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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 Sep 18, 2022, 2:15 am
  #5311  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
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Originally Posted by Macaron54
If someone on this thread has already reported on this topic, I apologize in advance to everyone for missing the post. For a few years now, the Ultimate service at ORD has been, to say the least, and compared to so many other outstations, pristine. It has been so, however, for outbound flights to AMS and CDG. Not for inbound ones. The Ultimate service includes a full escort from check-in to the lounge, with expedited passport check and body scanner, cutting all lines with an agent in cahoot with the TSAs. I should note in passing that for the past couple of years or so, AF and KLM PAXs have been handled by Samsic, a third-party service company that does a superb job in Chicago. They have now taken the Ultimate service to the next level on inbound flights, meeting the PAXs at the jet bridge, escorting them all the way to the exit, cutting lines at border control, saving hours of painful wait on busy days, waiting with them at the carousel for their baggage to be delivered, and finally cutting lines again at the customs before the exit door. Two thumbs up on a great service, which we would like to see at every outstations.

Macaron54

PS/ Last, but not least, for the ORD aficionados, the DL lounge at terminal 5 will finally open its door on October 10. Rumor has it that DL spared no expense, and comes with an amazing lounge, with showers and rest areas. It was supposed to open this month, but labor shortage put everything behind schedule.
WOW, this is great news. Can’t wait to try for my next visit to ORD . Thanks for sharing.
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Old Sep 18, 2022, 5:02 am
  #5312  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 477
Just wondering… anybody got an invite for the P4L event or the 103 house event?
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Old Sep 18, 2022, 5:59 am
  #5313  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
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Programs: Marriott titanium, KL/AF FB Ulti
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Originally Posted by PascalGie
Just wondering… anybody got an invite for the P4L event or the 103 house event?
The Dutch P4L event happened two weeks ago at the Rijksmuseum, for new P4Ls. New Dutch ultis are invited to an event in two months. I haven’t heard of a huisje 103 event.
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Old Sep 18, 2022, 2:58 pm
  #5314  
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: London, UK
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Originally Posted by arjen05
The Dutch P4L event happened two weeks ago at the Rijksmuseum, for new P4Ls. New Dutch ultis are invited to an event in two months. I haven’t heard of a huisje 103 event.
The new KLM house will be announced in Oranje Stad, Aruba. If you received an invitation, it would look like:KLM will mark its 103rd anniversary on October 7, 2022! We would be delighted if you would join us to celebrate and to attend the unveiling of KLM Delft Blue house #103 in Oranjestad.

Official event entrance will be at the beginning of Schelpstraat.

Can't really share more, but should not be hard to guess what next house will be
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MarcElMile is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 1:38 am
  #5315  
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Posts: 364
Originally Posted by MarcElMile
The new KLM house will be announced in Oranje Stad, Aruba. If you received an invitation, it would look like:KLM will mark its 103rd anniversary on October 7, 2022! We would be delighted if you would join us to celebrate and to attend the unveiling of KLM Delft Blue house #103 in Oranjestad.

Official event entrance will be at the beginning of Schelpstraat.

Can't really share more, but should not be hard to guess what next house will be
No NL based Ulit's invited? what would be the invitation criteria?
Hollandair is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 1:57 am
  #5316  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 477
Originally Posted by Hollandair
No NL based Ulit's invited? what would be the invitation criteria?
It’s an KLM event, so I guess there will be not a lot on non NL based Ulti’s on KLM radar anyway…
AF has his own events as well.

Anyway, if you would be invited, i assume you have to manage your trip yourself…. Little bit too much for this event (at least for me)…
PascalGie is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 2:50 am
  #5317  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CW
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Posts: 644
Originally Posted by PascalGie
It’s an KLM event, so I guess there will be not a lot on non NL based Ulti’s on KLM radar anyway…
AF has his own events as well.

Anyway, if you would be invited, i assume you have to manage your trip yourself…. Little bit too much for this event (at least for me)…
I've been based in the Dutch Caribbean for a while and I recall from KLM that they mainly focus on their business contacts over there, instead of individual passengers. There used to be only 1 ulti based in Curaçao anyway, and Aruba is much smaller (but also has way more opportunities to fly Skyteam, since out of CUR only CUR-(PTY-)AMS provides (U)XP, while from AUA there are quite some DL flights.
I would assume they focus on inviting regional business contacts instead of frequent flyers. Since KL isn't operating 5th freedom flights between the islands, anyone they'd fly in from BON/CUR/SXM/PBM need to be provided with a ticket on another airline. Not sure which choices KL makes here..
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Old Sep 20, 2022, 3:20 am
  #5318  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 158
New on-demand food offer at 2E K. Menu with 5-6 dishes. For test at the moment but good initiative!
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Old Sep 20, 2022, 4:53 am
  #5319  
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
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Posts: 2,424
Originally Posted by Tro78
New on-demand food offer at 2E K. Menu with 5-6 dishes. For test at the moment but good initiative!
Interesting!

Is that Ulti-only ?
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maalloc is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 4:24 pm
  #5320  
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Originally Posted by Tro78
New on-demand food offer at 2E K. Menu with 5-6 dishes. For test at the moment but good initiative!
Looks good. I hope the test will be successful and it's going to stay, as AF is notorious to start such nice initiatives and drop them quietly a couple of months later as cost-cutting measures (or because it's a demand from the customers )
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Goldorak is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2022, 4:27 pm
  #5321  
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Originally Posted by PascalGie
AF has his own events as well.
Really ?
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Old Sep 20, 2022, 5:14 pm
  #5322  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by Goldorak
Really ?
I read it as AF has their own events unrelated to the house.
Fabo.sk is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2022, 4:25 am
  #5323  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 158
Originally Posted by maalloc
Interesting!

Is that Ulti-only ?
yes
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Tro78 is offline  
Old Sep 21, 2022, 5:46 am
  #5324  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
I read it as AF has their own events unrelated to the house.
Correct... AF would never have a KLM house event... too much inclusion:-)

Anyway... what klm lounge at Schiphol has is a new service: try to find a coffee because half the machines are out of order and after enjoy it while standing...

Totally overcrowded...😫
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Old Sep 21, 2022, 6:15 am
  #5325  
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
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Originally Posted by PascalGie
Correct... AF would never have a KLM house event... too much inclusion:-)

Anyway... what klm lounge at Schiphol has is a new service: try to find a coffee because half the machines are out of order and after enjoy it while standing...

Totally overcrowded...😫
It's only logical Crown Lounge appliances are playing cat-and-mouse with pax...
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maalloc is offline  


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