May 9, 19, 4:08 pm
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 2C :
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 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)
- 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
- Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
- Arrival : no special treatment to report
Arrival lounge : higher priority for a shower(Note : 2C arrival lounge definitely closed)
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" 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),
- 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)
Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status
Oct 19, 17, 12:55 am
#781
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: DUS, BRU, POA
Programs: Skyteam E+ (FB Plat.), Latam Black, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Bonvoy & ALL: Gold
Posts: 970
Oct 19, 17, 1:07 am
#782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,281
Not a lot to report on a trip to DUB
I had only carryons so did not pass through check-in desk either at CDG or DUB. For CDG, as my flight was in the evening, I knew that there would be no Ulti agent on-duty for escort and so you need to ask the agent where you check your bag and I wanted to skip this step. But I regretted it because there was only one police booth open in the SkyP lane and it was slow to move. Then only one lane at security, also very slow to move...
Excellent service at K lounge, where a staff member (non-AF, one who is taking care of the buffet and drinks) was coming regularly to ask me if I wanted some drink and food, like a waiter in a restaurant. ^
Nothing special on-board the 2 flights (WX-operated, AF franchise), but very good service by WX flight attendants (for all pax, not just me).
Nothing special also at DUB lounge (contract lounge).
Arrival in CDG in the evening : nothing and no escort through immigration at that time. Again, only one police booth open in SkyP lane (3 booths open overall) with about 30 persons before me. PARAFE gates not working (of course
).
An occasion to repeat what we have said several times to AF : escort service should be all day and also through security.
I was told a decision is normally expected on this toward the end of the year. But the decision can be no 
I had only carryons so did not pass through check-in desk either at CDG or DUB. For CDG, as my flight was in the evening, I knew that there would be no Ulti agent on-duty for escort and so you need to ask the agent where you check your bag and I wanted to skip this step. But I regretted it because there was only one police booth open in the SkyP lane and it was slow to move. Then only one lane at security, also very slow to move...
Excellent service at K lounge, where a staff member (non-AF, one who is taking care of the buffet and drinks) was coming regularly to ask me if I wanted some drink and food, like a waiter in a restaurant. ^
Nothing special on-board the 2 flights (WX-operated, AF franchise), but very good service by WX flight attendants (for all pax, not just me).
Nothing special also at DUB lounge (contract lounge).
Arrival in CDG in the evening : nothing and no escort through immigration at that time. Again, only one police booth open in SkyP lane (3 booths open overall) with about 30 persons before me. PARAFE gates not working (of course
).An occasion to repeat what we have said several times to AF : escort service should be all day and also through security.
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).
Oct 19, 17, 1:58 am
#783
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Oct 19, 17, 2:28 am
#784
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
) 12 seats in the J-cabin vanish in a matter of hours between 24 and 48 hours prior to departure (in other words outside the usual DOD time frame). This number of seats happened to be in line with the number of paid upgrades (miles or money, or combination thereof) on that flight, as confirmed by the purser.
Oct 19, 17, 4:29 am
#785
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,728
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.
AFKL's position of no upgrade certificates, a not very intuitive way of prioritizing op-ups, and free upgrades for friends & family looks indeed very meagre for a program that they make a lot of fuss about (at least at the moment when they physically dispatch their sales teams to hand over the package).
Oct 19, 17, 4:37 am
#786
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,728
But now you say there is an explanation of the program on the FB webpage? I could only see Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum, but no ULTI. And since ULTI is technically a sub-status to Platinum I think, I looked under Platinum - no mentioning there. Where did you find the ULTI explained on the FB page?
Oct 19, 17, 6:12 am
#787
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
By the way, where can you see that? I checked the FB website several times (French version) and just now again and cannot see any mentioning whatsoever of Ultimate. I always wondered what the point was to have a program which is supposed to incentivise people to fly more on AFKL but then not to market it. Similarly I cannot see an ULTI qualifications mile counter on my FB account, so a customer can only has the choice between guessing and making long manual calculations to figure out how far or close he/she is from reaching ULTI.
But now you say there is an explanation of the program on the FB webpage? I could only see Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum, but no ULTI. And since ULTI is technically a sub-status to Platinum I think, I looked under Platinum - no mentioning there. Where did you find the ULTI explained on the FB page?
But now you say there is an explanation of the program on the FB webpage? I could only see Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum, but no ULTI. And since ULTI is technically a sub-status to Platinum I think, I looked under Platinum - no mentioning there. Where did you find the ULTI explained on the FB page?
https://flyingblue.com/about-flyingb.../platinum.html
If, however, you copy-paste the above link in your browser without having logged-in (presumably as an Ultimate client), you will only see the benefits associated to plain Platinum status. These FB IT people they are so smart
. I personally find this hidden page a bit childish. At DL, everyone knows upfront what to expect when one reaches the Diamond level (though finding the fine detail of the benefits associated to being a 360 is arguably more challenging). Perhaps is FB ashamed of the benefits they offer for 360 kmiles per 2-year-period 
. Macaron54
Oct 19, 17, 6:55 am
#788
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,728
Good question, San Gottardo. I went to my FB homepage, and copied the URL:
https://flyingblue.com/about-flyingb.../platinum.html
If, however, you copy-paste the above link in your browser without having logged-in (presumably as an Ultimate client), you will only see the benefits associated to plain Platinum status. These FB IT people they are so smart. I personally find this hidden page a bit childish. At DL, everyone knows upfront what to expect when one reaches the Diamond level (though finding the fine detail of the benefits associated to being a 360 is arguably more challenging). Perhaps is FB ashamed of the benefits they offer for 360 kmiles per 2-year-period .
Macaron54
https://flyingblue.com/about-flyingb.../platinum.html
If, however, you copy-paste the above link in your browser without having logged-in (presumably as an Ultimate client), you will only see the benefits associated to plain Platinum status. These FB IT people they are so smart
. I personally find this hidden page a bit childish. At DL, everyone knows upfront what to expect when one reaches the Diamond level (though finding the fine detail of the benefits associated to being a 360 is arguably more challenging). Perhaps is FB ashamed of the benefits they offer for 360 kmiles per 2-year-period . Macaron54
(though finding the fine detail of the benefits associated to being a 360 is arguably more challenging).
Not that impressive. But what would one expect for $40k spending? It's a lot of money, but very frequent flyers spend *a lot* more (multiply that number by 5, 8 or 10).
Oct 19, 17, 7:25 am
#789
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
. Note also that 360 adds up to the already substantial benefits associated to being a Diamond at DL (which include global/regional upgrade coupons and quasi-systematic op'ups to Comfort Plus/First on domestic flights something that AFKL is reluctant to do, even for its top-tier PAXs).
Oct 19, 17, 7:44 am
#790
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
Oct 19, 17, 8:15 am
#791
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: DUS, BRU, POA
Programs: Skyteam E+ (FB Plat.), Latam Black, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Bonvoy & ALL: Gold
Posts: 970
Oct 19, 17, 9:06 am
#793
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 446
I haven't studied the US programs in detail, but DL Diamonds have 4 global or 8 regional upgrade certificates, on top of the upgrade privileges that US companies have to fill their front cabins (something the European airlines wouldn't do, precisely for the reason mentioned above: it incentivises purchasing of lower fare tickets).
However, many many people have been complaining that those upgrade vouchers are almost useless, especially on busy routes, because domestic "first" class is so cheap these days that most people pay for it. And then the upgrade priority list system is so incredibly complicated, and people with upgrade vouchers arrive somewhere towards the low end of it.
AA also has those 500 miles upgrade vouchers (you have to use 1 voucher for every 500 miles of your itinerary) that you can purchase as soon as you reach their mid level elite status. I still have a pile of those that I've never been able to apply...
So hopefully if AFKL comes up with something similar, it'll be engineered a little better for you guys with Ultimate status!
Oct 19, 17, 9:57 am
#794
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meli silver.
Posts: 3,039
Oct 19, 17, 11:16 am
#795
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 446
The upgrade vouchers that ExPlat AA flyers get are valid for any route, including long haul and international, sorry if it wasn't clear from my previous post. Those are complicated to clear as well, it seems.
