So, here is the deal.
I decided to go FB Plat this year. I invested so much time and effort in this (transferring on Alitalia, connecting flights with Delta, etc.) but in the end I was sleeping rest assured: I had 60 segments booked until the end of the year. It wasn't that easy though: I'm by no means a business traveler and don't have that high income either, so I did all these annoying connections.
Then something happened. My passport got stolen in a car break-in and I don't have a possibility to travel the rest of my segments. New passport is going to take at least 3 months (no expedited services; the lack of service by consulate of my homeland is a different story).
I have 51 segments in my account now. I asked Flying Blue politely (and a bit desperate) if they can make an exception and give me the Platinum status given all the circumstances and the fact that I would get it anyway if my passport wouldn't be stolen. I would forfeit all travel booked with them and won't ask for refund / change of dates. They took 5 days to reply with the following:
We understand your situation, unfortunately, we regret to inform you that we cannot satisfy your request as you have not reached the necessary amount of Qualifying Miles or Qualifying Flights.
After investigation, we would invite you to refer to your local sales representative in Amsterdam who could study your situation and consider your request from his point of view. After consideration, he could eventually offer you the Platinum card.
They didn't give me any contacts of the "local sales representative in Amsterdam". When I asked to transfer my case to this representative or give me his contacts (and bunch of other questions), they replied almost immediately:
Upon investigation, further to our answer dated November the 15th 2014, we regret to confirm you that we are unable to satisfy your request.
We thank you for your continued loyalty to the Flying Blue programme.
(the last sentence is especially hilarious).
So here's the question for brainstorm: How can I make Plat this year? I need either to fly 9 segments to destinations where they won't check my documents at the gate (I flew like that often to Norway and to France; once I didn't actually have a passport because it was at a consulate with a visa application), or to convince FB somehow to take the case to consideration again.
My nationality is Russian. My home-base location is Amsterdam.
I already have a AMEX FB Plat which already supplied me with 8 segments this year.
Any ideas?
P.S. If I don't make it I'm seriously thinking of switching to Star Alliance. I was thinking about it before and I won't appreciate when a business which I spend the most of my money with, turns its back on me when I need their help the most.