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Old May 9, 2019, 3:08 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Goldorak
FLYING BLUE ULTIMATE

Main facts
Ultimate is the top status in FB. It may be added to Club 2000 – Skipper status.
While other FB status (Silver/Gold/Platinum) are based on experience points earning (XP), Ultimate status is obtained by Ultimate XP (UXP) earning. UXPs are earned exclusively on AF- and KL-coded (= marketed) flights, whatever the operating airline.
Some examples :
- CDG-JFK AF-marketing, AF-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- CDG-JFK DL-marketing, AF-operating : NON-eligible to UXP earning
- AMS-BOS KL-marketing, DL-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- BOS-IND KL-marketing, DL-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- SIN-SYD AF-marketing, QF-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- CDG-FCO AZ-marketing, AZ-operating : NON-eligible to UXP earning

XP earned via AFKL Amex cards are not eligible (those are XP and not UXP).

To qualify for Ultimate, it is needed to have 900 UXP over a year. It is similar to the normal XP counter, resetting as soon as the tier is reached. Ultimate is valid for 1 year once granted. Note 03/2023 : the qualification system just changed from 1800 UXP over 2 years to 900 UXP/1 year. Some transitional measures are in place for the current Ultimate members. See here for details about handling of transition period :
https://www.flyingblue.com/fr/landin...m_content=main

Since 03/2023, a rollover of surplus UXP (over 900) is now possible to the next year and only to the next year (example : year 1, the member earns 2000UXP. At the end of year 1, only 900 UXP will be rolled-over to year 2 and the remaining 1100 UXP earned in Y1 will be lost and not be transferred to year 3. If during year 2, the member earned 1000 new (fresh) UXP, 100 will be rolled-over to year 3.

Hard benefits
- All FB Platinum/Club 2000-Skipper benefits
- Access to a Travel Assistant service 24/7. They are reachable by phone or by email. In practice, from 8 pm to 8 am CET, calls are taken by the Platinum line.
- highest priority on waiting list and in case of irrops
- Possibility to register up to 8 persons who can benefit from Sky Priority services and lounge access when traveling with the Ultimate member and on same PNR (lounge access is only in AFKL lounges here).
- one companion Platinum card
- when the Ultimate member is flying P, 2 guests are allowed in CDG P lounge.
- Zone 1 boarding, irrespective of travel class.
- Access to Hertz Platinum status
- four one-class upgrade certificates per membership year, requiring 1 from W to J, or 2 from Y to J. Upgrades are confirmed instantly at the time of booking (via the Travel Assistant). One voucher = one way. Vouchers can also be used by one of the 8 registered friend/family members travelling by themselves. In case of a long-haul flight with a medium-haul connection/feeder (e.g. CDG-AMS-JFK), the medium-haul segment will be upgraded also with still only one voucher used. In case of 2 long-haul flights in connection (e,g. DXB-CDG-JFK), the use of 2 vouchers is required to upgrade the 2 segments. Upgrade vouchers are usable only on AF- or KL-marketing and operating flights and the PNR must contains only the AFKL flights to be upgraded (if the PNR contains other non-AFKL flights, you cannot upgrade even just the AFKL flights).
The upgrade coupons are valid as soon as you reach Ultimate and is valid for 12 months. The vouchers need to be used within the membership year, but can be applied for travel post expiry date.

Rules for eligible booking classes for the upgrade vouchers are described below :

AF flights, long-haul
Premium Eco to Business
Original booking class : A, S, W
Upgraded booking class : Z, I, D, C (it means that if the flight has only J fare available, one cannot upgrade)

Eco to Business (all flights, except to/from USA, Canada, Mexico)
Original booking class : Y, B, M, U, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R
Upgraded booking class : Z, I, D, C (it means that if the flight has only J fare available, one cannot upgrade)

Eco to Business (flights to/from USA, Canada, Mexico, including LAX-PPT)
Original booking class : Y, B, M, U, K, H, L, Q, T, N
Upgraded booking class : Z, C

KL flights, long-haul
Eco to Business (all flights, except to/from USA, Canada, Mexico and DEL)
Original booking class : Y, B, M, U, K, H, L, Q, T, N, R
Upgraded booking class : Z, I, D, C

Eco to Business (flights to/from USA, Canada, Mexico and DEL)
Original booking class : Y, B, M, U, K, H, L, Q, T, N
Upgraded booking class : Z, I.

Airline-specific soft (unpublished) benefits
- AF, KL and contract staff at airports have a popup message on their computer screen when checking-in an Ultimate pax or when scanning a BP at the lounge (AFKL lounges only) asking them to be attentive at any special request of the Ultimate pax. See also below for airport-specific soft benefits. There is no known official policy for operational upgrades of Ultimates, but Ultimate members have all reported on FT a higher rate of op-up (but those remain rare !).
- AF and KL cabin crews are instructed to provide extra care and attentions on-board. It can take different forms : special greetings, extra amenities (pillow, oshibori, etc), F&B from the upper class, upgrades on board (Y to J medium haul, W to J or Y to W long haul), earlier and quicker meal service. This is not systematic and is up to the appreciation of the crew. Based on the reports of Ultimate members of this forum, AF crews seems to be more compliant than KL crews with those directives, although there has been several reports in this thread of nice attentions provided by KL crews.- Unlimited downloads (any day) in AF PLAY app.

Other Skyteam airlines do not provide any extra service or attentions to FB Ultimate passengers.

Airport-specific soft (unpublished) benefits
All benefits below should be understood for departure, unless otherwise noted. In addition to what is mentioned below, it has been reported several cases of expedited transfers organised by AFKL staff in case of short/endangered connection at various airports.

Please complete/edit this list as needed.

AFKL HUBS
Amsterdam
- AMS : some reserved tables in the Non-Schengen lounges. Reserved area in the Schengen lounge (need to ask staff at long entrance). Pre-boarding sometimes granted at the gate.

Paris CDG
- CDG 2E:
  • Departure : Escort from check-in to immigration in the morning (super fast track). Reserved space at K/L/M lounges. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate before beginning of general boarding
  • Arrival : access to dedicated lane at passport control, all the way to the left, follow the "ULTIMATE" sign.
- CDG 2F :
  • Departure : There is a special Ultimate check-in counter in the SkyP zone (on the left of terminal). Reserved room in the lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate before beginning of general boarding. Escort is provided from the counter to security (skipping the line).
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2G :
  • Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG in connection : expedited transfer, possibly involving limo transfer, can be arranged upon request in case of short or endangered connection. Rarely provided spontaneously (need to call the TA, but acceptance is never guaranteed).

Paris ORY
  • Departure : Reserved space at Schengen and non-Schengen lounges. Pre-boarding upon request at the lounge.
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report

EUROPE
Austria
- VIE: no special treatment to report

Croatia
- DBV: no special treatment to report
- SPU: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)

Czech Republic
- PRG: no special treatment to report. Pre-boarding refused.

Denmark
- CPH: no special treatment to report

France (non-hubs)
- AJA: no special treatment to report
- BES: no special treatment to report
- BIQ: no special treatment to report
- BOD: pre-boarding from lounge to plane inconsistently proposed
- CDG: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".
- LYS: Escort from lounge to plane when flying from B gates provided upon request . Preboarding with escort to the plane consistently provided.
- MPL: pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane, sometimes proposed (AF agent comes to the contract lounge to meet the Ultimate guest)
- MRS: no special treatment to report
- NCE: Reserved area in Infinity lounge (inconsistently provided : seems to be provided only when lounge crowded). Pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane, sometimes proposed.
- NTE: no special treatment to report
- ORY: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".
- PUF: bypass queue at security and pre-boarding provided upon request
- RNS: bypass queue at security and pre-boarding provided upon request
- TLS: Escort from check in to lounge inconsistently provided. Pre-boarding consistently provided

Germany
- BER: no special treatment to report
- DUS: no special treatment to report
- FRA: no special treatment to report
- HAM: no special treatment to report
- HAJ: No special treatment to report.
- MUC: Reserved area in the lounge, escort from lounge to plane with pre-boarding proposed.
- STR: reserved area in the lounge, pre-boarding

Greece
- ATH: no special treatment to report
- HER: no special treatment to report
- JTR: no special treatment to report

Hungary
- BUD: escort through security from check-in to lounge proposed

Ireland
- DUB: no special treatment to report

Italy
- BLQ: escort from check-in to lounge, and through security to plane.
- BRI: no special treatment to report
- CTA: no special treatment to report
- FCO: no special treatment to report
- FLR: no special treatment to report
- LIN: no special treatment to report
- MXP: pre-boarding granted by request
- VCE: escort through security from check-in to lounge, pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane (not always consistently proposed)
- NAP: no special treatment to report

Netherlands
- AMS: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".

Norway
- OSL: no special treatment to report
- TRF: no special treatment to report
- KRS: no special treatment to report
- SVG: no special treatment to report

Poland
- WAW: no special treatment to report
- KRK: no special treatment to report
- GDN: no special treatment to report

Portugal
- LIS: pre-boarding proposed upon request

Russia
- SVO: no special treatment to report
- LED: no special treatment to report

Spain
- AGP: no special treatment to report
- BCN: no special treatment to report
- MAD: no special treatment to report
- PMI: no special treatment to report
- SVQ: no special treatment to report
- TFS: no special treatment to report
- VLC: no special treatment to report

Sweden
- ARN: no special treatment to report
- GOT: no special treatment to report

Switzerland
- GVA: pre-boarding upon request. Reserved area in the lounge
- ZRH: no special treatment

United Kingdom
- ABZ: no special treatment to report
- EDI: no special treatment to report
- LHR: no special treatment to report

NORTH AMERICA
Canada
- YUL: Escort from check-in to lounge upon request. Reserved area in lounge, pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane
- YYZ: escort on arrival through immigration, consistently offered. / Escort from check-in to lounge and from lounge to airplane
- YQB: escort from check-in to lounge proposed
- YVR: no special treatment to report

USA
- ATL: no special treatment to report (in connection)
- BOS: escort through security from check-in to lounge, pre-boarding, all consistently provided mostly spontaneously, sometimes upon request. A separate room in the AF lounge is also proposed.
- DTW: no special treatment to report (starting from DTW or in connection)
- IAD: escort through security from check-in to lounge upon request, but inconsistently provided. Reserved area at the lounge.
- IAH: no special treatment to report
- JFK (AF only / terminal 1) : reserved table in the dining area of the lounge (upstairs), possible to benefit from the "night service" on all flights and not only the 2 last ones ex-JFK (update 09/2023 : no more night service in JFK lounge). Some kind of priority at the La Prairie spa (after P pax).
- JFK (KL only / terminal 4) : no special treatments to report.
- LAX: no special treatment to report
- ORD: On arrival, escort through immigration (not consistently provided). On departure, escort through security to lounge and from lounge to plane (pre-boarding)
- MSP: no special treatment to report, except one case of special DL Elite VIP treatment with expedited immigration and Porsche transfer to/from lounge (not a regular benefit to expect)
- SEA: pre-boarding with escort to plane
- SFO: reserved area in lounge

Mexico
- MEX (Terminal 1): escort through security to lounge with access to dedicated space. Ride from lounge to gate. Sometimes escort on arrival

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
- BOG: no special treatment to report
- LIM: escort to lounge, provided spontaneously
- GIG: Pre-boarding upon request.
- GRU: escort in case of short connection upon request, inconsistently provided; as of 02/2024 pre-boarding offered at check-in and provided by gate-staff (inconsistently provided).
- SCL: as of 03/2024 escort to lounge offered at departure check-in, pick-up from lounge and pre-boarding done
- EZE: escort to lounge with special crew lane for immigration provided spontaneously

ASIA / PACIFIC
- BKK: escort through security from check-in to lounge, upon request but inconsistently proposed. In connection : escort in case of short connection (better to request it before departure).
- BLR: escort from lounge to gate, pre-boarding provided
- BOM : escort from plane to immigration, and from checkin to the lounge
- DEL: as of 01/2024 escort upon arrival; proactive pre-departure call to arrange terminal entry via VIP entrance and escort to gate for pre-boarding (if lounge used, offered to pick up for pre-boarding)
- HKG: no special treatment to report.
- HND: Arrival : new 09/2023 = escort through immigration. Departure : escort from check-in desk to private (crew) security, proposed spontaneously
- KIX: Arrival : escort through immigration, wait at baggage claim. Departure : escort from check-in desk to lounge All proposed spontaneously
- SIN: no special treatment to report

CARIBBEAN & INDIAN OCEAN
- CUR: no special treatment to report, there is no (sky)priority lane for security or immigration, but escort/short track is available for 100 $.
- HAV: at departure, escort from check in counters until security checks. Pre-boarding offered. No escort at arrival. No reserved space in Lounge.
- FDF: No reserved space in Lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate.
- MRU: escort on arrival through immigration. Unknown for departures (no data point)
- PTP: Reserved table in lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the lounge with escort from lounge to plane.
- RUN: Pre-boarding proposed at check-in and in the lounge, with escort from lounge to plane. Reserved seats in lounge
- SXM: Escort for incoming transit pax (from/to AF flight) through passport controls and security, pre-boarding pro-actively offered for AF departure

MIDDLE EAST
- AUH : no special treatment to report
- BEY: no special treatment to report
- DXB: escort from check-in to lounge and from lounge to plane, all upon request, consistently provided. Access to the Ahlan lounge (normally reserved for P pax) instead of Skyteam lounge.
- JED: no special treatment to report
- RUH: no special treatment to report
- IST: no special treatment to report

AFRICA
- AGA: escort from check in to lounge and from lounge to aircraft, provided spontaneously
- CAI: no special treatment to report
- CMN: escort on arrival through immigration (not always consistently provided)
- CPT: escort from counter to lounge, provided spontaneously
- JNB: escort from counter to lounge (no fast track at immigration), provided spontaneously
- LOS: no special treatment to report
- RAK: escort on arrival, upon request (not provided on departure)
- RBA: on departure : escort to lounge and to plane, provided spontaneously.
- TUN: escort on arrival through immigration provided. Escort from check-in to lounge provided
- ZNZ: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)
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Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status

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Old May 2, 2022, 1:39 pm
  #4831  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 267
Originally Posted by arjen05
I might still have higher expectations than I should have, but wouldn't it be an idea that KL sends an email to AMS based ultis or at least ultis with a flight departing from AMS these days with a message on what's going on? Could just be: hey, you have definitely heard of the total chaos at Schiphol and there's nothing we can do, we are also understaffed and can't rebook on the spot you if you're missing a flight, so be in time. Or: hey, you have definitely heard of the total chaos at Schiphol and here are some tips to speed your way through the airport: take this entrance, that check-in counter etc. I'd rather have support right now than another invitation to play golf with their executives.
That would be a good idea, indeed.
Unfortunately, KL executives are too busy carving wooden cutlery and folding Wanders boxes for the Business Class meals on KL's shorthaul fleet. Whenever time permits, they are sharing with us those weird greenwashing ideas. We should not give up hope that someone there will one day discover the existence of (fully sustainable, fully biodegradable) dishwashing liquid, which could be used to clean real crockery and cutlery in a serious and not blablabla environmentally friendly & sustainable way, which would give it many lifecycles and reduce the amount of the (ooohhh so environmentally friendly ) plastic and carton waste to zero.

Btw. during any IRROP, even at that extent, I do not expect anything from KL, simply to avoid disappointment.
feederflight is offline  
Old May 2, 2022, 3:49 pm
  #4832  
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: NL
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by MarcElMile
Anyone from the Dutch Ulti's attending the Flying Blue Golf event tomorrow? Would love to say hi and share a small toast.
Missed a few posts, but I was invited and had enrolled but had to fly out last minute..
My wife attended in my place after consent from organization of course... the only woman there haha.
Was there myself last year, nice course and nice event.
basres is offline  
Old May 3, 2022, 1:40 pm
  #4833  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 479
To balance a little bit:

Today I called ulti to fix a reward ticket and to use my ulti voucher for a roundtrip Adam JFK in July / Aug.
All very well managed and within 10 mins we got what we wanted.
I paid e900 for the Econ ticket to upgrade and my wife got a 115K miles & e400 reward in C.

As mentioned before: the ulti line is the best benefit of all!
Ambtenaruh likes this.
PascalGie is offline  
Old May 4, 2022, 4:28 am
  #4834  
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Gouda, The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate | Hertz Platinum |
Posts: 45
Flight DUS-AMS, first of 3 today and to my surprise... all of my preferences that i submitted were acknowledged... like d f... there is hope for KLM yet...
Ambtenaruh is offline  
Old May 4, 2022, 4:31 am
  #4835  
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Gouda, The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate | Hertz Platinum |
Posts: 45
Originally Posted by basres
Missed a few posts, but I was invited and had enrolled but had to fly out last minute..
My wife attended in my place after consent from organization of course... the only woman there haha.
Was there myself last year, nice course and nice event.
missed this post also.. i was there wearing a bright blue lemon shirt.... anyone going yo the Dutch Open on sunday with the KLM event at the Clubhouse?
Ambtenaruh is offline  
Old May 4, 2022, 4:38 am
  #4836  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 479
Originally Posted by Ambtenaruh
Flight DUS-AMS, first of 3 today and to my surprise... all of my preferences that i submitted were acknowledged... like d f... there is hope for KLM yet...
I bet it was a cityhopper... they are much more willing / trained....
PascalGie is offline  
Old May 4, 2022, 6:31 am
  #4837  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
Programs: AF/KLM Club2000 Ultimate / M&M HON Circle / ALL Diamond / Hertz President Circle
Posts: 1,042
Flew yesterday from MAD to CDG in C
Excellent service on board, dedicated & careful crew all along the flight

All my preferences were checked upfront
And little extra : the apple pie dessert was really tasty
matmatlr is offline  
Old May 5, 2022, 10:00 am
  #4838  
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: NL
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by Ambtenaruh
missed this post also.. i was there wearing a bright blue lemon shirt.... anyone going yo the Dutch Open on sunday with the KLM event at the Clubhouse?
Yes I will, you mean the talk before the tournament?
basres is offline  
Old May 5, 2022, 1:19 pm
  #4839  
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, VS Gold, FB Plat
Posts: 185
Wonderful experience yesterday as well recently on KLM flight AMS - TLS, crew was on the lookout for me right from boarding and could see they cared about the onboard experience. Checked with me multiple times on the flight if all was good. There are a few times a year when you wish that a flight took longer, this was one of them.
MarcElMile is offline  
Old May 5, 2022, 6:05 pm
  #4840  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 261
To report that preboarding was granted for me and family in MIA on AF flight to CDG.
SpinEcho is offline  
Old May 6, 2022, 1:05 am
  #4841  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 479
Originally Posted by MarcElMile
Wonderful experience yesterday as well recently on KLM flight AMS - TLS, crew was on the lookout for me right from boarding and could see they cared about the onboard experience. Checked with me multiple times on the flight if all was good. There are a few times a year when you wish that a flight took longer, this was one of them.
wow… only times i wish a flight takes longer is when u r one a nightflight and 6-7h is too short to get a good sleep….
But happy for you!
PascalGie is offline  
Old May 6, 2022, 9:16 am
  #4842  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
Programs: AF/KLM Club2000 Ultimate / M&M HON Circle / ALL Diamond / Hertz President Circle
Posts: 1,042
Originally Posted by PascalGie
wow… only times i wish a flight takes longer is when u r one a nightflight and 6-7h is too short to get a good sleep….
But happy for you!
Same for me !
Even worse when you fly P as you wish to enjoy a little bit longer
Bullspread likes this.
matmatlr is offline  
Old May 7, 2022, 2:46 am
  #4843  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 479
Uxp and miles on upgrade voucher

Strange..

Last time (march 22) i used the voucher i got the miles for the econ fare but the uxp for the C class...

Some reported miles also on c class spend before, but i did not get them.

Now my next voucher flight (jul 22 Adam to JFk) I get miles and uxp for the econ spend and class...
round trip 20uxp and 6000 miles....

Does not really matter to me as i am well over the 1800uxp already for 2023-2024 cycle, but still strange....
PascalGie is offline  
Old May 7, 2022, 3:01 am
  #4844  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by PascalGie
Strange..

Last time (march 22) i used the voucher i got the miles for the econ fare but the uxp for the C class...

Some reported miles also on c class spend before, but i did not get them.

Now my next voucher flight (jul 22 Adam to JFk) I get miles and uxp for the econ spend and class...
round trip 20uxp and 6000 miles....

Does not really matter to me as i am well over the 1800uxp already for 2023-2024 cycle, but still strange....
I can confirm from yesterday that I got both miles and UXP from the C class.

Last edited by SpinEcho; May 7, 2022 at 5:22 am
SpinEcho is offline  
Old May 7, 2022, 7:03 am
  #4845  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 479
Originally Posted by SpinEcho
I can confirm from yesterday that I got both miles and UXP from the C class.
hmmmm so strange…. Did u book via KLM or AF?
PascalGie is offline  


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