Today we’ll be flying back home from Helsinki and this review will cover the first leg of the trip on a KLM 737-800 in European Business class. Ending a vacation is always bitter sweet, it’s nice to be home, but sad that the trip is ending and we have to go back to our day to day routine. Helsinki has been fun and we’re looking forward to returning. KLM uses the 737-800 on lots of intra-Europe flights. They have more 737-800s than any other aircraft. So flying around Europe on KLM will likely be a 737.
The Helsinki airport is about a half hour train ride from the city, when we arrived in HEL we purchased 3 day tickets. Those are still valid this morning and makes getting to the airport very cheap and easy.
Our Flights today are a little odd, Skyteam was running a fare sale between HEL and IAD so I booked it with cash. The only issue is the connection in Dulles, we’ll be connecting to United on a direct flight to GSP. This isn’t a protected connection so I left plenty of time between the flights.
Anyway, let’s get into the KLM 737-800 review.
In This Trip
Helsinki Airport and Airport Train
Our flight this morning departs at 7:00am from HEL airport so it’s an early start for us. It’s Sunday so the trams don’t start running until 6am so we’re walking from our hotel to the central train station. Only about a 10 minute walk and that’s good because it’s very cold this morning.
We’re taking the first departure from the station this morning. It leaves at 5:00am and should arrive at the airport around 5:30, plenty of time for our 7:00 departure.
We arrived at the station and found our track. Seems like quite a few people had been out all night. There were lots of people taking the train back out to the suburbs and a few going to the airport. Pretty easy to tell the two apart…
The train was right on time and we arrived at the Helsinki airport 1.5 hours ahead of our departure. I’m glad the train station is connected to the airport with a tunnel, it’s again very cold this morning.
Helsinki Airport KLM Check In
Upstairs in the at the check-in desks there’s a lone KML desk among the Finnair desks. We quickly checked in and had our documents and Covid tests verified. We were told there’s a priority security desk we could use along with a lounge.
We passed through security and headed towards our gate. The lounge was along the way. We did stop in for a few minutes, but it’s not a particularly remarkable lounge.
KLM Helsinki Boarding
We walked up to Gate 30 right as they were calling zone 2. Perfect timing.
We hopped in line and scanned our boarding passes to pass through the gates. Very different boarding experience here in Finland than in Italy.
KLM 737-800 Business Class Seat Review
KLM, like many European airlines uses Economy seats as their business class product. They block off the middle seat and call it business class.
The seats on the KLM 737 are comfortable with enough leg room. But these are economy seats so it’s nothing amazing, but then again, these planes are not used on long haul routes.
The seat backs have a fun little coat hook feature. Because there’s no one in the middle seat, we can leave our coats here for the flight.
No in seat entertainment on the KLM 737-800.
There was plenty of overhead space on our flight. The business class cabin wasn’t completely full, economy was mostly full, but there were some seats available.
The overhead panel had the higher capacity air vents, along with reading lights, and the flight attendant call button.
Each seat had power provided. I didn’t use it as it’s a short flight, but nice to know it’s there to charge devices.
KLM 737 Helsinki Departure
We pushed back right on time. There was a TUI 737Max at the gate next to us as we departed. I always enjoy seeing different airlines.
As we climbed through the clouds it became beautifully clear as the sun was just over the horizon. The sun rises late here in the winter so most of this flight will be in darkness.
KLM 737 Business Class Breakfast Service
Just after the seat belt sign was turned off the KLM flight attendants distributed little breakfast boxes.
While a little bread heavy, everything in the KLM breakfast was very good and I enjoyed eating a light meal. We hadn’t eaten anything yet and I was getting a little hungry.
It was starting to get a little brighter outside as our flight continued.
It wouldn’t be a KLM 737 review without an amazing view of the sunrise. It really was a wonderful view from our window.
KLM 737-800 AMS Arrival
As we descended into The Netherlands the sun was just peaking over the horizon. What a nice way to experience a sunrise.
The view really was great. I moved to the row behind so that both Val and I could window watch from our KLM 737.
We descended into green Holland, the flight attendants came around for one last trash and safety check. The pilots also told us we’ll be right on time.
Looks like it’s a little bit cloudy outside today.
KLM 737-800 Amsterdam Landing
We landed into AMS a few minutes early. We don’t have a short connection so I’m not super worried anyway.
We parked at the gate here in Amsterdam next to a TUI 787.
KLM 737-800 Final Thoughts
The KLM 737 is used on lots of Intra-European flights. Our flight down to Amsterdam from Helsinki was on time, pleasant, and comfortable. The seats aren’t amazing in business class on the 737-800, but they do the job. This routing is nice, if I need to connect in Europe, Amsterdam is my favorite option.
The breakfast provided by KLM was fine, but again nothing amazing. It was adequate to keep me tided over until we got to Amsterdam. The blocked middle seat is always welcome. If we hadn’t booked this flight all the way through to Dulles, I wouldn’t bother with Business class on such a short flight.
Next we’ll be connecting to a KLM A330 for the flight over to Washington.
Follow This Trip
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European Vacation: ITA Airways Economy A320 Review LHR-LIN
Hotel Review: Moxy Milan Linate Airport
Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo Verona – Grand Hotel Des Arts
Hotel Review: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Hotel Review: Moxy Milan Malpensa MXP Airport
Finnair Review: Airbus A321 Europe Short Haul Economy Flight Review
Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo Verona – Grand Hotel Des Arts
Flight Review: KLM 737-800 European Business Class HEL-AMS Report
Flight Review: KLM A330-300 Business Class Amsterdam to Washington Dulles Report