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Trip Report: Air France B777-300/ER New Business Class and Premium Economy

I tried out Air France's new retrofitted B777-300/ER from Paris to New York JFK recently.

The newly configured Air France B777-300/ER has 48 Business Class suites, 48 Premium Economy class seats and 273 Economy seats.

Passengers were greeted by Air France employees holding posters of the newly refurbished cabin.

Air France B777-300/ER New Cabin

Business Class cabin has 1-2-1 individual pod seats added with a privacy door.

The Business Class seats are similar to Air France's current long-haul B777 seats. There are 48 seats spanning across 2 cabins. The second cabin feels more private with just 5 rows of seats.

Apart from the door, several added features include a bigger storage table and wireless phone charging dock.

The seat also features a wide 17.3-inch 4K High-Definition anti-glare screen, a new Bluetooth connection allowing passengers to use their own headphones and several electric sockets.

Tip: Row 1 and 9 has a massive footwell and extra room due to the bulkhead position. These seats are often shown as blocked at online check-in but available at check-in.

Air France’s new Premium Economy seat came with a deep recline which is different from the current fixed shell design. The seat pitch is standard at 38".

The seat back reclines to 124 degrees and has been widened thanks to the narrower armrest.

Seat Map of Air France B777-300/ER

Seat map of the new Air France B777-300/ER is provided by SeatMaps.com

AF16 Paris to New York

We took off on time from Runway 26R, the 4k camera front camera view is very clear even at night.

I'd say Premium Economy Class food can be improved and distinguished better than standard economy meals since passenger pays more.

The weather in New York was very bad with rain and low visibility. Our plane was on hold for 40 minutes before cleared to ILS approach on Runway 13L. Watch the exciting landing at JFK in my video .

It is great that Air France has finally started refurbishing the 12 older B777-300/ER (with angle flat 2-3-2 Business Class) with the new configuration. This will provide their entire long haul fleet with flat bed in Business Class.

3 refurbished Air France 777-300/ER (F-GZNK, F-GZNS, F-GZNQ) currently flies between Paris and New York JFK (AF22/15), Dakar and Rio with this new configuration. 9 more B777 will be refurbished by the end of this year.

I think the trend in long haul Business Class is clearly adding extra privacy. We have seen Qatar Airways QSuite, ANA The Room , BA and Etihad new Business Class , and now Air France is also joining the bandwagon. However, Air France said they will not refurbish the existing long haul (4 class) 777 Business Class with the new privacy door.

I just got a notification that my flights were changed to Paris, Instead of the new 777-300 ER business class product they changed the aircraft to the a350-900 and are advertising it as suites, when that is not the case. Any Idea why the change? and if they will have the new 777 Business class product on any routes out of NYC? Any chance they switch it back in the near future, I’m sure its common that they change air crafts.

Hi Sam, This is great.

Can you tell me is the newly refurbished business class on the Paris to Dubai route yet?

Also would you say this is a better service than BA business or Virgin. I have miles to use with Virgin and it is sharing with Air France which is why I ask.

Many thanks Kind regards Aaron

Dubai flight generally is 4 class which feature the old J class which is also 1-2-1.

I fly from Paris to Washington mid-October with 777 300 V3 and from Miami to Paris again with 777 300. Is the cabin the new one?

If these routes have First Class (4 class), it will have the current 1-2-1 lie flat Business Class, but they’re still quite nice!

Great review! Have probably seen this video ten times since you’ve published it on youtube. Do you know if the F-GZNT (SkyTeam livery) will get this new cabin?

if GZNT has old 2-3-2 Business Class interior, then it will!

Hope all is well. Big fan of your blog and youtube videos. I just booked my business class tickets for May 2024 on Air France. The seating shows 4 classes, however, they are advertising the business seats as “the new air france business seat”. The aircraft is a 777-300 ER, any chance you can help me out?

Bonjour Le vol miami Paris af099 est la nouvelle cabine ?

Hey how can I find out if my plane has the new business class seat When I’m on airfrance website it says it has the new seat but it’s showing for every flight out of NY-CDG including the 777-200 Flying on July 30th 2023

Not on the 777-200

Good review! Enjoy your reviews. I can tell you from experience that AF will most likely never upgrade the PE meal service. Looks the same exact offering as from over 10 years ago. I think at this point we can give up hope.

I see, that’s not good.

Are the refurbished planes only flying out of NY right now? Flying Business class IAD-CDG on a 777-300ER next week.

Yes only JFK (AF22/15)

Great review. I’m also looking to book a trip in July from IAD to CDG flying business class. How would I be able to tell if this is one of the routes slated for an upgrade?

you say AF 16/17 with the new cabin while on the screen you show AF 15/22

AF15/22 is the correct one.

Great video and review as always, Sam! I am looking to book Air France LAX-CDG-LAX in late July/early August. Do you think LAX will get one of the refurbished 777-300ERs by then? Is there any way for me to tell right now when I book? Thanks!

The LAX flight has 4 cabins with First Class (La Premiere) so it won’t feature this improved J class product. AF is only refurbishing the older 777 which doesn’t have flat bed in J class to this new version.

First Sam video for me in 2023, and as always – well done !

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Review: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Business Class (non-Qsuite time-travel edition)

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The famous Qatar Airways Qsuite is probably the best-known Business Class seat in the world, and it was a seat that was originally introduced on the airline’s 777 aircraft a number of years ago. In this article, however, the Qatar Airways 777 that’s being reviewed has not had the Qsuite installed so, a little surprisingly, I was given a trip back in time.

• Qatar Airways Qsuites Business Class Review 777-300ER (BKK-DOH)
• Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class Review (Ascent seat)

I wasn’t supposed to have stayed in Doha long enough to have entered the country, but as that’s exactly what ended up happening due to a missed connection, this flight started with an arrival at Doha’s Hamad International Airport and a walk through the Business Class check-in area.

I had been given my boarding pass for this flight when I had arrived in Doha some 12 hour earlier, so I had no need to physically check-in with an agent.

Had I need to see anyone, however, there were plenty of desks at which I could have been assisted and there wasn’t another passenger in sight.

Just past these desks is an automated immigration point – you scan your passport and an set of electronic gates opens for you – followed by the premium security line which, just like the Business Class check-in area, was free of any other passengers. It was wonderful!

From arrival to clearing security took no longer than 5 minutes and I was soon on my way to the Qatar Airways Platinum Lounge South  to get some work done before my flight.

When the time came, it was a short walk to my gate and after a short 10-minute wait, boarding was called with Business Class asked to board first.

A quick bit of background

On this flight I was traveling between Doha and Bangkok with a departure time of 20:20. I was supposed to have been flying on the 02:20 flight earlier that same day, but I missed that connection .

On that (missed) flight, I was supposed to be flying in a 777-300ER and sitting in seat 3K which was a Qsuite.

When I was issued with my new boarding pass for the flight being reviewed here, I was also assigned seat 3K (I was impressed that the airline had managed to keep me in my original seat), and when I checked the schedule, the aircraft operating the route was a 777-300ER.

I thought nothing more of it, and I looked forward to seeing what I thought of the Qsuite almost 5 years to the day since I had last traveled in it.

The 777 Business Class cabin

That little bit of background was necessary to help explain the surprised expression that (I assume) I had on my face when I walked onboard and saw the Business Class cabin for this flight.

This was not a Qsuite cabin. It wasn’t even the slightly older Super Diamond or Cirrus cabin.

This was the oldest long-haul Business Class cabin that Qatar Airways has, and it comes with seats set out in a 2-2-2 layout.

I knew this cabin was flying just before the pandemic (I flew in this cabin January 2020), but it had never occurred to me that 4 years later, it may still be part of the Qatar Airways fleet.

In a cabin with a 2-2-2 layout, the best seats to have are the two seats in the center of the cabin because with those, both you and the person sitting next to you have direct access to an aisle.

My seat, 3K, was a window seat and that meant that should I want to get up at any point, I’d have to move past the person sitting next to me or, if they had put their seat into angle-flat mode (these seats don’t offer a true lie-flat bed), I would have to clamber over them in a rather undignified way.

The truth is, however, that despite their age, these seats can be quite good.

The fact that they only offer an ‘angle-flat’ sleeping position and that not all seats have direct access to an aisle are clear negatives, but there are quite a few positives that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Firstly , despite being set out in a 2-2-2 layout, these seats feel like they give a passenger plenty of space.

The amount of legroom on offer is so huge that there’s absolutely no chance of a passenger being able to touch the seat in front while sitting down …

… and with 3 windows to most rows, there’s not only a feeling of space, but there is *actual* space which a passenger in the window seat can use to get past the person sitting next to them.

As I alluded to earlier, this doesn’t work very well when the person in the aisle seat has their seat fully reclined, but in most other circumstances, the space ion offer makes it relatively simple to get past without tripping up or accidentally ending up in the other person’s lap.

Secondly , these seats offer plenty of storage space in which a passenger can keep any items they need close by during the flight.

There’s a large storage area built into the seat in front, together with a shelf (per seat) for shoe storage and a small magazine rack (which can easily hold a tablet).

There’s a further good-size storage area built into the armrest that divides both seats …

And there’s a third (smaller) storage area under the armrest. This is where you’ll find the headphone input (for the inflight entertainment) and a USB-A port so it’s a good place to store a smartphone while it charges.

There’s also a partially concealed storage hole built into the top of the armrest, but as that’s where Qatar Airways hides away a bottle of water, it’s not really suitable for much more.

You don’t get this much storage with the Qsuite, and you definitely don’t get this amount of storage with the Ascent seat in the airline’s 787-9 aircraft .

For added privacy, there’s a small divider that can be pulled out (part-way) between the two seats …

… and if you need a reading light when the cabin is plunged into darkness, once can be found next to the divider.

The seat’s tray table is deployed from the side of the armrest (the armrest holds so many different things, it feels like aviation’s answer to the Swiss Army knife ) …

… and to give you an idea of the size of the table, here’s a 16″ MacBook sitting on it.

Size-wise, there can be no complaints, but because the table is hinged to one side, it’s not as sturdy as many of the tables that deploy from under the inflight entertainment screens in more modern Business Class seats.

I’ve left one of my favorite facets of this seat to last – the seat controls.

In my review of the 787-9’s Business Class seat , I noted how I found that seat’s controls to be rudimentary and seemingly incapable of small adjustments. That’s not an issue here.

These seat controls allow a passenger to place the seat into just about any position they want to put it into (apart from true lie-flat!), and that makes it incredibly easy to get comfortable.

A passenger is not locked-in to using just a few pre-programmed positions, and that can be the difference between a great flight and flight that ends with back ache.

As far as the seat goes, that’s just about it, but I there’s one more thing that I need to point out – the AC power supply.

A well as the USB-A port that I mentioned earlier, these seats offer each passenger a universal AC power outlet at the front of the central armrest where the armrest meets the floor.

The clever thing about these power outlets is that they’re inserted upside down, and this means that anyone using an apple-style laptop charger won’t face the issue of the floor getting in the way of the ‘brick’ that plugs in to the power outlet. That was good thinking from whoever designed this part of the seat.

Unlike on my previous flight where a cardboard box was used as an amenity kit, old-style kits were waiting for us at our seats when we boarded – black for men and white for ladies.

The black bag was nice enough …

… but the white kit was the big winner in this cabin 🙂

The color and design of the bags were the only differences between the two kits as the contents were identical.

• Diptyque lip balm
• Diptyque body lotion
• Diptyque face cream
• Diptyque eau de toilette

The Qatar Airways amenity kits don’t contain toothpaste or toothbrushes because those are offered in the aircraft lavatories.

As this was a night flight, a bag containing pajamas and slippers, was also offered.

The pajamas were made by The White Company which is the same company that supplies British Airways with its amenity kits, bedding, and First Class pajamas, so as Qatar Airways owns 10% of BA’s parent company, I wonder if this is an example of BA and Qatar Airlines using their combined size to get a better deal?

Drinks were offered shortly after boarding has started, and the dinner menu and the wine menu were handed out as well.

Dinner and drinks menu

Wine & spirits menu

Qatar Airways offers dining-on-demand in all of its long-haul Business Class cabins and as I wanted to get the meal service finished as quickly as possible (so that I could finish of some work and then get some rest), I asked for my meal to be served as soon after take off as possible.

Before the dinner service started, a second round of drinks was poured and served with the traditional warm nuts.

Dinner was served promptly, and after the amuse bouche (which was a little hard) …

… I had:

• Seared yellowfin tuna with lemon vinaigrette, kalamata olives, egg, tomatoes, French beans, and potato.
• Chilli soya glazed Chilean sea bass, wok fried rice, lotus root, baby aubergine, shitake, and pak choi.
• Black sesame cheesecake with crème Anglaise, red plum, fresh berries, and white chocolate crumble.

By a lot of Business Class meal standards, this was pretty good, but by Qatar Airways standards, it was average.

The seared tuna was too hard and not very flavorful, the sea bass was ok but I wouldn’t rush to order it again (I should have had the Qatari chicken which, as I found out on my previous flight, is excellent), and the dessert had too much going on.

To be fair, I should have noticed that the dessert I chose was going to have too much going on from its description, so I’m at least partly to blame here.

Dinner ended with Swiss chocolates, and a Diptyque ‘refreshing towel’.

The dinner service was of the usual high standard that can be expected from most Qatar Airways cabin crew – they have this incredible ability to be attentive when you need them to be, but to also be nowhere in sight when you want to be left alone. It’s like magic.

Speaking of wanting to be left alone…

I asked the crew not to disturb me for breakfast (which was only 5 hours away) as I wanted to get as much rest as possible before we landed, but I have a picture of what was being served anyway:

Breakfast was: Seasonal fruits, a croissant with a preserve, yoghurt & pistachio granola, and an orange juice.

As far as I’m aware the aircraft offered wi-fi and there were movies, tv shows and more to enjoy on the inflight entertainment screens …

… but as I didn’t use any of these, I can’t really comment on them.

What I will say, however, is that the last time I flew in this cabin, the wifi on offer was the older of the two versions that Qatar Airways now offers, so it’s likely that this remains the case today (and that would make it a little unreliable).

Overall thoughts

After my initial surprise of being faced with a Business Class cabin from the stone age, I ended up having a pretty good flight.

While the angle-flat bed mean that what sleep I managed to get wasn’t quite as good as the better sleeps that I sometimes get on a spacious lie-flat seat, the seat itself (when being used as a seat and not a bed) was very comfortable.

It was considerably more comfortable than the much, newer Ascent seat found on the Qatar Airways 787-9.

It felt more spacious, there was no sense of confinement, there was more storage space, and the seat didn’t give me a backache so, believe it or not, I prefer this seat (with all of its old-fashioned faults) to the Ascent seat that you’ll find on the 787-9s.

To further clarity that point: I’ve flown in this cabin and in this seat on the longest flight that Qatar Airways offers – the Auckland to Doha route – so I know what it can be like to sit in and lie in for 17+ hours, and I have no real issue with it.

Given the choice of one of these seats in the center of the aircraft of the ultra-modern seat on the 787-9, I would choose this one every time- newer isn’t always better.

As for rest of the offering…

The food was average but passable, the champagne (the 1 glass I had) was very nice, the crew members were all friendly and efficient, and the ladies’ amenity kit should get a smile out of Joanna when I get home, so things were, overall, ok.

Bottom line

A lot of people seem to be fixated with the idea that a modern Business Class seat has to have a privacy door or it isn’t really ‘top of the line’, but the fact is that’s simply not true.

The seat in this review is clearly not top of the line (far from it), but it’s more comfortable than at least one of the more modern seats that Qatar Airways offers, so no one should be put off from booking this cabin just because of the seat.

Sure, if you have a choice of the Qsuite or this, or the Super Diamond seat or this, the more modern seat is the choice to go with every time, but don’t let anyone tell you that this is a ‘bad’ seat that you should avoid at all costs because I’ve sat in a lot of bad Business Class seats, and this isn’t one of them.

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Regarding Comments

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These certainly are spacious cabins. The lack of walls is OK for a daytime flight when you wouldn’t change into pajamas. The IFE has less movies than other aircraft and the screen is smaller so that’s a drawback.

Have been downgraded from a Qsuite to this type of aircraft several times last year. Despite having paid a premium for the Qsuite, no compensation offered. In fact, there was just a longwinded and pre-fabricated response from Qatar they are not obliged to any compensation if it’s caused by „operational“ reasons. Booking and paying for a Qsuite is always like a lottery.

I’d say you got lucky! I got Qatar’ed recently and encountered one of these old 777 instead of the QSuite I booked. My seat (as well as 3-4 others in tbe biz cabin) no longer fully reclined, the foot section was drooping about 20d. The cabin was sold out, no available seats and the crew couldn’t do more than say sorry. I didn’t get any sleep and had back pain for 3 days… Qatar is flying these old planes and not maintaining them properly. They should have been long retired, but Qatar decided to pick a fight with Airbus and didn’t accept new A350 for several years… Don’t be blinded by the handful of premium seats Qatar or Emirates offer, when you can end up in one of many sub-standard seats. I’ll take the consistency of SQ over this anytime..

I actually prefer these seats over Qsuites for sleeping. They are close enough to lie-flat that it’s a minimal difference for me. And the amount of room is far greater. Overall, Qsuites wins, but for sleeping these are the best IMO.

I flew this seat several years ago and hated it and now I avoid it at all costs. Maybe they have improved the storage because on my flight there was no-where to put anything. What I hate most is the silly divider as I was flying solo. It didn’t shield me from the person next to me at all and I felt no privacy whatsoever. I never want to fly this configuration again.

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Simple Flying

British airways' boeing 777 business class cabins: 5 things to know before you travel.

British Airways uses its Boeing 777 fleet to fly out of Heathrow and Gatwick.

• British Airways has 252 weekly Boeing 777 flights, mainly to the US.
• Some British Airways Boeing 777s still have the old business class seats, called the Club World.
• However, the airline should have all its London Heathrow Airport (LHR)-based aircraft equipped with Club Suites by 2026.

British Airways has several long-haul aircraft, ranging from the double-decker Airbus A380s to the minor Boeing 787s, the 787-8 aircraft. Since taking delivery of its first Boeing 777, a 777-200, registered as G-ZZZE, in January 1996, the airline has relied on the type to fly its customers to various long-haul destinations. So, if you want to fly the Boeing 777 in the airline’s business cabin, here are some things you should know.

5 Destination list

Weekly british airways flights with the boeing 777: 252.

• Total weekly seats: 68,937
• Average seats per departure: 273.6
• Available Seat Kilometers (ASK): 456.8 million

Suppose you are explicitly exploring flying British Airways’ business class product on the Boeing 777. In that case, whether it would be the newer Club Suite seats or the older Club World, also known as yin-yang seats, there are select destinations where the airline deploys its 777s.

The airline has scheduled most of its weekly one-way flights on the Boeing 777 from the United Kingdom to the United States, with 141 of 252 one-way itineraries heading across the Atlantic Ocean in March 2024, according to data by the aviation analytics company Cirium . The most popular destinations are New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK, 44 weekly flights) , Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR, 21 weekly flights), and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD, 14 weekly flights), as well as others.

Another popular destination for British Airways’ Boeing 777s is Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) , with 14 weekly flights. However, other itineraries on the airline’s schedule for the aircraft type are operated either daily or several times per week, including Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (ABV), Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), and others.

The 28 Routes British Airways Is Operating From The USA This Summer

4 origin airports, airports british airways operates its boeing 777s out of: two.

Origin airports:

• London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

However, British Airways deploys its Boeing 777s from two airports in London: Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) . Out of the 252 weekly one-way flights during March, 181 depart LHR, while the remaining 71 fly out of LGW.

Furthermore, while LHR is responsible for the majority of the carrier’s US-bound routes, LGW only flies to Orlando International Airport (MCO, seven weekly flights), JFK (six weekly flights), and Tampa International Airport (TPA, five weekly flights). The most popular destinations outside the second-busiest London airport include Cancún International Airport (CUN), DOH, MCO, and Saint Lucia Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), which are flown daily.

British Airways Reveals Plans To Return To Bangkok & Kuala Lumpur

3 yin-yang seating, older club world seats were introduced in: 2006.

Available on:

• Airbus A380
• Boeing 787-8
• Boeing 787-9

Despite splitting opinions on their comfort, the yin-yang seats have remained the staple of Club World since they were first introduced in 2006. When it published its 2007/2008 annual report in May 2008, British Airways said that new seats had already been fitted onto its Boeing 747 aircraft, with the airline having prepared to introduce the seats on its 777s.

“The new cabin combines comfort, control and privacy. It features Club Kitchen – where customers can find a wide range of hot and cold food – and a new seat, which is 25 per cent wider.”

Further benefits of the then-new seats included a softer mattress, memory foam headrest, and a cozy quilt, resulting in a comfortable experience while stretching out on a fully flat bed. The airline also promised privacy behind a touch-button screen.

Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 777 Club Suite London Heathrow to New York JFK

2 newer club suite seats, club suite was introduced in: 2019.

• Airbus A350-1000
• Boeing 787-10

However, in August 2019, British Airways began rolling out the new Club Suites, a redesigned business class seat with the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000 . Since then, suites have also been installed on Boeing aircraft, namely the 777 and 787-10.

Unlike the previous seat, the new Club Suite offers direct aisle access from every door, enhancing customer privacy. Like their predecessor, the business class seats offer a fully flat bed. But unlike the Club World seat, the new suites offer 40% extra storage space, including a bespoke table designed to be used (or not) while working, eating, or sleeping on a flight.

Speaking about the British Airways Boeing 777 fleet exclusively, there are four different seat maps for the aircraft: 777-200ER with first class, 777-200ER based at LGW, 777-200ER, and 777-300. However, only the LGW-based Boeing 777 aircraft have the older yin-yang Club World seats, meaning that chances of running into them while flying out of LHR are pretty low.

Top 5: The British Airways Aircraft Types With The Largest Club World Cabins

1 future fleet deployment, club suite on all lhr-based aircraft by: late 2026.

LHR-based long-haul aircraft:

• Airbus A350

In November 2023, International Airlines Group (IAG) , the parent company of British Airways and other airlines, outlined the group’s strategy going forward. The priority for the group regarding the British airline was to invest in a more premium passenger experience onboard and on the ground.

While this includes changes to the customer care and lounge experience, such as the full redevelopment of the airline’s lounge at LHR, IAG promised that all aircraft based at the main airport in London will be equipped with the Club Suite seats by 100%. That was not all, as the group also promised evolved food and beverage choices across all cabins, more in-flight entertainment (IFE) content , and the introduction of new partnerships that will only improve the passenger experience going forward.

British Airways' Airbus A380s Will Have The Club Suite Before 2027

British airways.

Air France 777 Business Class Review: IAD to CDG

During our last family vacation in December 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic grounded us, we flew Air France Business Class on the Boeing 777 from Washington D.C. to Paris using miles. Read our Air France 777 Business Class Review for all the details on this Air France international flight. Our Air France business class review covers food, service, onboard entertainment, and comfort.

Air France 777 Business Class Review from IAD to CDG: WTA Score

How we booked our Air France Business Class tickets for $418 each

The Air France frequent flyer program, Flying Blue , is incredibly easy to accumulate miles. Flying Blue is a transfer partner of 5 major transferable currencies- American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, CapitalOne and Citi ThankYou points. So you can transfer points from any of those 5 programs and combine them in the Air France miles program for award flights.

Flying Blue does not have an award chart but instead has dynamic pricing. We found 4 Business Class tickets from Washington D.C. to Dubai (this flight was just the first leg of the journey) for 85,000 Air France Flying Blue miles each plus $418.39 in taxes and fees. This is not the cheapest we’ve seen but over the winter holidays it was a good deal. The Business Class tickets for our family of 4 would have set us back $19,400.08  one way but we paid $1,673.56  in taxes and fees and 340,000 Flying Blue miles, saving $17,726.52 in the process. Finding 4 business class award flights together is not easy to do. We had to be flexible with our dates to find availability together. We ended up leaving for vacation several days earlier than we had wanted to, causing the kids to miss a few days of school. But it was worth it, especially since it would be our last family vacation before the pandemic lockdown began.

AF Business Class Prices

Be aware that point transfers from AMEX and Chase are almost instant, but Marriott Bonvoy rewards can take several days to transfer. Thankfully Air France will hold tickets for 3 days while points transfer. We kept calling Air France customer service and asking if they could continue to hold our tickets longer because our Marriott BonVoy points ended up taking a long time to transfer. We also ran into issues with one of our Marriott Bonvoy transfers where the points never made it into our Flying Blue accounts. Although the Flying Blue agents were not required to hold our bookings, they kindly held our bookings for us until the transfers cleared. Kudos to Air France customer service for that.

Business Air France Check in at Washington Dulles Airport

Check-in at IAD was quick and easy. There is a priority line for business class passengers which made the process smoother. We didn’t have to wait at all and checked our luggage and then headed to the lounge. Air France Business Class baggage allowance is 2 checked bags weighing up to 32 kg/70 lb each in addition to 2 hand baggage items and 1 personal item (Purse, briefcase, computer bag) for carry-on.

Air France Business Class Lounge at IAD

Our business class tickets permitted us entry into the Air France lounge at IAD. The lounge is open to Air France and KLM first class and business class passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on an international SkyTeam flight. The lounge has been newly renovated and offered a buffet with tasty options like salad, fruit, soup, bread, and sweets. There is also a bar with several kinds of liquor, wine, beer, and champagne available. We had some snacks and a glass of wine but wanted to save our appetites for our in-flight meal. Here’s a look at some of the Air France lounge options at IAD.

Air France KLM Lounge IAD

Air France KLM Lounge at IAD

Air France Lounge Bar at Washington Dulles Airport

Enjoying pre-flight refreshments at Air France business lounge at IAD

Boarding our IAD to CDG Air France flight

Luckily the lounge was directly across from the departure gate, which gave us more time to relax before our flight. However, the boarding process was a bit chaotic for us at IAD. We were told that we could pre-board due to having young children, so waited where a crew member directed us. Then when we showed our boarding passes, they told us we were supposed to be in a different area for Business Class passengers, which was not clearly indicated.

When we went to the area they told us to go, no one was there to take our boarding passes. So by the time we were able to board, we no longer had the benefit of priority boarding. It felt disorganized and poorly managed. We were disappointed not to be able to snap some photos and videos of the cabin before it filled up with other passengers.

All passengers entered the plane through the front doors which means everyone was walking past our seats for a very long time. We were trying to pass things back and forth to each other and get settled with the kids. With so many people passing through on their way to the economy cabin it was difficult to even see or talk to each other across the busy aisles. We were perplexed why some passengers did not board from the rear doors. As a result of all the traffic through the cabin, we did not receive any service during the lengthy boarding process. This is unusual for a business class flight, where in our experience welcome drinks are normally offered shortly after getting settled.

Air France Boeing 777-300ER Business Class Cabin

The Air France B777 Business Class cabin has 2 areas- a small mini cabin at the front and a larger cabin at the rear. Our plane also had a small first class cabin, called La Premiere, with just 4 seats. Although the first class cabin looked very luxurious and cozy, we were surprised that it offered little privacy from other first class passengers. It would be perfect for a family of 4 traveling together to have the ultimate VIP experience with the entire cabin to themselves.

Air France First Class Cabin, aka Air France La Premiere

The business class cabin has a 1-2-1 seat configuration with reverse herringbone seats. This arrangement offers a lot of privacy. We sat in the back row of the Business Class cabin and had the entire row. We sat the kids in the middle next to each other and we sat in the window seats. The flight crew required one of us to be next to each child, so this seating arrangement worked out for all of us.

We took the back row of the Air France Boeing 777 Business Class cabin

AF Business Class welcome drinks

After pushing off, the flight attendants walked around offering welcome drinks. The options were either water or orange juice. The was also a bottle of Evian water in each seat in case we got thirsty at any time during the flight. We were hoping for a glass of champagne, but that would come later as an aperitif before dinner. We also received a hot warm towel to clean our hands.

Air France welcome drinks

Air France Business Class Seats

The Air France Business class B777 seats were spacious with enough room even for Bertaut who is 6’6 and has broad shoulders. The seat cushions were comfortable and plush. The leg rest was spacious enough to put your feet up comfortably or sleep without having to contort your body to fit. The inflight entertainment screens pop out when you push the silver button on the bottom left corner for a better viewing angle.

777 Air France Business Class Seats

We had plenty of legroom in our AF Business class seats

Each seat has a storage compartment with headphones inside and space to keep your phone or other small objects like a camera or book. The door has a mirror inside so you can check your look before taking a selfie. 😉 Next to the storage is the control for the inflight entertainment. The dining table extends from the armrest console, where 4 buttons control the seat reclining options. Each seat also has a USB port and power station so you can charge your devices during the flight, which is convenient.

Storage compartment for AF B777 Business Class

Air France Boeing 777 business class seats

The seats recline fully to the lie flat position, which allowed us all to get a solid amount of sleep before landing. As a traveling family, we think it’s worth it to splurge on business class seats for overnight flights so the kids don’t melt down from exhaustion.

AF B777 Business Class Seats recline to flat position

Testing out the Air France Lie flat seats

Our kids slept soundly on the Air France lie flat seats

Flying business class makes traveling with kids so much easier

Air France Business Class Amenities

The Air France amenity kit included Clarins hand and nail treatment cream, Clarins moisturizing gel, a dental kit, eye mask, pen, mints, eye glass cleaner cloth, and a shoe horn. We really appreciated the moisturizing creams since flights always dry out our skin so much. Although we always carry on necessities like a toothbrush and face wash, it was convenient to have some in the kit without having to get into your luggage.

Air France Business Class Amenity Kit

Air France Amenities for Business Class

The kids used their headphones for inflight entertainment

The flight attendants gave our kids a tin with a small coloring book, colored pencils, and a stencil. We always bring coloring supplies for them, but they love getting airline goodies to add to their collection of inflight entertainment.

Air France provides coloring kits to kids in business class

Air France Entertainment

Air France inflight entertainment included an impressive selection of movies, TV shows, games, music, and cartoons. Our kids had no shortage of fun things to watch and we also enjoyed a film before sleeping. The Air France movie selection included French films, Cannes Festival films, world movies, short films, new releases and older hits.

Air France onboard entertainment movie options

Air France IFE has a children’s section with movies, cartoons, games, music

The kids stayed busy with the children’s movies and games

Business Class Bathroom

The business class mini cabin has 2 bathrooms at the rear of the cabin. The bathrooms are standard airplane lavatories but were kept spotlessly clean. Clarins cleanser and refreshing water are available to wash and hydrate your face.

Air France B777-300ER Business Class Bathroom

Clarins products in AF 777 Business Class lavatory

Air France Business Class Menu- Dinner

The Air France IAD to CDG business class menu included dinner and breakfast. The Air France menu was curated by Michelin-star chef Daniel Rose. His culinary creations feature seasonal ingredients and classic French fare. There was an Express Dinner option, which was just the same menu without the main course for those who wanted to eat quickly and go to sleep. We opted for the full menu and had high expectations for our Air France meals.

For dinner, we received duck foie gras and a seasonal salad of simply lettuce as a starter. I’m not crazy about foie gras and would have liked to have another option for the starter dish. We received a tray with our starters, a selection of 3 different kinds of cheese, and dessert all at once. Flight attendants came around with a basket of fresh bread and offered seconds.

We received the main course after finishing our starters. The main course had 4 options to choose from, including braised beef, chicken paté, sautéed shrimp, and mushroom risotto. I ordered the braised beef and Bertaut tried the shrimp. I personally did not like the beef so did not eat much of it. Bertaut enjoyed his shrimp and finished his meal. Dessert was my favorite part of the meal- 3 delicious bite-sized cakes. We‘ve read several other Air France reviews and there tends to be mixed reviews on the food. In hindsight, I wish I had asked for a different main dish since I didn’t like the braised beef and woke up starving just before landing.

Air France Business Class Dinner Menu

Starter, cheese, and dessert were served together

Air France meal of sautéed shrimp

Air France meal of braised beef

They offered children’s meals to our kids, which they nibbled at before going to sleep. The children’s meals included fresh fruit, coleslaw, bread, cheese, orange juice, a fruit cup, and a mini Twix bar. There was a main dish of meat with vegetables they would have served after the starters, but the kids didn’t want anything else to eat.

Air France kids meal

Air France Breakfast Menu

The breakfast menu was a typical French breakfast of pastries, yogurt, and fruit. We prefer a heartier and hot American breakfast such as eggs, breakfast potatoes, and some kind of meat. The breakfast was more like a continental breakfast. For guests who want to sleep longer, they offer hot tea or coffee with a breakfast pastry up to 30 minutes prior to landing.

I had asked the flight crew to wake me up for breakfast, but they did not so I didn’t receive breakfast. When I woke up prior to landing starving and asked for breakfast, they informed me that it was too late. Thankfully I was able to get breakfast at the Air France lounge during our layover, so it wasn’t a big deal. But it was disappointing for the purposes of writing this flight review. Bertaut also forgot to take a photo of his breakfast before gobbling it up, but at least you can see what was offered on the menu. He reported that the croissants were fresh and delicious.

Air France Drink Menu

The Air France Drink Menu included wine, champagne, digestives, non-alcoholic drinks, and hot beverages. Paolo Basso, who won best sommelier in the world in 2013, selected the wines. Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve also took part in choosing the drink selection. They recommended the champagne as an aperitif that also lends itself well to the meal.

Air France Business Class Drink Menu

The Air France Business Class champagne was Cuvée Royal Brut by Joseph Perrier. We enjoyed this champagne as an aperitif before dinner. It was served with a small box of cheesy gavottes. I wasn’t fond of the gavottes but Bertaut liked them. The champagne was light and crisp. There’s something about flying premium and drinking champagne- they just go together like peanut butter and jelly. I think it’s the feeling of indulgence and celebration, since we only pull out the bubbly for special occasions. So we always appreciate a fine glass of champagne to get our vacations off to a relaxing start.

Air France wine list for business class IAD to CDG

Air France champagne aperitif

The Air France Business class drink menu included 2 white wines and 2 red wines, all of which were French. We’ve seen more extensive wine selections in business class on other airlines (except Saudia airlines which doesn’t serve any alcohol) but were happy with the offerings. We each ordered a glass of Bordeaux to enjoy with our meals, and it was smooth.

Air France business class meal

The drink menu included a selection of liquor and Heineken beer for aperitifs. We stopped at the champagne since we‘ve learned that less is more when it comes to flying and drinking. Flying is dehydrating, so we played it safe and kept our alcohol intake low so we would arrive feeling energized instead of lethargic.

There was also a selection of fine and aged liquor for digestifs after the meal. We did not try any of these either, but the pear brandy sounds delicious and we’re curious about the green chartreuse liqueur.

Air France Digestif Menu

The non-alcoholic drink menu included bottled water, fruit juices, coke and Coke Zero, Fuze Tea, Finley tonic, and ginger ale. Hot drinks included coffee, cappuccino, Illy espresso and decaf espresso, herbal teas by Palais des Thes, and gourmet hot chocolate. Bertaut had hot tea with his breakfast. I would have liked to try the gourmet hot chocolate with breakfast if I had the chance.

Air France Business class drink menu

Air France drink menu

Air France Service

Service during our flight was decent but not especially memorable compared to some of our past business class flight experiences, such as Etihad Business class and Singapore Airlines Business Class . The flight attendants were friendly with our children and gave them each a little bracelet before departure. One even helped our daughter look for her special marker that went missing during the flight.

We received everything we needed, but service wasn’t as remarkable compared to our second flight from Paris to Dubai, which we’ll review next. As mentioned earlier, we waited much longer than usual to receive welcome drinks. I think the boarding process was different than usual, causing the entire plane to pass through our cabin, and the flight crew seemed slightly off due to that. I was also disappointed that they forgot to wake me up for breakfast since I was starving upon landing. But otherwise, service was professional and accommodating.

Last thoughts on Air France Business Class IAD to CDG on B777

Our Air France business class flight was overall a pleasant experience. It is one that we would take again if the points and miles aligned for it. The cabin and lie flat seats were comfortable, allowing us to get some sleep on the overnight flight. The cabin layout offered privacy and we were able to all sit in one row next to each other, which was appreciated as a family with young kids. The amenity kits included inflight necessities and the kids enjoyed the coloring kits. However, we had mixed reviews on the meals and found the service less memorable compared to some of our other flight experiences. Have you flown Air France Business Class? If so, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

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Bertaut & Alexis

Travel addicts and proud parents of two young kids who make exploring the world a priority while working full time. Bertaut & Alexis enjoy traveling like millionaires without spending a fortune and share their tips on how to get luxury for less.

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Japan Airlines 777 Business Class Review — Los Angeles to Tokyo

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Booking Japan Airlines Business Class

Oneworld business class lounge at lax, food and beverage, entertainment & service, final thoughts.

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Airline:  Japan Airlines (JL) Aircraft:  Boeing 777-300ER Flight #: JL 61 Route:  Los Angeles (LAX) > Tokyo-Narita (NRT) Date:  November 7, 2018 Duration:  11 hr 45 min Cabin & Layout:  Japan Airlines Business Class, 49-seat capacity across 7 rows, 2-3-2 Seats: 5G (mini-cabin) Miles Used:  60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles Taxes & Fees Paid:  $45.13 USD Typical Retail Cost:  ~$3,780 USD Typical Economy Cost:  ~$604 USD

As a Los Angeles-based traveler, I enjoy a gigantic variety of airlines to fly. Since I had already been to Japan with my fiancee, I wanted to return the favor for my parents.

This time, I flew with my dad to Japan in November of 2018 for a 10-day excursion in one of my favorite countries in the whole world.

Going to Japan has been on his must-do list for a long time, so I thought, “What better way to get to Japan than Japan Airlines?”

As it turns out, Japan Airlines is one of the hardest airlines to book far in advance and one of the easiest airlines for booking close-in awards.

I like the certainty of a confirmed flight, but I was extremely lucky to find a nonstop business class flight on Japan Airlines Flight 61 from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo-Narita (NRT) on the departure date I wanted.

I was able to use the welcome bonus from the CitiBusiness ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® Mastercard ® , which at the time, was a huge 75,000 American Airlines miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. (There are of course many more ways to earn AA miles. )

This one welcome bonus was more than enough for a one-way flight on JAL Business Class and in my opinion is one of the best ways to redeem AA miles .

ExpertFlyer  doesn’t offer flight alerts for Japan Airlines, so I used British Airways to search for award availability twice per day: once when I woke up and once before I went to sleep.

As soon as I saw award availability, I gave American Airlines a call at 1-800-882-8880, fed the agents my flight information, paid 60,000 AA miles and $45 per person in taxes, and wrote down the Japan Airlines record locator.

I needed the record locator to pre-select a seat. I wanted a pair of seats in the mini-cabin of row 5 (which is blocked until right before departure), but I selected a back-up seat just in case.

Hot Tip: There are tons of ways to book Japan Airlines business class , and I loved using my AA miles because of the ability to hold awards for 5 days and their America to Japan sweet spot.

When I got to the airport, I asked the agent at the check-in counter if it was possible to put my dad and me in row 5, and she kindly obliged my request. My dad and I received new seat assignments in 5E and 5G, respectively.

Off to the lounge we went!

Japan Airlines uses the Oneworld Business Class Lounge at LAX, and it’s a solid choice for business class flyers here.

I personally like the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge at LAX better, as I think it’s one of the best business class lounges in the world — but the Oneworld Business Class Lounge was perfect to freshen up before our flight.

There were plenty of seating areas in this lounge, as it was quite huge. This is to be expected, since Oneworld partners such as British Airways , Cathay Pacific, and Qantas all share this lounge.

I first visited the bar, where there’s a bunch of self-serve alcohol displayed. Seppelt Sparkling Wine was available and displayed in an ice bucket.

You could also sample various other wines.

A unique feature of the Oneworld Business Class Lounge is that there are baristas ready to make you whatever espresso drink you’d like! I requested a mocha, which was delicious.

Then, I moved onto the main food area, which had some hot breakfast items like scrambled eggs, sausage links, and hash browns.

The hashbrowns were typical: crunchy and potato-y. There was also a pancake machine, which was neat! It’s very similar to the one at the Alaska Airlines Lounge at LAX.

Also, the bread section had a few choices and a toaster.

Moving onto the beverages, you could choose between various soft drinks/sodas, a coffee machine, and different teas.

After grabbing a bite to eat (but not too much because of the amazing food on Japan Airlines), I went to take a quick shower before heading to our plane.

The shower stall, which includes a bathroom, is designed very well.

What’s pretty cool is that this lounge features ASPAR amenities, which are quite luxurious. It’s a nice touch to top off your shower!

Overall, I am glad I was able to sample the Oneworld Business Class lounge.

Is it unique? No, not really. But it does the basics well: clean shower stalls with amenities that don’t dry out your skin, food that can hold you over until your flight, excellent caffeinated beverages, tons of space to sprawl out, and decently fast Wi-Fi.

I was able to get quite a bit of work done in this lounge, and I’m grateful for that.

When it was almost boarding time, my dad and I got up to head to our gate.

Boarding was organized as usual, though I was quite surprised that there were so many Japan Airlines elite members not flying premium cabins.

I was a bit surprised that they were allowed to board at the same time as us despite only flying economy, but that was just a minor hiccup. Boarding was prompt, and we were directed to our seats in row 5.

Japan Airlines’ 777 business class is unique because there are clearly better seats than others.

Row 5 is one of the most coveted, because it’s completely isolated from the rest of the cabin . There is very little foot traffic here, so you won’t be bothered as often when you’re immersed in business class.

The Boeing 777-300ER features 49 business class “Sky Suites,” which are Apex Suites. These are among the most private in all of aviation.

Even though Japan Airlines business class on the 777-300ER features a 2-3-2 cabin configuration, the suites were incredibly private thanks to excellent engineering. Direct aisle access for the 2-3-2 configuration is made possible thanks to some brilliant design work.

Each Sky Suite is an impressive 25.5 inches wide and 74 inches long when reclined into a fully-flat bed. The Sky Suites each feature a partition that allows you some additional privacy from your seatmates.

Another added plus in row 5 is that these are bulkhead seats , so you’ll have much more foot space, which I definitely noticed.

The lavatories were nothing special; the only thing notable was the presence of some refreshing facial mist and lotion.

The inflight monitor is 23 inches across, which is huge compared to other business class equivalents.

The seat functions were pretty easy to understand.

The massage function is actually quite decent, especially for the lower back. I used it throughout the flight.

I really couldn’t get over how huge the inflight screen was! When I was doing some work, I realized that the television from far away looked bigger than my computer close-up.

When I wanted to sleep, the flight attendant laid down the Airweave mattress pad, which I found quite comforting and cool.

Because the seat turned into a comfortable, almost twin bed, I was able to sleep like a baby for 3-4 hours. The best thing about this flight is that I didn’t have jet lag at all!

When I got to my seat, I found an unwrapped pillow, amenity kit, day blanket, headphones, and slippers.

I quickly unwrapped everything like a kid unwrapping presents. The slippers were comfy, and I actually used them throughout my trip because the hotel slippers paled in comparison.

I opened up the amenity kit, which features Tatsumura, a Japanese textile designer. The all-black amenity kit was sleek, yet reminded me of the skilled workmanship that Japanese are well-known for.

This kit’s spread was quite generous, though not as generous as EVA Air’s Rimowa amenity kit.

I collect amenity kits as a testament and commitment to flying in business or first class, so it was nice to have a unique amenity kit that showcases Japanese textile work.

Here’s where my business class experience really shined. As a huge foodie with over 20 Michelin stars under my belt, I was most looking forward to the food aboard Japan Airlines.

One of the biggest reasons why I visit Japan so often is because of their culinary excellence. I was enthralled to be trying some of Japan Airlines’ flagship dining — and  it didn’t disappoint.

Now keep in mind that I’m the type of guy who loves sushi, sashimi, noodles, rice, fish, and everything in between. Japan Airlines offers a Japanese menu and a Western menu; I opted for the Japanese one.

Oddly enough, Japan Airlines’ food and beverage program is called BEDD.

Japan Airlines has a culinary team of 9 chefs who work together to craft the food and drink menus.

I snapped photos of the beverage menu section, then moved onto the food portion. The selection was great, with a champagne that tastes smooth and pleasant.

As mentioned above, I chose the Japanese menu.

Here’s what the Western menu looked like.

Although the main meal was a set course, you could also order from the “Anytime You Wish” menu, which had equally tasty selections!

My main Japanese course featured the following (clockwise from top left):

• Snow Crab & Radish in Vinegar sauce
• Grilled Eggplant rolled with Conger Eel Japanese Pepper Flavor
• Japanese Omelette with Salmon Roe
• Duck Breast & Simmered Radish with Miso Sauce
• Chicken Roll with Welsh Onion

The next course was Japanese Beef Steak with Grated Radish Citrus Soy Sauce with Simmered Seafood & Mushroom. It was paired with Koshikari steamed rice, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. I enjoyed it with champagne and iced green tea.

After the main courses concluded, it was time for dessert!

The main dessert was a Yuzu Pear Cake with Japanese green tea. I’m a huge fan of yuzu and pears, so it’s not surprising that I loved the dessert too.

Each of these dishes was phenomenal. I was just astonished at how much better everything tasted compared to my previous experiences in Singapore Airlines business class, Asiana Airlines business class, and EVA Air business class.

That’s not a knock on those airlines — but the food here was simply prepared at a higher level.

I also tried a bunch of extra dishes from the a-la-carte “Anytime You Wish” menu. I first ordered the Ahi Tuna Poke Salad bowl and takoyaki (octopus balls). Both of these dishes were excellent.

After watching a few movies, I decided to order some udon, which was delicious. The soup was light and hearty, the aromatic seaweed soaked up the broth flavor, and the udon had a nice chewy texture.

My food journey only continued from here. The next snack I ordered was a grilled salmon “Yu-an” style complete with Japanese pickles, rice, and miso soup. This dish was similarly delicious.

Although I was a complete glutton on the plane, I could not have been more satisfied. Every dish was extraordinary and I was definitely well-fed.

To make things even better, the flight attendants set up a snack and wine bar in the galley behind our row with tasty crackers and chocolates from Jin Patisserie. (The chocolates were delicious, by the way.)

I was definitely taken on a culinary journey on this flight that prepared me well for all the amazing food I ate in Japan. Needless to say, I was completely satisfied with the food and drinks offered onboard this flight!

Bottom Line: Thankfully, all of my food and beverage expectations were exceeded in Japan Airlines business class.

The inflight entertainment was solid . It didn’t have a mind-blowing number of movies and TV shows, but had enough of a variety to keep from getting bored.

I found some Hollywood blockbusters like Deadpool 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Ghost in the Shell. You could also enjoy TV shows like The Big Bang Theory and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Additionally, Japan Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi complimentary for first class passengers and available for purchase in all other classes. Although I didn’t try the Wi-Fi on this flight, I  did have complimentary access when returning back to Los Angeles in first class.

The Wi-Fi is usable, though not fast enough to watch videos or stream anything — but you can easily message and text.

If I had to criticize anything in this experience, it would be the inflight Wi-Fi . Though it wasn’t important for my dad and me traveling for pleasure, it might be important for business travelers to have fast Wi-Fi and stay updated in the sky.

Bottom Line: Though the Wi-Fi could have been improved, I definitely didn’t have any issues staying entertained over the course of the 12-hour flight!

What I loved the most about this service was the friendly attitude of all the Japan Airlines staff. From the accommodating seat requests at LAX to the quick response time aboard the flight, there was nothing left to be desired on my flight.

Overall, I was sad to see my flight come to an end. I had thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of Japan Airlines in their flagship 777 business class product!

My seat in row 5 was generously wide, with plenty of legroom thanks to the bulkhead seating and plenty of privacy. The food and drink program is phenomenal — in my opinion, it’s the shining star of Japan Airlines business class.

The amenity kit was sufficient as a souvenir and a much-appreciated gesture. And the beds were super comfortable, allowing me to get quality rest and avoid jet lag upon landing in Japan with my dad.

Our inflight entertainment was plentiful, and Wi-Fi was available if I’d wanted it (though I didn’t pay for it this time around).

All in all, it was an astoundingly good use of 60,000 American Airlines miles. If I had to do it all over again, I certainly would.

Thanks for the amazing experience, Japan Airlines! Now, onto first class!

Interested in the pilot’s perspective? Explore the Boeing 777 from a pilot’s perspective .

The information regarding the CitiBusiness ® / AAdvantage ® Platinum Select ® Mastercard ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What points were used to book this flight.

This flight was booked with 60,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles and $45.13 in taxes and fees.

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Review: Austrian Airlines 777-200ER Business Class

Austrian Airlines represents the ultimate dilemma for me when it comes to the 777 in business class. The onboard cuisine is simply spectacular and the special coffee menu is something very dear to my heart. But is it worth a dated business class seat and no wireless internet onboard? Let’s review my Vienna to Chicago flight in Austrian Airlines Business Class onboard the 777-200ER.

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Austrian Airlines 777-200ER Business Class Review

I was far more excited to book Austrian for the onboard coffee than anything else.

Award space is much easier to come across in advance than at the last-minute on Austrian Airlines. Thankfully award space was wide open on my (surprisingly empty) flight from Vienna to Chicago and I was able to confirm a ticket just a few days in advance. If booking using your points on a nonstop VIE-ORD route, expect to pay:

• 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles
• 63,000 Avianca LifeMiles
• 77,000 United MileagePlus miles

Government taxes run about $60, far better than out of France, Germany, or the United Kingdom.

Unlike booking directly with Miles & More, there will be no fuel surcharge passed on for any of the three options above.

Austrian has a special check-in area for Star Alliance Gold and business class travelers at Vienna International Airport. We had no wait to check-in (we had actually successfully checked in using the Austrian Airlines mobile app, but my friend was checking a bag so we had to stop by the desk).

With boarding passes in hand, we proceeded to priority security where we breezed through and were soon in the Schengen Austrian Lounge . At the time, the non-schengen Lounge in the G Gate area (review here ) was closed, but has since re-opened.

Boarding for out 10:45AM flight was scheduled to commence at 10:00AM, but did not start until 10:14AM.

Austrian Airlines 65 Vienna (VIE) – Chicago (ORD) Tuesday, July 20 Depart: 10:45AM Arrive: 01:35PM Duration: 9hr, 50min Distance: 4,715 miles Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER Seat: 3A (Business Class)

Stepping onboard, the purser gave me a warm greeting in German…a sign of good things to come onboard.

Tip: Choose an odd-numbered A or K seat in rows 1, 3, 5, or 7 if you wish to secure a more private “throne” seat

Seat pitch is 40 inches and when fully reclined the bed is 78 inches. The seat is 20 inches wide. In all honesty, this is probably my least favorite lie-flat business class seat. I generally struggle to sleep in these seats, finding them a bit claustrophobic since so much of your legs and feet are (quite literally) under the seat in front of you (the footwell is more like a leg well).

That said, it is perfectly comfortable for a day-time flight and manageable for an overnight flight.

I chose seat 3A, a single seat that is both an aisle and window seat (a “throne” seat).

Seats are controlled by a console module and include adjutants for the firmness of the cushion and a massage function.

Also on the seat console: a power port and snake reading light.

The seat has limited personal storage – just a small pocket in the console for passports or phones and a netted container intended for shoes near the floor.

Tip: Row 8 is a mini-cain – the rear business class cabin (as on KLM) has only one row of seats, so is ideal for a family with children.

Austrian does not have individual air vents on the 777 and the bedding, a blue and white checkered cotton blanket is too small and warm to get comfortable in. I’m going to be charitable and primarily blame the coffee, but the poor bedding and lack of air vents certainly do not help.

IFE + Wi-Fi

Amazingly for 2022, Austrian Airlines does not offer wi-fi onboard its longhaul fleet of 767 and 777 aircraft. While less of a problem on an eastbound overnight flight to Vienna, on a longer westbound daytime flight this is really problematic. The nine-hour flight took place during my work day and I had to get up at 4:00AM to get my work done before the flight in a far less efficient way than if I was able to connect during the flight.

The inflight entertainment library featured about 120 movies as well as television programing, games, and music.

Flight attendant call light featured a female-appearing FA, which is rare these days.

With little to do and the cabin too warm to sleep, I actually watched movies between meals (something I do not do much any more):

In that sense, it was nice to have a break. There was one movie that I found quite moving and was based upon a true story. Persischstunden (Persian Lessons) are about a Jewish prisoner in a German labor camp who pretends to be Persian in order to survive but is then tasked with teaching one of the camp’s commanding officers the Persian language.

Noise cancelling headphones are provided and are quite inferior to Lufthansa Business Class.

Anyway, I hope that as Austrian renews its longhaul fleet, it will add high-speed wireless internet.

At least I could still look at my window. The takeoff from Vienna was beautiful:

Amenity Kit

The Austrian-branded amenity kit was made of suede with a red leather zipper handle.

Contents included:

• Toothbrush + toothpaste
• WienerBlut lip balm + facial moisturizer

A very basic amenity kit, but I did like the case and use it in the kitchen to store clothes pins…

Food + Drink

Prepare to enjoy a feast on Austrian Airlines. Austrian uses Do & Co catering and the menu features a rich array of high-quality Austrian food plus an extensive coffee menu.

Menus were distributed prior to takeoff. Lunch choices included fillet of pork in a creamy mushroom sauce with horseradish dumplings and bacon, Viennese-style chicken in red pepper sauce with spaetzle or paccheri in tomato sauce. I wanted all three!

Meal service began with a moist towelette…not as nice as a hot towel, but it had a refreshing scent.

Appetizer choices were a smoked salmon tartar or burrata with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar. The appetizer was really delicious and beautifully presented. Delicious crusty dark bread was served with it. This was a meal in itself.

My friend ordered the salmon tartar and liked it as well:

To drink, I ordered an Austrian sparkling rosé (Schlumberger Brut) which was no Cristal, but still very acceptable.

My main course, served with a side salad, was a huge portion. It included two pork medallions and dumplings. Pork is mean to be more well-done than beef, which makes it a relative safe choice. The flavor was amazing.

My friend ordered the pasta and gave it high praise:

The feast continued with a three course dessert, including:

• almond tart
• cheese and crackers
• fresh fruit

What a lovely display and what a deliciously decadent treat.

Austria is a nation known for its coffee culture and Austria Airlines embraces that with a special coffee menu onboard. Regular readers know of my love for coffee, so this represented the highlight of the flight.

Along with dessert, I enjoyed an Eiskaffee, which is double espresso with with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It was perfect.

I also ordered a cappuccino, which was perfect. The coffee is from Julius Meinl.

I love the gold-handled cups.

My friend enjoyed his latte.

After the pre-arrival service, I enjoyed a Weiner Melange, which black coffee with hot milk and foamed milk. I prefer the cappuccino, but did want to try to “regular” coffee.

I followed that with a straight black coffee.

(to say I was wired would be an understatement)

If you love coffee, you will love Austrian Airlines business class.

Mid-Flight Snack

Although I was not hungry, self-serve beverages and crackers were available as a mid-flight snack to business class passengers.

Pre-Arrival Meal

A hot meal was served 90 minutes before landing. Choices were Leberkäse (literally liver cheese, but there is neither ingredient – it is a meatloaf) or red prawn curry.

I ordered the meatloaf It was served with more hot bread, a salad, panna cotta, and of course coffee for dessert.

Another delicious meal.

Seriously, the food on Austrian is amongst the best in the world when it comes to business class carriers (I hear economy class food is also not bad). I give Austrian very high marks for this and would rate it second in Europe only to Turkish Airlines (which also uses Do&Co for catering).

Basic Boeing 777 lavatories onboard that were clean and featured shaving kits and L’Occitane soap.

Service was outstanding on this flight. The purser was hands-on in the sense that he was very involved in the service and also quite friendly. We chatted about the airline industry and he took very good care of my friend and me. His female colleagues were also very kind and attentive.

This was only my second Austrian long haul flight ( the first being a 767-300 from Beijing to Vienna ), but I appreciated great service by the crew members on both flights.

Incident Onboard

There was incident onboard that began at the gate in Vienna and flared upon landing in Chicago. I’m not going to rehash it in this trip report, but you can read all about it here . Flight attendants handled it well.

> Read More: Unhinged Father Curses Out Passenger Who Complained About His Out-Of-Control Child On My Austrian Airlines Flight

The flight left me with a dilemma. I loved the service, the food, and the coffee onboard. But the seat is not my favorite and I find the bedding and lack of wi-fi a big problem. Thus, I’d be much more comfortable flying Austrian on a daytime flight from Vienna to the USA than in another direction. Overall, I still love Austrian Airlines and find the coffee menu outstanding.

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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52 comments.

I managed to book a seat within 24 hours last morning on the reverse Chicago => Vienna route. Coffee & meals were excellent, and I slept (as usual) from dinner to breakfast on a 767-300 so on these eastbound Europe flights the tighter seats don’t matter to me at all

Glad you had a great flight.

Nice review. I have OS tied with SK for my favorite Star Alliance business class products across the Atlantic. OS has a bit better food (Austrian cuisine is more to my tastes than Scandinavian) but SK has better seats. They both blow United, Lufthansa, and Swiss out of the water.

Your meal service seems a bit reduced than before COVID. They used to have an appetizer cart with all kinds of options including various salads, soup, charcuterie, etc. Hopefully that returns some day.

You are correct. I should have mentioned that the carts (and soup) still have not returned.

Also, masks are still required onboard.

For Star Alliance, I disagree with SK, it’s average at best (sometimes hit or miss), and I prefer LX, AC, OS, TK (if going to Greece or Eastern Europe). I’d even rank LO over SK. Then LH-TP at the bottom.

This will be a fun post. I’d put LO at the bottom. Then LH then TP. I like SK catering and the seat.

I don’t get the excitement over meatloaf and a scoop of ice cream in coffee in biz class,the curry is the PE dinner choice.BTW, BA and LO now use DO &CO as well.

This looks like a great flight. I love Austrian J. I hear you about the seats. Wi-fi isnt a concern for me as I never pay for it onboard an aircraft and can live without. That said, they have made some changes to the menu since my last trip on Austrian – which was in January 2020 on Vienna – washington. There doesnt appear to be a soup course between the appetizers and the main anymore. that was nice. And when I have flown it before the flight attendants have rolled a huge cart out with the fruit and desserts and cheeses, and they carved slices for you and individually plated those items – here it looks pre plated? Even so, this still looks great and delicious and of course it’s essential that they keep the coffee selections. I look forward to my next opportunity to fly them in J longhaul! Thanks for the great report!

I’m also sad the elaborate trolley service and soup is gone. Hopefully it will return at some point. At least the coffee menu remains!

They really like triangles

Great report; I am going now to find something to eat! In ORD is the train from T5 to the other terminals finally up and running?

The train is running again!

I like how they’re serving food items people might actually order if they were on your ground. Pork and Leberkäse sound so much more appealing than short rib and turkey pastrami

Jerry, we should start an airline that serves Kenny Rogers Roasters!

Or Taco Bell…

You never know. Taco Bell did open a hotel recently…

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellegross/2019/08/08/taco-bells-new-hotel-the-bell-is-now-open/?sh=5cc6de7065a3

I’m so bummed I missed that hotel and Palm Springs is just a couple hours away.

Flying an airline that serves Taco Bell to PSP to stay at the TB themed hotel. Who needs the Malidives… This has honeymoon written all over it!

On a recent KLM TATL business class flight they served what they called tacos – though it was actually some sort of indonesian cheese dish (and was very good).

And muffin tops!

And chocolate babka!

Matt, Just to make sure I have it right…was this flight from last August? Because the link to “2021’s father of the year” was from last August.

Regardless…flew OS from VIE to EWR early last August in F…took the throne seat up front (1A)? Loved every minute of it…especially the eiswein!

Correct – this is from last summer. I’m working through my “Summer in 2021 Trip Report” right now. The reason for the delay was trip after trip after trip which delayed this extended report of my month in Germany last year. Having consulted with a friend who just flew OS again, nothing has changed. The cart service has still not returned.

So was your “friend” able to sit still on this flight, or was she strutting her stuff like on the prior leg from Frankfurt?

“Thus, I’d be much more comfortable flying Austrian on a daytime flight from Vienna to the USA than in another direction.”

Interesting, earlier in the article you seemed to hint that the opposite would be true, due to the lack of internet, but I guess the seat trumps all. Also, no way you would get any sleep on a nighttime flight after consuming all that coffee…

With regards to the food, it isn’t just the soup and dessert cart, but also the appetizer cart as well. Remember when you could choose from a selection of appetizers and have it plated for you? Much like Turkish did as well.

One more note: I might be mistaken, but didn’t the salad used to be served with the appetizer plate, and the main meal served on the whole larger triangle plate? Still, while I am sure there is some cost cutting going, it’s nowhere near as bad as what you get on other airlines, like United.

Right. For a daytime flight, I’d take it again, even though the lack of internet is very annoying. But I don’t think I’d fly it in the other direction. While internet is less important, I don’t care for the seat (and I would hold off on coffee till breakfast).

Looking back at my old 767 report, I don’t see a more elaborate salad, but certainly note the use of the cart for every course:

https://liveandletsfly.com/review-austrian-airlines-767-business-class/

Definitely some cost-cutting, but the food quality is still excellent.

Is the seat the same as the Swiss seats? I don’t recall Swiss having an issue with bedding, but I’ve only flown them once, so you’ll know better than me.

Regardless, I aim to fly Austrian at least once to try the infamous D&O catering.

Swiss bedding is just as bad, same inferior blanket. That said, I was at least able to sleep on my LAX-ZRH flight (few years ago now) because it was not too hot onboard.

Flying OS for the catering is worth doing at least once!

Austrian should use mattress pads and memory foam pillows like United Polaris does.

Tonight I am flying my first AC 787-9 YYZ-AMS. Star Alliance has many lie-flat TATL options.

Next month will be my first UA 777-200 IAH-LHR.

Maybe you could rank all *A carriers TATL and TPAC…bedding, service, etc.?

I will think about doing that. I still have yet to fly Air India. Also have not flown Shenzhen Air, which I hope to do once Xi is re-elected and borders re-open.

“Once Xi is re-elected”, oh, to have to write for the public eye…

Does Shenzhen Air do any longhaul flights yet?

Not to my knowledge.

I’m hopeful PRC will open after the party meeting “re-elects” its chairman.

Re-elected…lol.

Believe it or not, I was being facetious.

1500000% better catering, service, choices and then some than United. Hence, excellent “soft product “, whatever the hell that means. United should learn a thing or a million two!!

IME the only consistently good thing about Austrian is the food although these days I think Turkish (same caterer) is way better. The service is very variable and everything else, the seat and particularly the ancient 772s is way below standard. Surely Austrian are in line for some A350s from LH group orders? Then again, being LH, there probably won’t be any new seats.

You called Leberkäse meatloaf????? OMG!

It is nothing like meatloaf.

I’ve always called it that and that is also how Austrian (and SWISS and Lufthansa) translate it.

Did you have to pay extra for the throne seat? We have a flight on Swiss Airlines later this year and the throne seats has a $75 fee while the other seats are included in the ticket price.

Right, but they are free when you check-in, which was the same on Austrian. Flight was less than half full in J.

I have to admit that I had a difficult time concentrating on the rest after seeing the “Freudian Wood” facial moisturizer and lip balm. That’s definitely some symbolic baggage to unpack… Freudian or otherwise.

LOL. It certainly is.

“Freudian slipcovers, to keep your furniture looking its breast!”

Great review, though I do have questions about the amnesty kit and the pre-landing coffee desert.

“A very basic amnesty kit”

Regarding amenity kits have you scooped up any of the lh navy blue shopping bag amenity kits? With pictures of cities on them? Super handy 🙂

I haven’t tried a throne seat but it makes me claustrophobic as you say. On Ana and Qantas recently I’ve actually enjoyed the aisle seat more than the window for that reason.

Oh yes. All my grocery bags are from LH. I should do a post on that!

Nice review. Small niggle, it is a 777-200, not 300 are mentioned early on in the text. But thanks for the nice review.

How would you rate the seat for sleeping based on certain positions? I sleep on my stomach and many seats are designed assuming it’s anything *but*that.

Flew it a few years ago HKG – LHR via VIE. Really liked the customisation of the cabin -embossed leather panels around the seat etc. Food certainly way up there, service charming, coffee menu fabulous – didn’t realise until after the flight that you could ask the crew to put a cotton cover over your blanket (it was on some little bit of paper in the amenity bag, I think). What totally let the whole thing down was those awful last-gen 777-200’s. Honestly, the A350 and A380 have spoilt us. We literally Roared and Shook across the skies. Even my 84 year old mum who’s hard of hearing And never complains, complained. SHE couldn’t believe the noise. Honestly, did we fly like that a mere 10 years ago, and think it normal? Those planes are Killing Austrian.

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Great lounge and service: a review of Swiss Air Lines' business class on the 777

During the COVID-19 crisis, our team has temporarily ceased taking review trips and we are not publishing new flight or hotel reviews. While bringing our readers unbiased, detailed reviews of travel experiences is one of our core missions, now is not the time. We all love to travel and know you do too. So, to help keep you entertained — and maybe inspire you — we are republishing a selection of our most popular reviews from 2019 and 2020, including the one below. Hopefully, this will help you once we're all ready to start booking trips again.

[tpg_rating tpg-rating-score="84" ground-experience="8" cabin-seat="23" amens-ife="11" food-bev="20" service="22" pros="Generous award space, a great business-class lounge and fast, friendly service." cons="Disappointing IFE and amenity kits, and the seat is tight around the legs and head." /]

Last spring, I was assigned to check out the opening of the new Jewel at Changi airport in Singapore. There was only one problem: I was scheduled to be wrapping up a trip to Europe at that time.

I decided to make Singapore a stop on my way home from London to Shanghai. Since I needed to travel on a fixed date, I looked for award space on Swiss's 777-300ER which I'd been wanting to fly for years. I find the carrier to be one of the more generous around when it comes to business-class award space on many routes, and sure enough there was a seat available on the exact flight I needed. So was Swiss worth it? Read on to find out.

The cloud of United's recent switch to dynamic award pricing has one silver lining: It serves as a reminder that the real value tends to lie in partner programs based outside the US. For this Star Alliance business-class award between Europe and South Asia, we had plenty of options to book, including the following programs:

• Air Canada (Aeroplan): 75,000 miles
• Avianca LifeMiles: 78,000 miles
• Singapore KrisFlyer: 92,000 miles
• United MileagePlus: 100,000 miles

We opted to book via Aeroplan, paying 75,000 miles and about $300 in taxes and fees. Aeroplan is a great way to book Star Alliance awards, as it still maintains an award chart and is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, meaning that you could get close to earning the amount of miles needed for this 12+ hour flight just by signing up for a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express , which is currently offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Although Aeroplan typically charges more reasonable taxes and fees on Swiss award tickets (closer to $50), I'd be on the hook for the high UK Air Passenger Duty since my ticket was originating in London.

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I started my morning at London City Airport (LCY) for the quick hop over to Zurich on an ERJ190. Intra-Europe business class usually consists of regular economy seats with an empty seat blocked off next to you.

Upon landing, I headed for the E concourse, which is where most of the long-haul flights at Zurich depart, and where Swiss' newest and nicest business-class lounge is located.

Swiss actually has three lounges in this area -- a first-class lounge, a Senator lounge and a business-class lounge. Since I don't have any Star Alliance elite status, I was only able to use the business-class lounge. Star Alliance Gold elites and passengers traveling in Star Alliance first class (not on Swiss) can access the Senator lounge.

Both the business and Senator lounges are located in the same area, one level up from the main concourse. The elevator doors opened to a large Breitling display, and I made a mental note of the time change for when I landed in Singapore.

After handing my boarding pass to the agent at the desk I was pointed left to the business-class lounge. In order to use the Wi-Fi, you need to get a unique password from the desk, so I ended up having to come back out. This is very clearly signed inside the lounge, but there's nothing by the entrance to explain this.

The lounge itself featured a similar design aesthetic to the Swiss cabins -- a lot of wood, and neutral colors with the occasional splash of red.

The lounge was more or less deserted when I arrived around 1 pm, and it wouldn't begin to fill up until evening. Even then, I never saw more than 50 passengers in the entire space and there was always plenty of seating.

I decided to grab some lunch so I could settle in and get some work done during my ~10-hour layover. There was a salad bar with plenty of toppings but not enough base greens in my opinion (unless your ideal salad is corn+olives+dressing).

I ended up opting for the live cooking station, which seemed to only have one option for lunch, a fried-fish fillet with a mustard sauce and some lemony potatoes. The food was delicious, though a bit heavier than what I was in the mood for. I would've liked more choices, but the fish was good.

I ended up succumbing to the dessert bar and indulging in a few pieces of carrot cake.

The lounge had a fairly well stocked self-serve bar ...

... as well as a number of wine/water/soft drink fridges scattered throughout.

There was also a massive coffee and tea station. Thankfully, a server stopped me from trying to make a full glass of macchiato in a tiny mug.

By far the best amenity of the lounge was the view from the outdoor terrace. The parade of long-haul aircraft arriving and departing under my nose made for some easy entertainment.

The lounge even has free binoculars set up every 10 feet or so along the terrace, great for scoping out the planes on the far side of the airport or the Swiss Alps in the distance.

And while we're on the topic of views, this is about as good as it gets looking out from a bathroom.

It was dark by the time my 10:45 pm flight began boarding, but during the day I got to watch plenty of Swiss 777-300ERs arriving and departing, stoking my anticipation.

The lounge also featured a number of private daybeds for relaxing, though the room had the same floor-to-ceiling windows as the rest of the lounge. If you're a light sleeper, you might want to bring an eye mask.

There was also a business station with a number of computers.

Despite the limited food options, this still ranks as one of my all-time favorite business-class lounges. The space was sleek without being ostentatious, the views were unbeatable, and I was able to pass a 10-hour layover without going stir-crazy.

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Business class aboard Swiss' 777-300ERs features about five different seat configurations, as the cabin alternates between a 1-2-2 and a 2-2-1 configuration. This means every row has one so-called "throne" seat alone by the windows, two seats in the middle, and a pair of seats on the other side of the plane.

While these "throne" seats provide the most privacy and storage space, they cost about ~$200 to select in advance. Swiss Miles & More HON Circle and Senator elites can select them for free, and you may be able to select them online 24-48 hours before your flight.

If you can't get one of the most desirable seats, the next-best option is the seats in the center section. They alternate between being closer to the aisle and closer to the center, so if you're traveling alone, you'll want to aim for seat G in rows 5/6/8/10/12/15/17 and seat D in rows 4/7/9/11/14/16 (there's no row 13 so it's not as simple as picking even rows or odd rows).

Couples or families traveling together should select any of the pairs -- with the center section being the first choice -- since you won't need to climb over your sleeping companion when you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Our flight boarded on time through gate E52, which had the same sleek wooden design as the lounge and seats. First- and business-class passengers were invited to board at the same time, as well as HON circle elites.

I caught a quick glimpse of our 777 before making my way on board.

I was struck immediately by the beautiful designs in the galley/entryway, something a lot of airlines overlook. To the left of door L2 was a mini business-class cabin consisting of two rows of seats, with Swiss' exclusive first-class cabin in front of it.

I turned to the right to head into the main business class cabin, which consisted of 52 seats spread across 11 rows.

I'd had a lot of trouble selecting my seat online. No matter how many times I tried to change it, the Swiss website kept reverting me to seat 8A. I really didn't want a window seat where I'd have to climb over someone to use the bathroom on a 12-hour flight, but I couldn't seem to get it to change my assignment. When I asked in the lounge, the agent told me that certain seats were on a gate hold and she couldn't override it, but she wrote down the numbers of available seats so I could ask at the gate. I ended up in seat 14D, one of the center section seats that was less exposed to the aisle.

On the right side of the seat was a small wooden panel with a reading light and a bottle of water next to it.

There was also a button at the top, which released the tray table. This doubled as a privacy divider if you didn't know the person traveling next to you.

This is also where the preset seat controls where located, and right next to them was a compartment with more specific seat controls and the IFE remote.

On the opposite side of the seat, no matter which configuration you were sitting in, was a two-story storage compartment. This was perfect for smaller items like a phone or wallet, and for bigger items like my headphone case, passport holder, and inflight menu.

The amount of storage is one of the biggest advantages of this seat configuration.

There was a small walkway of sorts separating the seat from the aisle, with a compartment to store your shoes during the flight. This was also where the outlet and USB plug were located, meaning they were safely out of the way if you wanted to recline your seat.

The biggest drawback to this relatively common staggered configuration is that you have to fit your feet into a small footwell when it's time to sleep.

I'm only 5 feet 7 inches and didn't find it to be too bad, but I thought that the seat was tight around the head area when fully reclined.

Another annoying aspect of the seat is the shoulder harness seatbelt that's used, which is uncomfortable to wear normally and also to sleep on.

Overall I found the seat to be in great condition and the cabin finishes sleek and welcoming. Swiss' 777 fleet is incredibly young -- our bird was less than three years old -- which certainly helps. Even with almost every seat taken in the cabin, I felt like I had plenty of privacy and I was able to sleep for eight hours, close to my personal record on a plane.

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Waiting at each seat on boarding were a pair of headphones, a water bottle, a pillow and a blanket.

The pillow was a little softer than I would've liked, but the blanket was the perfect weight both for lounging and for sleeping.

The amenity kit was by Victorinox and was really basic, with a toothbrush, eye mask, socks, chapstick, ear plugs, and nothing else.

There were a few tubes of single use face cream in the bathroom, but this is definitely one area where Swiss could improve.

The 15-inch IFE monitor had a crisp and responsive display and another small storage compartment beneath it if you wanted to protect your valuables. The selection left a lot to be desired and I struggled to find something to watch. The TV options were especially bad, with none of the classic sitcoms you can usually expect to find on even the most mediocre airlines. I ended up watching "The Social Network" with dinner and relying on downloaded content on my phone for the rest of the time.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="20" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" champagne="Duval Leroy Brut" dine-on-demand="No" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

The very second that the captain announced that boarding was complete, the flight attendants came down the aisles with trays of pre-departure beverages. I selected a glass of champagne -- Duval Leroy Brut in business class. We were also given dinner menus and cards to fill out with our breakfast selections, with the two pieces conveniently held together by a pen. I know other airlines offer this option of preordering your breakfast and letting the flight attendants know if you'd like to sleep or be awakened, but this was my first time experiencing it. The system worked exactly as intended, with the FAs letting me sleep until about 80 minutes before landing, then serving me breakfast without having to waste time taking an order.

Dinner service began about an hour and 15 minutes into the flight, starting with drinks. The drink cart was followed by a second cart with appetizers and table settings. Rather than preordering your appetizer, you simply picked as the cart rolled by.

I selected the Hiramasa kingfish with guacamole and soy vinaigrette, which was served with a side salad and a cheese plate. I was also offered a selection from the breadbasket, and the flight attendant insisted I should take a second pretzel roll if I really wanted to (yes, I did).

The fish tasted very fresh, as did the guacamole even though it was beginning to brown. I liked the little dropper that the sauce was served in, as it let me sauce the fish and not the avocado. The salad and cheese plate were both fairly simple but fine.

For my main course I opted for the gnocchi with saffron sauce and asparagus. After my appetizer was cleared, the dish looked a little lonely on a big empty tray, but that's a small sacrifice to me if it speeds up the meal service on a late-night departure. The pasta itself was the low point of the meal -- it was far too chewy and not flavorful enough. The other main course options were veal and cod.

Dessert was a chocolate mousse with passionfruit sauce. While the cake itself was rather dry, the sauce added a delicious boost of flavor.

Service throughout the meal was attentive, with flight attendants refilling both my Champagne and water proactively. One benefit of this staggered configuration is that it's easy for the FA to reach over and serve you from the other aisle, so I essentially had two different crew members looking after me. Dinner was done about two hours into our flight, a great pace considering the size of the cabin. It wasn't a memorable meal by any means, but it got the job done and other than the pasta I didn't really have any complaints.

After an incredible full night of sleep, I woke up to a flight attendant tapping me on the shoulder. We were just over an hour out of Singapore, so I quickly ran to the bathroom to freshen up. By the time I got back, my breakfast tray was sitting on the table next to my seat, exactly as I'd ordered it 11 hours earlier.

I had a fruit smoothie and cappuccino, the English breakfast (scrambled eggs with chives, potato rosti and a grilled tomato), a yogurt and a few pastries. The eggs were better than you normally get on a plane and the cappuccino was perfectly made.

By the time I woke up, it was clear that most people had already finished eating their breakfasts, but I much preferred the option to maximize sleep. I don't see any need to wake up for a drawn-out meal service and this breakfast did the trick. I should note that there didn't seem to be any sort of mid-flight snack menu, one area where I've been consistently disappointed on my recent flights.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="22" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="No" /]

One hallmark of a great international crew is their ability to effortlessly switch between languages as they move from passenger to passenger and the flight attendant working my aisle was a pro. She smiled at every turn and made sure I always had enough to eat and drink. The crossover service I received from the flight attendant on the other aisle was a nice surprise as well. Carts often make service slower as flight attendants can't easily reach the galley to get drink refills, but this crew kept my drinks topped up the way I'd expect from a first-class flight.

Toward the end of the flight I went to the bathroom and happened to strike up a conversation with the purser. When she learned that I lived in Shanghai, we talked for a good 10 minutes about how she's been flying there for the last 30 years and watched the city grow from nothing into the global metropolis it is today. This was a wonderful crew and the fact that they were able to make me feel so valued and taken-care-of in a 62-person cabin is impressive.

Overall Impression

I wasn't expecting Swiss business class to blow me out of the water like Qatar Airlines' QSuites did, but I also wasn't expecting it to sink to the level of something like China Eastern . I found the overall experience very enjoyable. The business-class lounge in Zurich is one of my favorites and although the seat and food are by no means revolutionary, Swiss offers a friendly and comfortable way to get from point A to point B. Given how easy it is to find award space on Swiss, I wouldn't hesitate to book again.

All photos by the author.

An Oklahoma tourist says he faces 12 years in prison in the Caribbean after he mistakenly left 4 bullets from a hunting trip in his carry-on duffel bag

• Ryan Watson was on vacation when he was charged with illegally carrying ammo into Turks and Caicos.
• He and his wife, Valerie, say the four bullets in their duffel bag were unknowingly left there from a hunting trip.
• Watson now faces 12 years in prison, alongside several US tourists charged for similar offenses.

An Oklahoma man traveling with his wife in the Caribbean territory of Turks and Caicos faces 12 years in prison after four rounds of ammunition were found in his luggage.

Ryan and Valerie Watson arrived in Turks and Caicos earlier this month to celebrate his 40th birthday with several other couples, their families said in a GoFundMe. NBC Boston reported that the Watsons arrived on April 7.

But the pair, who have two young children, were arrested in the self-governed British territory after airport security found the four bullets in their carry-on duffel bag.

Their families' GoFundMe said the ammo had been left in the bag unintentionally, and was from a prior deer hunting trip.

"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for white-tailed deer, and I recognized them, and I thought: 'Oh, what a mistake.' I had no idea that they were in there," Ryan Watson told NBC News.

Valerie Watson was released from the charges on Tuesday and flew back to Oklahoma to reunite with her children.

But her husband remains in Turks and Caicos, and was granted $15,000 bail the day after by the local supreme court, according to a police statement.

He now faces 12 years in prison, which is the minimum custodial sentence for bringing firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos.

Ryan Watson must stay on the islands and report twice a week to a local police station while waiting for his hearing, which is set for June 7.

Meanwhile, his family is trying to raise $300,000 for his legal fees and housing in the Caribbean.

"Isolated from their family, friends, and children, they face mounting legal fees, living expenses, and the overwhelming stress of their situation," their GoFundMe reads. "The emotional and financial toll is immense, and they are at risk of losing everything."

Related stories

"We were trying to pack board shorts and flip flops," Valerie Watson told CBS News . "Packing ammunition was not at all our intent."

The Watsons did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider through their GoFundMe.

Eight US tourists prosecuted since February

It is illegal to bring firearms or ammunition into Turks and Caicos, and penalties apply regardless of the offender's status or country of origin, according to the local attorney general's chambers.

Several tourists caught under this law were previously let off with just a fine, while at least one was given a prison sentence under the minimum limit.

But in February, a court of appeal ordered that all offenders be given at least the minimum sentence of 12 years in prison.

At least eight tourists from the US have since been prosecuted under this rule, per the attorney general's chambers.

Another American tourist, 31-year-old Tyler Wenrich , was charged on Tuesday with possessing ammunition after he arrived in Turks and Caicos on a cruise ship, according to local police.

"While going through a security checkpoint, it was discovered Mr Wenrich allegedly had ammunition in his possession," a police statement said.

Amid the recent spate of tourist arrests, the US State Department published a September advisory warning US citizens that it wouldn't be able to secure their release if they brought firearms and ammo into Turks and Caicos.

"We strongly encourage you to carefully check your luggage for stray ammunition or forgotten weapons before departing for TCI," the advisory said.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Tourism is a key revenue for Turks and Caicos, and in 2019 provided about $787 million, or 65% of the island's GDP, to the territory, per a 2023 report by the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce.

The Caribbean archipelago is a popular port of call for US cruise ships, and this year has seen a 127% jump in tourist arrivals — the largest increase in the world — compared to 2019, the United Nations World Tourism Organization said in February.

Watch: VIDEO: Matthew McConaughey makes an emotional plea for more gun control

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Blinken Tours China to Promote Some Ties, While the U.S. Severs Others

Tensions over economic ties are running high, threatening to disrupt a fragile cooperation between the U.S. and China.

By Ana Swanson

Ana Swanson covers trade and U.S.-China economic ties and is traveling with Secretary Blinken in China.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken cheered on the sidelines at a basketball game in Shanghai on Wednesday night, and spent Thursday chatting with students at New York University’s Shanghai campus and meeting American business owners. It all went to emphasize the kind of economic, educational and cultural ties that the United States is pointedly holding up as beneficial for both countries.

But hanging over those pleasantries during his visit to China this week are several steps the U.S. is taking to sever economic ties in areas where the Biden administration says they threaten American interests. And those will be the focus of greater attention from Chinese officials, as well.

Even as the Biden administration tries to stabilize the relationship with China, it is advancing several economic measures that would curb China’s access to the U.S. economy and technology. It is poised to raise tariffs on Chinese steel , solar panels and other crucial products to try to protect American factories from cheap imports. It is weighing further restrictions on China’s access to advanced semiconductors to try to keep Beijing from developing sophisticated artificial intelligence that could be used on the battlefield.

This week, Congress also passed legislation that would force ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to sell its stake in the app within nine to 12 months or leave the United States altogether. The president signed it on Wednesday, though the measure is likely to be challenged in court.

Mr. Blinken’s visit, which was expected to take him to Beijing on Friday for high-level government meetings, had a much more cordial tone than on the trip he made to China last year. That trip was the first after a Chinese spy balloon traveled across the United States, tipping the American public into an uproar.

In a meeting with the Shanghai Communist Party secretary Thursday morning, Mr. Blinken said direct engagement between the U.S. and China was both valuable and necessary.

“We have an obligation for our people — indeed an obligation to the world — to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,” he said.

Speaking to students at the N.Y.U.’s Shanghai campus later that morning, he said the educational exchanges the students were engaged in provided a “ballast” for a complicated and confrontational relationship.

Since President Biden met with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, in California in November, the U.S.-China relationship has seemed more stable, with nothing like the dramatic ups and downs of the trade spats under former President Donald J. Trump.

But the Biden administration has still been marching toward a more restrictive economic relationship with China.

That includes controls on semiconductor technology, which are being raised by both sides as a more prominent issue than ever before. The Biden administration has been weighing further export controls, particularly on factories that have been helping produce advanced semiconductors for the Chinese tech giant Huawei.

“By explicitly trying to degrade Chinese tech capabilities, especially on advanced AI, the United States has moved export controls to the forefront of the U.S.-China agenda,” said Emily Benson, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

In a call between Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi earlier this month, both leaders raised the technology controls as matters of central importance.

Mr. Biden emphasized that the United States would continue to take necessary actions to prevent advanced American technologies from being used to undermine its own national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment, according to the White House.

Mr. Xi said that putting new sanctions on China was not “de-risking,” but creating risks. If the United States was bent on “containing China’s hi-tech development and depriving China of its legitimate right to development, China is not going to sit back and watch,” he said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

U.S. officials say their restrictions are necessary given China’s authoritarian government and statist economic model. But the moves have rankled Chinese leaders and pushed tensions over economic measures to their highest point in years.

The measures are not just emanating from the U.S. government: Susan Shirk, the author of “Overreach: How China Derailed Its Peaceful Rise,” said that China had pivoted toward a more self-sufficient industrial policy, and has been seeking to supplant the United States as a high-tech superpower under Mr. Xi.

“Xi openly acknowledges that while he wants China to be less dependent on other countries, he wants to keep other countries dependent on China ‘as a powerful countermeasure and deterrent’ as he put it, ‘against them cutting off supply,’” Ms. Shirk said.

China, too, has allowed security concerns to affect a greater proportion of its economy, even as Mr. Xi and other Chinese leaders have tried to reassure foreign businesses that their investment is welcome. A new national security law has extended Beijing’s reach into Hong Kong, threatening the city’s status as a financial hub. American executives have been alarmed by China’s investigations of foreign firms, as well as the country’s broader rules against sharing data and information with foreigners.

Despite China’s complaints about the U.S. government’s efforts to crack down on TikTok, China itself has for decades banned other Western social media services. Apple said last week that Beijing had ordered it to remove WhatsApp and Threads from app stores in China.

Mr. Blinken and other U.S. officials have emphasized that American export controls, sanctions and other restrictions being imposed on Chinese tech companies apply to only a small fraction of the broader U.S.-China relationship. Elsewhere, trade is encouraged, they say.

In a report this week, the U.S.-China Business Council, a group of 270 American companies that do business in China, estimated that U.S. exports to China supported more than 900,000 American jobs in 2022, though goods exports fell in 2023 due to China’s lackluster economy, U.S. tariffs and other factors.

“It is important for us to remind U.S. lawmakers and those in influential positions that every state and congressional district in the U.S. maintains its own economic and trade relationship with China, and changes in U.S.-China trade policy should be considered very carefully,” said Craig Allen, the group’s president.

Ana Swanson covers trade and international economics for The Times and is based in Washington. She has been a journalist for more than a decade. More about Ana Swanson

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Review: KLM Boeing 777 Business Class from Tanzania to Amsterdam

Wednesday  newsletters  always feature a  hotel  or  flight  review.

I recently enjoyed a terrific holiday in Zanzibar, the famous spice island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of  Tanzania . You can read my trip reports here:

• Review:  Ethiopian Airlines B787 Business Class from Vienna to Dar Es Salaam
• Review:  Park Hyatt Zanzibar
• Review:  Essque Zalu Zanzibar
• Review:  &Beyond Mnemba Island  (phenomenal resort!!)
• Review:  Hideaway at Nungwi Resort & Spa
• Review: Condor B767 Business Class from Frankfurt to Zanzibar
• Review: KLM B777 Business Class from Dar Es Salaam to Amsterdam (today)

Today (March 7, 2018): Trip report: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777-200ER Business Class from Dar Es Salaam to Amsterdam.

On January 19th 2018, I flew Business Class with KLM Royal Dutch Airline from Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) to Amsterdam (The Netherlands). The flight was operated by the oldest Boeing 777-200ER in the KLM fleet. KLM names its B777 airplanes after world heritage sites, and this particular airframe was nicknamed Epidaurus, inspired by the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus in Greece, which is testament to the healing cults of the Ancient World and the emergence of scientific medicin. I did not expect a lot, but boy, I was incredibly impressed by KLM’s Business Class product. Although the 2-2-2 layout is not the most sophisticated in the skies, it was one of the most comfortable seats I have ever flown (and slept) in. The food and courteous service were great as well. But what surprised me the most, was KLM’s attention to design elements, such as Marcel Wanders tableware, the Jan Taminiau amenty kit, and the Delft Blue miniature Dutch houses (filled with gin), which all made for a memorable flying experience.

The same Business Class layout and seat is also found on KLM’s B747. The carrier’s A330 aircraft are currently being retrofitted and will all feature a similar Business Class seat and layout by the end of this year.  KLM’s B787-9s feature an even better seat layout (1-2-1) with direct aisle access for all passengers.

Have you ever flown KLM’s Business Class? What was your experience? Leave a comment below.

• Trip:  Dar Es Salaam (DAR) to Amsterdam (AMS)
• Airline: KLM Royal Dutch Airline
• Aircraft type:  Boeing 777-200ER
• Aircraft registration number : PH-BQE, also known as Epidaurus (delivered in 2004)
• Flight Number:  KL569
• Date:  January 19th, 2018
• On time departure : yes (midnight)
• On time arrival : yes (7 am)
• Miles:  4553
• Flight time:  8 hours
• Class:  business (D)

In this review (more information & photos below my Youtube clip & slideshow):

• Facts & figures about KLM
• Lounge at Dar Es Salaam airport
• Business Class cabin
• Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
• Amenities & gift
• Entertainment
• Onboard internet
• Other inflight experiences (views, crew, lavatory)
• My verdict (score)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

* ** Read here my review of Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of KLM & Air France (pros & cons) ***

1. FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT KLM

• Founded on October 7, 1919, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the oldest scheduled airline in the world still operating under its original name.
• Last year, KLM operated worldwide flights with over 200 aircraft, generating €10 billion revenues and employing 32.000 staff from its Amsterdam basis. KLM is the third-largest employer in the Netherlands.
• Besides the well-known KLM airline, the KLM Group also includes the wholly owned subsidiaries Transavia and Martinair . Transavia is the leading low-cost carrier from The Netherlands operating from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam, welcoming 8 million passengers last year. Martinair focuses on airfreight, pilot training, and aircraft maintenance.
• On May 6, 2004 KLM merged with Air France. The Air France-KLM group is operating as one company in which the two airlines keep their brand identifies, both with a focus on three core businesses (passenger, cargo business and engineering & maintenance). Air France-KLM is the world’s 5th largest airline by company revenue.
• KLM was the first airline to use biofuels on commercial flights: on June 29 2011, a KLM Boeing 737-800 carried 171 passengers from Amsterdam to Paris, burning a 50/50 blend of traditional jet fuel and used cooking oil. Together with its venture SkyNRG, KLM introduced the world’s first Corporate BioFuel Program through which companies can use sustainable biofuels for parts of employees’ flights, thereby stimulating the further development of a market for biofuels.
• KLM ’employs’ a famous co-pilot: Dutch King Willam Alexander. The 50-year-old father of three and monarch to 17 million Dutch citizens calls flying a ‘hobby’ and has been piloting KLM aircraft for years, albeit under the radar (not literally of course). The King is trained to fly B737s, and when he makes pilot announcements, he does so anonymously.
• 50 Boeing 737NG for short- and medium haul destinations
• 13 Airbus A330-200 and -300 for medium and longhaul haul destinations
• 16 Boeing 747-400 for longhaul haul destinations
• 29 Boeing 777-200ER and -300ER for longhaul haul destinations
• 11 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for medium and longhaul haul destinations
• KLM names its aircraft after city squares worldwide (A330s), birds (B737s), UNESCO world heritage sites (B777s), world cities (B747s), flowers (B787s) and ships of the Dutch East India Company (B747 freighters).

2. LOUNGE AT DAR ES SALAAM AIRPORT 

Dar Es Salaam, the former capital of Tanzania, is the most populous city in the coastal region of East Africa and one of the world’s fastest growing urban centers. Yet, its airport – named Julius Nyerere International Airport after Tanzania’s first president – is disappointingly small and totally underwhelming. It comprises one terminal which features a few gates, a small number of unappealing shops, and one restaurant. The good news is that the authorities are currently building a much larger and nicer terminal which is set to open at the end of this year and will quadruple passenger capacity, after which the currently used airport building will be converted into a domestic terminal.

At the moment, all airlines that fly into Dar Es Salaam (e.g. KLM, Swiss, Emirates, Qatar and Oman Air to name a few) make use of the sole lounge that is present in the terminal to accommodate their premium passengers. The Tanzanite lounge is located one floor below the main concourse, and is basically a large rectangular room that offers all the basics that should be present in an airport lounge: seats, complimentary WiFi, snacks, drinks, and restrooms. Entering the lounge is like stepping back into time because of the dated design. One corner of the lounge features a bar and small self-service buffet with a few hot and cold items (including samosas) although I did not dear to try them out (food presentation was not attractive at all). You can also order a selection of sandwiches from a menu with on of the lounge staff members, which are consistently walking around to take orders and make sure all guests are treated well. The lounge’s highlight was the restroom sign (what kind of says it all): ‘ men to the left because women are always righ t’.

In conclusion, the lounge is nothing special, but it is still better to wait here than in the small and humid airport terminal.

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

KLM’s Boeing 777s (both the -200ER and -300ER versions) all feature the same Business Class layout, with 34 Business Class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration and spread over two cabins. The main cabin is located in the plane’s front and features 5 rows comprising the bulk of the seats (28 in total) while the smaller cabin is set between the galley and Premium Economy with only one row of just 6 seats. The smaller cabin feels extremely private and to the best of my knowledge, it’s the only Business Class cabin in a wide body aircraft with only one row of seats (correct me if I am wrong please). However, this smaller cabin is situated just ahead of the Premium Economy bulkhead seats, so it may be less appealing to some passengers.

The 2-2-2 layout is ideal for passengers traveling together as a couple, friends or colleagues, but it is not the best when you are a solo traveler because you have to crawl over the legs of your neighbor to reach the aisle when you are allocated in a window seat and because of the apparent lack of privacy. However, paired seats are staggered by a couple of inches (cm) and separated by a fixed divider screen, which guarantees enough privacy in case you are seated next to a stranger.

The cabin’s interior, which is designed by renowned Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, feels fresh, airy and modern. The seat shelfs feature a calming light blue color, while the seats themselves are covered in a dark brown texture, giving the cabin an upscale ambience. As a passenger, you can notice that a lot of effort has been put in the design; for example, the bulkheads’ handles feature the KLM logo in metalwork and the sustainable carpet is specially developed Wilton woven carpet made of Norwegian wool.

Click here for a seat map of KLM’s Boeing 777-200ER.

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

I was seated in 6K for the 9 hour flight to Amsterdam. 6K is a window seat located in the smaller, intimate Business Class cabin, almost elevating the experience to what you would get onboard a private plane.

The seat is a B/E Aerospace Diamond seat, the same type you also find on other carriers, such as Qatar Airways’ A330s , United Airlines’ B787s , and Ethiopian Airlines’ A350/B787s , which I have previously reviewed. However, a big difference is that the Boeing 777 is wider than all other mentioned aircraft types: it measures 5,84 m (19 feet 2 inches) from wall to wall, while the A350, for example, is nearly 22 cm (9 inches) narrower than the 777 variant. Consequently, the seats in KLM’s B777 are wider and more comfortable (yes, the difference can be felt). In addition, one of the seat’s arm rests can be manually lowered, offering increased seat width and even more space (especially welcome when the seat is turned into its flat-bed position). The seat’s other, massive arm rest is shared with the adjoining seat, and features the seat and entertainment controls as well as the tray table, which is both sturdy and easy to open and stow.

In front of the seat is a very large 17 inch touchscreen TV, which uses Panasonic’s ex3 system, which is one of the best in the skies. Below the TV monitor is a drawer which is large enough to store your laptop, and a leather covered ottoman which becomes part of the flatbed once the seat is fully reclined. The size of the ottoman differs dramatically depending upon the row: the bulkhead seats in rows 1 & 6 offer a much larger ottoman as compared to the narrow footwells of all the other Business Class seats.

The seat offers plenty of storage space, with a shoe drawer located under the seat in front, a tray situated under the entertainment screen, space below the ottoman for a backpack or handbag, and a storage pocket next to the headrest which also holds a USB port and international power sockets for charging your personal devices.

The seat feels extremely comfortable in the upright position, but even more so in the flat-bed position (and no, I am not sponsored by KLM to say so :-). The seat can be 180 degrees reclined to a full flat bed that is 206 cm (6 ft and 10 inches) long. Again, your sleep comfort will depend on the seat you choose: except for the bulkhead seats in rows 1 & 6 (which come with large ottomans), the footwells are very narrow, which means you may hit the seat walls with your feet when you turn during your sleep, so not very comfortable for a good night’s rest.

What are the  best Business Class seats  on KLM’s B777s? Use  this seat map  for more information.

• All Business Class seats are excellent for those traveling with a companion because of the 2-2-2 cabin configuration.
• The bulkhead seats in row 1 & 6 feature a much larger footrest as compared to all other seats, so these are the seats you want to fly (and sleep) in, although proximity to the galley and lavatory may cause some slight noise disturbance from time to time.
• The seats in row 6 are set in their own super private and intimate cabin (which features just one row of seats), and I would heartily recommend them.

What are the  worst Business Class seats on KLM’s B777s? Use  this seat map  for more information.

• The 2-2-2 Business Class layout does not make the cabin very attractive for solo travelers, since you will always end up sitting next to a stranger. There is a large fixed screen though between adjoining seats which are also staggered by a couple of inches, creating a great level of privacy.
• Window seats don’t offer direct aisle access.
• As mentioned above, the footrests are very narrow (except for the bulkhead seats in rows 1 & 6), so not very comfortable for a good night’s rest.

5. AMENITIES & GIFT

Business Class passengers on one of KLM’s longhaul flights receive the following amenities:

• An amenity kit which comes under the form a marine blue bag, created by successful Dutch fashion designer Jan Taminiau (in 2014 he was awarded the Netherlands’ most prestigious fashion prize the Grand Seigneur). The bag contains the essentials items for longhaul travel: eye mask, ear plugs, a comb, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Remarkably, KLM’s amenity kits lack skincare products.
• A comfortable pillow.
• A stylish and comfortable, marine blue blanket.
• Noise cancelling headphones (you cannot keep these as the crew collects them before landing).

Before landing, all passengers are always offered a gift: a Delft Blue miniature traditional Dutch house, filled with Dutch gin, also known as jenever. Each miniature depicts a real Dutch house. KLM has been presenting Business Class passenger with this gift since the 1950s. Every year on October 7th, the airline celebrates the anniversary of its founding in 1919 by presenting a new house. Over the years, these miniature houses have become desirable collectors’ items, even generating a lively trade among passengers. KLM even has a site  where you can keep track of all of the houses, as each one is unique and has a special story to tell.

Two meals were offered during the flight, the first being supper served after takeoff (around midnight), and the second meal a breakfast served 90 minutes prior to landing.

The beautifully designed menus (with references to Delft tiles and houses) were very extensive and offered excellent wine pairings (although I never drink alcohol on a plane to avoid headaches). Another unexpected design detail that KLM get totally right is the stylish and unique tableware. The porcelain, glassware, cutlery, linen and tray have all been designed by Marcel Wanders, a famous Dutch designer. Even the salt and pepper shakers come in the form of clogs, one of Holland’s symbols.

The food itself was great for a Business Class product and the presentation well executed.

I choose the following selection from the supper menu (all courses were served at once on the same tray, which I liked because of the late hour of meal service, allowing for more sleep):

• Appetizer: Kingklip fish ceviche on a lentil and artichoke salad
• Main course: chicken kebabs in Tanzanian coconut sauce, rice pilau and mixed peppers
• Side dish: Cumin Gouda and Camembert cheese plate
• Dessert: tiramisu

For breakfast, I had the omelet with salmon, spinach, and roasted tomato, in addition to a selection of fresh fruit, hard-boiled egg, cheese, jam, hot rolls, and croissants.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Each seat has a very large 17 inch TV screen (one of the largest in the skies) with bright and clear pictures, which can be commanded by directly touching the TV screen or by using a handheld remote control which is located in the armrest. The latter also features its own touchscreen, allowing you to watch a different program (e.g. flight map) from the main screen. KLM offers more than 1000 hours of interactive entertainment in various languages (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese or Spanish). There are more than 200 films to choose from, including recent releases, classics and world cinema, in addition to hundreds of TV shows, CDs, language courses, games, audiobooks, and dedicated Kids channels.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

This B777-200ER aircraft did not offer inflight WiFi. At the moment, KLM only offers WiFi on all of its brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and on one of its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW : KLM’s cabin crew ranks among my favorite airline crew in the world. The flight attendants are always super friendly, efficient and seem to genuinely care about the passengers, and it was not different on this flight. The service was really courteous. I also like the oh-so-recognizable KLM cabin attendant uniforms, which were designed by famous Dutch couturier Mart Visser.

# LAVATORY : There are two lavatories onboard KLM’s B777 aircraft for Business Class passengers: one is located behind the cockpit and the other one in the galley between the two Business Class cabins.

10. MY VERDICT

• Lounge (Dar Es Salaam Airport): 3/10
• Seat comfort (upright): 9/10
• Seat comfort (bed position): 9/10
• Food (quality):  8/10
• Food (quantity): 9/10
• Inflight entertainment : 9/10
• WiFi: 0/10 (not available)
• Service: 10/10
• Cabin design: 10/10
• Overall experience: excellent: 9/10

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KLM’s business class service on its long haul flights certainly makes up for its ancientness. Have flown several times with them their staff have been extremely friendly and outgoing and are always looking for advice and suggestions particularly on the route I always take with them from Tokyo to Amsterdam. And actual “service” is magnificent serving food and answering any requests.

BUT I have got to say that definitely they MUST do something about the left and right sides of the plane! Trying to get across a fellow passenger who has decided to go to sleep when you are in the window seat is next to impossible unless you want to break your neck or really do something bad to your shins. PLEASE KLM NO MORE side by side seats.

Apart from that the cuisine gets better and better every flight I have taken. Cutlery and glassware great. Bose acoustic headphones fabulous. Actual seat really comfortable and convenient, several places to put things. Miss the massage in the seat but now it goes down to 180 deg I can put up without it!

Business lounge in Amsterdam at Schiphol Airport is really big and the food is not too bad, better onboard obviously. Gets VERY crowded at “business hours” when people are commuting back from Amsterdam to London, Paris etc..

The only other minus point about KLM is the “Business Class” within Europe e.g. Amsterdam to Florence, London to Amsterdam, it is economy class with a space in-between seats but they upgrade people often who really, sorry this is terribly snobby, should not be there. Children and people who bring on food to eat and stink the place out, rushing to the front when the plane lands so we cannot get our bags out or get off and the staff do nothing to resolve issues clearly in front of them. And staff who use the toilets to sit in at the front of the plane. And often we are trying to get some work done!

I flew KLM from ORD on their 747Demi. Since I was with my spouse and we were in row 1, we didn’t have an issue with the side seats. I love KLM business class. The food is excellent, better than most business meals. I like the seat. I managed to sleep a few hours in each direction which is really good for TATL flight for me. Since Delta doesn’t have restrictions using TATL to go to Asia, I will try to do that trip soon. Since they are SkyTeam members, all SkyTeammembers have very good business class. Delta’s is getting better all the time, as well as AF and KAL. Great review!

During Nov 2017 I’ve flown KLM from Calgary (Dreamliner) to AMS to Cape Town (777-200ER). Compared to Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Air France and South African, the KLM biz product is not the grandest, and not the best, but it sure is the nicest and the most pleasant. As mentioned in the review, KLM has nice touches to their product, and the crew (pilots, pursers and FA’s) are sincere, not intrusive, proactive, and friendly. Surprisingly I enjoyed and preferred the 777 (aisle seat) to the Dreamliner (window).

I’m almost always traveling with my partner, so I like the 2x2x2 set up that so many people dislike. Feels more spacious to me. I hate the coffin feel of many of the pods out there.

I flew KLM business class on last New Year’s Eve AMS to HKG. I was thrilled after watching your video, but the real experience was somehow different. The Business Lounge in AMS is huge, very bright but cozy. The food experience is the same you find in a good self service in a Mall, for example. Both Blue Bar and Blue Restaurant, at the upper floor, remained closed all along my stay. Onboard, I agree than the 2-2-2 layout is not the best in the world. The seat was very comfortable indeed, but the mid back support was not working on mine. There is nothing to hang a coat or a jacket. IFE didn’t work appropriately: the handset looked damaged and it was very difficult to operate. For example, I found italian in the language options of a movie, but there was no way to play it correctly. I was surprised, because there was NO wine list at all, and the options for red wine were just “a french one or a chilean?” at the moment of serving. The food was really nothing special. I found a better overall quality on BA A380 economy class service on the same route or even on KLM return flight, again economy class. Last, but not least, the flight attendants and the Business Lounge staff are very friendly and professional, really top notch.

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