Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - One-Way Awards & Booking Korean Airlines (and non-skyteam) Awards

Hi FB experts

1. Am I right in thinking that it's now allowed to book one-way awards on ALL FB airline partners?

2. but stop-overs are not permitted?

3. Does anyone know the maximum number of segments permitted for one-way awards? If yes, what is it (for the pedants out there ;D)?

4. I haven't been able to find any Korean (or Malaysian or JAL) availability using the online tool - I always get routed on CZ and/or CI (for which, I'm happy to see, there is LOADS of availability - anyone have any comments on the J offering from these airlines?). Is this not available online or is availability simply very limited?

Like most of you, I'm determined to burn my 100k miles remaining in the most effective possible way, pref between Europe and NZ. Then I can say goodbye to FB.

Hi nz

It is my understanding that one way bookings ARE permitted using the FB scheme. What is a little less clear to some are the revision / cancellation options which are different between 'classic' awards and others.

Across the board it is my understanding that the majority of ff schemes score in their treatment of one ways, and those in the minority which insist on return bookings only are few ( one such is US Airways )

1. Am I right in thinking that it's now allowed to book one-way awards on ALL FB airline partners?


No, not all Flying Blue partner airlines.

See:

For AIR FRANCE and KLM flights, as well as those of our SkyTeam partners, Aircalin and Malaysia Airlines, you can purchase a one-way award ticket* for half the price of a round-trip award. Please note that on flights with other airlines, Classic Awards are for round-trip tickets only**.


2. but stop-overs are not permitted?

As I understand it, any break in travel of more than 24 hours is not permitted.
Also, while you may be able to "force" an overnight somewhere along the way, this will likely only be possible when it actually represents a valid, direct routing. I don't think you would be allowed to "force" an overnight in somewhere that is going a bit out of the way or that makes routing on Skyteam complex - i.e. LHR - NYC could go direct (on Delta) or via CDG or AMS (possibly forcing an overnight, on AF or KL) but something like LHR-RUH (Riyadh, KSA)-NYC as a one-way would be impossible


4. I haven't been able to find any Korean (or Malaysian or JAL) availability using the online tool - I always get routed on CZ and/or CI (for which, I'm happy to see, there is LOADS of availability - anyone have any comments on the J offering from these airlines?). Is this not available online or is availability simply very limited?
Bear in mind that KE have black out dates.

But for these airlines, you probably have to ring up. As you say, it's rare/impossible to see these offered online, so if you have a specific, valid routing, you would need a phone agent to book on these airlines for you when not suggested by the website.

I believe the plan was to have all partner airlines available via the web engine but this is not the case (yet).

For certain airlines it is indeed required to call the FB Call Center.

Gajan

(..) For certain airlines it is indeed required to call the FB Call Center. Gajan

Such as MH yes. But the booking process is quite tricky. You need to speak with a well experienced agent otherwise, you will end up with a "no availability" answer for most days.

Thanks guys. Mostly as I thought, then. The online tool appears to be reasonable, but the fact there may be some availability that doesn't appear there is worrying, especially as who knows if I'll get a good agent when I call!

Does anyone know if it's allowed to pick-and-choose segments? (i.e. call to book ones that are definitely available - they appear in the online tool - but in a different combination from how they appear online)

Does anyone know if it's allowed to pick-and-choose segments? (i.e. call to book ones that are definitely available - they appear in the online tool - but in a different combination from how they appear online)

If you mean piecing together an award from various flights that you are seeing as offered by the online tool, but in a particular combination not offered by the online tool, I don't see why not - as long as you don't end up turning a layover into a stopover of 24 hours or more. The tool will try to optimise your connection (I assume), so would avoid suggesting a flight that gives you, say, 20 hours waiting time at the transfer point, when there is a quicker connection available. But if that is actually what you want to book, then I don't see that it would be a problem.

There is this phenomenon that you sometimes have award availability only if you do not combine certain segments. I have observed this for AF. I do not know if it also applies to other airlines FB offers awards for.

It's not easy, is it?!