Flying Blue (Air France & KLM) - Requalification questions

I'm currently FB Gold. But looking at my travel patterns till end of the year, it doesn't look like I will requalify for anything.

If I go down to (eeks) Ivory, but what if between Jan 1 and Mar 31st 2010, I earn the 40K required for FB Gold again, will I get my status back for 2010 till Mar 31st 2011, or do I remain Ivory till 2011?

I'm currently FB Gold. But looking at my travel patterns till end of the year, it doesn't look like I will requalify for anything.

If I go down to (eeks) Ivory,

This will only happen if you did not do any level flights. As long as you did at least one level flight, you'll only be downgraded by one level.

but what if between Jan 1 and Mar 31st 2010, I earn the 40K required for FB Gold again, will I get my status back for 2010 till Mar 31st 2011, or do I remain Ivory till 2011

You will be upgraded instantly (give up to 5 days) after the qualifying flight. So if you get the necessary miles or flights before the 31st of March 2010, you'll be ranked Gold from 1st of April 2010 to the 31st of December 2011.

Thank you ! ^

Good. I've done only 4 flights this year but all the long haul qualifying flights will only be done early next year.

So at least I have a 90 day leeway, ie 1Jan-31Mar, to requalify.

:D

ixs I think you might be wrong.

My level flights and level miles zero out between Dec 31 and Jan 1 each year, so how can earned miles and flights count towards status for the same year (after Dec 31) earned in the following year?

From Air France's web page:

How to qualify?

You qualify for Elite Silver, Gold or Platinum Membership by accruing the specified amount of Level Miles (or Level flight segments) within one calendar year (1 January to 31 December). As soon as you reach the next threshold, you are automatically upgraded to the corresponding Elite Level.

Level Miles (and Level flight segments) are earned on eligible AIR FRANCE, KLM, Air Europa, Kenya Airways and SkyTeam flights.
Your Level Miles (and Level flight segments) are valid until December 31st of the year of issue.
See Elite benefits for further information on Silver, Gold and Platinum Membership Thresholds and benefits.

I'm quite sure you need to have the qualifying flights done in a full calendar year Jan 1 to Dec 31 as per the FB rules above... The three months following is for non claimed miles to be added.

Please do correct me if I'm wrong...

Cheerio

My level flights and level miles zero out between Dec 31 and Jan 1 each year, so how can earned miles and flights count towards status for the same year (after Dec 31) earned in the following year?

They don't. You're absolutely right about that.

I understood the OP as: I will loose my Gold status this year. That much is given. But I'm doing enough miles to qualify for Gold status between 1st of January 2010 and the 31st of March 2010. Do I get upgraded immediately or do I have to wait for 2011 to become Gold again?

And the answer to that is, you'll qualify for the next year and the remainder of the current year as per https://secure.klm.com/travel/nl_en/flying_blue/elite_benefits/thresholds/index.htm?intcamp=flb.benefits&intchan=fb.thresholdsmenu&inttype=txt.benefit

"When you have earned a certain number of Level Miles, we gladly welcome you in the next Elite level. Your Level Miles remain valid until the 31st of December in the year you have earned them. That does not mean you cannot reach a higher level before that date. As soon as you have earned enough Level Miles, you automatically move up to a higher level at any time of the year."

Okay.. so I will lose my FB Gold status to FB Silver when my current card expires on 31MAR2010.

But my question is that what if I earn the required 40K miles by March 31st?

Would I be first downgraded to SILVER , and then upgraded to GOLD again ?

That is the issue ...

Thank you for your help

Okay.. so I will lose my FB Gold status to FB Silver when my current card expires on 31MAR2010.

But my question is that what if I earn the required 40K miles by March 31st?

Would I be first downgraded to SILVER , and then upgraded to GOLD again ?

That is the issue ...

Thank you for your help
You will be downgraded to Silver on JAN 1st, but your gold card is valid till march 10 included, thus giving you access to the lounge normally (am not so sure about that since your - then Elite only - status is also showing on the BP.

When you achieve 40K during 1st quarter you will become gold as soon as the threshold is exceeded (no wait till early '11). So practically this will give you RoY '10 + FY '11 of gold for 40 K.

It's also likely you will receive 2 sets of card in '10: Silver then gold.

You will be downgraded to Silver on JAN 1st, but your gold card is valid till march 10 included, thus giving you access to the lounge normally (am not so sure about that since your - then Elite only - status is also showing on the BP.



usually downgrades happen on April 1st and not January 1st.

To the OP, if you earn 40k level miles by 3/31 you should never be downgraded.

usually downgrades happen on April 1st and not January 1st.

To the OP, if you earn 40k level miles by 3/31 you should never be downgraded.

That's correct.

But Guy Betsy, remember that it is not that easy to earn 40K with the new accruals. Z business class only earn 125% and you need a very expensive Y fare to earn 100%. So you need three Return from HKG to Europe to gain Gold. Frankly, I am not sure why you would want to suffer on AF just to get FB Gold while you have much better Asian alternatives (such as CX). It is a vicious circle, if you dont fly much on AF, lounge access is of little interest (and there are so few ST airlines). And flying AF just to get lounge access....

That's correct.

But Guy Betsy, remember that it is not that easy to earn 40K with the new accruals. Z business class only earn 125% and you need a very expensive Y fare to earn 100%. So you need three Return from HKG to Europe to gain Gold. Frankly, I am not sure why you would want to suffer on AF just to get FB Gold while you have much better Asian alternatives (such as CX). It is a vicious circle, if you dont fly much on AF, lounge access is of little interest (and there are so few ST airlines). And flying AF just to get lounge access....

Recently a lot of my travels have been on KLM. I like the FB Gold status which gives me the advance seat selection of emergency exit seats. I carry a little foldout chair and use that as an ottoman - thus creating my very own business class seat.... when available.

Under new rules, on KL flights, one gets 100% on B,S fares and 75% only on M fares. Its still affordable on some fares from asia.

Actually the past few flights have been in V class - which I then credit to DL's FFP which awards 100% vs FB's 25%.