- Mr Plane Guy
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
KLM Cityhopper Business Class Review: I Paid £60 to Upgrade… Was It Worth It? (Amsterdam to the UK)
By Travel Blogger, Ex-Airline Insider & Serial Upgrade Chaser, Mr Plane Guy is on a mission to prove luxury travel doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog running (and funds my airport coffee habit).
Trip Report, KLM Cityhopper Business Class
Route: Amsterdam (AMS) → UK
Airline: KLM Cityhopper
Aircraft: Embraer (E175) PH-EXR, first flight 2017
Upgrade Price Paid: £60.90
Cabin: European Business Class
Lounge: KLM Crown Lounge (Non-Schengen)
Baggage: 12kg cabin + 23kg checked
Miles Earned: 300 Virgin Points each way
Flight time, 54 minutes
I spotted it the day before departure while checking in on the KLM app:
Business Class, 5 seats left
“Stretch your legs in style”
“Enjoy delicious cuisine”
“Unwind in Business Lounges worldwide”
“Use SkyPriority as your red carpet through the airport”
Upgrade price?
£60.90.
So ofcouse… I said JA. (that's Dutch for YES!)
This was my first time flying KLM Business Class on a Cityhopper Embraer and while it sounds glamorous, what followed was a very honest lesson in European short-haul premium expectations vs reality.
Let’s get into it.
KLM Business Class Check-In at Amsterdam Schiphol – SkyPriority, But Make It Stressful
I arrived at Schiphol feeling very Business Class… until security reminded me of something I apparently forgot:
The 100ml liquid rule is still very much alive.
In my hand luggage? A £69 Rituals positivity reed diffuser a Christmas gift for my sister.
Was I letting that go in the bin?Absolutely not.
So off I marched, back landside, to check in my Cabin Max bag instead, diffuser clutched like emotional support luggage.
The positives:
Dedicated SkyPriority check-in desks
Hand luggage checked in free of charge
Calm, efficient Dutch staff
The negatives:
About 15 extra minutes added on
A mild stress sweat
One massive internal “you should know better” 🙄
Fast Track Security, Second Time Around, It Actually Worked
Round two through Schiphol security via SkyPriority Fast Track was bliss.
Straight through. No tray chaos. No laptop gymnastics. No queues.
When Schiphol works properly, it’s excellent. It just took me two attempts and a diffuser rescue mission to experience it.
Crown Lounge Non-Schengen, I Paid £60, and I Want It Back
Here’s the part that genuinely annoyed me.
I paid around £60 extra to access the KLM Crown Lounge Non-Schengen, even though with hindsight I probably would’ve had access included anyway with the Business Class upgrade.
And honestly?
It was overcrowded, messy, loud and stressful. Nothing about it felt remotely premium. I actually preferred the terminal, which says everything.
I’ve now decided I’m going to request a refund for the lounge access and I’ll report back with what KLM say. I’ll update this post with the outcome, because if airlines are charging premium prices for overcrowded lounges, that needs calling out.
👉 Full breakdown, photos and alternatives are covered in my dedicated review here,
(coming very soon)
Boarding at Gate D6, When SkyPriority Becomes Theatre
Despite being SkyPriority, boarding took place via a bus gate at Gate D6.
For one glorious moment in life…
I was Group 1.
What happened next?
I boarded first…Then everyone else boarded immediately after onto the same bus…And we all waited together anyway.
Technically first, yes. In reality? Completely pointless.
KLM Cityhopper Business Class Cabin, The Hard Truth About the Seat
Aircraft: Embraer Cityhopper (aka: flying hairdryer)
Seat: 3F
Let’s not pretend: this is an economy seat with better legroom and a business class label. No power, no USB, no Wi-Fi, no screens. It’s clean, comfortable and fine, but premium? Not quite.
In the early 2000s, this would’ve been sold as Economy. In 2025, it’s branded Business Class.
KLM Business Class Food, What Was Actually Served
Before we’d even cleared the runway, a food box landed in my lap.
The menu featured:
A Thai-style sweet chilli noodle salad with shrimp and mango
BBQ cashew nuts on the side
A selection of macaroons for dessert
Sparkling wine to take the edge off the reality
It looked fresh, tasted light, and did the job.
Was it the best Business Class meal I’ve ever had? No.
Was it completely acceptable for a short European hop? Yes.
The Overall Experience. Efficient, Polite… and Underwhelming
Let’s be honest:
The crew were polite, warm and very Dutch.The flight was smooth and on time. Service was efficient.
But…
There was no real sense of “premium” beyond the legroom and a snack box. Boarding priority didn’t work.The lounge was disappointing.And the seat itself was pure economy in disguise.
My inbound flight on a 737 had Wi-Fi, USB and power at every seat.
Probably the BEST economy flight in the world!
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points on KLM,
Yes, You Can Earn
Here’s something most people miss:
KLM is a Virgin Atlantic partner.
I credited this flight to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and earned 300 Virgin Points each way.
That makes KLM one of the most underrated Virgin Atlantic partners for UK and European travellers.
Earn Virgin Red Points Every Time You Fly
👉 Full explainer here: Virgin Red & Virgin Atlantic Points Guide
KLM Business Class Baggage Allowance (What You Actually Get)
Cabin baggage
Small bag under the seat
One overhead cabin bag
Total weight limit: 12kg
This is exactly why I travel with my Cabin Max Anode case it’s perfectly sized for European airlines, ridiculously light, and means I can max out that 12kg allowance without worrying about being pulled aside at the gate.
It’s also tough enough to survive being checked in last-minute… which brings me to the real win with Business Class.
Checked baggage
1 x 23kg included as standard
For many travellers, that alone can justify the £60 upgrade.
I also tested British Airways Club Europe on a 41-minute hop, here’s how it REALLY compares to KLM →
SkyTeam Business Class Benefits, On Paper vs Reality
On paper, Business Class includes:
SkyPriority check-in
Priority security
Priority boarding
Lounge access
Partner airline miles
In reality on this flight:
Check-in and security worked perfectly
Boarding was chaotic
Lounge access felt like a waste of money
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
Next time out of Schiphol, I’d:
Skip the KLM lounge entirely
Use Priority Pass instead
Head for the Aspire Lounge
Who This £60 Upgrade Actually Makes Sense For
Travellers with a checked bag
Anyone tight on security time
Tier point or status chasers
Nervous fliers who like guaranteed space
Who Should Skip It
Digital nomads needing power/Wi-Fi
Luxury-first travellers
Lounge lovers
Final Boarding Call, Was KLM Business Class Worth £60?
Here’s my honest answer:
Yes! For £60, why not? Just dramatically reduce your expectations.
You’re paying for:
Extra legroom
Checked baggage
A light meal
A glass of fizz
Flexibility
You are not paying for luxury.
Quick Pros & Cons
Pros
Low £60 upgrade price
Noticeably better legroom
Free checked baggage
Friendly Dutch crew
Earn Virgin Atlantic points
Cons
Economy seat in disguise
No power, no Wi-Fi
Boarding priority didn’t work
Lounge seriously underwhelming
Final Boarding Call (Short & Sharp, As Promised)
Was KLM Business Class worth £60? Yes, absolutely. Just reduce your expectations before you board.
Plane Related Links:
Flying in Style: My Qatar Airways Business Class Experience on the 787 from Doha to London
How I Travelled Business Class on Qatar Airways For Less Than £250!
That time I flew Business Class with Qatar Airways but it turned out to be operated by Oman Airways, full review here
Relaxing in Style: A Visit to the OneWorld Alliance Business Class Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol
Maximise Your Avios Points in 2025: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your Collection
How to Get from Schiphol Airport to the City Centre Amsterdam
How I Went from Zero Avios to a Qatar Airways Business Class Upgrade in 3 Months
How I Turned My £34 Worth of Tesco Clubcard Points into a Flight from London to New York
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading KLM Cityhopper Business Class Review: I Paid £60 to Upgrade… Was It Worth It? (Amsterdam to the UK).
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