Flying Blue (Air France & KLM) - FB Platinum?

I think I'm about to go FB Platinum... (actually it has probably happened as we speak, thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles.)
Is it worth anything these days to be platinum? What wonders of AF/KLM service and hospitality can I look forward to in real life (ie not just what the web blurb on their site says)??

With Plat you will get higher priority on standby and a higher baggage allowance.
Regarding op-up, things are not clear as it also depends on the fare you paid.

Forget anything about hospitality : this is not AF/KL world. Sometimes you will be called by your name or greated by the purser but it is rare.

Apart from the above, the main advantages I see in Plat are :
- in case of irregular operations (flight cancelled etc...), you will be taken care before Gold
- if you manage to stay Plat for 10 consecutive year, you will be lifetime Plat.

If it is not a big effort for you to jump to Plat, then do it, otherwise you may stick with Gold.

I think I'm about to go FB Platinum... (actually it has probably happened as we speak, thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles.)
Is it worth anything these days to be platinum? What wonders of AF/KLM service and hospitality can I look forward to in real life (ie not just what the web blurb on their site says)??

I am not sure what you are trying to elicite. If you are asking if there is more to gain from being platinum than is posted on the AF/KL/FB sites then have a look at the many post here which are about people trying to get the stated entitlements, nevermind getting extras :rolleyes:

You appear to be FB silver right now. Silver to Gold is the big difference, but I cannot add to what is stated on the web.

Are you asking if there are some hidden perks to being platinum that are not made explicit?

I am not sure what you are trying to elicite. If you are asking if there is more to gain from being platinum than is posted on the AF/KL/FB sites then have a look at the many post here which are about people trying to get the stated entitlements, nevermind getting extras :rolleyes:

You appear to be FB silver right now. Silver to Gold is the big difference, but I cannot add to what is stated on the web.

Are you asking if there are some hidden perks to being platinum that are not made explicit?

No I was just wondering how many of the claims made as to the services available for platinum members on the AF website, had a basis in reality as opposed to the fevered imagination of an AF marketing wiz... As you say looking at the other threads on here it would appear the answer is 'not that many'.
I'm actually FBgold btw just forgot to change my profile.... :eek:

People tend more to complain than to thank AF/KL. If everything goes fine on an AF/KL flight, people will hardly report it here (ok it happens), probably because they will consider it as "this is how an AF/KL should be".

But I have no doubt that the complaints listed on that board are true ones.

Nevertheless, I think there is a global feeling here that FB is devaluating its services, and that Platinum is not really worth the effort as opposed to Gold.

Good points Bodory.

I would add that it is important to distingusih between AF/KL and FB. Generally, my flights are fine and I m normally treated as well as I would expect (for any passenger, not because I am PE).

I sometimes find the lounge staff to be surly. See the many posts on this topic by other people.

I sometimes get hugely frustrated with FB for not posting miles to my account and then sending me standard, useless and meaningless replies to my specific queries (though I have never failed to get the miles eventually). This is but one example of my frustration with FB. 'It is not possible' is expected. See the many posts on this topic by other people.

Yesterday I booked a rather nice promo with FB from BHX-MEX in C. It cost 50,000 miles and around £350 in taxes. Huge on taxes but where would I get anything like that price for a return flight to MEX in C? The normal FB price is 100,000 miles. I have had some great promo deals. Nothing to do with being PE though.

It is now clear that the OP is moving from Gold to PE. The answer to the original question is that you will notice no change IMHO. You already know the technical differences between Gold and PE. For most of us they are irrelevant. See the many posts on this topic by other people.

Number of times I have flown KL? Lots. Number of upgrades as PE or Gold? None. Number of times I have flown Qantas? Once (return). Number of upgrades? One ;) This was brilliant - MEL-HKG! The point of this? IME being PE has made not a jot of difference on KL in regard to upgrades. Having stated that, most of my flying has been in C, and there has been nowhere to which they could upgrade me. Not the fault of AF/KL or FB.

Do I miss something here ?
How is it possible to go to a higher level "thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles" ???????

Do I miss something here ?
How is it possible to go to a higher level "thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles" ???????

The miles I accrue on FB by using the FB Amex card when I shop.... Was I THAT unclear?

Thanks Brian1042, that's exactly the information/opinions I was looking for.

Do I miss something here ?
How is it possible to go to a higher level "thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles" ???????

Assuming the OP is using the French FB Gold Amex, which provides level miles.

Assuming the OP is using the French FB Gold Amex, which provides level miles.

Exactly.

Do I miss something here ?
How is it possible to go to a higher level "thanks to my FB Amex card transfer of miles" ???????

Assuming the OP is using the French FB Gold Amex, which provides level miles.

Exactly.

Correct: that is the ONLY level-miles-earning card. This does not apply to the French Silvercard, the Dutch FB Amex or transfer from Amex MR to FB.

No I was just wondering how many of the claims made as to the services available for platinum members on the AF website, had a basis in reality as opposed to the fevered imagination of an AF marketing wiz... As you say looking at the other threads on here it would appear the answer is 'not that many'.
I'm actually FBgold btw just forgot to change my profile.... :eek:

Seems to me apart from the baggage allowance there is now real benefit over gold. In fact, I'd suggest that the only real benefit of being Gold was upgrades on NW in the U.S, but I fear they're about to become a thing of the past due to the delta merger.

.... looking at the positive side of things,at least with plat & with minimal flying loyalty on AFKL ,you do get the soft landing back to gold.:)

.... looking at the positive side of things,at least with plat & with minimal flying loyalty on AFKL ,you do get the soft landing back to gold.:)

I am currently Plat and in 2009 I have flown only 2400 level miles but non on AF/KL. The few miles have been in AM/AZ/OK.
Will I get the benefit of Soft landing to Gold or I will go down to Ivory?
Thks,

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As long as these are level miles, you'll be dropped to Gold.

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As long as these are level miles, you'll be dropped to Gold.

Thanks vm bodory. This will save me flying AF/KL arround Europe and get a generous :( 125 miles * segment

Thanks vm bodory. This will save me flying AF/KL arround Europe and get a generous :( 125 miles * segment

You are SO unfair! You get a whopping 187 miles if the flight is not domestic! :D

You are SO unfair! You get a whopping 187 miles if the flight is not domestic! :D

I am so sorry, please accept my sincere apologies ;).
(however in the AF/FB spanish web still mentions a "whopping" packet of 125 miles per segment in intra-european flights booked in E)

People tend more to complain than to thank AF/KL. If everything goes fine on an AF/KL flight, people will hardly report it here (ok it happens), probably because they will consider it as "this is how an AF/KL should be".

Indeed. If I do what I am supposed to do in my job nobody sais a word. If I screwup, or do something extra, they will say something.

I think that you will also see this kind of natural behaviour reflected in this forum.