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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 Jun 5, 2022, 1:04 am
  #5041  
UXP
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 30
Four vouchers for Ultimates

Got this form the horses mouth. KLM /AF will announce soon that ultimates get 4 upgrade vouchers for premium comfort / economy comfort , or you can stick to the 2 BC upgrades.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:12 am
  #5042  
UXP
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by Hollandair
I disagree that Privium plus is a no-brainer, unless you get it for free via AMEX. First of all having NL as homebase I hardy spend time at AMS. I a not going earlier to the airport in order to sit in the lounge of which the biggest is prior security. That makes it inconvenient especially now with the buys day. the Lounge after security is at the D gates giving yuo still quite a walk if you depart form B-gates. for this 1-2 times a year it could be convenient If find the prices difference with privium basic too much (100 EUROS).
ALso Johan I wonder, if your plat as assuming your mainly fly KLM/ST, why use the prvium plus if you can use the Crown Lounge which has a much better offering if it comes to catering. Bottomline is, that yes for some people in some circumstances Prvium PLus might be a good choice, but def not for the majority of the people. Most people have it because of AMEX Plat like me, I think I have been in the prvium lounge once in 2 years when flying a non skyteam airline.

Yesterday the crown Lounge was closed KLM lounges are overcrowded .

Privium allows you to go to the best lounge at AMS- the West lounge. Excellent food and quiet . Also it enables you fast track. Current waiting times, even for business, can be up to 5 hrs. With privium, 10 minutes max.

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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:16 am
  #5043  
Used to be guidogh
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: FB Ultimate, Hertz Platinum, Star Aliiance Gold
Posts: 364
Originally Posted by UXP
Yesterday the crown Lounge was closed KLM lounges are overcrowded .

Privium allows you to go to the best lounge at AMS- the West lounge. Excellent food and quiet . Also it enables you fast track. Current waiting times, even for business, can be up to 5 hrs. With privium, 10 minutes max.

But you know this closure is extremely exceptional. Has never occurred and most likely will not occur after the problems are solved. and you can also visit the other crown lounge though its a 10 minute walk and going through pp control which the police allows with this explanation.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:23 am
  #5044  
UXP
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by ddjimi
The difference in money spent between 300xp and 1800uxp is astronomical.
The advantages between a platinum and ultimate member are not great...
I'm Ulti since 2 years.
The most frustrating is the quality of service which isnt always reliable.
I'm cool with the Ulti statut and i see the difference but i think they need to step up the "ulti experience"
Main and important benefit for me is preboarding. You always have to ask for it. But it makes travel so more relaxing . I am Ultimate since a month and got preboarding 7 times out of 8 - only in Munich it went wrong (they forgot me)
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:25 am
  #5045  
UXP
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by Hollandair
But you know this closure is extremely exceptional. Has never occurred and most likely will not occur after the problems are solved. and you can also visit the other crown lounge though its a 10 minute walk and going through pp control which the police allows with this explanation.
I don’t think the KLM lounges , regardless which one, can beat West.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:36 am
  #5046  
Used to be guidogh
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: FB Ultimate, Hertz Platinum, Star Aliiance Gold
Posts: 364
Originally Posted by UXP
I don’t think the KLM lounges , regardless which one, can beat West.
Ok I agree that is persona preferencel, but I stand by the opinion that Privium plus is "nice to have" instead of no-brainer 99 out of a 100 visits in normal circumstances.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 1:53 am
  #5047  
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: VLC
Programs: FB Plat (Y3), All Accor Gold (Y2)
Posts: 640
Originally Posted by Hollandair
Ok I agree that is persona preferencel, but I stand by the opinion that Privium plus is "nice to have" instead of no-brainer 99 out of a 100 visits in normal circumstances.
just not having to drink soda from those mcDonald's dispensers in tiny glasses already is a huge win, and why I prefer AF lounges above KL's 100% of the time, every time, so I was happy to see Privium lounges have regular bottles in the fridge to take and consume.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 4:49 am
  #5048  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 267
Originally Posted by matmatlr
I was thinking the same when I read Goldorak feedback...
If it's a long term decision, it's really a shame for ADP ! They already proved how bad they could be, no need to be creative any longer

Another evidence that AdP isn't capable of ANYTHING. They are not only not capable of running airports in an orderly way, but they also don't get their website basics in order, but......Paris vous aime...



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Old Jun 5, 2022, 7:16 am
  #5049  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 476
Originally Posted by UXP
Got this form the horses mouth. KLM /AF will announce soon that ultimates get 4 upgrade vouchers for premium comfort / economy comfort , or you can stick to the 2 BC upgrades.
Hoeraahhhh!
Probably took them 12 meetings and 1 FTE to figure this out.
Problem is that “they” think all problems are solved now, and ulti pax will be extremely grateful to the outstanding offer Ulti makes… now incl 4 upgrade vouchers having the same value as before with some more flexibility…. Wow!
Especially valuable since KLM does not have premium…. They announced role out of this class, but will as usual take 2+ years.

Wonder how many ‘ulti’s will take premium offers…. Me not.

Last edited by PascalGie; Jun 5, 2022 at 7:22 am
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 7:43 am
  #5050  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by PascalGie
Wonder how many ‘ulti’s will take premium offers…. Me not.
I will :-)
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 7:46 am
  #5051  
 
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: 1,039
Originally Posted by PascalGie

Wonder how many ‘ulti’s will take premium offers…. Me not.
I won't either
​​I've never been a big fan of Premium Eco and to me it's not worth the price difference compared to Eco
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 7:55 am
  #5052  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: CDG & ORY
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by matmatlr
I won't either
​​I've never been a big fan of Premium Eco and to me it's not worth the price difference compared to Eco
I meant to say that I would buy Eco Premium to use the vouchers. For me it's much easier to buy W tickets for professional travels, and to upgrade later on.
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Old Jun 5, 2022, 2:18 pm
  #5053  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Originally Posted by Hollandair
Ok I agree that is persona preferencel, but I stand by the opinion that Privium plus is "nice to have" instead of no-brainer 99 out of a 100 visits in normal circumstances.
Well, if you agree that it boils down to personal preferences, then there is no such thing as normal circumstances. Or rather, we all have our own definition of such circumstances.

The KLM lounges are big, usually packed to the rafters, noisy, the toilets generally dirty, and the catering is a mix of canned prison gloop and dog food. They suck. So yeah, I think it's a no-brainer. I'll take Privium any day, even now that their catering has unfortunately taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks.



Johan
johan rebel is offline  
Old Jun 5, 2022, 10:35 pm
  #5054  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 267
Originally Posted by SpinEcho
It really sucks...
Yes apparently it's been 2-3 weeks that there is no dedicated line anymore at arrival :-(

Live from 2E: Access to the LP/PRM…and Ulti line granted without issues, upon showing my boarding pass. Although, there is no Ultimate sign anymore.
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feederflight is offline  
Old Jun 5, 2022, 11:33 pm
  #5055  
UXP
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by PascalGie
Hoeraahhhh!
Probably took them 12 meetings and 1 FTE to figure this out.
Problem is that “they” think all problems are solved now, and ulti pax will be extremely grateful to the outstanding offer Ulti makes… now incl 4 upgrade vouchers having the same value as before with some more flexibility…. Wow!
Especially valuable since KLM does not have premium…. They announced role out of this class, but will as usual take 2+ years.

Wonder how many ‘ulti’s will take premium offers…. Me not.
th
UXP is offline  


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