May 9, 2019, 3:08 pm
Last edit by: Goldorak
FLYING BLUE ULTIMATE
Main facts
Ultimate is the top status in FB.
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-ARN SK-marketing, SK-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, passengers need to earn 900 UXP during a membership 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.
Since 03/2023, a rollover of surplus UXP is possible. A maximum of 900 UXP is possible, and UXP are carried forward only to the next year. For example, an ULTI member earning 2,000 UXP in a membership year will see the following happening at the end of year 1:
- 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
- unlimited downloads of newspapers & magazines on AF Play (any day, not only on day of travelling).
- Miles overdraft : Ultimate members can redeem Miles for a reward ticket worth up to 100,000 Miles more than their current Miles balance. No limit on how many times this can be used, but requires that the FB account have a positive miles balance. Need to ask the Ulti TA team to make the bookings. After account is in negative, borrowed miles will be reimbursed later with newly earned Miles (transfers from partners can be used to cover these, or even purchased miles).
- When travelling in Y class, if the adjacent seat of Ulti flyer is still free 72hrs before flight, it is automatically blocked by the system, unless flight is fully booked or if a pax needs to be re-seated on-board due to a broken seat or other reason. The seat of the Ultimate pax needs to be pre-booked and not changed starting from 72hrs before flight.
- Additional baggage allowance : +2 free bags on top of the ticket allowance
-New 05/2025 : there is an on-going F&B Buy-on-Board (BOB) test on a few AF medium-haul routes (HEL, NAP) : Ultimate members benefit from a 23€ credit for food and beverages on concerned flights. Note : test is ended and BOB won't happen with AF.
- Free same-day change of flight, to an earlier or later departure on the day of departure. This benefit only applies on flights marketed and operated by AF or KLM, providing there are still seats available in the new desired flight (but the change is not dependent on availability of certain fare classes). New flight should be within 14hrs of original flight. Change can be done by the AF/KL app, kiosk or by the Ulti TA team, until 1hr before original flight time. Free same day changes only apply at segment level, one direction at a time, and cannot be used to change the itinerary (e.g. if original itinerary contains CDG-AMS-JFK, this benefit cannot be used to change to a CDG-JFK direct flight). Change of flight is not possible if a bag has already been checked. In case of flight changed, added extras e.g. pre-selected seats or meals, cannot be guaranteed on the new flight.
- Free wifi on-board (Stream pass). To benefit form it, once on the wifi logon page, you need to first connect using your booking ref + name. Then the Stream pass will appear as free and you can connect to it.
- four one-class upgrade certificates per membership year, requiring for one-way upgrade : 1 from Y to W, 1 from W to J, 2 from Y to J. Upgrades are confirmed instantly at the time of booking (via the Travel Assistant). 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 the same number of vouchers used. In case of 2 long-haul flights in connection (e,g. DXB-CDG-JFK), the use of additional 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). Upgrade vouchers can also be used to upgrade from J to P. Two vouchers are required for one way upgrade. The originally-booked J ticket must be a revenue ticket (= not an award ticket). Upgrade to P can only be processed during the check-in window, i.e. 30hrs before flight (conditions of a classical paid upgrade option apply). If at least 2 P seats are still available for sale, the upgrade can be processed upfront. If only 1 P seat is available, the voucher upgrade can be confirmed only 4 hrs before departure, as this single seat remains in priority available for sale or for a paid upgrade.
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 :
- Eco to Premium Eco : availability in S is required to upgrade.
- Premium Eco to Business : availability in D is required to upgrade.
- Eco to Business : availability in D is required to upgrade.
- Business to la Premičre (AF only) : OLCI paid upgrade conditions apply.
For Y to J and W to J upgrades, vouchers can be applied to award tickets. Same rules as revenue tickets apply.
For J to P upgrades (AF only) : upgrades cannot be applied to award ticket. The originally-booked J ticket must be an AF revenue ticket.
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.
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 note that, for contract lounges, it is not unusual that the lounge agent doesn't know about Ultimate and tells that you need Gold or Platinum to enter. A simple discussion explaining that Ulti is the highest FB status usually solves the issue with the agent looking into the system to check.
Please complete/edit this list as needed.
AFKL HUBS
Amsterdam
- AMS:
Paris CDG
Paris ORY
EUROPE
Austria
- VIE: no special treatment to report, except pre-boarding.
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
Finland
- HEL: no special treatment to report.
France (non-hubs)
- AJA: no special treatment to reportMain facts
Ultimate is the top status in FB.
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-ARN SK-marketing, SK-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, passengers need to earn 900 UXP during a membership 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.
Since 03/2023, a rollover of surplus UXP is possible. A maximum of 900 UXP is possible, and UXP are carried forward only to the next year. For example, an ULTI member earning 2,000 UXP in a membership year will see the following happening at the end of year 1:
- 900 UXP will be deducted to extend ULTI for one year (=year 2)
- 900 UXP will be rolled over to year 2. The member will start year 2 with 900 UXP already on his account. He will end year 2 with 900 UXP+any new UXP that will have been earned during year 2. If the member earns no new UXP in year 2, he will have exactly 900 UXP at the end of year 2, and his ULTI status will be extended to the end of year 3. His opening balance in year 3 will be zero. If he has earned new UXP in year 2, those will be carried over to year 3, and his opening balance in year 3 will be those newly earned UXP from year 2
- 200 UXP (=what is left over of the 2,000 UXP after 900 UXP have been used to maintain status in year 2 and 900 UXP have been rolled over to year 2) will be lost
- 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
- unlimited downloads of newspapers & magazines on AF Play (any day, not only on day of travelling).
- Miles overdraft : Ultimate members can redeem Miles for a reward ticket worth up to 100,000 Miles more than their current Miles balance. No limit on how many times this can be used, but requires that the FB account have a positive miles balance. Need to ask the Ulti TA team to make the bookings. After account is in negative, borrowed miles will be reimbursed later with newly earned Miles (transfers from partners can be used to cover these, or even purchased miles).
- When travelling in Y class, if the adjacent seat of Ulti flyer is still free 72hrs before flight, it is automatically blocked by the system, unless flight is fully booked or if a pax needs to be re-seated on-board due to a broken seat or other reason. The seat of the Ultimate pax needs to be pre-booked and not changed starting from 72hrs before flight.
- Additional baggage allowance : +2 free bags on top of the ticket allowance
-
- Free same-day change of flight, to an earlier or later departure on the day of departure. This benefit only applies on flights marketed and operated by AF or KLM, providing there are still seats available in the new desired flight (but the change is not dependent on availability of certain fare classes). New flight should be within 14hrs of original flight. Change can be done by the AF/KL app, kiosk or by the Ulti TA team, until 1hr before original flight time. Free same day changes only apply at segment level, one direction at a time, and cannot be used to change the itinerary (e.g. if original itinerary contains CDG-AMS-JFK, this benefit cannot be used to change to a CDG-JFK direct flight). Change of flight is not possible if a bag has already been checked. In case of flight changed, added extras e.g. pre-selected seats or meals, cannot be guaranteed on the new flight.
- Free wifi on-board (Stream pass). To benefit form it, once on the wifi logon page, you need to first connect using your booking ref + name. Then the Stream pass will appear as free and you can connect to it.
- four one-class upgrade certificates per membership year, requiring for one-way upgrade : 1 from Y to W, 1 from W to J, 2 from Y to J. Upgrades are confirmed instantly at the time of booking (via the Travel Assistant). 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 the same number of vouchers used. In case of 2 long-haul flights in connection (e,g. DXB-CDG-JFK), the use of additional 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). Upgrade vouchers can also be used to upgrade from J to P. Two vouchers are required for one way upgrade. The originally-booked J ticket must be a revenue ticket (= not an award ticket). Upgrade to P can only be processed during the check-in window, i.e. 30hrs before flight (conditions of a classical paid upgrade option apply). If at least 2 P seats are still available for sale, the upgrade can be processed upfront. If only 1 P seat is available, the voucher upgrade can be confirmed only 4 hrs before departure, as this single seat remains in priority available for sale or for a paid upgrade.
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 :
- Eco to Premium Eco : availability in S is required to upgrade.
- Premium Eco to Business : availability in D is required to upgrade.
- Eco to Business : availability in D is required to upgrade.
- Business to la Premičre (AF only) : OLCI paid upgrade conditions apply.
For Y to J and W to J upgrades, vouchers can be applied to award tickets. Same rules as revenue tickets apply.
For J to P upgrades (AF only) : upgrades cannot be applied to award ticket. The originally-booked J ticket must be an AF revenue ticket.
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.
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 note that, for contract lounges, it is not unusual that the lounge agent doesn't know about Ultimate and tells that you need Gold or Platinum to enter. A simple discussion explaining that Ulti is the highest FB status usually solves the issue with the agent looking into the system to check.
Please complete/edit this list as needed.
AFKL HUBS
Amsterdam
- AMS:
- Dedicated check-in desk in SkyPriority area, but not always manned. You can request someone to come there if other lines are long.
- Pre-boarding available upon request in all Non-Schengen gates. Pre-boarding at B-gates in Schengen usually denied (staff seems to be unaware of Ulti in general there). Sometimes there is an announcement welcoming Ulti passengers before boarding starts.
- Lounge 25 (Schengen)
- Reserved space in the ex-smoking area. Light turns blue upon scanning boarding pass, but staff very rarely escorts to reserved area.
- Lounge 52 (Non-Schengen):
- Light turns blue upon scanning boarding pass, but very inconsistent escort to reserved area.
- Reserved space in the ex-rest area. Turn left from the escalators, walk all the way to the end, and then a small curve to the right after climbing the few stairs. The reserved area has a blue rope and sign for Ulti passengers.
- Shower cabin made available immediately upon request, if staff knows you are Ulti (datapoint from 01/2025).
- Spa in Lounge 52 (Non-Schengen) has some free 5 and 10 minute treatments for Ulti passengers - no sign posted anywhere - but informed about it by lounge staff (datapoint from 01/2025). Not personally tested.
- It is possible to call a phone number to order items from the Blue restaurant and bar (located upstairs in the lounge). Items still need to be paid for. But, a note in the reserved Ulti space suggests there are complimentary items upstairs, if one were to go there. Not personally tested.
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.
- 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
- Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
- Arrival : no special treatment to report
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, except pre-boarding.
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
Finland
- HEL: no special treatment to report.
France (non-hubs)
- 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: Preboarding 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: at the lounge, proposal to pre-board (the lounge agent is informing the gate agent and informing you 10 min in advance of boarding time so you can go to the gate and pre-board).
- NCE: Reserved area in Infinity lounge for LP & Ulti. Pre-boarding upon request.
- 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 (not consistently provided) and pre-boarding proposed.
- TLS: Escort from check in to lounge inconsistently provided. Pre-boarding consistently provided
Germany
- BER: no special treatment to report
- BRE: pre-boarding requested during check-in, agent offered to collect us from lounge (turned-down), pre-boarding done - but pre-boarding request made only once
- DUS: no special treatment to report
- FRA: no special treatment to report
- HAM: no special treatment to report, except pre-boarding
- 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; Data point from 22 Dec: escort proposed spontaneously during check in (but turned down), pre-boarding done.
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: New 01/2026 : access to special lounge (Plaza Premium First Lounge)
- 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: pre-boarding if requested at the gate (you may need to insist as SK staff who is hanfdling AFKL in OSL is not knowledgeable about Ulti).
- 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
- BIO: escort from lounge to plane & pre-boarding granted after request
- 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: pre-boarding upon request.
United Kingdom
- ABZ: no special treatment to report
- BRS : no special treatment to report
- EDI: no special treatment to report
- LHR: reserved seat/table in the lounge; pre-boarding upon request..
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:
- YQB: escort from check-in to lounge proposed
- YVR: pre-boarding proposed
USA
- ATL: no special treatment to report (in connection)
- AUS: Escort provided through security, pre-boarding offered, declined escort from lounge to gate. Great team at AUS.
- BOS: Escort on arrival (NEW 09/2025, confirmed 10/2025). Departure : 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)
- EWR: escort through security to lounge (inconsistently provided), VIP room in SAS lounge, pre-boarding.
- 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), Some kind of priority at the La Prairie spa (after P pax).
- JFK (KL only / terminal 4) : no special treatments to report.
- LAX: reserved area in AF lounge.
- MIA: on departure, escort through security and to lounge proactively offered
- 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)
- ORD: On arrival, escort through immigration. On departure, escort through security to lounge and from lounge to plane (pre-boarding). Reserved space in AF lounge.
- PHX : no special treatments to report.
- SEA: pre-boarding with escort to plane
- SFO: reserved area in lounge
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
- BOG: escort through immigration on arrival.
- LIM:
- GIG: Pre-boarding upon request.
- GRU: escort in case of short connection upon request, inconsistently provided. Pre-boarding at the gate (upon request).
- MEX (Terminal 1):
- 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). Small Ulti area in lounge. Escort to plane & pre-boarding.
- BLR: on arrival: awaited in jetway and escorted through immigration, wait with you at baggage claim and accompanied to taxi. On departure : escort from check-in counter to lounge and then to plane as per your boarding preference.
- BOM : on arrival: awaited in jetway and escorted through immigration, wait with you at baggage claim and accompanied to taxi. On departure : escort from check-in counter to lounge and then to plane as per your boarding preference.
- CGK : escort on arrival through immigration.
- DEL: on arrival: awaited in jetway and escorted through immigration, wait with you at baggage claim and accompanied to taxi. On departure : escort from check-in counter to lounge and then to plane as per your boarding preference.
- DPS : escort from check-in to lounge and to plane (upon request). Reserved space in GA lounge.
- 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
- ICN : no special treatment to report.
- KIX: Arrival : escort through immigration, wait at baggage claim. Departure : escort from check-in desk to lounge All proposed spontaneously
- MNL : Arrival : escort from plane to exit, fast track at immigration. Departure : escort from check-in counter to lounge, fast track at immigration and security, escort from lounge to plane, pre-boarding.
- PEK :
- PVG : pre-boarding agreed to upon request during check-in and boarding staff delivered on request (datapoint 07/2024)
- SIN: no special treatment to report
CARIBBEAN & INDIAN OCEAN
- CUR: on arrival, met at the gate and walked through immigration. On departure : escort from check-in through immigration and security; escort from the lounge to plane/pre-boarding.
- 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. Departures (12/2025): escort from check-in to lounge. Pre-boarding upon request incl. pick-up from lounge (Air Mauritius lounge).
- 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:
- JED: no special treatment to report
- RUH: no special treatment to report
- IST: no special treatment to report
- TBS : no special treatment to report
AFRICA
- AGA: escort from check in to lounge and from lounge to aircraft, provided spontaneously
- CAI: Pre-boarding offered spontaneously during check-in. Datapoint 01/2025: pre-boarding done.
- CMN: escort on arrival through immigration (not always consistently provided). Datapoint 11/2024 : no special treatment to report.
- CPT: escort from counter to lounge, provided spontaneously
- JNB:
- JNO: no special treatment to report.
- KGL : no special treatment to report
- LBV : escort from lounge to plane
- LOS: dedicated space in lounge (only in the one used by AF, not in KL one). Pre-boarding possible but not so easy.
- NBO : Departure : escort from check-in counter through immigration (fast track) to lounge and then to plane with pre-boarding (confirmed in 03/2025 as well).
- NSI : Departure : escort from check-in counter through immigration (fast track) to lounge and then to plane with pre-boarding.
- RAK: escort on departure to entrance of security, escort from lounge to plane for pre-boarding.
- RBA: on departure : escort to lounge and to plane, provided spontaneously. Datapoint 05/2024 : no special treatment to report.
- TUN: escort on arrival through immigration provided. Escort from check-in to lounge provided
- ZNZ: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)
Flying Blue Ultimate Status
Jan 25, 2017 | 3:12 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇨🇦 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,772
Let's do the math:
- 360,000 level miles in 2 years -> 180,000 level miles in 1 year
- 1 domestic leg in Abonné fare brings 1,000 level miles
- do a NCE-ORY-BES and return once a week 45 weeks a year and you have made half the way
So an IT consultant living in NCE and working for the French Navy in BES to deploy a software can make it
No need for Premiere in FB strategy
- 360,000 level miles in 2 years -> 180,000 level miles in 1 year
- 1 domestic leg in Abonné fare brings 1,000 level miles
- do a NCE-ORY-BES and return once a week 45 weeks a year and you have made half the way
So an IT consultant living in NCE and working for the French Navy in BES to deploy a software can make it
No need for Premiere in FB strategy
Jan 25, 2017 | 3:17 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold; LH Senator
Posts: 30,532
Or, in the new Light 20% earning buckets, take 1200 such trips each year [meaning well over 3 each day]
Jan 25, 2017 | 3:35 am
#48
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: AF/KL FB Plat ; A3 Gold ; AY Platinum ; HH Diamond ; IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 2,566
Actually it is not that bad with the Z fares within Europe. It costs around 600 EUR for 4 segments in Z that earn 1875-3000 miles per segment.
So with an average of 2000 qualifying miles on AF per flight at 150 average cost, you reach 360k miles with 180 segments at 150 EUR, so 27000 EUR in 2 years. Now let's see if the benefits are worth it. If they give P service for J (long haul?) flights, then that could be interesting for the regular J flyer.
So with an average of 2000 qualifying miles on AF per flight at 150 average cost, you reach 360k miles with 180 segments at 150 EUR, so 27000 EUR in 2 years. Now let's see if the benefits are worth it. If they give P service for J (long haul?) flights, then that could be interesting for the regular J flyer.
Jan 25, 2017 | 3:50 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Etoile, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 8,903
Among the benefits will be the ability to reserve your favourite seat.... in the lounge
I kid you not!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-f...ue-status.html
I kid you not!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-f...ue-status.html
But take this with a grain of salt, (i) this was the test phase of that PA service, (ii) which we don't have confirmation will be part of Ultimate, even if it sounds like it.
Jan 25, 2017 | 4:13 am
#50
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Etoile, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 8,903
Actually it is not that bad with the Z fares within Europe. It costs around 600 EUR for 4 segments in Z that earn 1875-3000 miles per segment.
So with an average of 2000 qualifying miles on AF per flight at 150 average cost, you reach 360k miles with 180 segments at 150 EUR, so 27000 EUR in 2 years. If they give P service for J (long haul?) flights, then that could be interesting for the regular J flyer.
So with an average of 2000 qualifying miles on AF per flight at 150 average cost, you reach 360k miles with 180 segments at 150 EUR, so 27000 EUR in 2 years. If they give P service for J (long haul?) flights, then that could be interesting for the regular J flyer.
For HON it takes 600,000 miles on LH/LX/OS metal in First or Business Class. This is the equivalent of
- Either 47 one-way flights between Zurich and New York in First
- or 68 one-way flights between Zurich and New York in Business
- or 240 intra-Europe J class flights
To compare, for Platinum Ultimate, where it takes 360,000 level miles in any class, it takes much less flights in First and slightly less in Business:
- A mere 22 one-way flights between Paris and New York in P booking class
- or 33 one-way flights between Paris and New York in F booking class
- between 57 (booking class J) and 66 (booking class I) one-way flights between Zurich and New York in Business
- or 192 intra-Europe Business class flights
The typical traveler qualifying for this status would probably have a mix of destinations, but this is a guidance (I use these routes for my own calculation as they are the ones that I fly most frequently, other long haul routes coming and going in waves).
I am sure the first mileage-run calculations will pop up here very soon.
Now let's see if the benefits are worth it.
Jan 25, 2017 | 4:32 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold; LH Senator
Posts: 30,532
From own experience during the test phase this works a bit different: in some lounges they prepare a cordoned-off area where they put a couple of drinks and some nibbles on a table. In some outstations they sometimes have a little private room where they set you up with a bottle of champagne and some canapes (had that in BOS once and in one other station, don't remember which, both times flying with family, so it was nice to be set up in the private room).
I don't see what's premium about being required to sit in a cordoned-off area and having some snacks set out. But, to each their own!
Jan 25, 2017 | 5:26 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Etoile, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 8,903
I never said that you wouldn't be able to use the AMS VIP service. I haven't been to AMS. I only said that you don't get to reserve your seat in the lounge, but they do it for you.
Jan 25, 2017 | 8:11 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Zanzibar
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 1,319
KLM does it at the tiny lounge in SFO. It is a table with a sign that says reserved. Then they bring ins some 'vips' who are served a drink and snack. It looks a bit silly. But it is nice to get a seat in a lounge that is way to small for KLM and AF departing around the same time @ 2pm.
Racking up lots of miles is not that difficult if you are unlucky enough to fly them. I did a year with 25 WBC returns (one week there, one home) to Tanzania and that was more then 300K in level miles.
Racking up lots of miles is not that difficult if you are unlucky enough to fly them. I did a year with 25 WBC returns (one week there, one home) to Tanzania and that was more then 300K in level miles.
Jan 25, 2017 | 8:49 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Etoile, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 8,903
You're right, levels like this often come with significant impact on private life. Although I realised that the true explosion of my mileage balance came when I made a point to fly home between trips and fly out again next day, and make a multitude of one-day trips rather than a tour.
Jan 25, 2017 | 9:02 am
#55
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 895
It makes sense imao, I provide this kind of service to most of my close family and they like it. I started doing that when I wasn't flying too much for someone raking usually 130k level miles in Y and it's very appreciated to have someone checking doing the check-in, entering your passport info, keeping an eye on the seats, finding the best itineraries, suggesting miles utilisation, having a look on the inventory for upgrades, doing the bookings, monitoring weather and possible disruption etc etc.
So if in addition to that, they also make sure of an even smoother experience on the ground then perfect. I would assume someone flying this much in J or above just don't want to be bothered having to do all the above and neither as being stuck in a queue or denied entry in the lounge because of the crowd.
Jan 25, 2017 | 9:54 am
#56
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, DL Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 4, AA ExecPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,934
You prove my point. It's almost impossible to reach the 360k by flying only economy so what can you give to people already being in Biz most of the time? : A dedicated travel manager
It makes sense imao, I provide this kind of service to most of my close family and they like it. I started doing that when I wasn't flying too much for someone raking usually 130k level miles in Y and it's very appreciated to have someone checking doing the check-in, entering your passport info, keeping an eye on the seats, finding the best itineraries, suggesting miles utilisation, having a look on the inventory for upgrades, doing the bookings, monitoring weather and possible disruption etc etc.
So if in addition to that, they also make sure of an even smoother experience on the ground then perfect. I would assume someone flying this much in J or above just don't want to be bothered having to do all the above and neither as being stuck in a queue or denied entry in the lounge because of the crowd.
It makes sense imao, I provide this kind of service to most of my close family and they like it. I started doing that when I wasn't flying too much for someone raking usually 130k level miles in Y and it's very appreciated to have someone checking doing the check-in, entering your passport info, keeping an eye on the seats, finding the best itineraries, suggesting miles utilisation, having a look on the inventory for upgrades, doing the bookings, monitoring weather and possible disruption etc etc.
So if in addition to that, they also make sure of an even smoother experience on the ground then perfect. I would assume someone flying this much in J or above just don't want to be bothered having to do all the above and neither as being stuck in a queue or denied entry in the lounge because of the crowd.
).
Jan 25, 2017 | 11:38 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 895
Anyone here on FT won't have much interest in such service as we are all mostly educated flyers with a tendency to be control freaks regarding our travels...
Personally, I don't think I will ever be able to let someone else manage my travels
Personally, I don't think I will ever be able to let someone else manage my travels
Jan 25, 2017 | 12:52 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Ultimate/Platinum for life/Club2000, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 24,956
The blog above mentions that 200 customers have reached that threshold, which I find surprisingly few. M&M HON, which is achieved after reaching a very similar threshold of level miles but only in First and Business Class has 5,000 (!) members. With only 200 they can really do some fancy things.
Let's do the math:
- 360,000 level miles in 2 years -> 180,000 level miles in 1 year
- 1 domestic leg in Abonné fare brings 1,000 level miles
- do a NCE-ORY-BES and return once a week 45 weeks a year and you have made half the way
So an IT consultant living in NCE and working for the French Navy in BES to deploy a software can make it
No need for Premiere in FB strategy
- 360,000 level miles in 2 years -> 180,000 level miles in 1 year
- 1 domestic leg in Abonné fare brings 1,000 level miles
- do a NCE-ORY-BES and return once a week 45 weeks a year and you have made half the way
So an IT consultant living in NCE and working for the French Navy in BES to deploy a software can make it
No need for Premiere in FB strategy
From own experience during the test phase this works a bit different: in some lounges they prepare a cordoned-off area where they put a couple of drinks and some nibbles on a table. In some outstations they sometimes have a little private room where they set you up with a bottle of champagne and some canapes (had that in BOS once and in one other station, don't remember which, both times flying with family, so it was nice to be set up in the private room).
But take this with a grain of salt, (i) this was the test phase of that PA service, (ii) which we don't have confirmation will be part of Ultimate, even if it sounds like it.
But take this with a grain of salt, (i) this was the test phase of that PA service, (ii) which we don't have confirmation will be part of Ultimate, even if it sounds like it.
So if you were part of the test phase, can you share information with us ?
Jan 25, 2017 | 1:35 pm
#59
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,509
Jan 25, 2017 | 1:40 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, DL Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic 4, AA ExecPlat, Hyatt Globalist, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,934
Goldorak is right in that it's an 'additional' status on top of Platinum Elite, LTPE, and even Club2000/Skipper. It can be seen online when you log in as a sort of 'badge' on your status tier.
