KLM Boeing 777-300ER Trip Report: From Singapore SIN to Denpasar DPS

‍SINGAPORE — This report covers my experience aboard KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) flight 835 from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar, Bali, on August 24.

The service operates as a fifth freedom segment of KLM's Amsterdam to Denpasar routing via Singapore, with passengers given the option to board or disembark at SIN. I joined the flight in Singapore for the final leg to Bali.

Changi Airport and gate

KL 835 operated from gate C22 in Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi, one of the world's most celebrated airport environments and one that rewards time spent exploring before departure. I made use of the time before boarding to do exactly that. 

The gate experience itself was straightforward, with one notable feature: security screening was conducted at the gate rather than at a central checkpoint, a common arrangement for certain international departures at Changi that keeps the main terminal open while still clearing passengers efficiently before boarding.

Boarding

Boarding was easy and well-managed. The gate security process moved without friction, and the overall pre-departure experience at C22 was calm and organized, consistent with Changi's reputation for smooth passenger handling.

The aircraft and cabin

PH-BVO is a Boeing 777-300ER, and the cabin felt refreshed and well-presented throughout. The interior had a clean, modern feel that suggested a recent refurbishment, and the overall standard was noticeably higher than the condition of some other widebody cabins encountered earlier in this trip. Seat 41A is a window on the left side of the aircraft. For a sector of this length, the seat was entirely comfortable.

Departure

KL 835 pushed back 11 minutes ahead of schedule at 16:49 local time. The routing south from Singapore crosses the Java Sea before making landfall over Indonesia, and the early evening departure meant the crossing took place largely over open water in fading light.

The view from 41A remained over water until the coastline of Bali came into sight on approach. Uncommonly, however, flight attendants did not pass out earbuds during boarding, nor were they on our seats, and it took about 45 minutes of the flight till they offered headsets. This meant I listened to music instead, and my seatmate watched a movie with subtitles only.

Meal service

KLM offered a meal service on the sector, which is a welcome gesture on a flight of this length where many carriers would offer nothing beyond a drink. The main dish was a curry with rice, well-seasoned and satisfying for an economy tray. 

The standout, however, was dessert: a pistachio chocolate cake that was good enough that I asked for a second, which the crew provided without hesitation. It was the kind of small interaction that leaves a positive impression out of proportion to its significance.

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Arrival in Denpasar

KL 835 touched down at Ngurah Rai at 19:25, ten minutes ahead of schedule. The aircraft arrived back at gate C22, the same gate designation as the departure, a coincidence of Changi and Denpasar's shared gate numbering. Bali in late August is warm and humid, and the evening air on arrival was thick and still in the way that only a tropical island at night manages.

The ramp at DPS on arrival was a striking cross-section of long-haul Gulf and Asian widebody operations. An Emirates Airbus A380, a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1000, and a Saudia Boeing 787-10 were all visible from the gate. 

The Saudia aircraft was operating flight SV856, itself a fifth freedom service between Singapore and Denpasar, after flying in just after mine, meaning that on this particular evening two separate fifth freedom widebody services from Singapore were parked at Bali simultaneously. The Saudia flight had been on my original itinerary before I switched to KLM, making its presence on the ramp a curious footnote to the journey.

Visa on arrival and immigration

Indonesia requires most foreign nationals to obtain a visa for entry, available on arrival at Ngurah Rai for a fee. The online payment option did not process successfully for me, which meant completing the transaction in person at the visa on arrival counter instead. However, I will say I planned rather late, if at all, and I was attempting to purchase my visa while on the jet bridge to board in Singapore, so the short time frame may also have been an issue.

The process was straightforward, and the queue moved without significant delay. One practical advantage available to travelers before landing is the ability to complete the Indonesian arrival card digitally in advance, which I had done, saving time on the immigration side of the process. Overall clearance was smooth and efficient.

Conclusion

KL 835 was a strong short-haul performance from KLM. The refreshed 777-300ER cabin, the meal service on a sub-three-hour sector, and a crew willing to hand over a second dessert without being asked all reflected well on the airline. Changi's gate-based security added a layer of polish to the departure experience that few other airports match. 

For travelers routing through Singapore to Bali, KLM's fifth freedom service is a product worth seeking out, and the ramp at Denpasar on arrival is one of the more unexpectedly rich widebody spotting environments in Southeast Asia.