Originally Posted by
Goldorak
Nothing related to capitalism or socialism here. Just 2 different systems in place.
US airlines have a separate F cabin with better seats. These seats are sold as F and the unsold seats (most of the seats on many flights
) are given as upgrades to elite pax. In Europe, C seats are the same as Y but they block the middle seat. So they can adjust the size of the C cabin on the basis of the actual bookings in C (by movng the curtan) and therefore there is no need for upgrade (or very limited).
I think there is more to it then that. Last week I was on a flight from CPH to AMS and the C cabin was empty. Smallest possible C cabin is still 5 rows of seat mostly.
KL just doesn't want to devaluate their C seats. I asked about the OLCI ops then they only take place when a flight is overbooked. There can be 5 Plat Elite's on a flight, but if Y isn't full they don't get the upgrade to an empty C class cabin.
It just a total difference approach on handling your FFP Elite's.