Will you be flying with them - perhaps you could let us know what happens.

I'm taking the advice I've been given - failed at the first hurdle though, didn't have a PIN. Without a PIN, the website doesn't recognise you, so I rang the nice lady who said she'd send the PIN in the mail - could take 2 weeks. She offered to take the details of a missing flight claim there and then, but I decided to try the website first. I'll post back with any news.

I'm beginning to wonder whether there is some difference between KL codeshares, and AF codeshares. There has been another thread on this subject - mostly dealing with AF coded flights. Flyers are saying that AF coded flights by other operators are being treated as 'AF standard' flights for FB purposes. Same remark on this thread, earlier, though different route. So is it possible that, for example, there is a database error - that AF codeshare flight numbers have the 'boxes checked' for level miles and elite bonus miles, whereas the KL codeshare flight data has been prepared for the FB computer with a different set of defaults?

Lastly (sorry for the mixed bag of things), a sad aspect of the KL/MH codeshare is this. If you fly on a KLM ticket on flight KL4102, you only get the same miles that would if you had flown MH0016 - no advantage either way whether you booked KL or MH. But, and it's quite a big but, if you fly KL4102, you cannot use the Malaysian lounge at KLIA, you use the 'Plaza Premium' lounge, which is nice, but a bit limited and small. If you fly MH, you can use the Malaysian lounge, with several showers, sleeping rooms, wider choice of food, more spacious design with a little more privacy, work area, etc.

So it seems to me that, if it IS KLM policy (we don't know yet) that KL codeshares do not earn status miles, then in some instances, Malaysian for one, you are better off not booking KL, but booking direct on the operating carrier, because you'll get access to their facilities, which at their home bases are likely to be superior. Am I correct in thinking that the KLM Lounge between Piers E & F at Sciphol also take Malaysian C/D flyers?

Of course, there is a KLM 'standard' 747 that leaves KLIA a bit earlier if that suited your schedule. I just needed to take the later flight.

And yes, I did enjoy the flight - slept for 5 hours, first time ever. Midweek, so a bit emptier, that perhaps helped.

Thanks, very much, to everyone that commented. I will take it forward, post the answers back, and perhaps we'll get the definitive story. I'm encouraged by the AF successes.

Talisman