Originally Posted by ajamieson

Booked a Q transatlantic ticket via AMS and DTW on klm.com ... went on nwa.com ... entered the FB Gold number but nwa.com wouldn't let me at the "premium" NW A330 seats (the ones without IFE boxes under the seats, so we're talking tolerable legroom here, not luxury). Apparently nwa.com doesn't recognise my number as FB Gold. Called NW where a friendly agent explained that Flying Blue accounts do not export first names, only first initials and so the names do not match the reservations - this is true, the booking says "Alastair" while the account says only "A". Can such a ludicrous and frustrating situation be true? I can see the seats to which I'm entitled, but can't have them.