Air France Frequence Plus - Attaining an upgrade

I am now platinum after shed loads of economy dub-rio via cdg.

Done a few business class trips but mostly economy, though 1 a month at least. After gold i hit platinum after another euopean trip from rio.

I get to sit upstairs (747) and use the lounge but other than that I dont seem to really get much more - should i be asking for an upgrade?

Just wondered if there are perks i am missing out on!

Hi cardhappyaf. Welcome to FT!

Forget about the upgrade. They want you to pay for J and frankly they have a reason and a right to do so.

Having said that. Yes, your chances of getting an upgrade have increased but simply don't count on it. When there is an operational need to upgrade people to the front cabin you'll be one of the first on the list.

Further, there is not much noticeable difference with Gold. Except the extra bonus miles. I have quite obviously benefited from priority waitlist on overbooked flights, about 3 times or so. And only once, I pushed the extra baggage allowance to the limit. That's about all...

The staff don't like that pax ask for upgrades. And I clearly understand this. Can you imagine hearing this question a hundred times a day "Please, can I be upgraded ?":D
welcome to FT !

Having said that. Yes, your chances of getting an upgrade have increased

As you'll find out from other threads, there certainly isn't a unanimous view of FTers on that either - several of us have had the impression that if anything, your chances have decreased. There is a recent post about someone mentioning guidelines to KL staff during their training which sadly seems to confirm that platinum are far from top priority in the view of the airline.

several of us have had the impression that if anything, your chances have decreased. There is a recent post about someone mentioning guidelines to KL staff during their training which sadly seems to confirm that platinum are far from top priority in the view of the airline.
Indeed ! And if you become Life Platinum, then you will go further down in the AF scale of interest.

...and use the lounge...

...which in the case for DUB is anything than a perk but rather a punishment :eek:

The Anna Livia lounge (AF's lounge at DUB) is a disaster, an embarresment to humanity, a horrid enclosed space, crowded, dirty and is best left alone!!! I hate the place and NEVER will I enter it voluntarily again... Shivers down my spine!

Oh, got an upgrade from CGD-DUB on my first trip as a Gold holder. I never ever ask for upgrades and never start arguments with the staff. If you're extra nice to them, you'll get much further, no matter what status you hold (should really be on your status IMO)...

As you'll find out from other threads, there certainly isn't a unanimous view of FTers on that either - several of us have had the impression that if anything, your chances have decreased. There is a recent post about someone mentioning guidelines to KL staff during their training which sadly seems to confirm that platinum are far from top priority in the view of the airline.

I quite regularly travel with colleagues, including ones of different status. The rare times since the birth of FB when there was an upgrade, it always included me and not always the other. That's what makes me conclude that upgrade chances improve for PE.

Having said all that, I fly a lot less with them nowadays. And oh yes....the NONREV always winns ;)

My rare inter-continental upgrades have only ever happened when I have been PE. So from my experience it increases the chance. That said, it has always been on KLM - AF may do things differently.

thanks for the responses. i wouldnt really ever ask, i just wondered apart from the bagage and upstair seating on the 747 if they ever gave upgrades etc. I have had a good read of the forums and can see it isnt likely! Its just a shame they have the best prices and connection times from rio to dub.
Have to agree with the dub lounge - i actually dont even bother with it anymore, the one in rio is only slightly better as its rammed with oil workers who get gold almost immediatley.

Cheers people, great forum also!

I have "earned" elite status on several different air carriers over the years. I can without equivocation say that AF does less to retain the loyalty of its prime frequent flyers than any other carrier I have experienced. Fewer perks, less recognition and essentially complete absence of upgrades. Indeed, even in the circumstance of a cancelled flight from CDG back to the US, there was essentially no special consideration given to the premium flyers--just join the line. Frankly that shocked me as I would have expected that the elite frequent flyers would get handled first and best in that circumstance (this is one area where AA--an airline with many faults--did shine; when problems arose the elite flyers were taken care of first).

So welcome to an elite status that does not mean very much at all.

i see your point i was ba gold for a while....i think with af it is easy to get decent status but the benefits are lounges, 747 upper deck and extra baggage...well it least i know!

....i think with af it is easy to get decent status but the benefits are lounges, 747 upper deck and extra baggage...well it least i know!

I agree 100% with you cardhappyaf.

Also holding gold it gives you the right to use the fast track which for me is a huge plus. I pay for all my AF flights myself and usually go for the cheapest options available and attaining a similar status with any other major airline is next to impossible :(

I have never been badly treated by AF, on the contrary always by helpful and attentive staff, but then again I never make any unnecessary fuss :D

But presumably with the new April mileage hurdles along with the global economic slowdown in premium class travel and genuinely more redundant staff (as in 'fired' as opposed to 'redundant' in the usual lazy, cigg smoking,espresso imbibing chatting sense) , there will be less golds/plats and more room for upgrades with less staff,friends,pets etc to compete with for the seating.:)

being selfemployed i normally buy cheapest as well. the perk of better seating and the lounges is nice. i paid a few times in business class and to be honest quite impressed on the a340 paris rio.

for me, having travelled predominently BA business for a few years paid by the company, AF is a second tier airline. That said for me it works as i clock up the miles and the benefits even in economy.

The main reason for asking is I was told you have a better chance of an upgrade via Sao Paolo rather than Rio (either or for me) as they have 747´s, but considering I get a night in Rio and the chances are slim it doesnt seem worth the effort.

Flying TAM tomorrow - now try joining their FF program online - its near impossible!

Hi,

these year I am gold and I travelleing not so a lot but also I buy the cheap tickets in economy class and also I never ask for upgrade, maybe I jus ask at the airport at the chek-in: How full is my flight ? but nothing more, they I got my BP and at the gate: Sr. you are now upgrade ....!!! Ok

these year I flow Zurich-CDG-Toronto-CDG-Zurich in economy class ticket with N booking class and I got upgrades in the two direcctions without asking.

CDG-MEX-CDG booking class L, so cheap and I got also upgrades, then with my last trip from MEX-AMS-Zurich I paid for a B class and I got a upgrade

Two weeks ago I flow Zurich-CDG-Zurich and is happening the same, I got upgrade.

But in the las few years when I was platinum, maybe per year I got one upgrade but these 2009 is my year in upgrades.

I dont know how you can get upgrade to business class with a cheap ticket in the lower booking class becuse I was thinking that the people who paid more in economy class have the priority into the list upgrade but I dont know the AF sistem or KL sistem, who make these operationals upgrades or just the computer.

What do you think?