SkyTeam - KLM + China Airlines - Single Boarding Pass?

I was planning on flying Aberdeen (UK) -> Bangkok all the way via KLM. However, I notice it's cheaper to buy a ticket that uses KLM for one leg of the journey, and China Airlines for the next.

I'm having trouble finding some concrete information on this, so if anyone knows the answers to my questions I'd be very grateful.

Given KLM and China Airlines are partners....

1. If I miss the connection, would they put me on the next available flight?
2. Can I check in my baggage all the way?
3. Would I get a single boarding pass or would I have to check in all over again at Amsterdam?

Thanks :)

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. You check in once at ABZ.

You'll get 2 boarding passes at ABZ.

And if for whatever reason they can't issue your CI boarding pass at ABZ, you can pick it up at any of the transfer kiosks in Schiphol.

Note that all the above is true only if you buy the flights as a single ticket. If you buy ABZ-AMS on KL and AMS-BKK on CI separately, you wouldn't be protected in the case of missing your connection.

Thanks!

If it's purchased through something like Expedia or a "cheap flights" website, does that count as a single ticket?

Yes, that counts as a "single ticket" so you should have no worries about misconnecting.

Note that you will have to undergo another security check at the gate prior to boarding your China Airlines flight, but you won't have to pass through immigration or customs at Amsterdam.

I was planning on flying Aberdeen (UK) -> Bangkok all the way via KLM. However, I notice it's cheaper to buy a ticket that uses KLM for one leg of the journey, and China Airlines for the next.

If you're concerned about earning Flying Blue miles, then note that China Airlines flight 66 from AMS to BKK does not earn FB miles:
The following flights are excluded for accrual:
Amsterdam – Bangkok – Taipei (CI66)
Taipei – Bangkok – Amsterdam (CI65)

However, if you're booked on the KLM codeshare for this flight (KL4240), then I assume that this would earn miles:
You can earn Miles on all KLM-coded flights

As long as the OP buys only one ticket (with multiple segments), he/she will be covered against misconnecting. No worries :)

If it would be one or two boarding passes: I believe it depends who prints the boarding pass. I have seen AF robots print boarding passes with multiple legs on one single BP.

If you're concerned about earning Flying Blue miles, then note that China Airlines flight 66 from AMS to BKK does not earn FB miles

:confused:Do you have any idea why this flight is excluded. That seems odd !

Monopoly me thinks.

Try and buy your ticket as a code sharing from KLM. THis can be through your travel agent.

Then if things go pear shape KLM will help.

Recently I had a refused boarding by China Southern and I had purchased tickets via KLM. The refused boarding was a China South Mistake.

KLM were fantastic and sorted us a Hotel, meals and flight. China Southern did not do anything but try to avoid us!!

So protect your bum first and your pocket second :D

:confused:Do you have any idea why this flight is excluded. That seems odd !

Monopoly me thinks.

I agree it is odd - or at least, rather unfortunate.

I had originally assumed it was to do with competition - ie: KL wanted to compete with CI on that route, and therefore didn't want to reward its own frequent flyers for using the 'competition'. However that seems to rather undermine the point of an alliance (or even of having partner airlines in an FFP).

Furthermore, I now see that KL code-share on the CI flight (although I'm not sure when that started) - and I don't really see how an airline can compete with a flight it's code-sharing on*. So, as CI66/65 are ST-operated, and carry KL code-shares, it seems very strange they don't earn FB miles...

* Although I think in some cases, fare-rules (perhaps especially for discounted fares) for a routing will allow use of an airline's own metal, but won't allow use of code-shares.

Aren't the codeshares more expensive? Or at least that what I saw on random routes (quite a time ago, not on this specific route).

If you're concerned about earning Flying Blue miles, then note that China Airlines flight 66 from AMS to BKK does not earn FB miles:


However, if you're booked on the KLM codeshare for this flight (KL4240), then I assume that this would earn miles:

I bought a biz o/w ticket on Lastminute.com thinking it was a all KLM flight, just posted a thread about this.

Even though my ticket gave a KLM flt number, my boarding card said CI and got NO POINTS

I bought a biz o/w ticket on Lastminute.com thinking it was a all KLM flight, just posted a thread about this.

Even though my ticket gave a KLM flt number, my boarding card said CI and got NO POINTS
Was it a published business class fare or a consolidator fare? Could it have been some sort of a grey market ticket, probably bought by a "travel agent" with someone else's purchased FF miles?