Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - Booking the correct fare class for upgrade

As always when posting in a forum on a website I've just joined, my apologies if I'm asking questions to which everyone here already knows the answers. I've looked at the sticky threads and done some searches without finding what I need.

I'm also new to stuff like fare buckets, booking classes, etc. My aim on this particular trip is to upgrade to business on an open-jaw flight on AF (CDG-SAN; SEA-CDG). I'm FB gold elite, and I haven't bought the underlying economy (Voyageur) or Premium Voyageur ticket yet.

First question: the fare class I want is O, whether I'm upgrading from Voyageur or PV, correct?

Second question: since it's not a round-trip, do I need to check each leg separately for upgrade availability if I'm using ExpertFlyer?

Anyway, EF seems to show no availability in O on any of the flights around the dates I want.

Third question: does that mean no availability at all, or is it possible that there are upgrades available for elite FB members that EF doesn't show?

I'd rather not wait too long before buying my Voyageur or PV tickets. If I buy the ticket while there's still no upgrade availability, I'd like to buy in a fare class that will be eligible if an upgrade does become available.

Fourth question: I hope I understand Mokshu's posts correctly. Is the following right: the fare classes I need are Y,B,K, or H in Voyageur, or S or W in PV; and upgrading from Voyageur will cost 32,500, from PV 16,500? (I'm booking from Paris)

Fifth question: how, on the AF website, can I specify which fare class I want or buy the cheapest available ticket that's eligible for an O upgrade?

I admit I find a lot of this stuff baffling. Thanks for your patience and any answers you may have.

I'm lost too. About to depart to CDG from ORD. Tried to look for answer but no joy. I am booked in B with air France. What's the chance for an upgrade? I have zero status with them.

As always when posting in a forum on a website I've just joined, my apologies if I'm asking questions to which everyone here already knows the answers. I've looked at the sticky threads and done some searches without finding what I need.

I'm also new to stuff like fare buckets, booking classes, etc. My aim on this particular trip is to upgrade to business on an open-jaw flight on AF (CDG-SAN; SEA-CDG). I'm FB gold elite, and I haven't bought the underlying economy (Voyageur) or Premium Voyageur ticket yet.

First question: the fare class I want is O, whether I'm upgrading from Voyageur or PV, correct?

Second question: since it's not a round-trip, do I need to check each leg separately for upgrade availability if I'm using ExpertFlyer?

Anyway, EF seems to show no availability in O on any of the flights around the dates I want.

Third question: does that mean no availability at all, or is it possible that there are upgrades available for elite FB members that EF doesn't show?

I'd rather not wait too long before buying my Voyageur or PV tickets. If I buy the ticket while there's still no upgrade availability, I'd like to buy in a fare class that will be eligible if an upgrade does become available.

Fourth question: I hope I understand Mokshu's posts correctly. Is the following right: the fare classes I need are Y,B,K, or H in Voyageur, or S or W in PV; and upgrading from Voyageur will cost 32,500, from PV 16,500? (I'm booking from Paris)

Fifth question: how, on the AF website, can I specify which fare class I want or buy the cheapest available ticket that's eligible for an O upgrade?

I admit I find a lot of this stuff baffling. Thanks for your patience and any answers you may have.

1. Yes.
2. I dont understand the question.
3. Never found out how EF handles elite availability, but dont set your hopes too high.
4. I think it's YBMU for Economy. The miles are correct for one-way.
5. Nowhere. You have to call them.

OK, well I love how you cant select a seat assignment unless you are at the EXACT terminal here in Paris. We had to walk all over the airport and no one could check us in or even help us with an upgrade unless we were at the exact gate. What a worthless airline.

1. Yes.
2. I dont understand the question.
3. Never found out how EF handles elite availability, but dont set your hopes too high.
4. I think it's YBMU for Economy. The miles are correct for one-way.
5. Nowhere. You have to call them.
Thanks. Question #2 was the least important. What I meant was this: there's no way on EF to check either flight availability or award/upgrade availability on an open-jaw itinerary, is there? All you can check is one-way, round-trip, or circle/RTW. For open jaw, you have to treat it as two one-way flights and check each of them separately.

OK, well I love how you cant select a seat assignment unless you are at the EXACT terminal here in Paris. We had to walk all over the airport and no one could check us in or even help us with an upgrade unless we were at the exact gate. What a worthless airline.
I don't know that I'd agree with "worthless," but the combination of AF and CDG is frustrating. I used to live in Amsterdam, and the comparison with KL and AMS is remarkable. Whatever the architects were told should be the priorities in designing CDG, efficiency and common sense weren't among them. As an American, I advise any of my friends and family who are flying to Europe and can't get a direct flight to connect through Amsterdam (or Frankfurt, if they're flying with United) and to avoid Heathrow (preferably) and CDG (at all costs).

First of all, welcome to FlyerTalk jjgass! You have made a great start, wish that all new members start their first topic like this ^

Let me try to answer your questions.

1) O is the fare bucket that needs to be available if you want to do an upgrade to business / afaires. Availability of the O bucket goes up and down. Sometimes it becomes available only a few days before the flight. Sometimes months before. Sometimes not at all.

2) I believe you can upgrade only outbound, or only inbound as well. Meaning half your journey will be in business. But generally you have to check all legs, yes. Note that if there is no availability at this moment, it might appear later. Or not. Its a bit of a gamble..

If you doubt that EF is showing you what is actually available at the airline, you could try to search for awards tickets on the KLM or AF website. If your flights are available as 'business classic award' (or affaires classic for Air France), there should be availability in O.

3) There might be. This Elite-only space has fare code 'M' if I am not mistaken. You could verify this on the KLM/AF website, like described in (2). I am however not sure if the Elite-award space can be used for upgrades. It may be used for booking full award tickets, but for upgrades I am not sure if it will be available.

4) That is indeed what the sticky says. Perhaps Mokshu or somebody in the know might verify that this is still accurate.

5) On the KLM website you can select *some* options in regards to booking classes (also for AF flights). However if you want to be sure, its better to call them. Keep in mind though that when you book over the phone a small fee is added for the 'extra service'.


Besides all this it is good to keep in mind that upgrades are often released close to the departure date. The airline uses it to sell some, otherwise empty, business class seats. While this is great, the flipside is that if there is a strong demand for Business class on that route/day...there might not be any 'excess' at all, and therefore no upgrade availabilty.

If you want to be very sure you will be able to upgrade, you might want to consider getting a full award ticket instead. It will be more miles, but a lot cheaper in terms of airfare ($$). Especially since the booking classes that you will need to be able to upgrade are (very) expensive. It might even work out cheaper to buy miles, and use those to book an award ticket. That all depends on route and dates of course, but might be worth taking a look at.

Also I am not sure how bound you are to the dates, generally the more flexible you are the more chances for award space to open up :)

There is no restriction on inbound/outbound upgrade.

Fourth question: I hope I understand Mokshu's posts correctly. Is the following right: the fare classes I need are Y,B,K, or H in Voyageur, or S or W in PV; and upgrading from Voyageur will cost 32,500, from PV 16,500? (I'm booking from Paris)
It depends on the place you buy your ticket

In France: Eco to Business Y B award class O

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4696/afbookingclassesforupgr.png