Flying Blue (Air France & KLM) - MH Upgrade on FB Points

Hello all

My partner and I will be travelling on MH140 from SYD to KUL on March 13 and return again on MH123 March 20 - booked in Y.

I have 64172 FB points and was wondering if this will be enough - or is possible - to upgrade to J on MH (one or both ways). Also if it is possible who do I contact to request this. I have done some searchin on the www but can't seem to find the answers....

Thanks for your help:)
Thaigold

I do not actually know, but I had a look and found some information that may help. From the 'Ask your question here' part of the KLM/FB site I found two sections that may help answer your question.

Can I book an award upgrade online?
Award upgrade requests are only possible via the Flying Blue Service Center till 24 hours prior to departure.Please keep the following in mind:- You can use your Award Miles to upgrade your flight to Business Class on a full-fare Economy Class ticket purchased from KLM, Air France, Northwest Airlines and Kenya Airways.- Available for members, spouse or legal partner, child(ren). - Can be requested until 24 hours prior to departure.- Maximum of 1 upgrade per flight (from paid class up to next class of service).- On paid tickets in specific booking classes only (upgrades can only be requested if you hold a full-fare Economy Class ticket in one of the following booking classes: S/X/B/M on KLM/Kenya Airways and Y/B on Northwest Airlines). For upgrade classes on Air France flights check the overview.- Depends on availability of award seats.- No Flex Award Option available.

Can I request an upgrade with all your airline partners?
You can use your Award Miles to upgrade your flight to Business Class on a full-fare Economy Class ticket purchased from KLM, AIR FRANCE, Northwest Airlines and Kenya Airways and other SkyTeam airlines.The following conditions apply:-An upgrade can be purchased by a Flying Blue member for any person specified by the member. Can be requested until the day of departure . - The Award Upgrade can be requested until 24 hours prior to departure at the Flying Blue Service Centre or until the day of departure at a KLM/AIR FRANCE ticket office.- Maximum of 1 upgrade per flight (from paid class up to next class of service).- On paid tickets in specific booking classes only (upgrades can only be requested if you hold a full-fare Economy Class ticket in one of the following booking classes: S/X/B/M on KLM/Kenya Airways and Y/B on Northwest Airlines). For upgrade classes on Air France flights, check the overview. - Depends on availability of award seats. - No Open Miles Option available.


The bold text (my emphasis) suggest that it will not be possible to upgrade on MH using FB points. In addition:
MH are not in SkyTeam
MH has its own FF programme: Enrich.

As an aside, it really is unhelpful that the two pieces of text are not consistent - one includes 'other SkyTeam airlines' and one does not.

On the plus side ... MH is a FB partner and the KLM/FB site indicates that you can earn and spend miles with MH. See:
http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/flying_blue/partners/index.htm?intcamp=flb.partners&intchan=fb.partnersmenu&inttype=txt.partners

My reading of all this is that you could buy a ticket with MH using FB miles, but you cannot buy an upgrade with MH using FB miles. Hopefully somone more knowledgeable with confirm or explain.

Have you rung MH to ask? Ultimately they are the only people who can rule on this.

As a regular customer on MH flights to and from Australia, I can confirm that it is not possible to upgrade with FB miles (not even on KL flights operated by MH). Sad but true :(

Thanks guys

I really appreciate your replies - even when it's not possible to upgrade:( Have to find some other way of spending my points...

Thaigold

I really wonder what kind of partner MH is these days.

Upgrades not possible on MH (see above).
Passengers in KUL may not use MH lounges when flying KLM (even not in J-class).
Passengers on MH flights may not use KL lounges at AMS unless holding a KLM (074) ticket.
Those with MH tickets are sent to the Menzies lounge! :td:

Is this partnership working out?

Surely KL did a survey and found that MH were happier this way!

It's never been much of a partnership - same with NW. Frankly I'd say if you're headed to that part of the world you're better off booking and flying MH than KL.

It's my understanding that MH sometimes upsells to C from Syd? Nevber hurts to ask at check in whether you can pay to upgrade.

It's my understanding that MH sometimes upsells to C from Syd? Nevber hurts to ask at check in whether you can pay to upgrade.

That is correct. At least i have experienced this: during check-in from SYD to KUL I was asked if I was interested to buy an upgrade for only AUS$400 which is a good deal.