May 9, 2019, 3:08 pm
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
Paris ORY
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 reportMain 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.
- 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
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)
- 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),
- 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)
Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status
Mar 28, 2024, 9:41 am
#7051
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 477
Next voucher to come… almost at LP level on vouchers ;-)
Mar 28, 2024, 2:44 pm
#7052
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Vistara Gold, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 480
Interesting experience today. Have a trip booked with the onward on this Saturday. A few weeks ago I moved the return trip from 7 Apr til 8 Apr, and had to call in to make the payment because the ticket reissuing didn't work as the payment went into limbo. This morning I got a call from the PSL (not TA) saying that my ticket got flagged by their fare/revenue department, and the PSL were asked to call me to check if I had intentionally changed my flight to a one-way with only the 8 Apr segment being valid.
This was really odd to me because I had two ticket numbers in the booking, which sometimes happens after rebooking, and I am rather looking forward to my flight on this Saturday. The PSL lady was very kind, apologized for the confusion and said she'd get the ticket fixed. About 45 mins later she called back again saying that her supervisor said to speak with me again because re-issuing was a potential problem since there was a fare difference and if I was aware of this. This took me by surprise because the 8 Apr rebooking was recently paid for, and as per her ticketed. Upon inquiry, turns out that the fare difference was applicable to a change I made some months ago to move the onward from 31 Mar to 30 Mar. The change was done via the TA, who had collected payment for me, based on a manual pricing. I explained it all to her, and she seemed quite flummoxed because the payment was showing as partially open in their system. Probably why fare/revenue flagged it. In any case, she said she'd investigate more and call back.
At this point I was worried enough that I called the TA. As always, great response from them. They were completely flabbergasted why PSL called me, as it should be them handling the ticket. But either way, the TA was able to see who emailed the PSL and the agent at the PSL. They made some calls internally to both teams, and the ticket was reissued. So my trip is fixed. In the end it was human error by the PSL agent who took payment and reissued the change to my return sector.
No problems, mistakes happen. But I found it really cool that someone at revenue management is looking at tickets and working to resolve these issues proactively! Given the number of horror stories I have seen of ticketing hell people can fall into when tickets are reissued, this is a great example of good customer service to proactively fix a problem.
I know there are some posts (even now) complaining about the quality of service provided by AFKL. But sometimes things go well too. Either way, I thought I'd post here because I found the entire situation interesting.
This was really odd to me because I had two ticket numbers in the booking, which sometimes happens after rebooking, and I am rather looking forward to my flight on this Saturday. The PSL lady was very kind, apologized for the confusion and said she'd get the ticket fixed. About 45 mins later she called back again saying that her supervisor said to speak with me again because re-issuing was a potential problem since there was a fare difference and if I was aware of this. This took me by surprise because the 8 Apr rebooking was recently paid for, and as per her ticketed. Upon inquiry, turns out that the fare difference was applicable to a change I made some months ago to move the onward from 31 Mar to 30 Mar. The change was done via the TA, who had collected payment for me, based on a manual pricing. I explained it all to her, and she seemed quite flummoxed because the payment was showing as partially open in their system. Probably why fare/revenue flagged it. In any case, she said she'd investigate more and call back.
At this point I was worried enough that I called the TA. As always, great response from them. They were completely flabbergasted why PSL called me, as it should be them handling the ticket. But either way, the TA was able to see who emailed the PSL and the agent at the PSL. They made some calls internally to both teams, and the ticket was reissued. So my trip is fixed. In the end it was human error by the PSL agent who took payment and reissued the change to my return sector.
No problems, mistakes happen. But I found it really cool that someone at revenue management is looking at tickets and working to resolve these issues proactively! Given the number of horror stories I have seen of ticketing hell people can fall into when tickets are reissued, this is a great example of good customer service to proactively fix a problem.
I know there are some posts (even now) complaining about the quality of service provided by AFKL. But sometimes things go well too. Either way, I thought I'd post here because I found the entire situation interesting.
Mar 29, 2024, 3:28 am
#7053
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 477
FYI: After pushback, they acknowledged the eur350 voucher for me. Think fair.
Mar 29, 2024, 9:18 am
#7054
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP (ex-CK womp womp), AF PLAT
Posts: 9
Hey JonTravel . Similar boat here. I went from new to program to PLAT in 2023, in a 9 month period. Then my (sub 900) UXP were taken at 1/1/24. Had I been given 12 months, I would have made ULTI. My 2024 qual period goes until 7/31/24. So essentially it's a situation where my earning period are handicapped for two years in a row. Really frustrating. That said, if I get to 900 by 7/31/24 it does sound like you get two years out of it, so that's a small consolation.
Last edited by BrendanTM; Mar 29, 2024 at 9:19 am Reason: added tag of member
Mar 29, 2024, 9:58 am
#7055
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Vistara Gold, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 480
Mar 29, 2024, 10:41 am
#7056
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP (ex-CK womp womp), AF PLAT
Posts: 9
Mar 29, 2024, 11:02 am
#7057
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,402
Pretty clear reading is:
* if you were not Ulti as of the end of December, 2023 AND get 900 UXP (after the 900 UXP deduction) by the your Platinum renewal (with UXP over 900 at that renewal rolling over), you get Ulti for 24 months.
Combined with the new 300 XP rollover limit phasing, those of us (like me) who have a September renewal for Platinum have basically the ideal qualification situation. Pity I don't have any AFKL flights on my horizon for the next few months.
Mar 29, 2024, 11:36 am
#7058
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Vistara Gold, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 480
This is pretty much what was my case. 1800 UXP were earned at a point last year. Ulti until 2025. On 1 Jan, shortened to Ulti until 2024. 900 UXP recredited to ensure Ulti until 2025, upon renewal this year.
I could, of course, be wrong. But nothing I'm reading is saying that as Plat, if you earn only 900 UXP in your account this year, that you'll get Ulti for 2 years. 1 Jan 2024 became a hard swith for everyone not Ulti by then basically.
Mar 29, 2024, 3:11 pm
#7059
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,402
This is pretty much what was my case. 1800 UXP were earned at a point last year. Ulti until 2025. On 1 Jan, shortened to Ulti until 2024. 900 UXP recredited to ensure Ulti until 2025, upon renewal this year.
I could, of course, be wrong. But nothing I'm reading is saying that as Plat, if you earn only 900 UXP in your account this year, that you'll get Ulti for 2 years. 1 Jan 2024 became a hard swith for everyone not Ulti by then basically.
You yourself are the data point that categorically rules out the reading that the rest of that section applies to those who moved up in 2023. Since it clearly doesn't apply to those who moved up in 2023, to which Platinums would you say it applies (especially in view of it specifically mentioning, after referring those who made ULTI to the other section, "if you do not get 1800 UXP by December...")
Last edited by hhdl; Mar 29, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Mar 29, 2024, 6:43 pm
#7060
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Ultimate, LATAM Black, Vistara Gold, Accor/IHG Platinum, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 480
You have exactly misread that. It says, if you earn ULTI before 2024, this answer does not apply to you; the section "I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends in 2025; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?" applies to you.
Reading further from there JonTravel seems to have fallen into the second condition, where 900 UXP were not in the account on 31 Dec 2023, leading to a zero-out of all UXP. Also, in that case the line, "If you earn Flying Blue Ultimate by the end of your qualification period, you will keep your Flying Blue Ultimate status for two more years." combined with, "If you do not earn 1800 UXP by the end of December 2023, you must reach 900 UXP by the end of your current Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period instead of 1800 UXP.", does appear to imply that by just reaching 900 UXP, between Jan and Nov 2024, a Plat can reach Ulti for 2 years.
Again, lots of late nights recently could mean that I am misreading all of this terribly, but the paragraph seems to have been the intention. If not, then I am glad that some people will get to enjoy Ulti for 2 years, with just 900 UXP earned in 2024, because what happened on 1 Jan wasn't quite fair in many situations.
Scratching the above (but leaving it so no one else ends up thinking like me), because it appears the granting 2 years of Ulti to those who fall into this "crack" seems to have been done to restore some level of fairness to them. I always felt some people got quite unfairly shafted, but this seems to help since it essentially leaves the folks with the opportunity to earn 1800 UXP to get to 2 years of Ulti, as would've been the case before.
Mar 30, 2024, 2:14 am
#7061
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 6
Hey JonTravel . Similar boat here. I went from new to program to PLAT in 2023, in a 9 month period. Then my (sub 900) UXP were taken at 1/1/24. Had I been given 12 months, I would have made ULTI. My 2024 qual period goes until 7/31/24. So essentially it's a situation where my earning period are handicapped for two years in a row. Really frustrating. That said, if I get to 900 by 7/31/24 it does sound like you get two years out of it, so that's a small consolation.
I was also not able to find any discussions on this subject!
The only one i found was on the flyingblue platinum facebook group, someone posted the below picture.
It shows that he automatically received 900 UXP upon achieving Ultimate status (despite Flying blue hotline telling him the opposite)
Mar 30, 2024, 8:59 am
#7062
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP (ex-CK womp womp), AF PLAT
Posts: 9
Calling the flyingblue platinum line to clarify this point seems to give mix replies depending on the agent.
I was also not able to find any discussions on this subject!
The only one i found was on the flyingblue platinum facebook group, someone posted the below picture.
It shows that he automatically received 900 UXP upon achieving Ultimate status (despite Flying blue hotline telling him the opposite)
I was also not able to find any discussions on this subject!
The only one i found was on the flyingblue platinum facebook group, someone posted the below picture.
It shows that he automatically received 900 UXP upon achieving Ultimate status (despite Flying blue hotline telling him the opposite)
I've had a very hard time with this issue with reps from FB, you get a different answer every time by phone and if you email them, it tends to go into a black hole -- which is frustrating. Ben Lipsey was kind enough to have someone take a look at the scenario that you and I both seem to be in, and in best of my recollection in correspondence with him he alluded to the qualify within your shortened period in '24 = 2 years of ULTI scenario. It seems like there are certain folks who fall into a bit of a hole as they work out this transition period, and these are examples of that.
Mar 30, 2024, 1:16 pm
#7063
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 477
Crown lounge ulti section
Update as my 2nd visit this week;
Entry to lounge itself gives normal light.
Tip; go to a lady (or man) at the entry to scan your Bp and they automatically see you are ulti. They asked me if I would like to go alone or I need an escort.
I really appreciate the quite & privacy! Especially since this Saturday morning was busy!
Every hour or so it seems a klm lounge crew stops by to check on you and more important (as they mentioned themselves) they check if other non-ulti pax are in... as i predicted it is happening already as anybody can enter... hopefully there will be some entry barrier at some point.
At least they try.
P.s. the crew mentioned also there is a big lounge renovation coming up... but seems planned in about 3 years, that's why they invested in this ulti part as interim solution.
All in all a solid step forward.
Entry to lounge itself gives normal light.
Tip; go to a lady (or man) at the entry to scan your Bp and they automatically see you are ulti. They asked me if I would like to go alone or I need an escort.
I really appreciate the quite & privacy! Especially since this Saturday morning was busy!
Every hour or so it seems a klm lounge crew stops by to check on you and more important (as they mentioned themselves) they check if other non-ulti pax are in... as i predicted it is happening already as anybody can enter... hopefully there will be some entry barrier at some point.
At least they try.
P.s. the crew mentioned also there is a big lounge renovation coming up... but seems planned in about 3 years, that's why they invested in this ulti part as interim solution.
All in all a solid step forward.
Mar 30, 2024, 4:44 pm
#7064
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Hilton Diamond, Sixt Diamond, Hertz Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 133
I think I saw that same post in the group and does seem to be how it will play out.
I've had a very hard time with this issue with reps from FB, you get a different answer every time by phone and if you email them, it tends to go into a black hole -- which is frustrating. Ben Lipsey was kind enough to have someone take a look at the scenario that you and I both seem to be in, and in best of my recollection in correspondence with him he alluded to the qualify within your shortened period in '24 = 2 years of ULTI scenario. It seems like there are certain folks who fall into a bit of a hole as they work out this transition period, and these are examples of that.
I've had a very hard time with this issue with reps from FB, you get a different answer every time by phone and if you email them, it tends to go into a black hole -- which is frustrating. Ben Lipsey was kind enough to have someone take a look at the scenario that you and I both seem to be in, and in best of my recollection in correspondence with him he alluded to the qualify within your shortened period in '24 = 2 years of ULTI scenario. It seems like there are certain folks who fall into a bit of a hole as they work out this transition period, and these are examples of that.
The method they do that is by adding 900UXP into your counter the moment you qualify to Ulti, and that 900UXP will allow you then to automatically qualify for another year after the end of your first year, making it a 2 year Ulti membership based on a 900UXP earning in 2024.
If it does work this way, then that is a very generous solution to those who otherwise would have seen a massive chunk of UXP go down the drain.
Last edited by DuyT; Mar 30, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Mar 30, 2024, 4:50 pm
#7065
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Hilton Diamond, Sixt Diamond, Hertz Platinum, Amex Centurion
Posts: 133
I have to qualify this statement a bit though: for some it is generous. If your qualification period was 1july 2023 to 1 july 2024 and you made 450 in last half 2023 and 450 first half of 2024, you’re still out of luck. If they did a soft transition similar to the XP rollover cutoff method, then this example would have allowed a 1 year Ulti, thereby removing the need for a 2year for 900UXP method, which is confusing everyone including the PSL agents.