KLM "Choice & Control"
Dec 11, 2012, 2:06 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
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KLM "Choice & Control"
In addition to paying for Economy Comfort/Preferred seats, it appears that Economy passengers will soon have the ability to also choose to buy lounge access, and to pay for "priority services" (SkyPriority available for individual trips for a fee???). They refer to this suite of ancillary options as "Choice & Control".
Dec 11, 2012, 2:47 am
#2
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
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Posts: 4,711
In the: AF/KLM investor day presentation there are also other things listed as bidding for upgrades etc.
Worth a read.
Worth a read.
Dec 11, 2012, 3:02 am
#3
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In the: AF/KLM investor day presentation there are also other things listed as bidding for upgrades etc.
Worth a read.
Worth a read.
It's sort of like a reverse auction - the seller makes the offers, reducing them as time goes on if they've not made any/enough sales, with the price determined on the basis of the number of available seats and the likelihood of having to eventually op-up for free.
Dec 11, 2012, 8:16 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Commuting between AMS, CDG and IAH
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I wonder if by "bidding for upgrades" they mean the upgrade offers at checkin.
It's sort of like a reverse auction - the seller makes the offers, reducing them as time goes on if they've not made any/enough sales, with the price determined on the basis of the number of available seats and the likelihood of having to eventually op-up for free.
It's sort of like a reverse auction - the seller makes the offers, reducing them as time goes on if they've not made any/enough sales, with the price determined on the basis of the number of available seats and the likelihood of having to eventually op-up for free.
Dec 11, 2012, 8:29 am
#5
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
You have got to be kidding me! They are really becoming a pay-for-every-single-extra-airline! 
More and more clogging of lounges, SkyPriority lines etc. all for some extra revenue.
What's the point of Silver now, if you can buy everything separately? Now you have to be at least silver to get lounge access (for a fee).
Devaluation, devaluation.
More and more clogging of lounges, SkyPriority lines etc. all for some extra revenue.
What's the point of Silver now, if you can buy everything separately? Now you have to be at least silver to get lounge access (for a fee).
Devaluation, devaluation.
Last edited by KLflyerRalph; Dec 11, 2012 at 8:36 am
Dec 11, 2012, 9:30 am
#6
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Location: Rotterdam, NL
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So my guess there may not be that many takers. You do raise an issue regarding certain lounges operating at maximum capacity though.
Feb 15, 2013, 8:07 am
#8
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,333
KLM "Choice & Control" (Paid options)
Continuing on from the paid checked luggage, I just received the following email from KLM Greece. There are now so many paid add-ons that they actually gave it a brand name: Choice & Control! 
I highlighted the interesting parts. We already speculated that lounge access for non-elites may become a paid option, but now it is confirmed to actually be true. Also a-la-carte within Europe seems to actually become available within the next few months.
Let's meet with Choice & Control on your
European flights!
Dear Mr. Xandrios,
* More Choice of increasing your own personal comfort.
* More Control to choose your options and enhance your travel experience!
From the start of the summer season on April 2013, you will enjoy the real comfort in your European flights in Economy Class.
As of 22 April 2013, check-in baggage will be a paid option for all passengers travelling in Economy Class for Amsterdam and European flights to customize your journey. Click here to learn more on Choice & Control and on check-in baggage.
New on KLM: Choice & Control
Choice & Control in your flights to European destinations will provide you more comfort and more control in Economy Class.
Not only you can fly with the best offers, but also you can enrich your travel experience with the variety of paid options and products & services designed to increase your personal comfort such as:
Economy Comfort
Baggage
Priority Services
Extra Legroom
Lounge Access
A la Carte
Business Class upgrade
The choice to check in baggage will become part of a range of flight options. It is also possible to expand your booking with options such as access to the KLM Crown Lounge or a seat in Economy Comfort.
European flights!
Dear Mr. Xandrios,
* More Choice of increasing your own personal comfort.
* More Control to choose your options and enhance your travel experience!
From the start of the summer season on April 2013, you will enjoy the real comfort in your European flights in Economy Class.
As of 22 April 2013, check-in baggage will be a paid option for all passengers travelling in Economy Class for Amsterdam and European flights to customize your journey. Click here to learn more on Choice & Control and on check-in baggage.
New on KLM: Choice & Control
Choice & Control in your flights to European destinations will provide you more comfort and more control in Economy Class.
Not only you can fly with the best offers, but also you can enrich your travel experience with the variety of paid options and products & services designed to increase your personal comfort such as:
Economy Comfort
Baggage
Priority Services
Extra Legroom
Lounge Access
A la Carte
Business Class upgrade
The choice to check in baggage will become part of a range of flight options. It is also possible to expand your booking with options such as access to the KLM Crown Lounge or a seat in Economy Comfort.
Last edited by Xandrios; Feb 15, 2013 at 8:21 am
Feb 15, 2013, 8:16 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: FB-LTPE
Posts: 506
Yes see http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/prep...ess_policy.htm
"Flying Blue Elite members can access the KLM Crown Lounges at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and many of our partner airline lounges worldwide. Please note, however, that you need to be travelling on an intercontinental SkyTeam flight on the same day."
"Flying Blue Elite members can access the KLM Crown Lounges at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and many of our partner airline lounges worldwide. Please note, however, that you need to be travelling on an intercontinental SkyTeam flight on the same day."
Feb 15, 2013, 8:20 am
#10
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
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Those are the old access rules I believe, where one needs to be an Elite (=FB silver) in order to buy access? It seems that it is now open for anyone, and also for international itineraries.
Feb 15, 2013, 8:20 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Most of this was suggested in the AF-KL Investor's day presentation. Slide 101 "KLM medium-haul product investment" states that part of the "Future European Offer: Choice & Control" are going to be EC, Lounge, Priority Services, Preferred Seats, and Possible extras. Now we know that the possible extras include luggage.
Feb 15, 2013, 8:20 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: FB-LTPE
Posts: 506
They should send out a different email to their Elite members, it is not about more:
* Less Choice of increasing your own personal comfort.
* Less Control to choose your options and decrease your travel experience!
And perhaps add enrollment pages for BA and LH FFers programs
* Less Choice of increasing your own personal comfort.
* Less Control to choose your options and decrease your travel experience!
And perhaps add enrollment pages for BA and LH FFers programs
Feb 15, 2013, 8:30 am
#13
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
Feb 15, 2013, 8:46 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: AMS+IAH
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Prices of add-ons Y to equal C?
Economy Comfort - seat at front price status dependent (~€)
Baggage - 15 or 30 €
Priority Services - checkin business desk (25€?) priority luggage tag (25€?) priority security (25€?) boarding (25€?)
Extra Legroom - auction prices on facebook or twitter (~€)
Lounge Access 35€
A la Carte - food and drinks (~€)
Miles earn - 10/25/50/100% (20/50/100/200€?)
Comfort pillow blanket - (10€?)
All extras total = marketed as special Business Class upgrade package
Baggage - 15 or 30 €
Priority Services - checkin business desk (25€?) priority luggage tag (25€?) priority security (25€?) boarding (25€?)
Extra Legroom - auction prices on facebook or twitter (~€)
Lounge Access 35€
A la Carte - food and drinks (~€)
Miles earn - 10/25/50/100% (20/50/100/200€?)
Comfort pillow blanket - (10€?)
All extras total = marketed as special Business Class upgrade package
Feb 15, 2013, 9:07 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
The link posted by NB00 really had me worried... but the information for FB Gold still talks about International flights, not Intercontinental, so I am slightly reassured (for the time being)
Maybe, just maybe all the negative feedback will have been a wake-up call... but somehow I doubt they'll do a U-turn, and my guess is that we will lose all our frequent flyer benefits over the coming months (being asked to pay for them is the same as losing them!). Absolutely no reason to remain Gold in that case. Absolutely no reason to be loyal.
Maybe, just maybe all the negative feedback will have been a wake-up call... but somehow I doubt they'll do a U-turn, and my guess is that we will lose all our frequent flyer benefits over the coming months (being asked to pay for them is the same as losing them!). Absolutely no reason to remain Gold in that case. Absolutely no reason to be loyal.
