KLM Business Class Review from Kristiansand to Amsterdam on the E190
What do you really get on a 1-hour European Business Class flight? Prices on this short hop between Kristiansand (KRS) and Amsterdam (AMS) can easily reach $400–500 USD one-way, making it one of the more expensive ways to travel such a short distance. Instead of paying cash, I booked this flight using Flying Blue miles, which made it a perfect opportunity to test whether KLM’s Embraer 190 Business Class is worth the premium. This flight was operated by German Airways, which offers the same standard that you would get on a KLM E190.
In this review, I’ll take you through every step of the journey:
- Check-in and boarding at Kristiansand Airport (KRS)
- First impressions of the small Embraer 190 cabin
- Seat 4F in the Business Class section
- The meal and drink service on a short-haul flight
- Crew service style and overall atmosphere onboard
- Arrival into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), KLM’s global hub
If you’ve ever wondered whether KLM short-haul Business Class offers real value on such a short flight — especially compared to Economy — this review will give you the answer.
Flight details
- Flight number: KL1188
- Date: April 10, 2024
- Route: Kristiansand (KRS) → Amsterdam (AMS)
- Departure: 18:15 local time
- Arrival: 19:40 local time
- Duration: ~1h 25m
- Aircraft: Embraer E190 (operated by German Airways)
- Class: Business Class (European layout)
- Seat: 4F
- Frequent flyer program: Flying Blue / SkyTeam
Kristiansand Airport (KRS)
My journey began at Kristiansand Kjevik Airport (KRS), a small but efficient regional airport in Southern Norway. With just a handful of daily international flights, the terminal is compact and easy to navigate — you can walk from the entrance to the gate in just a few minutes.
Check-in for KLM Business Class was quick, with a dedicated counter available and priority tags added to my luggage. Security was equally smooth; thanks to the airport’s small size, there were no long queues, and I was airside within 10 minutes of arrival.
Kristiansand Airport doesn’t have a dedicated lounge, so Business Class passengers wait in the general departures hall. There are a few cafés and shops, but the real advantage of KRS is the simplicity and speed of the process. Compared to larger Scandinavian airports, it feels stress-free and relaxed.
With boarding called right on time, I made my way to the gate for KLM flight KL1188 to Amsterdam, ready to experience Business Class on the Embraer 190.
Boarding KLM’s E190
Boarding for KLM flight KL1188 from Kristiansand to Amsterdam was called right on time at 17:45, with Business Class and SkyTeam Elite passengers invited to board first. Impressed here, as in my experience, KLM is usually delayed. The gate staff were efficient, and within minutes I was walking across the apron to the waiting Embraer 190 — one of the advantages of flying out of a small regional airport.
Stepping onboard, I was greeted by the crew with a friendly Dutch welcome. The E190 cabin felt compact yet modern, arranged in a 2–2 layout throughout. In Business Class, the standard European setup applies: the seat is the same as in Economy, but the adjacent seat is kept empty, giving passengers more space and privacy.
With just a few rows of Business Class at the front, the cabin atmosphere was quiet and relaxed. My seat, 4F, offered a good view of the wing and engine — always a nice spot for departure and arrival.
KLM Business Class Seat
My seat for this flight was 4F, a window seat on the right-hand side of the KLM Embraer 190 Business Class cabin. Like most short-haul European flights, the seat itself is identical to Economy, but the adjacent seat is blocked to provide extra personal space. This makes the small E190 feel a bit more premium compared to sitting further back in the cabin.
Legroom was decent for a regional jet, with about 31–32 inches of pitch, which is perfectly fine for a short flight of just over an hour. The seat padding was comfortable, and the clean blue KLM upholstery gave it a fresh look despite the aircraft’s age.
There are no seatback screens on the Embraer 190. Instead, passengers with a window seat can enjoy amazing views of the Norwegian coast 🙂
Overall, seat 4F offered comfort, space, and great window views, making the short hop to Amsterdam enjoyable despite the simple Business Class setup.
Food onboard
If there’s one area where KLM Business Class consistently disappoints, it’s the catering on European flights — and this short hop from Kristiansand to Amsterdam was no exception.
The meal was served in KLM’s signature cardboard presentation box, which at first glance looks trendy and eco-friendly, but quickly feels underwhelming once opened. Inside was a light snack, far from the standard you’d expect when paying up to $400–500 USD for a one-hour flight in Business Class.
Unlike other European carriers such as Lufthansa, Iberia, or Air France, which still serve meals on ceramic dishes with proper cutlery, KLM provides wooden cutlery. In my experience, it often breaks, making the whole dining experience feel more like an economy snack service than a premium product.
For an airline with such a strong international reputation, this level of catering is shocking and disappointing. The box may be stylish, but it simply doesn’t meet the expectations of a Business Class service, especially when competitors deliver a more polished experience on similar short-haul routes.
Flying from Kristiansand to Amsterdam
Departure from Kristiansand offered one of the highlights of the entire journey. We pushed back on time and taxied quickly to the runway, taking off just as the sun was beginning to set over the southern Norwegian archipelago. The views of Kristiansand and the scattered islands below were spectacular, a reminder of how scenic regional departures from Norway can be.
The climb was a little bumpy, but once we reached cruising altitude the flight settled into a smooth ride south towards the Netherlands. With clear skies, the flight offered beautiful views all the way down, before descending into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). The timing was perfect: we touched down just as the sun was setting over the flat Dutch landscape, a fittingly calm and picturesque arrival.
Final Verdict – KLM E190 Business Class (Kristiansand to Amsterdam)
This short KLM Embraer 190 Business Class flight delivered on some basics: priority boarding, a quiet cabin with blocked middle seats, decent legroom, and a smooth, scenic flight into Amsterdam. Seat 4F was comfortable for the 1h25m journey, and the crew were professional and friendly throughout.
But the catering once again dragged the experience down. The cardboard box meal with wooden cutlery simply doesn’t live up to what you expect from a premium cabin — especially when airlines like Lufthansa, Iberia, and Air France still provide proper tableware and higher-quality meals even on short flights. For an airline with KLM’s reputation, this feels far below standard.
Would I pay $400–500 in cash for this one-hour Business Class flight? Absolutely not. Redeeming Flying Blue miles made it worthwhile for the experience, but as a paid ticket, it’s poor value compared to competitors.
KLM remains reliable for connectivity through Amsterdam, but when it comes to EuroBusiness catering, it is among the weakest options in Europe.
