes a standard seat before check-in. Standard includes free advance selection on certain routes, including travel from France or the Netherlands to the US, Canada or Mexico and the reverse direction to Europe. Light may offer paid advance selection on eligible routes. So don’t assume you need Flex just to choose a seat—check your itinerary first.

In all cases, you get Sky Priority, which, to be honest, I don’t find that valuable with legacy carriers because their check-in is usually pretty quick anyway. You might appreciate this perk during boarding, but really? Do you really want to sit on the plane for an extra hour, knowing you’ll already be stuck there for 12–15 hours, depending on your destination?

Food in KLM premium economy—It’s great

The food in Premium Comfort on both flights during my 2024 trip was really good. On the daytime flight, we were served lunch and a light dinner as our meal service.

I appreciated the serving style with those Dutch-inspired bowls, plates, and cutlery. The meal service was quick and efficient, which is always a plus. These are my observations from that trip; the menu and presentation can vary on your flight.

As for the food itself, you get what feels like a three-course meal, and the quality was decent. I especially enjoyed the vegetables, which many airlines seem to struggle with.

The buns were served hot, which was nice, especially with the melting butter. I'd say that even though I’m not a fan of airline buns in general, the KLM ones didn’t really stand out in the world of bread rolls.

Oh, and we were given complimentary water and a welcome drink at the start of the flight—though we didn’t get this on the second flight. Did someone forget? Aside from that, they were consistent across both flights, so I’m giving the food a solid 8/10.

I give the food on KLM Premium Comfort a solid 8/10

In-flight entertainment: One of the best!

I consider in-flight entertainment one of the most important aspects of long-haul flights. Once I’m in my seat, I go through my usual routine of selecting about 10 movies and marking them as "save for later," though I typically end up watching 2–3 of them before either falling asleep or getting bored and moving on to something else.

On KLM flights, the in-flight entertainment options are excellent, and the selection doesn’t vary between classes. You have a great variety of the latest movies, numbering in the hundreds, and almost all the movies come with English audio or subtitles.

The system includes a fast, responsive 13" touchscreen, which is pretty standard for the Premium Comfort class. Additionally, KLM provides a variety of power outlets for your phone or laptop in Premium Comfort, which is super useful—especially the USB-C plug, which is great for someone like me who tends to leave my adapters out of reach.

You also get noise-cancelling headphones, which are nice, but I prefer to use my own because the ones provided are bulky and heavy. After about 30 minutes into a movie, your ears will start hurting, which is the only real downside for me.

Overall, the entertainment on KLM flights hit the mark for me, and I can’t imagine needing much more when flying.

For me, the entertainment easily scores a solid 9/10.

The KLM Premium Comfort Class entertainment offer is absolutely great!

Service with a frown

How do I review the service on my KLM flight? If you’ve read any of my other articles, you know I like to focus on the quality of service, as I did in my Air France Business Class review. Unfortunately for KLM, I consistently rank KLM’s service as one of the worst in the airline industry. Even in Premium Comfort Class, it’s no better.

I’ve flown with KLM multiple times, and at best, the service has been mediocre, which I find laughable compared to the level of service on Air France or Austrian Airlines. Even Economy Class feels more special on those airlines than KLM’s Premium Comfort.

KLM may change its service concept, but my 2/10 rating reflects the flights I actually experienced. I haven’t tested the onboard service again since 2024.

Why so harsh? First, there’s SkyPriority. As mentioned earlier, it doesn’t really add much value with legacy carriers, since their check-in and boarding processes are already decent. It certainly doesn’t justify the extra cost. Then there’s the in-flight service, which is just outright bad. The crew is consistently arrogant—it’s not an isolated incident. They barely attend to passengers and seem to do the bare minimum just to avoid getting fired. They’re clearly not happy with their jobs.

Quality customer service is essential to me, and I'm sorry to say KLM Premium Comfort did not meet my standards
 

I typically fly wearing business casual, so there’s no reason for them to feel superior or dismissive. It’s not like I arrive in flip-flops and a questionably clean T-shirt. Here are just a few examples of what I’ve experienced:

• They don’t greet you when you board. It’s like they’re trying to be invisible while passengers are settling in.
• If you raise a complaint, flight attendants will shut you down with, “We can’t do anything here. You can contact customer service on the ground,” which they know won’t resolve anything.
• On one flight, my power outlet wasn’t working, and the screen was unresponsive. I asked the flight attendant if I could switch seats, as there were other empty seats in Premium Comfort, but they refused to even discuss it. I’ve had similar issues with other airlines, and they’ve always accommodated such requests without hesitation.

Then, when you try to contact customer service after landing, you’re stuck with a chatbot that offers no real option to speak with a human being. KLM’s service is consistently one of the worst in the industry, and it’s like they’re actively trying to be bad.

The only positive thing I can say is that they’re usually punctual. I’ve had only a few minor delays with KLM, which were just a matter of minutes.

So, sure, if you want more space and better food, go ahead and book Premium Comfort. But don’t expect the premium service you’d get from other legacy carriers.

I’d rate their service 2/10 at best.

Do you have wifi aboard the KLM Premium Comfort cabin?

The answer is mostly yes, but it depends on whether it’s available and functioning on your particular flight. KLM promotes wifi across its fleet, but in my experience, it doesn’t always work. When it does, though, it’s a game-changer and makes the flight feel significantly faster.

As for pricing, in-flight Wi-Fi is pretty steep. KLM offers different tiers—basic messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger work for free, but if you want to browse the web or stream movies, the prices rise quickly.

There are internet packages available, but the prices vary based on the flight. While wifi is great when it works, keep in mind that it’s not always reliable, so plan accordingly.

When the wifi works, it works great. Read the wifi instructions on the KLM website

KLM premium economy seats: more space, disappointing recline

How about the thing you’re actually paying for—the seats? Do they deliver? KLM’s Premium Comfort offers much more space than Economy, and I appreciated that on my 2024 trip. But space and comfort for sleeping aren’t quite the same thing.

On our flight aboard the Boeing 777-300ER, there was a 2-4-2 seating arrangement, which I love since I usually travel as part of a couple. Booking two seats next to each other makes long-haul flights much more enjoyable, especially for someone like me who isn’t a fan of getting too close to strangers.

KLM likes to advertise that the cabin is "separate," but it’s really just divided by a curtain. Not a big deal, though, since even Business Class isn’t fully separated on most airlines.

The seat itself has this semi-shell design, and the armrests are all yours, which is huge. I absolutely hate sharing armrests. I even have a strategy for winning the armrest war: Just touch them gently long enough, and their OCD will eventually kick in—they’ll give up the armrest. Works 100% of the time.

Another big perk is the legroom. At 186 cm (6'1"), Economy is a no-go for me. I appreciate the extra space in Premium Economy, and KLM’s Premium Comfort cabin is no different in that respect.

Seats in Premium Comfort Class
 

Here are KLM’s currently published Premium Comfort seat specs; details can vary by aircraft:

• Up to 18 cm (7.1 in) more legroom than standard Economy
• Up to 20 cm (7.9 in) recline
• 48 to 50 cm (18.9–19.6 in) seat width
• Movable leg- and footrest

The recline, though, is just meh for me. It stops in the most uncomfortable position, but that’s the case with most airlines in this class. Unless you can fully recline like in Business Class, it’s not even worth evaluating.

One perk I haven’t mentioned is the overhead storage. Since Premium Comfort has a semi-separate cabin, you’ll get much more overhead space for your luggage compared to Economy. Ever feel like you're in The Hunger Games while fighting for overhead space in Economy? You won’t have that problem in Premium Comfort or with a Business Class ticket.

Expect wide seats, more legroom, and greater recline overall.

I’d rate the seats 3/10 overall. I like the extra space and having my own armrests, but the reclining position described above is the main disappointment for me. More legroom alone doesn’t make it a comfortable seat for sleep.

KLM premium economy vs Economy and Economy Comfort

Economy Comfort is an extra-legroom seat within Economy, with Economy’s service and catering. Premium Comfort is the separate premium economy cabin with a wider seat and different meals. On the 777-300ER, KLM lists seat pitch at 79 cm for standard Economy, 86 cm for Economy Comfort and 97 cm for Premium Comfort. If you only want more legroom, compare Economy Comfort first; if you want a wider seat and the upgraded meal service, compare Premium Comfort.

For me, a large fare difference doesn’t justify the improvements in food and seat space. Compare the actual premium economy fare with Economy Comfort and Business Class for your dates. On my trip, the entertainment and service didn’t feel like meaningful upgrades, even though I liked the food.

The food, however, is significantly better. I really enjoyed the real porcelain dishes and stainless steel cutlery—definitely a step up. But, in my opinion, the food isn’t good enough to justify the price difference.

On the Boeing 777-300ER I flew, Premium Comfort has a 2-4-2 layout, compared with 3-4-3 in Economy. KLM currently lists a seat pitch of 97 cm in Premium Comfort and 79 cm in standard Economy on this aircraft. The wider seat and extra space are the main upgrades; I still wasn’t sold on the reclining position.

Final thoughts: Would I book KLM Premium Comfort again?

KLM, work on your customer service, please!
 

I’d only book another flight with KLM in 2026 if I really had to. Based on my experience, KLM still seems to hover somewhere between a legacy carrier and a low-cost airline, especially when it comes to service. You can pay extra for checked baggage even in Premium Comfort if you book Light, and there are three fare options within the cabin.

Why? I want just three straightforward classes: Economy class, Premium Economy class, and Business. Most people I’ve spoken to hate these confusing Light, Standard, and Flex options, too.

KLM tries to compete with other airlines in terms of class structure, but with their lacklustre service, they fail spectacularly.

The completed rollout makes Premium Comfort more widely available across KLM’s long-haul fleet. That doesn’t change my personal verdict on the trip I took: the overall value falls somewhere in the middle—which is rare, as I’m usually a huge advocate for Premium Economy because it makes long-haul flights more bearable.

If you can overlook the service (which I can’t), the pros are the extra seat space and the punctuality I experienced. That said, I’ve rated other Premium Economy ticket offerings much higher.

Overall rating: 50%

Pro flight hacking tip: If finding the best value flights is your priority, start your search on kiwi.com. It’s brilliant for figuring out route and class combinations you won’t see on Skyscanner or Google Flights. You can even get your long-haul flights in premium economy or business class and save on the short legs in economy.  

Premium Comfort: Additional FAQs

This is how comfortable I like to be

FAQ 1: What is the Premium Comfort class? KLM Premium Economy

KLM’s Premium Comfort Class is essentially their version of Premium Economy, just branded differently. You’ll get upgraded perks like improved and larger seats with more legroom, priority boarding, and extra overhead bin space. The food is also different—better than in Economy, with meals served on real porcelain with steel cutlery, adding a touch of class to the dining experience. It's a step up in comfort without hitting the Business Class price tag.

FAQ 2: Does Premium Comfort mean better food?

Yes, absolutely—food was one of the highlights of my 2024 trip. We were given a paper menu and a choice between two meal options, served on real porcelain with stainless steel cutlery. It felt significantly better than Economy: more like a regular restaurant than a fast-food experience. Your flight’s menu and meal choices may differ.

On my flights, we were also served earlier than the Economy cabin, which was another bonus.

FAQ 3: Do you get lounge access with KLM Premium Comfort?

Premium Comfort does not include complimentary KLM Crown Lounge access on its own. Access can depend on eligible frequent-flyer status or a separately purchased lounge visit. If your credit card offers LoungeKey or Priority Pass, check which lounges are actually included at your airport before paying extra. I wouldn’t automatically pay for a lounge just because I’m flying premium economy.

Check in and take off into the world

FAQ 4: Can I upgrade to KLM Premium Comfort after booking?

Yes, you can upgrade to KLM Premium Comfort after booking, subject to availability. KLM currently describes upgrade options during online check-in and at airport self-service kiosks, as well as possible last-minute offers during or after check-in. A last-minute upgrade applies to the specific flight, not automatically to the entire booking.

You might receive a discounted upgrade offer, but it’s not something you can count on. Compare the offer with the cost of booking Premium Comfort upfront and check what it includes. If the cabin is essential to your trip, I’d book it in advance rather than rely on a last-minute offer.

FAQ 5: Does KLM have a Premium Economy cabin?

Yes. Premium Comfort is KLM’s name for its premium economy cabin. Light, Standard, and Flex are fare options within that same cabin. Their main differences concern baggage, advance seat selection, and change or refund conditions—not a different seat or meal service.

Where to go next? I recommend further reading on air travel.

• How to survive long-haul flights
• Tips for first-time flyers
• Facts about travel documents
• How to pack Carry-ons
• Various cabin classes explained

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