Hi there.. Hopefully someone will kindly bear my indulgence here and help remove my confusion. Formerly was an extensive KLM flyer (paid miles, no freebie matches, sadly..) but stopped using them a couple of years ago due to some quality issues, unique customer service issues and also my new location was not so KLM friendly.

Now I have a trip planned and decided I would like to burn the nearly quarter of a million mile points I have.. or a portion of them anyway. But I have got two different answers from two different KLM "help"desk persons so...

I would like to upgrade AMS to HKG and return portions. There are no places currently for the Plat Elite upgrades and they say that they will not waitlist or make a special request (travel is in November month). Previously they used to do this for the old Royal Wing.

I shall be flying to and from AMS from HELsinki and reading some of their information it gave the impression that I could upgrade from HEL for the same price (europe to Asia) but then this is contradicted. I agree it is pointless to pay to upgrade for a Euro flight but if it is in fact the same price I might as well do that.

I am waiting for ticketing as well (sigh.. thanks eBookers and your dismal Indian back office) but I have the locator. Surely KLM can look up the ticket number whilst I wait for eBookers to pull their fingers out.

So essentially, kind forum members, the question(s) are this.

1. Do KLM waitlist/special request Plat upgrade (plat plus non status partner who I would "pay" for on same booking reference)? If so what are the magic words to cut through the script readers?

2. KLM quoted 40 000 miles per way per person (160k total AMS HKG AMS for two persons). Should that be the same for HEL/AMS/HKG/AMS/HEL?

And a rhetorical one... will KLM ever get better !

Many thanks for any kind considerations to this... Oh for a simple, clear program (or a clear brain!).

.... oh forgot.. what are the "best" seats, esp in Economy.. my last econ flight to HKG was dire with KLM (for an exit row the seats were very uncomfortable for the knees due to some strange thing)... And if they upgrade what are desirable seats.. Guess I need to make seat reservations and expect them to lose them! Flight seems to be a Boeing combi.