Old May 9, 19, 4:08 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Goldorak
FLYING BLUE ULTIMATE

Main facts
Ultimate is not a status in FB but a tag on Platinum / Platinum for life / Club 2000 Skipper existing status.
While regular 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

New 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). Note that we had several reports in 2022 showing that SP benefits are not granted in practice to travel companions.
- 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, upgrade 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 apps.

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. Otherwise no special treatment to report, apart pre-boarding sometimes granted Shame on KL !!!

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 Escort confirmed to be provided as of October 2nd 2023
  • Arrival : access to dedicated lane at passport control, all the way to the left, follow the "ULTIMATE" sign. On occasions, ADP staff refuse entry despite show of ULTI boarding pass/status card. Lane confirmed functioning as of October 5th, 2023 (unmanned line)
- CDG 2F :
  • Departure : There is a special Ultimate check-in counter in the SkyP zone. 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). Escort confirmed to be provided as of October 5th, 2023
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2G :
  • Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2C :
  • Arrival lounge : higher priority for a shower (Note : 2C arrival lounge definitely closed)
- 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" for most recent update
- 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" for most recent update
- 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
- UIP : no special treatment to report

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" for most recent update

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 checkin 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 + extra attentions from staff (table reserved for night service, etc)
- 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). KL flight no special treatments to report and access to Delta Sky Lounge at T4. Update as of 17th December 2022: dinner service not always offered, subject to whether the staff knows about this or not.
- 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 Porshe 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.
- SCL : no special treatment to report
- EZE : escort to lounge with special crew lane for immigration provided spontanously

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 : no special treatment to report
- HKG : no special treatment to report (escort through security from check-in to lounge is now systematically refused, while provided during the 2 first years of Ulti)
- HND : Arrival : new 09/2023 = escort through immigration. Departure : escort from check-in desk to lounge, 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
- 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 though immigration provided. Escort from check-in to lounge provided
- ZNZ : no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)
Print Wikipost

Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status

Old Jan 25, 17, 3:04 pm
  #61  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Leeds ,Yorks UK
Programs: KLM Flying Blue Platinum for Life.. BA Gold , oh and some other shiny bits of plastic ...
Posts: 4,238
After a quick call to FB , the official release date appears to be in two days from now ... on the 27th
psollitt is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 3:29 pm
  #62  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,715
Originally Posted by Goldorak

I understand from your posts that you were part of the test phase of this Ultimate status ? Because I know for sure there was a test period in 2016 with a sample of eligible customers. The service was supposed to be launched in sept 2016. I don't know if it was really done at that date or if it's launched only now.
So if you were part of the test phase, can you share information with us ?
Yes and no...

Can't/won't give full transparency here (PM me if you need more, I have some questions, too ), but just to say that I was not part of an official Ultimate test (at least not to my knowledge) but that the PA escort/"special service in lounge" service was introduced/expanded some time ago and I got to use over a prolongued period of time. AF explained to me that they were in a test phase of that particular service. Hence my comments regarding the earlier post that the service consists in giving pax the possibility to reserve their seat in the lounge, which I did not experience in the way it was described here.

Let's wait what January 27th brings, then look at benefits and qualification criteria, run some numbers, and then see if it's worthwhile for those of us who have that status (some here seem to have received confirmation already) or could get it by re-directing some of their travel to AFKL.
San Gottardo is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 6:19 pm
  #63  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
FWIW the new Ultimate logo has been uploaded on the FB website on 23 January this year.

Last edited by bodory; Jan 25, 17 at 7:52 pm
bodory is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 7:11 pm
  #64  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
Originally Posted by Goldorak
Platinum Ultimate is not a new tier in FB strictly speaking. The status is still Platinum and you are eventually eligible to additional services with Ultimate. So it comes on top of a platinum or LTPE FB status and you go back to regular Plat/LTPE if you don't maintain your flying pattern.
True. One could not imagine how many "status" FB has created:
- there are the 7 usual suspects aka Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum for Life, Club 2000 and Skipper
- but you can also cumulate all of them with the Petroleum distinction, which makes 7 new ones
- and now also cumulate Platinum, Platinum for Life, Club 2000 and Skipper -/+ Petroleum with Ultimate, which adds another 8
- and think about Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum for Life who can be issued by KQ, SB or RO...

Plus some surprises

I can imagine a gate agent thinking about who should be upgraded first : "pax #1 is Flying Blue Platinum for Life Petroleum Ultimate but he is a KQ customer whereas pax #2 is only Platinum on its 3rd year but is a KL customer"

Here is a preview:






I will post all pictures when I find a way to reduce their sizes otherwise FB moderators will kill me

Last edited by bodory; Jan 26, 17 at 1:04 am
bodory is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 8:32 pm
  #65  
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,956
Super interesting, bodory. Could you throw them up on say, imgur for us to take a gander at? I wonder what the '3' is. Edit: Oh, it goes up to 9. Is it years of Platinum? Mine doesn't show that. Hmm.
caliform is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 8:47 pm
  #66  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: ̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|
Programs: ❶❷ ใจ ♪♪♪ 7 ™
Posts: 761
Originally Posted by Mirk
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
Agreed, I enjoy managing my travels and bookings, I'm regularly checking which seats have been taken and for schedule changes.
Andy49 is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 9:47 pm
  #67  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
Originally Posted by caliform
Super interesting, bodory. Could you throw them up on say, imgur for us to take a gander at? I wonder what the '3' is. Edit: Oh, it goes up to 9. Is it years of Platinum? Mine doesn't show that. Hmm.
Working on it. I will post it during the day.
bodory is offline  
Old Jan 25, 17, 11:16 pm
  #68  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 333
if you wanna play around:

http://digitalmonkeynl.github.io/FB-Docs/page-toptier-dashboard.html
travelbits is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 12:45 am
  #69  
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,705
Originally Posted by bodory
FWIW the new Ultimate logo has been uploaded on the FB website on 23 January this year.
Hi Bodory,

Where did you find it?
Gajan is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 12:46 am
  #70  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
Originally Posted by bodory
Working on it. I will post it during the day.
I made a matrix:

bodory is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 12:50 am
  #71  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
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Posts: 4,749
Originally Posted by Gajan
Hi Bodory,

Where did you find it?
Hi Gajan

It is written on their server.

You can PM for more details.
bodory is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 12:56 am
  #72  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
Originally Posted by travelbits
Haha, thanks!

Better and quicker for me to post all the cards then:

https://digitalmonkeynl.github.io/FB...rtualcard.html

Note that the Ultimate one is not here though.
bodory is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 2:18 am
  #73  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 333
card

I posted it earlier... it got commented as photoshopped though... trust me it isn't...



Last edited by travelbits; Jan 31, 17 at 3:23 pm
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Old Jan 26, 17, 2:51 am
  #74  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,377
Originally Posted by travelbits
I posted it earlier... it got commented as photoshopped though... trust me it isn't...
Unless you got a physical card, it is still photoshopped, by the FB team
Ditto is offline  
Old Jan 26, 17, 3:13 am
  #75  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 333
think to know that those will be distributed on march 9th
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