grandgourmand

Hi,

I'm flying YYZ-AMS on this plane in mid-January.

For both legs, I booked seat 1a. Figured it was best because you're sitting alone, no one to walk over when going to the bathroom.

Having never flown this plane, or in the new KLM business class (did old version a few years ago) I was just wondering if this seat is the best. There may be some other considerations.

Thanks.

djenroute

Actually there are no real bad seats on the 747 in WBC.
Seat 1A is excellent and very quiet. However, it is also at the least wide part of the aircraft.
For a real spacious and private feeling, seat 4A can be recommended. It is also alone - but you are much farther away from other passengers than in any other seat on the plane. The bathrooms are to the right of the cabin and so is the galley. So, the curtain next to seat 4A is rarely used, if at all, during the flight.

Maybe try 1A outbound and 4A inbound, so you can judge for yourself.

grandgourmand

thanks djenroute.

looks like 4A is still available on the inbound. i'll make the switch and report back on which I prefer.

tpatta

Any recomendations for WBC seats on the 747 combi for a couple?

Zembla

For a spacious feel. Row 3 on the lower deck. For a very quiet private feel. Row 1. For the upperdeck "private jet feel" any row on the upperdeck.

tpatta

Thanks Zembla.

Transpacificflyer

I strongly recommend that you verify continuously when booking 4 A. I recently lost my seat despite have confirmed 4X and checking regularly.
No explanation was given. I usually fly EVA, AC, or CX on my asia long hauls and wanted to build some skymiles up. The new seats were nothing special and certainly aren't as private or comfortable as the EVA or CX pods, or even the old AC pods. (The professional FAs, nice lounge and wonderful AMS airport did compensate though.)

ajs123

Well, for me the upper deck does not give any private jet feel. Having just flown the new WBC (quite a disappointment to be honest, but that's for another thread), but I agree that 1A but also 4A are very private.

grandgourmand

Thanks for all the tips.

In the end I got 1A for the outbound and 4a for the inbound.

Either seat is quite nice and quite private. If I had to pick between the two, I'd go 4a because you get a bit more room between your seat and the fuselage. Can stuff some extra carry on items there.

Other than that, my remarks:
1) Food was soooo much better leaving AMS than YYZ. The former was tasty, the latter was inedible
2) Service was very good during the flights. I preferred the crew on the inbound (friendlier). However, I must say that ground service got a poor mark. Our flight was delayed 4 hours on the tarmac in YYZ. There wasn't much of an effort to help ease the pain of missed connections or make my life easier in general.
3) They really need to sort out their boarding process. It was very chaotic in AMS.
4) As far as the hard product, I thought it was excellent. Roomy seat, great for lounging. I have only flown AC in TPAC J (the "pods"). I much preferred this seat. Though if I was sitting next to someone I might sing a different tune.

I'll write a dedicated trip report, but thought I'd start with that. Overall I really enjoyed my KLM flights (not the delays, though). Thought it was excellent, better than AC. Would definitely fly them again if some well priced premium fares pop up. Have to build my Delft House village somehow!

ajs123

Did you like the screen resolution?

johan rebel

I should hope that they at least served beverages with nuts/snacks while waiting for take-off.

Johan

Zembla

Hence the "" in my post.

irishguy28

The screens in the new WBC on the 747 are truly appalling! I had my first experience of the new WBC last week (and 4A is a great seat for a solo traveller) and I really was shocked at how small the screens are, and how grainy the image is.

grandgourmand

Sure, it was fine for me. Not HD quality, but better than what I get on AC.

Yes. Several beverages. Nuts and cheese.

Really? What are you comparing to? I've done J on AC, CX, BR, ANA and OZ. Maybe my memory is failing me, but KLM didn't stand out as particularly bad. I thought the screen size was pretty good (compared to AC) and resolution was fine.

My main complaint about the TV situation is that the selection of movies and TV shows was pretty light. Especially TV.

Zembla

Indeed. Whilst I would agree that the screen on their slippery slope seat is appalling, and the screen on their NEV4 seat is mediocre, I think that the new WBC screens are actually quite decent compared to many other J screens out there.