KLM upgrade policy
Mar 20, 2003, 1:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lincoln, United Kingdom
Programs: KLM GE
Posts: 19
KLM upgrade policy
I have Gold Elite status and flew with a work colleague(only Blueplus level) from Ams to Tokyo on 1/3/03. I was able to pre-reserve a seat in select seat area(14A; no decent seats avail.) My colleague requested a seat nearby and on check-in was given 29D(extra legroom seat at 2nd door). So for starters he got a better seat in Economy despite lower FD level. Then at the gate; he was given a different boarding card/seat; 79B!!!i.e. World Business Class!!! As the colleague was a friend(and my boss), I didn't say too much. But..does this seem right? Any views??
Matt
Matt
Mar 20, 2003, 1:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Delhi/Maastricht/London
Programs: FB plat
Posts: 154
matt,
your elite status allows you to book select seating. however, that's just the first several rows of economy. the exit rows are often further back (eg. 35 in 744) so anyone can book it, though you may have priority - you probably could have booked 29D as well.
as for the upgrade - KLM's operational upgrade policy seems to depend on the gate agent's whim. last year i sat next to a PE on a flight from sao paolo. he had a paid C-class ticket, for a later flight, and was put into economy seating since they claimed WBC was full on that flight. he sat quietly seething as 6 people were upgraded from way back in coach because they didn't like the people they were sitting next to, had the wrong seat, etc. he then complained to the purser that he controls a 4 million pound travel budget that he directs to klm, and personally flies 160+ days a year, mostly with KLM, and doesn't appreciate such shoddy treatment.
unsurprisingly, even this was not enough to get much sympathy from the reliably curt KLM staff...
otoh, ymmv (literaly :-) as i posted earlier today, i got upgraded in-flight yesterday DTW-AMS, being PE.
-rishab
your elite status allows you to book select seating. however, that's just the first several rows of economy. the exit rows are often further back (eg. 35 in 744) so anyone can book it, though you may have priority - you probably could have booked 29D as well.
as for the upgrade - KLM's operational upgrade policy seems to depend on the gate agent's whim. last year i sat next to a PE on a flight from sao paolo. he had a paid C-class ticket, for a later flight, and was put into economy seating since they claimed WBC was full on that flight. he sat quietly seething as 6 people were upgraded from way back in coach because they didn't like the people they were sitting next to, had the wrong seat, etc. he then complained to the purser that he controls a 4 million pound travel budget that he directs to klm, and personally flies 160+ days a year, mostly with KLM, and doesn't appreciate such shoddy treatment.
unsurprisingly, even this was not enough to get much sympathy from the reliably curt KLM staff...
otoh, ymmv (literaly :-) as i posted earlier today, i got upgraded in-flight yesterday DTW-AMS, being PE.
-rishab
Mar 20, 2003, 4:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles Platinum
Posts: 2,375
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rishab:
I got upgraded in-flight yesterday DTW-AMS, being PE.
-rishab</font>
I got upgraded in-flight yesterday DTW-AMS, being PE.
-rishab</font>
Where there extenuating circumstances ?
Mar 21, 2003, 6:13 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 3,082
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cris L:
Wow - I am shocked - an inflight upgrade - It ain't never happened to me...
Where there extenuating circumstances ?</font>
Wow - I am shocked - an inflight upgrade - It ain't never happened to me...
Where there extenuating circumstances ?</font>
Nigel
Mar 21, 2003, 12:15 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by beergut:
I had the same once Cris, KLM managed to double assign my seat and [...] I got upgraded.
Nigel
</font>
I had the same once Cris, KLM managed to double assign my seat and [...] I got upgraded.
Nigel
</font>
johan
Mar 21, 2003, 12:18 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rishab:
KLM's operational upgrade policy seems to depend on the gate agent's whim. last year i sat next to a PE on a flight from sao paolo. he had a paid C-class ticket, for a later flight, and was put into economy seating since they claimed WBC was full on that flight. he sat quietly seething as 6 people were upgraded </font>
KLM's operational upgrade policy seems to depend on the gate agent's whim. last year i sat next to a PE on a flight from sao paolo. he had a paid C-class ticket, for a later flight, and was put into economy seating since they claimed WBC was full on that flight. he sat quietly seething as 6 people were upgraded </font>
johan
Mar 24, 2003, 5:31 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Delhi/Maastricht/London
Programs: FB plat
Posts: 154
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cris L:
Wow - I am shocked - an inflight upgrade - It ain't never happened to me...
Where there extenuating circumstances ?</font>
Wow - I am shocked - an inflight upgrade - It ain't never happened to me...
Where there extenuating circumstances ?</font>
(2-class lower deck on a route that usually flies an all-economy lower deck - so there were no C pax in the lower deck).
-rishab
Mar 25, 2003, 7:55 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Scotland but English and proud of it!
Programs: BA Prem, LH Blue, Thai Gold ,KLM Ivory, Priority Club Plat, HiltonH Gold, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,046
I have been upgraded both in flight and at check in several times. When in flight it has not been for any reason, the Purser has come along and simply said 'We have a better seat for you Mr @@@@@' Mind you I do fly in excess of 200 flights with them so maybe that's why I'm so fortunate with upgrades; also it means I rarely have to buy a Biz class ticket as I invariably get the upgrade.
Mar 25, 2003, 10:50 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 873
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by StevieJ:
also it means I rarely have to buy a Biz class ticket as I invariably get the upgrade.</font>
also it means I rarely have to buy a Biz class ticket as I invariably get the upgrade.</font>
I mostly fly AMS JFK on KLM and the my percentage of op-ups is less than 10% (I don't keep scores, but that's my guess) since the flights I take are usually full (at least in C).
Mar 25, 2003, 12:24 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ql2112:
You must be flying on quiet routes.
I mostly fly AMS JFK on KLM and the my percentage of op-ups is less than 10% (I don't keep scores, but that's my guess) since the flights I take are usually full (at least in C).</font>
You must be flying on quiet routes.
I mostly fly AMS JFK on KLM and the my percentage of op-ups is less than 10% (I don't keep scores, but that's my guess) since the flights I take are usually full (at least in C).</font>
johan