I just called the Service Center of FB and the assistant confirmed what I wrote above: the number of award miles for First Class for many destination has been changed over the last few days without any prior notice. She confirmed the information. And indeed, the Service Center seemed extremely busy booking award reservation...guess why?
Last week a First Class award to GRU was 80,000 one way and now is 100,000 one way. And this amount will change again on 01 April.
Of course, FB introduced this last minute changes in First Class award booking due to heavy award bookings over recent days considering the changes in the programme. I also want to burn my miles asp and find another airline programme more considerate to their members.
This is yet another disregard to loyal flyers. I have saved miles over years with FB just to face this abrupt changes and devaluation in my miles account. I am very upset with this whole situation, I really feel I am being fooled by AF/KL, they do not deserve my trust and consideration.
Rgs,
This is very cheeky of them. Can someone with inside knowledge explain why they are getting so defensive about FF trying to burn their miles flying First Class now? Especially at a time where they are also getting fewer paying First Class passengers. Are they cutting the number of staff serving First Class passengers? Are they cancelling their orders with their gourmet chefs? Are they trying to save their toiletries and pyjamas to use them for a longer period due to the credit crunch? Are they worried about too many bottles of champagne and freshly squeezed juice being wasted now? What's the reason, please?
I think they must have hired Chavéz's team of advisors to run FB. Of course, as pointed out above, FB Banana Republic currency is worth less everyday. I can just imagine the capital outflow in terms of miles (all those who invested in FB taking positions to devest). Honestly, I better spend my accumulated miles asp because the next move could be to "freeze our miles account until further notice". Anything is possible with FB, except respect for their frequent flyer.
I just called the Service Center of FB and the assistant confirmed what I wrote above: the number of award miles for First Class for many destination has been changed over the last few days without any prior notice. She confirmed the information. And indeed, the Service Center seemed extremely busy booking award reservation...guess why? ...snip...,
This really is a new low. By the way, at least they have updated their websites.
This really is a new low. By the way, at least they have updated their websites.
Not really. The website says 90,000 miles in the date boxes. Only when you proceed to payment they change it to 100,000 miles. Last week it was 80,000 miles. From 1st of April it will be 160,000 miles one way at least.
Not really. The website says 90,000 miles in the date boxes. Only when you proceed to payment they change it to 100,000 miles. Last week it was 80,000 miles. From 1st of April it will be 160,000 miles one way at least.
Exactly! This is really getting from bad to worse.
Programs: FlyingBlue Plat, SAS Eurobonus, British Airways
Posts: 19
Why bother being PE on FB/ST.....
....is not committed to its customers and when Star Alliance has become the best frequent flyer programme.
I booked a F ticket to LAX already before the rule change was announced, and had same experience with booking. When looking for the cheapest dates, it showed 50.000 per leg in first, but when I had selected flights a message appreared that it was now 150.000 for a return ticket.
This is just not on and not in line with EU marketing regulation/standards..... Maybe someone familiar with EU consumer laws could make a complaint.... Aren't airlines now obliged to publish full fares, without hidden charges!
....is not committed to its customers and when Star Alliance has become the best frequent flyer programme.
I booked a F ticket to LAX already before the rule change was announced, and had same experience with booking. When looking for the cheapest dates, it showed 50.000 per leg in first, but when I had selected flights a message appreared that it was now 150.000 for a return ticket.
This is just not on and not in line with EU marketing regulation/standards..... Maybe someone familiar with EU consumer laws could make a complaint.... Aren't airlines now obliged to publish full fares, without hidden charges!
J
Good question. Does AF/KL have a page where they publish the number of miles required for an award flight by destination and class of booking? Or is it all down to the mood of the website on the day of making the booking? All this hassle in having to search for the right number of miles required is turning us into Frequent Investigators rather than Frequent Flyers.
This is very cheeky of them. Can someone with inside knowledge explain why they are getting so defensive about FF trying to burn their miles flying First Class now? Especially at a time where they are also getting fewer paying First Class passengers.
Maybe they plan new improvements in the product? I strongly doubt it (we would have heard of it, and so far, we heard only about the new First lounge and cosmetic changes). I already have flights booked in P (sorry, booked before the changes were announced) this year, so I will certainly see the evolution, but I'm sure it won't offset the increased price.
On a related note, by removing the award seats in first class (as in the new system, they'll be booked in revenue inventory), aren't they removing the possibility for other skyteam elites to book award seats?
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH nobody, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Royal Ambassador, hungry BA Gold in CE
Posts: 7,371
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richelieu
On a related note, by removing the award seats in first class (as in the new system, they'll be booked in revenue inventory), aren't they removing the possibility for other skyteam elites to book award seats?
I don't know about KE, but I believe this possibility has already been removed for some years for US carriers, the reasoning being that the US airlines members of SkyTeam had only 2 long-haul cabins, coach and business to offer to AF/KL members.
I don't know about KE, but I believe this possibility has already been removed for some years for US carriers, the reasoning being that the US airlines members of SkyTeam had only 2 long-haul cabins, coach and business to offer to AF/KL members.
It's a bit like shooting themselves in the foot. They are making getting a First class ticket (award) so difficult now, so that will mean full business class cabins (best case scenario for them) and eventually their needing to upgrade the odd C ticket holder back to First Class for free.
One question to which I can't find a reply in the new rules. Who gets preference in First Class upgrades? A PE flyer on a cheap business fare or a random traveller on a more expensive ticket?
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH nobody, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Royal Ambassador, hungry BA Gold in CE
Posts: 7,371
Quote:
Originally Posted by leonardoBR
One question to which I can't find a reply in the new rules. Who gets preference in First Class upgrades? A PE flyer on a cheap business fare or a random traveller on a more expensive ticket?
There is indeed no published rules for this scenario. I am not aware of other European majors that have made such rules public.
There is indeed no published rules for this scenario. I am not aware of other European majors that have made such rules public.
There is a thread in the Miles and More forum with Lufthansa's internal rules. It's titled "Priority order for operational upgrade."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank_MIA
Operational Upgrades are done in the following sequence:
1. M&M HON Circle
2. M&M Senator
3. Star Alliance Gold
4. M&M FTL
5. Star Aliance Silver
6. Non Status Passengers in the highest available booking classes
Frank
Within these categories it seems to go by fare class. So it is true that at least some airlines have rules. Even if the gate agent ocassionaly overrides them for friends and family.
![The new rule book is here! The new rule book is here! [merged]](/forum/iconimages/flying-blue-air-france-klm/new-rule-book-here-new-rule-book-here-merged_ltr.gif)
By the way, at least they have updated their websites.
