Flying Business Class on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines between Singapore and Bali is a great example of how a long-haul aircraft can elevate a short regional flight - even if the service style is a little unconventional.

This is a 2.5-hour sector, operated as a fifth-freedom flight between Singapore and Denpasar, which means you’re getting a widebody, long-haul Business Class seat on what would otherwise be a fairly routine hop.

Seat & Cabin

I was seated in 1A, part of KLM’s newer Business Class configuration on the Boeing 777. Each seat includes a sliding privacy door, which is always welcome. It’s not the most solid door - and it doesn’t extend fully to the floor — but it provides enough visual separation to feel private without being claustrophobic.

Seat controls are handled via a touchscreen panel that manages seat position, massage, lighting, and Do Not Disturb. It’s intuitive and modern.

Power, Controls & IFE

Power access is excellent. All charging points are directly in front of you, exactly where you want them:

• Universal power outlet

• USB-A

• USB-C

Seat controls are handled via a touchscreen panel that manages seat position, massage, lighting, and Do Not Disturb. It’s intuitive and modern.

The in-flight entertainment system is a standout. The screen is large, sharp, and high-resolution, and — crucially — the touchscreen is properly responsive. No lag, no missed taps, no frustration. It genuinely feels like using a modern device, which is surprisingly rare in the air.

Dining & Drinks

Given the short flight time, expectations were sensible — but the menu itself was well chosen.

Options included:

• Winter crab salad as an appetiser

• Tortellini with smoked tomato sauce

• Nasi goreng, served with chicken salad

The nasi goreng, in particular, was genuinely tasty.

Service flow, however, was a bit unusual. There was a colourful non-alcoholic welcome drink on arrival, however around 40 minutes into the flight there was still no follow up drink. It became clear the crew were combining drinks and meals into a single trolley run.

That meant:

• Champagne wasn’t proactively offered — I had to ask

• No bottled water was waiting at the seat, which is uncommon for Business Class

The crew were happy to provide anything requested, but the service leaned more on passenger activation than anticipation.

Presentation was mixed. The main dish was served with foil still covering the plate, which felt more economy than premium, and bread was offered from a basket with tongs but no side plate, meaning it was placed directly on the tray. Small details — but noticeable ones.

Service & Crew

Where this flight really shines is the crew.

Most of the cabin crew were genuinely happy, warm, and engaging, delivering service with ease rather than script. They skew slightly older and more experienced, which shows in the calm, confident way they run the cabin.

Interestingly, this isn’t a Bali layover route. The crew overnight in Singapore for two nights, operating a same-day turn to Bali and back. Singapore is a popular choice among crew for obvious reasons, and the relaxed, upbeat atmosphere onboard reflects that.

Announcements were another highlight. The purser delivered them fluently in English, Dutch, and French, moving seamlessly between all three. The safety video is presented in English with Dutch subtitles - a logical choice given the international passenger mix.

One policy point worth noting: during the welcome announcement, it was clearly stated that passengers must seek crew permission before filming or taking photos onboard. Enforcement was polite and professional, but it’s something to be aware of.

Colourful Non-Alcoholic Welcome Drinks

Signature Touches

KLM’s personality comes through in its details.

During the flight, Delft house-shaped chocolates were passed around, with a choice of dark, milk, or white chocolate — a charming nod to the airline’s heritage.

At the end of the flight, each passenger was also offered one of KLM’s iconic Delft Blue ceramic houses as a take-home gift. Each house is individually numbered, tied to different years in the airline’s history, making it a genuinely nice keepsake rather than a token gesture.

Final Take

KLM is a partner airline of Qantas, which makes this an easy redemption using Qantas Points.

I booked this flight for 31,500 Qantas Points + $101 in taxes, which is strong value for a widebody Business Class experience — especially given the modern seat, privacy door, and excellent IFE on a short route.

The seat, power access, and IFE feel well above what you’d normally expect for a flight of this length. The crew were genuinely happy and delivered warm, confident service, and KLM’s signature touches — from chocolates to the Delft Blue house gift — add real character.

Service sequencing and presentation lean more practical than polished, but when you factor in the short flight time and excellent value on points, it’s easy to look past the small misses.

If you value comfort, good tech, and friendly, experienced crew over formality and theatrics, this is a very satisfying way to fly between Singapore and Bali — especially on points.