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
Oct 8, 2017, 1:08 pm
#766
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Up in the air
Programs: LH HON, BA LT Gold, AFKL ULTI, WOH Lifetime Globalist, Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 385
I did plenty of AF last year and if I juggle several other trips this year into AF I should be able to make Ulti. But reading this thread I am lost to what exactly the extend of Ulti is?
Do I take it form this thread that in fact there is no real tangible benefit?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Do I take it form this thread that in fact there is no real tangible benefit?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Oct 8, 2017, 3:33 pm
#767
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
I did plenty of AF last year and if I juggle several other trips this year into AF I should be able to make Ulti. But reading this thread I am lost to what exactly the extend of Ulti is?
Do I take it form this thread that in fact there is no real tangible benefit?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Do I take it form this thread that in fact there is no real tangible benefit?
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Most of the tangible benefits are on AF (not so much on KL) and at CDG and some outstations well managed.
Oct 8, 2017, 3:43 pm
#768
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
A very upset post from AF lounge in JFK. The ultimate situation is as bad as the one I described in August, despite the feedback I gave to AF. At check-in, no proactive escort proposed. So I asked and I was told “let me see if someone is available”. Guess what was the response 
So we were directed to the beginning of the so-called priority lane. And you know how a joke this is at T1 JFK which was very crowded.
At the lounge, nothing special so I asked if we have a reserved space. The agent looked clueless and directed the question to his colleague who had also the same clueless face and looking at our BP and finally told me “you can go upstairs if you want”. Oh thank you wonderful knowing that, at that time, there is no difference downstairs/upstairs (no J dinner is served at that time upstairs).
What a joke, again.
Forgot to say that on the inbound, no special attention on-board and zero contact with crew management. But they likely had no time knowing that the flight lasted 7.5 hrs in the air and departed 1/2h late because the jetway was blocked and, once landed in JFK, we waited 1h10 on-board before disembarking because no gate was available
Next time to JFK, I will take DL. At least I know what to expect.
So we were directed to the beginning of the so-called priority lane. And you know how a joke this is at T1 JFK which was very crowded.
At the lounge, nothing special so I asked if we have a reserved space. The agent looked clueless and directed the question to his colleague who had also the same clueless face and looking at our BP and finally told me “you can go upstairs if you want”. Oh thank you wonderful
knowing that, at that time, there is no difference downstairs/upstairs (no J dinner is served at that time upstairs).What a joke, again.
Forgot to say that on the inbound, no special attention on-board and zero contact with crew management. But they likely had no time knowing that the flight lasted 7.5 hrs in the air and departed 1/2h late because the jetway was blocked and, once landed in JFK, we waited 1h10 on-board before disembarking because no gate was available
Next time to JFK, I will take DL. At least I know what to expect.
Oct 8, 2017, 4:24 pm
#769
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
For JFK, a hint for all those Air France passengers who really really really can’t bear standing in line, and who have TSAPre access: when the security line is too long just buy a refundable ticket on Lufthansa, use the TSAPre line, go through security and cancel your ticket. I did that two weeks ago when the line was crazy and I was going to fly on the ORY service. I even used the LH First Class Lounge before flying out on the Air France plane.
I takes 1 minute to buy the ticket on your mobile, and a « flexible » credit card, and a serious dislike of waiting in lines. But it’s possible.
NB that the TSAPre access at JFK Terminal 1 is a bit odd: you get to the podium where they check your ID in a dedicated lane, very fast, you basically overtake the rest of the priority lane. Then you are mixed with other priority pax to go through X-ray, but when you show your BP with Pre on it they give you the Pre treatment: no need to take anything out of your bags, no need to take off shoes/jacket/belt, and use of the old-style metal detector gate.
But again, only for the very dedicated. i did it because I had to join a phone conference and didn’t want to talk while surrounded by plenty of people, so that was my only way to get some quiet around me.
I takes 1 minute to buy the ticket on your mobile, and a « flexible » credit card, and a serious dislike of waiting in lines. But it’s possible.
NB that the TSAPre access at JFK Terminal 1 is a bit odd: you get to the podium where they check your ID in a dedicated lane, very fast, you basically overtake the rest of the priority lane. Then you are mixed with other priority pax to go through X-ray, but when you show your BP with Pre on it they give you the Pre treatment: no need to take anything out of your bags, no need to take off shoes/jacket/belt, and use of the old-style metal detector gate.
But again, only for the very dedicated. i did it because I had to join a phone conference and didn’t want to talk while surrounded by plenty of people, so that was my only way to get some quiet around me.
Oct 9, 2017, 12:25 am
#770
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
A very upset post from AF lounge in JFK. The ultimate situation is as bad as the one I described in August, despite the feedback I gave to AF. At check-in, no proactive escort proposed. So I asked and I was told “let me see if someone is available”. Guess what was the response
was the response? Oooops... The middle finger is not in the list of available Smileys, though I am sure this is what the AF answer meant. 
Forgot to say that on the inbound, no special attention on-board and zero contact with crew management. But they likely had no time knowing that the flight lasted 7.5 hrs in the air and departed 1/2h late because the jetway was blocked and, once landed in JFK, we waited 1h10 on-board before disembarking because no gate was available
Next time to JFK, I will take DL. At least I know what to expect.
.Macaron54
Oct 9, 2017, 2:23 pm
#771
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
Though it is difficult to do proper statistics with only two data points, we seem to see a clear pattern here. For Ultimate PAXs, JFK appears to be a complete mess, where the benefits promised by the AFKL chairman and CEO, no less, are close to zero. In stark contrast, at ORD, we get the full Ultimate service, from A to Z (there is still much to be desired at the arrival, but the service is top-notch when leaving ORD). It bothers me to conclude that Ultimate PAXs get a much better, far more consistent service when the matter is handled by a third party then when it is in the hands of AFKL. In the latter instance, we are at the mercy of the willingness of an apathetic staff to follow the instructions they have been given to deal with Ultimate PAXs. It is baffling that although AFKL-operated outstations (also true at CDG and AMS) are clearly less understaffed then third-party-operated ones, we get a far better service at the latter than at the former .
.
Oct 10, 2017, 12:18 am
#772
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Macaron54
Oct 10, 2017, 7:44 am
#773
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
Oct 11, 2017, 3:54 am
#774
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,962
For JFK, a hint for all those Air France passengers who really really really can’t bear standing in line, and who have TSAPre access: when the security line is too long just buy a refundable ticket on Lufthansa, use the TSAPre line, go through security and cancel your ticket. I did that two weeks ago when the line was crazy and I was going to fly on the ORY service. I even used the LH First Class Lounge before flying out on the Air France plane.
I takes 1 minute to buy the ticket on your mobile, and a « flexible » credit card, and a serious dislike of waiting in lines. But it’s possible.
NB that the TSAPre access at JFK Terminal 1 is a bit odd: you get to the podium where they check your ID in a dedicated lane, very fast, you basically overtake the rest of the priority lane. Then you are mixed with other priority pax to go through X-ray, but when you show your BP with Pre on it they give you the Pre treatment: no need to take anything out of your bags, no need to take off shoes/jacket/belt, and use of the old-style metal detector gate.
But again, only for the very dedicated. i did it because I had to join a phone conference and didn’t want to talk while surrounded by plenty of people, so that was my only way to get some quiet around me.
I takes 1 minute to buy the ticket on your mobile, and a « flexible » credit card, and a serious dislike of waiting in lines. But it’s possible.
NB that the TSAPre access at JFK Terminal 1 is a bit odd: you get to the podium where they check your ID in a dedicated lane, very fast, you basically overtake the rest of the priority lane. Then you are mixed with other priority pax to go through X-ray, but when you show your BP with Pre on it they give you the Pre treatment: no need to take anything out of your bags, no need to take off shoes/jacket/belt, and use of the old-style metal detector gate.
But again, only for the very dedicated. i did it because I had to join a phone conference and didn’t want to talk while surrounded by plenty of people, so that was my only way to get some quiet around me.
Oct 13, 2017, 12:24 am
#775
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
CDG-HKG-CDG in J
some more datapoints. Rather good overall.
CDG-HKG
- check-in/immigration CDG : an interesting moment, as there is no AF staff on duty to escort Ulti pax in the evening. But the very courteous agent asked me if I wanted to be escorted and I said yes of course. She made a call and so I witnessed a very interesting discussion. She was told that there is no such service at that time, bla bla bla. She was saying correctly that information on her computer screen was telling her to ask the customer if he wants to be escorted, so she proposed it and what should she do now. This lasted 2-3 min and I was literally reading in her mind understanding her frustration and embarrassment. At the end it was OK and an agent came from the K lounge to escort me (who knows me after seeing each other many times at the lounge). Overall OK ^, but interesting...
. And I’m glad they escorted me because immigration was crowded (this was at about 8 pm).
- in flight : nothing special (no special welcome) but very good service
- arrival HKG : nothing, as already reported by other Ulti pax in this thread
HKG-CDG
- check-in : no escort service proactively proposed, but when I asked it was no problem and I was escorted through security, immigration up to the Skyteam lounge ^
- boarding : when we arrived at the lounge, the agent proposed me to come back to pick me up for boarding and I of course answered positively. We arrived at the gate 2-3min before beginning of boarding. She didn’t make me board immediately and bring to plane, but I was bring directly at the BP scanning place (so bypassing any line) and just waited 2-3 min for the beginning of boarding OP’s and walked to the plane by myself. ^
- in-flight : it was the same crew as the one on my inbound, so again a nice service ^
- arrival CDG : the usual good Ulti service at immigration was present ^
CDG-HKG
- check-in/immigration CDG : an interesting moment, as there is no AF staff on duty to escort Ulti pax in the evening. But the very courteous agent asked me if I wanted to be escorted and I said yes of course. She made a call and so I witnessed a very interesting discussion. She was told that there is no such service at that time, bla bla bla. She was saying correctly that information on her computer screen was telling her to ask the customer if he wants to be escorted, so she proposed it and what should she do now. This lasted 2-3 min and I was literally reading in her mind understanding her frustration and embarrassment. At the end it was OK and an agent came from the K lounge to escort me (who knows me after seeing each other many times at the lounge). Overall OK ^, but interesting...
. And I’m glad they escorted me because immigration was crowded (this was at about 8 pm).- in flight : nothing special (no special welcome) but very good service
- arrival HKG : nothing, as already reported by other Ulti pax in this thread
HKG-CDG
- check-in : no escort service proactively proposed, but when I asked it was no problem and I was escorted through security, immigration up to the Skyteam lounge ^
- boarding : when we arrived at the lounge, the agent proposed me to come back to pick me up for boarding and I of course answered positively
. We arrived at the gate 2-3min before beginning of boarding. She didn’t make me board immediately and bring to plane, but I was bring directly at the BP scanning place (so bypassing any line) and just waited 2-3 min for the beginning of boarding OP’s and walked to the plane by myself. ^- in-flight : it was the same crew as the one on my inbound, so again a nice service ^
- arrival CDG : the usual good Ulti service at immigration was present ^
Oct 18, 2017, 8:24 am
#776
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Ultimate STR to PEK flight in J
New flight report, STR to PEK via CDG:
Cheers,
Macaron54
- At STR, AFKL counter. Fast check-in, using SkyP line ^.
- At STR, security check. Express passport control and X-ray check through priority line (accessible to SkyP PAXs) ^.
- At STR, AFKL lounge. A small table had been reserved in the overcrowded lounge ^.
- Boarding flight AF1809. Granted request for pre-boarding ^.
- On board flight AF1809. No personalized welcome by chief purser
. OK service. - Arrival at CDG 2G. No escort (but do I need one?). Bus transfer to CDG 2E-K.
- At CDG 2E-K, AF lounge. Warm, personalized welcome. Reserved space ^.
- Boarding flight AF382. No pre-boarding option. Excellent surprise at the automated gates: J to P op'up ^^^.
- On board flight AF382. Not enough superlatives to depict the quality of the service and professionalism of the pursers ^^^.
- Arrival at PEK. No escort (again — do I need one?).
Cheers,
Macaron54
Oct 18, 2017, 10:26 am
#778
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
I have advocated before, but upgrade vouchers to all ULTI's are much more fair and aims at the same with less negative effects. That is something that one can find with most other top tier programs, so as such a proven concept.
Oct 18, 2017, 12:18 pm
#779
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska MVP Gold.
Posts: 1,962
As much as I am happy for Macaron54, it would not help Ulti's that are buying tickets for 'in the front'. Adversly, it would be potentially revenue negative as those would then buy tickets for 'in the back'.
I have advocated before, but upgrade vouchers to all ULTI's are much more fair and aims at the same with less negative effects. That is something that one can find with most other top tier programs, so as such a proven concept.
I have advocated before, but upgrade vouchers to all ULTI's are much more fair and aims at the same with less negative effects. That is something that one can find with most other top tier programs, so as such a proven concept.
Oct 18, 2017, 9:36 pm
#780
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
the coupon issue is a longstanding one, but let's start from the beginning. Ultimate clients do not necessarily fly a ton of J. There are two ways to reach the Ultimate threshold — Fly a lot of long-hauls in Y and W, or fly much less, but in style, in J or P. I pertain to the former category, and for me, getting upgrade coupons is meaningful. This Ultimate benefit that many of us have asked repeatedly to be at par with other equivalent hyper-frequent-flyer programs is long overdue, and it is still not clear whether it will ever see the light. AF (and to a lesser extent KL) likes to do things its own way, upgrading their customers on a case-by-case basis, as they see fit. As of today, the Ultimate benefits heralded on the Flying Blue website,
- Your personal Travel Assistant available 24/7 to help organise and facilitate your trip.
- Sneak-preview offers.
- Your personal travel preferences stored and respected (seat, meal options, etc.)
- Dedicated phone or email contact to find solutions in the event of travel irregularities.
- Enjoy a fast track accompaniment, during peak times, on a case by case basis.
- Your family shares your privileges when they travel with you.
- Solutions suggested if you miss a flight.
- A priority search if your luggage is delayed.
are to say the least very meager over plain Platinum, and arguably not worth the mandated 360kmiles/2-year period. We have heard several times from the Flying Blue higher management that the Ultimate program would feature at some stage an upgrade mechanism, possibly by means of coupons, but to this date, nothing concrete has been announced, and we are left, like everyone else, relying on DOD upgrades pending availability (with the slight advantage that travel assistants can unlock O-seats 24 ahead of time).
Macaron54