The Guide to KLM Premium Comfort Economy

When planning a trip to Europe, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is one of the major international airlines you might fly. While economy flights could save you money, the thought of cramming into a packed cabin for a long flight might have you wincing.

Does KLM have premium economy tickets? It does, and a ticket in KLM Premium Comfort is worth considering for your next flight. It offers generous benefits and comforts without the high costs of upgrading to business class.

Here's everything you need to know about KLM premium economy tickets.

This is what you'll get when you book a premium economy ticket on KLM:

• More comfortable seating. Premium economy seats are more comfortable than economy seats and feature additional legroom, 39 inches versus 31 inches and a deeper recline, 8 inches versus 5 inches.

• Additional baggage. European carriers can be more strict with baggage allowances for passengers than U.S. domestic airlines. KLM premium economy tickets include two checked bags and one carry-on item.

• More food and beverage options. Economy passengers receive complimentary food and a choice of beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. When you upgrade to Premium Comfort, you have access to a higher-end meal and get additional choices of wine and liquor.

• Entertainment choices. Premium economy passengers can enjoy watching movies or TV shows on a 13.3-inch entertainment system with noise-canceling headphones. They also have access to a 110v AC power outlet in addition to the USB-A outlet available to economy passengers.

• Relax in comfort. When you book a premium economy ticket, you'll also receive a Premium Comfort Class amenity kit, plus a business class pillow and blanket set.

• Airport experience. Passengers who book Premium Comfort will receive SkyPriority benefits at check-in and airport security, such as a dedicated check-in desk, priority baggage drop-off and pickup, priority boarding and faster security screening, and access to the KLM airport lounge for a fee.

When comparing the benefits of KLM economy versus premium economy tickets, there are meaningful differences that justify paying the higher fare. This is especially true when flying on longer flights between destinations.

• In-flight experience. Enjoy a larger screen (13.3 inches versus 9-11 inches), more legroom and a deeper recline. Plus, get noise-canceling headphones and a business class pillow and blanket.

• Airport experience. Premium economy passengers have access to dedicated check-in desks, priority baggage drop-off and pickup areas, and priority security lanes.

• Boarding priority. With Premium Comfort fares, you'll board ahead of economy passengers to get on the plane and in your seat faster, with earlier access to overhead bins.

• Pricing. Whether you're booking with cash or miles, expect to pay more when booking a premium economy ticket instead of a standard economy seat. However, these seats can be a good compromise over the more expensive business class fares.

When you're ready to book a premium economy flight on KLM, visit the airline's website and choose your type of flight, departure and arrival city, and travel dates. Select the number of passengers and choose "Premium Comfort Class" from the drop-down menu.

To book an award flight, log into your Flying Blue account first before making your selections.

In the flight search results, KLM partner airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, Air France or Virgin Atlantic, may also show up in the search results. You can filter the search results to show KLM flights only by clicking on "Airlines" and unchecking the boxes for other airlines.

With just KLM flight results showing, you can find the flight that matches your schedule and budget. Click on your flight selection, then choose the type of fare — nonrefundable (less money) or flex (more money, but refundable). You can also choose to downgrade to economy class or upgrade to business class to meet your budget needs.

Complete the process for your return flight, then complete your purchase by paying for your flight. We recommend using a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and includes travel protections in case your flight is delayed, canceled or otherwise interrupted.

Whether you're booking a KLM premium economy ticket using miles or cash, there are a few ways to get a good value on your flight.

Book with miles

Using miles to book flights can dramatically reduce the cost of your trip. While you'll still pay taxes and fees, the out-of-pocket cost will often be substantially less. And, if you have enough miles saved up, you may be able to splurge and upgrade to a higher-class ticket.

Transfer points from partners

Flying Blue is one of the most popular airline transfer partners out there. Travelers can transfer rewards on a 1:1 basis from:

• American Express Membership Rewards.

• Bilt.

• Capital One Miles.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Citi ThankYou.

Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer on a 3:1 basis to Flying Blue. And for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer, you'll receive 5,000 additional Flying Blue miles. If you have points from different programs, they all be combined when transferring into your Flying Blue account.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Bonus point transfers

Sometimes, Flying Blue will offer a transfer bonus when you convert your rewards from one of its partners to Flying Blue. These bonuses make it easier to earn enough rewards to book an award flight on KLM or Air France.

» Learn more: Capital One, Citi, Chase and AmEx transfer bonus history

Look for Flying Blue promo award flights

Periodically, Flying Blue announces discounted award flights between selected destinations. If you can book flights between these cities, you can save a significant number of miles on your flight. For example, flights start at 11,250 miles each way between New York-JFK or Chicago-O’Hare and Europe through March 31, 2023.

» Learn more: The latest Flying Blue promos and discounts

Pay with miles and cash

If you don't have enough cash or miles to book a flight, KLM allows travelers to pay for their tickets using a combination of both. This makes it easier to afford your ticket. And the best part is that you'll earn miles on the full booking amount, even the part that was paid with miles.

Use miles to upgrade your flight

When you buy a KLM economy ticket, your flight may be eligible for an upgrade using your miles. Upgrade options are generally available when checking in online or at the self-service kiosks at the airport. Last-minute upgrades may also become available on specific legs of your flight.

Book with the right credit card

Not all credit cards are created equal when paying for flights. We recommend using a card that includes travel protections when booking a flight. Additionally, choose a card that earns bonus points on travel purchases to maximize the rewards that you'll earn.

Booking through a travel portal

In addition to using the right credit card, some travel portals offer bonus points when booking flights through their travel portals. Check out:

• American Express.

• Capital One.

• Chase.

While you will earn extra points on the purchase, be aware that adding an intermediary to the purchase can make it a challenge when there are issues. The airline and the travel portal may blame each other for issues that arise.

» Learn more: The pros and cons of online travel agencies

On your next international flight, consider booking a KLM premium economy ticket. These tickets are a good compromise between economy and business class, where you'll receive additional benefits without a much higher ticket price.

When you book a KLM Premium Comfort fare, you'll receive a more comfortable seat, additional in-flight amenities, and special treatment at the airport. Whether you book using cash or miles, the additional legroom and deeper recline can justify the upcharge.