A Detailed Review of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Founded over 100 years ago, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the world’s oldest continuously operating airline. With a fleet of 116 aircraft (as of 2025) and a global network of more than 165 destinations, KLM is one of the biggest airlines for people wanting reliable travel. But is it the right airline for you? Let’s break down when it’s worth booking KLM and when it might be worth considering other options.

Key Facts

• First Flight: 17 May 1920
• HQ: The Netherlands
• Alliance: SkyTeam
• Fleet Size: 116 aircraft (as of 2025)
• Destinations: 92 European cities, 73 intercontinental destinations
• Passengers: 30.3 million annually

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Global Connections ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Wi-Fi Performance ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

????Value for Money: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

????Sustainability: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

⏰Reliability: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

When To Use KLM

KLM is a leading choice for long-haul flights and continent-hopping, especially if you’re passing through its bustling hub, Amsterdam Schipol Airport. The sheer number of destinations available makes it easy for people to travel across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa – and in 2025 they’re expanding their network to also include San Diego (US), Georgetown (Guyana), and Hyderabad (India).

Best For:

• Long-Haul Travelers: KLM now connects 165 destinations worldwide, making it a great choice for intercontinental travel. People can use this global network to not only explore new corners of the world but also attend international meetings and conferences.
• Eco-Conscious Professionals: With sustainability initiatives like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and carbon offset programmes, KLM’s commitment to sustainability is perfect for environmentally conscious travelers who are mindful of their carbon footprint.
• Frequent Flyers: The Flying Blue loyalty programme rewards passengers with points that can be redeemed for upgrades and discounts. This is perfect for thrifty travelers who can accumulate these points to pay for their next flight.
• Remote Workers: For those working as they fly, Premium Comfort Class offers extra legroom, power outlets, and a quieter cabin – the perfect mobile office environment. This is crucial for those who need to stay productive during those long-haul flights.

“KLM’s Premium Comfort Class saved me on a long-haul flight where I had to finish an edit and deliver it to the client en route. Thankfully the Wi-Fi was stable and I had loads of room for my laptop and drives.” Benjamin, Digital Nomad Member

When NOT to Use KLM

While KLM has many strengths, we have compared multiple airlines, for example Delta and United Airlines,, and discovered some situations where another airline might be a better fit:

Potential Drawbacks:

• Budget Travelers: For people on a tight budget or hopping short distances, KLM’s pricing might be a little too expensive. Especially in Europe, cheaper airlines like Easyjet could be a better solution.
• Luxury Travelers: Whilst Business Class is comfortable, you won’t find the ultra-luxury of airlines like Emirates or Singapore Airlines. Flyers who prioritize premium travel or require certain onboard facilities might find KLM’s top-tier offerings less impressive.
• Time-Sensitive Travelers: With such a big airline, delays do happen – so we’d always recommend planning ‘buffer time’ when flying with KLM. For travelers with tight schedules, this occasional unreliability could be a dealbreaker.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Huge global network with over 165 destinations
• Commitment to sustainability through SAF and carbon offset initiatives
• Flying Blue loyalty programme with great travel perks for frequent flyers
• Comfortable Premium Comfort Class is perfectly designed for remote workers
• Wi-Fi is available on 81% of intercontinental flights and you can check if your specific flight has Wi-Fi when you book.

Cons

• More expensive on shorter routes than budget airlines
• Reports of inconsistent Wi-Fi availability on some flights, potentially disrupting work schedules
• Limited ultra-luxury options compared to competitors, which might fall short if you’re a high-end business or luxury traveler
• Reports of potential delays require flexible planning for travelers with quick turnarounds.

Booking Experience

Website and App Usability ★★★★☆ (4/5)

KLM’s app and website are intuitive so you can easily customize your booking with seats, meals and baggage options. The ‘My Trip’ software acts as a portal where you can update your booking on the go – a lifesaver for flyers with changing schedules. You can even make upgrades to your booking during your journey, which we think is pretty cool.

Payment and Transparency ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

During the booking process, we found that, although everything was transparent, the additional fees for seat selection and checked baggage added up quickly. KLM does offer multiple payment options, including “fly now pay later”, but people should be aware of these potential extra costs when budgeting, and consider if the added expenses are worth it.

In-Flight Experience

Food and Dining ★★★★☆ (4/5)

No matter the class, KLM provides pretty decent food to all passengers. Even on the shortest flights, they serve a snack and drink. On longer European flights you’ll get a vegetarian sandwich (which is typically Dutch cuisine) and then long-haul flight passengers are given a hot meal, with an option to pre-order off the À La Carte menu. They cater to different dietary requirements like vegetarian, diabetic, low-fat or gluten-free meals, but again, you need to pre-order at least 24 hours in advance. Five stars from us are reserved for the Michelin airlines like Starlux

Entertainment Options ★★★★☆ (4/5)

For those who don’t want to follow the ‘raw-dogging’ trend, the in-flight entertainment system for KLM offers a wide range of about 80 movies, TV shows, music and games. They have a surprisingly good selection of recent movies, and both the screen size and equipment work well. However, entertainment isn’t always guaranteed on shorter flights or older aircraft, which is why we recommend you also bring a device preloaded with work material or films.

Does KLM Have Wi-Fi Onboard?

Availability and Performance ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

As of 2025, Wi-Fi is available on most intercontinental flights, which is important to know for those who need to stay connected. The airline offers three Wi-Fi packages for different needs:

1. Messaging Plan (Free) – you can send texts and emails, which is great for remote workers who need to stay in touch with clients or team members.
2. Surf Plan (Paid) – you can browse the internet and social media, perfect for catching up on relevant news (or memes) and managing accounts.
3. Stream Plan (Paid) – you can stream content, allowing professionals to participate in video calls or webinars whilst in the air.

Whilst coverage is extensive, Wi-Fi quality can still vary depending on the route and demand. We recommend that remote workers always have offline work ready as a backup, just in case there are connectivity issues. It’s also worth noting that passengers can access the KLM app and KLM.com for free while connected, which can be useful for managing travel details mid-flight.

Service and Reliability

Customer Service ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

KLM’s in-flight crew are notoriously friendly and professional, however customer service during disruptions has received mixed reviews online due to slow response times. Social media channels are often the best way to resolve flight issues, which is why we advise to use multiple contact methods when seeking assistance with a delay or cancellation. For flyers who rely on smooth travel experiences, this inconsistency in customer service quality could be frustrating.

Punctuality and Reliability ★★★★☆ (4/5)

KLM’s on-time performance hovers around 73%-83%. The exact figure is hard to pin down because they have such a huge network of flights, therefore, if you’re a traveler working with tight deadlines or connections, we recommend extra buffer time. KLM have reported that they are actively working on improving their operational efficiency, aiming for a 5% increase in labor productivity by 2025, which could lead to better reliability in the near future.

The Future of KLM

KLM is experimenting with new tech to improve the future travel experience of their customers.

• Biometric Boarding: say goodbye to standing in queues, KLM is implementing facial recognition to help streamline the boarding process, reduce waiting times and improve the efficiency of getting you on that plane.
• Enhanced Mobile App: the airline continues to improve their ‘My Trip’ app with new features like real-time flight info and personalized travel assistance.
• AI-Powered Customer Service: KLM is investing in artificial intelligence to provide faster response times and more personalized assistance when disruptions occur. This will make a huge difference to their main pitfall: customer service.
• Automated Decision-Making Tools: This tech aims to improve operational efficiency, which will hopefully lead to fewer delays and a smoother travel experience.

Alternative Airlines

If KLM doesn’t meet your specific needs, here are some alternatives that are worth considering. These airlines offer similar routes but excel in different areas that might be more important, like workspace facilities or budget-friendly options.

Conclusion

For people looking for a balance between comfort, connectivity and sustainability, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a solid choice. Although it’s not the cheapest option for short trips or the most luxurious for premium travel, its huge list of destinations, commitment to sustainability, and investments towards improving customer service make it a great airline for long-haul professionals.

Who Should Fly KLM?

• Long-haul travelers who want productivity and in-flight Wi-Fi
• Eco-conscious people looking to reduce their carbon footprint
• Frequent flyers who can use Flying Blue loyalty benefits for future travel perks
• Digital nomads or remote workers who want the balance of comfort and work when flying

Who Should Not Fly KLM?

• Budget-conscious, short-haul travelers looking for the most economical travel option within Europe
• Luxury travelers looking for that ultra-premium experience for themselves (or to impress clients)
• Time-sensitive travelers needing absolute punctuality for meetings or onward connections

Have you flown with KLM before? Share your experiences in the comments below! Your insights could be invaluable to our digital nomad world members planning their next journey.

If you’re interested in other airlines, we have written detailed reviews here.

If you’re tired of being a slave to the grind, or you just want to explore this amazing planet we live on, then the good news is that you’re probably 90% digital nomad already. So congrats on that –  you passed the first test! What’s the remaining 10% though? Well, that bit is quite important – it’s the job you choose to do. 

For many people, whether they have a background or not, design becomes that 10%. If you’re creative and have always wanted to find more creative work, with an online design job that you can do anywhere, you could soon be living a dream inside of a dream. Sound good? Thought so. 

If you already have a saleable skillset, then good for you! You might still not know how to find the right work online though. And what if you don’t have that skill set, or you’re only starting out? Well, that’s what we’re here for. 

In this article, we’re going to speak about what you can do to get started working as a designer online, skilled or not. We’ll cover what experience you need, what you can expect to earn, we’ll let you know which skills employers look for so you can maximize your chances. Then we’ll show you which jobs are most in-demand, so whatever your starting point, you can tailor your CV to give you the best possible chance of finding that beach office you deserve. 

Is Knowing Some Kind Of Design Good For Online Work?

Like in any field, having some background experience is obviously not going to hurt your chances of finding work. If you’re pitching for the better-paid work online, then you are probably going to be in competition with designers who have on the job experience and a strong portfolio. If you’re one of those designers, then, of course, that’s what you should do! 

If you’re not, you might find yourself disappointed. However, it is far from hopeless: you might just need a slightly different (and creative) approach to finding work. And I assume if you’re reading this, you already have a creative heart, so I know this won’t be too much of a stretch. 

To rewind a little though, what exactly do we mean by design? Kind of a loose, umbrella-y term isn’t it? Well, sure, but as many of the employers are on the same sites, and training courses are offered by the same or similar providers, it makes sense to lump some of this together. 

So design could mean web design, for those who have a background in WordPress or coding even. It could mean graphic design, which could mean you have worked in the industry or could just mean you’re a whizz with Photoshop. Perhaps you make flyers for all your friend’s club nights. It could mean UX or UI design. It could be animation, interior design, or motion graphics.

It could mean working small gigs resizing and creating original images for blogs, it could mean working full time for a client on their branding. In short, it can mean a lot of things. What’s important to know though, is that even if you have no experience whatsoever, there are many things you can do to either repurpose your existing skills or if not, to learn how to do any of these things online. 

Average Salary Of Online Designer Working Online

Working out the average salary of an online designer can be complicated, simply because there are so many variations of the roles on offer. Salaries will vary a fair bit depending on your experience and skill level. So, in this sense online work is just the same as the ‘real world’.

It’s easy enough to break down some of the bigger design jobs out there though and give you a pretty good guide to how much people earn online. There will, of course, be big variations between those working gigs, contracts and full time, and the level of skill and experience. 

Graphic Designer – The range these guys earn is pretty large, but an online Graphic Designer could expect to earn anywhere from $33k to $63, with the average wage earned landing around the $45k mark. Obviously, those starting out on gig sites will earn less.

Web Designer – Web designer’s online generally earn from $35k right up to around $75k, depending on skill and experience. 

UI/UX designer – This is where the big money starts. A UI designer on average earns around $60k online, whereas a User Experience designer would expect an average wage of closer to $70k.

What Skills Are Companies Looking For Online Design Employees Looking For?

Below we’ve tried to define three major groups and the skills that employers look for for these roles. If you don’t have all of these skills, don’t fret because there are many many places online where you can learn them. First though, you need to know which skills are valued.

A strong working knowledge of design packages such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop is almost essential for a graphic designer. Understanding typography is often underrated. The ability to make written language not only legible but also unique and visually appealing is killer.

Understanding branding concepts is important. An understanding of interactive media mediums like text, moving image, animation, video, audio, or video games, is also a plus. And knowing a little coding won’t hurt either. 

For web designers, entry-level here is knowledge of WordPress and some of the other more commonly used tools. Learning how to design in Shopify is a great idea for eCommerce clients. Basic coding skills are almost essential, so you need to learn CSS and HTML. If you then go further into languages like javascript and python, you will be very sought after. 

For UI/UX Designer roles you will need quite a lot of what we’ve listed above, especially in web design. But on top of this you will need specific UX skills. In UX research is crucial, and the best products are produced after meticulous planning and thought. Showing a capability for Wireframing and UI prototyping is also crucial. Learning about concepts like user empathy, and practicing some interaction design skills will also set you apart.

Many UXer’s have an engineering background – so if you want to keep up with the pack, it’s time to work on those coding skills! You don’t need to go full-stack, but you will need to be competent in the more commonly used languages. 

Online Design Jobs In The Highest Demand For Online Work

There is huge demand online for designers, and so it’s very hard to pick which is the most commonly sought role, if we’re perfectly honest. Web designers with portfolios and some knowledge of coding will find that they don’t struggle to find employment too much. There is also a lot of competition out there though, so to do well it’s important to highlight what you’re good at, and be committed to improving on the areas where you are perhaps not so strong. There are 100’s of courses available to help you do this.

The same can be said for graphic designers. Following the advice above and doing your own research will help you to find areas you can improve and ways to do it. There are always jobs out there for the right candidate, so do your best to improve on any areas you’re not so well versed in. There is also 

Probably overall the highest demand is for UX and UI designers, simply because it’s a relatively new area and there aren’t quite as many people out there doing it. If you have any of the skills above, finding a UX or UI course and applying those skills to this area is a great way of finding well paid online work. 

So now you know which jobs are out there, what people are looking for, and where you try and improve. It might be that you’ve read this and you’re already good to go, in which case we wish you all the luck in the world. If you do think after this you might need to put a bit of work in, all we can say is that it’s within your reach! 

There are 100’s of courses out there for designers whether you’re a total beginner or you just need to scrub up and skill up on a few things. Whichever way it is, like anything in life, if you dedicate yourself to the goal you will get there. Just remember, 1000’s of people are already out there doing it, and if they can there is no reason that you can’t as well. So use this information, keep your dream in your heart, and we promise you you’ll be living that dream soon.