Fly High: Experience absolute luxury while flying this royal Dutch airline
A taste of Dutch hospitality 39,000 feet above the ground.
Icarus had been warned but he took to the skies anyway; melting his wings of wax as he flew too close to the sun, plummeting to his untimely death. Hoary tradition stands testament to this compulsive obsession to fly. But the annoying ear popping, cramped quarters, unimaginative food are enough to challenge that assumption. Not so aboard the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, as we found out. The aircraft has ushered in revolutionary design solutions that make the experience truly seamless. Who but royalty would understand the true merit of real luxury?
As soon as you clamber onto your trans Atlantic flight from Delhi to Amsterdam, you realise that every one of your needs has already been prepared for in anticipation, even those that you hadn't fully articulated to your inner child. Here is what we loved most about the KLM World Business Class (WBC).
Waking up to a new you
The only experience that possibly comes close to time travel is flying halfway across the globe to a different time zone. Exciting as it appears, it does not negate the copious amount of time you have to spend in a pressurised cabin, but the Boeing 787 does offer an engine that is 40 per cent less noisy with cabins that have higher pressure enabling more oxygen absorption. This takes care of the two major kinks of flying: ear popping and exhaustion. It is unreal to emerge from an eight hour flight feeling more invigorated than when you started.
The art of snuggling
The womb is a blip on memory for most, but if there was anything that could recall that feeling, even in slightest measure, it would have to be the new seats of the WBC. The spacious flatbed seats boast a canopy that cocoons you from not just the other passengers but also the aisle. In Zodiac-Cirrus design, the 30 seats are configured in a reverse herring bone structure, each facing away from the aisle yet offering direct access to it. A little compartment fitted with a mirror to house your personal effects and atmospheric lighting help you feel at home. You can be tucked into bed with a glass of wine and a pick from over 400 movies and TV shows on the in-flight entertainment system, with a moving 3D map of the flight.
Designer delicacies
The on-board menu curated by Michelin starred Dutch chef Jacob Jan Boerma has something for everyone. Starting with a cold soup, it moves up the gourmet food chain to braised beef and smoked salmon. The apple pie pampered with fresh cream is the sweet dnouement to a braise-worthy meal. KLM showcases the work of some of the finest Dutch designers. It shows up not just in their food but also wine collection which is curated by wine specialist Hubrecht Duijker served in charming stemware crafted by Marcel Wanders. Every little element is an overwhelming nudge to Dutch ancestry and culture. There was an adorable safety video featuring delftware animation that underlined their effort to be better, while being rooted in their heritage. What's more, everyone got to go home with a gin-filled miniature Delft house.
One for the planet
For those careful of their carbon footprint, KLM proves quite the guilt-free ride being one of the most environment friendly. A conscious effort to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, through use of bio-fuels in certain sectors is de rigueur; carpets are made from recycled air-hostess uniforms and the entire 787 aircraft is built to be recyclable at the end of its life. Now that's called flying high.