KLM to End Free Beer, Wine, Cheese Sandwich on European Flights
The airline will still offer coffee, tea, water, orange juice and a stroopwafel as it expands paid food and beverage choices.
- Starting in October 2026, KLM will introduce Grand Cafe KLM, a new onboard service concept on European flights featuring a buy-on-board model for food and beverages alongside limited complimentary items.
- KLM will transition from providing substantial complimentary snacks and free beer or wine to a more limited free selection, following recent trials by both Air France and KLM in response to competitive pressures.
- Passengers will still receive complimentary coffee, tea, water, orange juice, and a stroopwafel, while paid options will include poke bowls, caesar salads, salmon egg wraps, and yogurt with fruit.
- While KLM describes the shift as an "enhancement" that "strengthens the warm and hospitable experience," critics argue most customers will perceive the reduction in free service as negative.
- Even with these adjustments, KLM maintains more extensive complimentary offerings than British Airways, Lufthansa, and the International Airlines Group, which have already largely eliminated free regional economy service.
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"KLM should not side with the budget airlines by abruptly eliminating the service of a drink and a sandwich on board," says former Hilton director and KLM skipper Roberto Payer. Like him, many enthusiasts fear the demise of the elegance that was once characteristic of the Royal Airlines.
KLM is adjusting catering on European flights starting in October. With the new service concept Grand Café KLM, passengers will have more choice in food and drinks, according to the airline, and the option to order a meal in advance or choose something from the menu on board. However, some products will be removed from the complimentary range.
KLM Rolls Out Buy On Board In Regional Economy: I'm Disappointed, But For A Different Reason
Among the “big three” European airline groups, Air France-KLM has been by far the most generous with its included offerings in short haul economy. Both Air France and KLM have offered complimentary drinks (including beer and wine) as well as snacks in short haul economy, in contrast to International Airlines Group (IAG) and Lufthansa Group.In recent times, we’ve known that both Air France and KLM have been trialing changes to inflight service in…
KLM to end free beer, wine, cheese sandwich on European flights
Passengers flying with KLM in Europe will soon have to pay for beer, wine, sodas, and other food and beverages, when the airline launches its new Grand Café KLM catering concept in October. The company, which recently sold off a majority stake in its catering business, has also put an end to their well-known free cheese sandwiches on flights between Amsterdam and other European destinations.
For the traveler within Europe, it is a familiar scene: the sandwich with Beemster cheese or egg salad on KLM flights. Somewhere halfway through the journey…
KLM is adjusting catering on European flights starting in October. With the new service concept Grand Café KLM, passengers will have more choice in food and drinks, according to the airline, and the option to order a meal in advance or choose something from the menu on board.
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