Air France Frequence Plus - Frequence Plus / Flying Dutchman Merger

Does anyone have any inside info about the expected merged Program in 2005. Many questions arise and there is really very little being said about any changes.
A- FD currently has four levels of membership (up to Platinum) while FP has three (up to Rouge). Will the new program opt for three or four?? and what will be the threshold to reach each level. Shouldn't they be clear about this subject before the end of the year so each member can know where he stands vis-a-vis his total qualifying miles for 2004?
B- Any changes in the crediting of mileage. AF is now quite generous in crediting almost all booking classes especially for international flights.
They might opt to use a policy similar to many Star Alliance airlines which credit you according to booking class.
C- Any changes in the mileage required for award travel or upgrades?
D- Any new benefits added or conversely any benefits will be lost under the new scheme?

I'm eager to see the new product and its name. Nobody seems to have a hint, though :( ...

Flying Frenchman ? ;)

...or Fréquence Dutch? :D

Or F******G Useless

Or F******G Useless

I'm sure the United Kingdom offers many other options (even for going to Netherlands) than SkyTeam... I hear British Rail is quite nice...

As for name change, I would simply call it Lekker !

I would be interested to know if flights taken this year on KL metal could generate status miles for Frequence Plus. I ask because I have to do a Nairobi trip, the miles for which would get me up to Rouge.
Thanks for any help.

If the KL flights were after KL joined Skyteam and you asked to have your FP account to be credited, then they should count. If not, I would be surprised if they would give you any credit. Best way is to check your account status on Airfrance.fr

Also, what willl happen to the miles in each of the programs? Will they be merged as 1:1 or in some other complicated ratio? I have quite a number of miles with KL (where I am platinum) and no status and a few ten thousand miles with AF- will they let me take the miles to the combined program and will I have to spend them seperately?

Thanks, ALEXIS, they were after KL joined, and they have just appeared on my F+ statement

Glad you got your miles. Normally you don't have to wait for the statement to know whether your flights were credited. You can access this info 2-3 days after your flight by logging onto airfrance.fr and under Frequence Plus, go to Mon compte. You have to enter your FP number and a password which should be on one of your old mailed-in statements.

A- FD currently has four levels of membership (up to Platinum) ...

Shouldn't they be clear about this subject before the end of the year ....

B- Any changes in the crediting of mileage. AF is now quite generous in crediting ....
.
C- Any changes in the mileage required for award travel or upgrades?

D- Any new benefits added or conversely any benefits will be lost under the new scheme?

I do not have any confidential information, and just expecting what might happen.

A/ I may imagine they will go to the usual 4 levels scheme, and add a free upgrade process that does not exist today on the paper.
IMO they will also suppress this stupid rule of having different thresholds for Elite level depending whether your are french (which is bad today) or not.

AA/ I do not see them clearing anything before any given date. My understading is they do not care. Contrary to the US market where FFP are a key issue, europeans care less, and anyway customers are given in Roissy by Skyteam to AF. So there is no issue there for AF to give informations quickly.
I am just hoping to be wrong :)

B/ They will probably complicate the chart, some cheap tickets (not that cheap as a matter of fact) do not give miles already, and all national flight do not give QM for french pax anyway today. They will complicate this a little more and probably introduce QM rules too.

C/ I do not expect so, except upgrading probably.

D/ probably maintening our status for one or two years when favorable after new programm is kicked of, but nothing more.

BTW I do not expect conversion better than 1:1 for both old programs into the new one. That also is just an expectation.
Anyway, the exsiting F+ and KLM ff-travellers do not have any other real choice then convert into the new programm..

There will be 4 Levels of membership to be launch on June 2005 namely Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Thats all for now :)

There will be 4 Levels of membership to be launch on June 2005 namely Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Thats all for now :)

you know the key question: WILL ALL FARES YIELD MILES??? Please tell us if you've got info!

This assumes that Rouge will become Gold. Who then becomes Platinum, and what is the threshold? 80,000 qmiles?? If this were to be applied for miles earned in 2004, then would it not be like changing the rules after the game is over and still applying it to the game??
How would they reconcile the 4 levels with other Skyteam members who still go by the 3 levels (by the way, all other Skyteam members complain about Rouge with AF as being too easily attainable at 40k miles outside France)

To answer garaps, I think most fares will still yield miles. The "Booster de miles" program starts in 2005 and does not mention anything about change of rules to those who want to join the program, something I would assume they would have to tell those interested.

Unless I am missing something, KL is the dominant player. If so, we will play by the convenience of KL rules.

1. Will North American AF members be dumped to NW(can CAnada join KL?)

2. Will Elite+ be 50k miles instead of 40k?

3. What will be the mileage bonuses at each level? I think biz for a Rouge is 250%. I think for a KL plat is 325%. do I got it right?

4. Will NA be able to join FD?

5. Will NA members get lounge(elite+) access by qualification, or will it be purchase?

Unless I am missing something, KL is the dominant player.

hum, no. AF 'bought' KL. AF is unambiguously the dominant player. They agreed to keep KLs distinct identity for at least a few years, but that is about it. After that, they can do just about anything they like with it.


This assumes that Rouge will become Gold. Who then becomes Platinum, and what is the threshold? 80,000 qmiles?? If this were to be applied for miles earned in 2004, then would it not be like changing the rules after the game is over and still applying it to the game??


They could do it KL did it when they moved from a 3 to 4 tier system: put all top elite (Rouge) in the new top tier (Plat), Bleu into Gold, and some of those who are currently non elite but above a certain threshold into Silver.
25K, 50K and 75K tends to be the norm in a number of programs, including KL. Unlikely that they would go for higher thresholds (à la DL)

Unless I am missing something, KL is the dominant player. If so, we will play by the convenience of KL rules.



:confused:

This assumes that Rouge will become Gold. Who then becomes Platinum, and what is the threshold? 80,000 qmiles?? If this were to be applied for miles earned in 2004, then would it not be like changing the rules after the game is over and still applying it to the game??


It's unlikely they will start the new program on January 1st... If they wait for something like June, they could sort Rouge in Gold and Platinum based on their miles earned in the six first month. Just a wild guess.


How would they reconcile the 4 levels with other Skyteam members who still go by the 3 levels (by the way, all other Skyteam members complain about Rouge with AF as being too easily attainable at 40k miles outside France)


I feel that it won't last long, with KL members joining en masse. Maybe the two threshold will be applied to Europe/non-Europe members, maybe it will be dropped altogether.

There will be 4 Levels of membership to be launch on June 2005 namely Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Thats all for now :)

Of course, I'm assuming this to be a bit of humour, right? :D

It seems all we discussed on this subject of FD/FP merger never materialized. All remained as is in 2005.

By the way, it is now February I requalified for Rouge since July and until today, my new Rouge card still not received. I don't know if it is standard procedure or perhaps it is because my old red card expires in March. Would be interested to get feedback.

It seems all we discussed on this subject of FD/FP merger never materialized. All remained as is in 2005.

By the way, it is now February I requalified for Rouge since July and until today, my new Rouge card still not received. I don't know if it is standard procedure or perhaps it is because my old red card expires in March. Would be interested to get feedback.

I would bet on it being because it doesn't expire until March.

I have heard, though I have nothing further to add, that there may be changes in May/June. However, it's speculation and it needs to be taken for what it's worth.

I would bet on it being because it doesn't expire until March.

I have heard, though I have nothing further to add, that there may be changes in May/June. However, it's speculation and it needs to be taken for what it's worth.

I called Fréquence Plus yesterday to have information on why mard rouge carde hadn't been issued. Answered that no card will be issued until march, and that the merger with FD would happen in march/april. Both connected, surely.