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Food on KLM Airlines

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KLM Lunch
Going to Spain, I flew on Air France, which I’ve flown on before. On the way home, I flew on KLM, which is a new airline for me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I hadn’t heard much about it, but I took it as a good sign that I hadn’t heard anything bad, either.

It turns out that it was a good sign because the airline was fantastic. It had great service, a very friendly, helpful staff, and excellent food. That might sound like an overstatement, but the food I got on this flight would have made me happy even in most restaurants!

My first flight was a quick one from Madrid to Amsterdam. The flight was only about 2 hours, but we were served a small breakfast, coffee and cookies. My camera was packed away so I didn’t get photos of the Blueberry Danishes and Cheese Sandwiches that were so neatly packed and served. The cookies I ate so quickly I wouldn’t have photographed them anyway! But, I made sure to have a camera available on my flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles, hoping that the food would get even better for the longer flight.

Lunch on KLM

KLM has very clean packaging that notes their commitment to environmentally friendly practices, donations to eco-friendly programs and use of recycled products. My first meal was lunch, a Spinach Pesto Pasta with a bit of tomato and parmesan cheese. The pasta was cooked very well and the sauce tasted great – fresh and flavorful. The pasta came with a side of potato salad with smoked salmon, a roll and a half-dozen vanilla cream puffs smothered in chocolate fudge sauce. I was actually so full from the pasta that I couldn’t finish the very tasty cream puffs.

Dessert on KLM

After lunch, we had a big break in service – aside from coffee and drinks – while we crossed the Atlantic. The cabin crew came around once with chips and mini Mars bars, and once with some outrageously good Belgian ice cream, to tide us over. The chips and candy bars, along with a variety of drinks, were available the whole flight in the mid-plane galley for self service.

As we got closer to LA, we were served boxed snacks, again in eco-friendly packaging. It may not look like too much, but the fresh fruit salad, veggie salad with smoked salmon and big piece of apple crisp were plenty to fill me up. I admit that the apple crisp would have been even better if it were heated up (and maybe served with more of that Belgian ice cream!), but it was still crisp and tasty, with a nice balance of fresh apples and sweet cinnamon.

KLM is now on my short list of airlines that I’d pay a little bit extra to fly on again for the food and the friendly service.
KLM Snack

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14 Comments
  • ValerieF
    June 10, 2010

    You lucked out. KLM used to/usually has horrible food, they however JUST changed their format and are testing out some new, more appetizing meals. If people like it, they’ll become standard, however, they’ll then charge you extra for those meals (on board) instead of a regular meal. For now however, enjoy!!!! (and good to hear that it was wonderful from a non-KLM-person, I’m flying KLM transatlantic in a little while myself…)

  • Belinda @zomppa
    June 10, 2010

    I LOVE taking photos on airplanes too. Who cares when people look at me weirdly. Thanks!

  • Heather
    June 10, 2010

    Wow! I loved this post, really interesting. I wish all flights had the same amount of service. Even in a 5 hour flight to Hawaii on a big name carrier they only had food available to purchase. $5 for a box of not so great “food”.

  • caroline
    June 10, 2010

    Interesting… I flew KLM to India a few months ago and didn’t think the food was anything to write home about. I personally like Air France’s food better!

  • Laura
    June 10, 2010

    Wow! That looks great. I am also impressed. We recently flew to Hawaii from Denver on United and were on the plane for 8 hours without even being offered a bag of peanuts. They did several drink runs, but no food at all. I was glad I brought snacks! I agree with paying a bit more for good service.

  • Nicole
    June 10, 2010

    Caroline – I’ve had some good food on Air France, too. For some reason, on this trip, I had the exact same meal that I had on Air France last year. Still good, but odd that there had been no changes.

    Sounds like a lucked out on KLM, but I’ll definitely give it another shot to see if the experience repeats itself!

  • Katie
    June 11, 2010

    Sounds like a very pleseant flight. When I flew last summer I had the vegetaraian menu and it was awful. Overcooked plain pasta with the most megre amount of tomato sauce and a roll – that was it . I even got served them same thing on the flight home and you got cream puffs and ice cream!

  • bg
    June 11, 2010

    I like to know more about the Belgian ice cream. I’m glad to know some airline food is edible. The pasta and snack box look delicious.
    Also, congratulations on your new format. I’ve been a daily reader but never commented.
    BarG

  • Jean
    June 11, 2010

    Next time, if you are going back to Korea, try Korean Airlines. They are known for their sevice and great foods as well. You will be very pleased!

  • Marcy
    June 12, 2010

    I flew KLM 5 years ago and thought that the food and the service was great back then.

  • Mary
    June 13, 2010

    We had a pretty decent meal on our trip from San Diego to Hawaii, on Hawaiian Airlines. It’s always a surprise to get any free food these days. When it’s good it makes quite a positive impression.

  • Nina Irwin
    October 14, 2010

    I, too had fabulous food and the best coffee of my entire trip on the KLM flight from London to Amsterdam. Really, this was outstanding and an extremely pleasant experience. Will fly KLM again whenever I get the chance.

  • Kalisha
    August 3, 2013

    I flew from Amsterdam to Ghana and the food was really good but best of all was the cheese which I see is impossible to find. I have googled it many times and cannot find it if anyone can help me find it let me know.

  • Jayne
    October 24, 2013

    We’re planning for a trip next year and have booked our tickets with KLM. Airplane food is usually nothing to shout out about but so glad to read about your great experience! At least we know we’ll survive. Lol!

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