KL has for award flights in Economy the following booking classes : G (National NL-airmiles programme (non-FD) awards in economy class, with restrictions), W (KL awards economy class, restricted i.e. a change costs 5,000 award points). Booking classes G and W are not for sale and will not pop up in web offers.

For award flights in Business KL has the booking classes : D (KL awards business class, restricted i.e. a change costs 5,000 award points), and Z (KL partners' awards business class & KL special offers, restricted). Booking class D is not for sale and will not pop up in any web offer.

Assume a Blue Wing member or a Silver Wing member requests an award flight. FD checks seat availability for Economy in W class, and for Business in D class. In case there are no seats available in either of these the Blue Wing or Silver Wing FD member receives the FD answer : Sorry, no availability.

When Royal Wing member requests an award flight, FD checks seat availability for Economy in W class, and for Business in D class. In case there are no seats available in either of these, FD also checks seat availability for Economy in B class and M class, and for Business in C class. For the Royal Wing FD member this is a great better service and often results in getting a flight award where others receive a nope. Remark that B, M and C booking classes are paid classes and per flight in larger numbers available.

Remarkably enough KL does not mention this great service for its top-tiers. The FD brochure nor the FD section of the KL website mentiones it.

[This message has been edited by kurz (edited 08-11-2002).]