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Old Nov 17, 2018, 4:18 pm
  #8  
Goldorak
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,791
Originally Posted by Mirendo
The absolute majority, more than 90% of my flights are done in businessclass. As such, I already receive a very good all around service, completely regardless of status. I get served first on most of my flights and those few times I have to fly in economy I almost always get an offer from any of the Flight Attendants to bring me some champagne in a glass, but they put the glass in a paper cup so other passengers won't see and ask.

I have received personalized maps of how to go inside the terminals for my connections, even though I am highly familiar with those, I still apprecite the guesture! Someone took the time and effort to care and instead of just talking in the galley, they looked up my connection, got the connecting gate and drew a map for me specifically.

I have also received personalized menu cards, where my name has been hand written on top along with a greeting and a sincere thanks for flying so much and especially businessclass with them.

I have experienced being asked which bag in the overhead locker was mine, when they needed space, I guess I had ordinary clothes on or looked a little young or whatever, when I pointed to my bags and said it's those two with the Platinum tag on them, then someone elses bags got taken out and put in the hold and room was made in the overhead bin for another Platinum member who boarded late.

I have had short connections where escort has been dispatched and been standing at the gate, ready to get me to my next flight within minutes even if we needed to switch terminals and pass security and passport control again. I have also had the purser coordinate from onboard a very delayed flight for ground services to make preparations and have a car standing by for me in CDG for very quick transportation directly from gate to gate. There have been two occasions where my next flight has been delayed, remained at the gate with the forward door open, waiting for me as the very last passenger to make the connection and as soon as I boarded came the all too familiar "boarding completed, cabin crew, arm doors, cross check and report please!".

I have gotten private escort from the plane, to the lounge and a red velvet rope cordoned off a window table, with a sign saying "escpecially reserved", just for me. Once it was time to leave, the escort came and picked me up again and we were yet again on the move, using passport control for crew and diplomats (I am neither) and jumping to the front of the line at the security control, along with private pre-boarding where the escort followed me up and onto the plane as the first passenger onboard. I have no special needs and are perfectly able to walk by myself, I still appreciated being able to walk directly from the lounge and up on the plane, effectively skipping all lines.

The first time I had to overnight at CDG for having missed a connection, I received a personalized escort from the lounge to the hotel, since I had mentioned upon entrance that it would be my first time overnighting at the CDG airport hotel. I will admit though that the staff in the lounge knew my name by heart since a number of frequent visits before. So this one might not have been a de facto Platinum benefit, but rather offered on a more personalized level, just for being me.

I have also had the purser sit down almost the entire flight just to talk about the status of the company, their situation and how things work. It sure enough made for an interesting flight!

I have had the Platinum line take my calls at any and all odd hours, listening to my complaints and sometimes issuing compensation and sometimes calmly explained that even if they did their best, sometimes the system fails, which I accept. None of us are perfect. The Platinum line has arranged extensively complicated trips for me, putting tickets on hold while we confirmed things, coordinated transatlantic routes with Delta domestic USA and all on the specific fares I wanted and specified. When their computer showed a higher price than mine, the Platinum line simply adjusted theirs into the lower one I could produce. Very easy, there was no way I could book that type of itinerary myself online. I love the Platinum line always being there.

There are many many more stories, those listed above are some of the better ones. All in all, I am very happy with my Platinum status. It is highly beneficial!
Are you by any chance Club2000 instead of Platinum or are considered as a VIP, or were those experiences when flying P instead of J ??? And are all those great experiences with AF or KL, or both ?
I have to say I am extremely surprised by your stories, because in about 15 years of regular Platinum before I got Ultimate, I never never experienced what you describe (apart the services rendered by the Elite then Platinum phone lines). And I know plenty of Platinums among my relatives and friends and no one ever experienced that. What you describe is in no way the treatment received by Platinum members even very frequent J flyers, not even consistently for Ultimates.
You are not telling us everything here...
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