Video | KLM Economy Comfort 747-400 Combi 14D-E

Airline: KLM
Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 Combi
Seat maps: SeatGuru | Seat Expert | KLM
Seat Info: Seat 14D and Seat 14E
Class: Economy Comfort (Extra Legroom)

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Seat(s): It’s an older plane but these KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Economy Comfort seats abord this 747-400 Combi deliver on their promise of extra legroom and better recline with the exception of one that we’ve seen before, 9A, an exit row window side seat with a monster-sized exit slide right in front of it. Here in 14D and 14E you’ll find what’s most common, 4 inches of extra knee space and about double the recline. Width is nothing special, just a typical economy squish.

It’s one of the more unique cabins we’ve flown in but like that it’s separated from both the lower-level business class by a curtain and some exit row space and the main cabin by the washrooms and a closet. The strange part is that there are 3 seats on the window side and 2 seats up against a galley wall that separates the right side of the plane from the opposite windows. The benefit here is that you only have to rely on the left side folks to lower their window-shade during daylight hours so you can sleep or better watch your movie.

Tech/Connectivity/Entertainment: Your personal TV compared to what you have at home is the one you hide in your bedroom, not the showcase flat-panel plasma you show off to guests in the living room. Loaded with hit movies but not as many as you’ll find stuffed into newer systems. You’ll navigate using the armrest mounted controller through a selection of Hollywood and Euro flicks. Charge up before the flight if you want to use your own gadgets, there are no power ports in Economy or Economy Comfort.

Food: KLM has set the bar for how we judge economy food aboard trans-atlantic flights of other airlines so I tend to expect a little more when I’m on one of their flights. The bar might have been lowered a smidge with the main course on this trip with a rather bland chicken dish but the vegetables were relatively fresh tasting, the mashed potatoes flavorful and a tasty desert. Certainly forgivable…We still love you KLM.

Service: Oh what? You don’t love us back?! Our flight attendant was short with other passengers and wasn’t at all pleasant with us either. Make sure you speak up or you might get a nasty response. Politely excusing ourselves for not speaking loud enough when we said “Chicken please” got us what we asked for, but the effort to fake pleasantness was all on our side.

Rating: 2 hops (of 5).

Route Flown for this review: New York (JFK) – Amsterdam (AMS)

How we got em’: Booked through Delta Airlines without high-level status, we were able to upgrade within 24 hours of our flight. On previous flights booked directly with KLM, we had been able to call ahead and reserve in Economy Comfort sooner.