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 25, 2017, 12:34 am
#811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
I read it more positively:
- last check was per 31.12.2016: there he had 232.159 (hence not enough)
- (assume) next check is 31.12.2017: there he would have (at least) 93.000 + 270.000 = 363.000 and would therefor qualify
I think they answered him why he did not qualify as per 'today'.
- last check was per 31.12.2016: there he had 232.159 (hence not enough)
- (assume) next check is 31.12.2017: there he would have (at least) 93.000 + 270.000 = 363.000 and would therefor qualify
I think they answered him why he did not qualify as per 'today'.
Oct 25, 2017, 1:32 am
#812
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: DUS, BRU, POA
Programs: Skyteam E+ (FB PfL), Latam Black, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy: Plat
Posts: 1,119
You forgot 2 important words before the ones in bold in your quote« hors ceux cumulés grâce ŕ la carte AF KLM American Express”. The message from FB says that you need 360K status miles earned on AF, KL, A5 flights and that status miles earned with the AF KL Amex card are not eligible.
Oct 25, 2017, 9:00 am
#814
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,046
Oct 28, 2017, 4:49 am
#816
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Paris,FR
Programs: AF/KL FBPFL Ultimate, IHG Spire, HERTZ 5 stars
Posts: 82
Outstanding Ultimate experience at ORY
Here follow my ultimate experience at ORY this week.
Late due to traffic, I asked my TA to step in, he told me that arriving by 5H30 pm I should be good for my 18H05 AF6228 to NCE and no need extra support.
Arriving ORY by 17H15 he called me back saying that my flight was delayed one hours : should not be issue so, he told me. I replied yes it's an issue and pls check earlier flight possibility.
I requested the same at customer service desk just below AF lounge, AF associate who acknowledge my ultimate status ask me to wait at the counter in case of passenger no show for the previous flight 16H50 AF6226 late also. During the following 20 minutes tenth of passanger Elite/"abonnés" made the same request and were answered "not possbile/full" only station manager can authorize etc....
Finally I boarded as last passanger the previous flight AF6226 = Thank you AF ^^^^^^ and thanks to this Ultimate status recognition I arrived NCE on time for family diner !
I will request employee recognition to online customer service.
Late due to traffic, I asked my TA to step in, he told me that arriving by 5H30 pm I should be good for my 18H05 AF6228 to NCE and no need extra support.
Arriving ORY by 17H15 he called me back saying that my flight was delayed one hours : should not be issue so, he told me. I replied yes it's an issue and pls check earlier flight possibility.
I requested the same at customer service desk just below AF lounge, AF associate who acknowledge my ultimate status ask me to wait at the counter in case of passenger no show for the previous flight 16H50 AF6226 late also. During the following 20 minutes tenth of passanger Elite/"abonnés" made the same request and were answered "not possbile/full" only station manager can authorize etc....
Finally I boarded as last passanger the previous flight AF6226 = Thank you AF ^^^^^^ and thanks to this Ultimate status recognition I arrived NCE on time for family diner !
I will request employee recognition to online customer service.
Oct 28, 2017, 12:42 pm
#817
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
Here follow my ultimate experience at ORY this week.
Late due to traffic, I asked my TA to step in, he told me that arriving by 5H30 pm I should be good for my 18H05 AF6228 to NCE and no need extra support.
Arriving ORY by 17H15 he called me back saying that my flight was delayed one hours : should not be issue so, he told me. I replied yes it's an issue and pls check earlier flight possibility.
I requested the same at customer service desk just below AF lounge, AF associate who acknowledge my ultimate status ask me to wait at the counter in case of passenger no show for the previous flight 16H50 AF6226 late also. During the following 20 minutes tenth of passanger Elite/"abonnés" made the same request and were answered "not possbile/full" only station manager can authorize etc....
Finally I boarded as last passanger the previous flight AF6226 = Thank you AF ^^^^^^ and thanks to this Ultimate status recognition I arrived NCE on time for family diner !
I will request employee recognition to online customer service.
Late due to traffic, I asked my TA to step in, he told me that arriving by 5H30 pm I should be good for my 18H05 AF6228 to NCE and no need extra support.
Arriving ORY by 17H15 he called me back saying that my flight was delayed one hours : should not be issue so, he told me. I replied yes it's an issue and pls check earlier flight possibility.
I requested the same at customer service desk just below AF lounge, AF associate who acknowledge my ultimate status ask me to wait at the counter in case of passenger no show for the previous flight 16H50 AF6226 late also. During the following 20 minutes tenth of passanger Elite/"abonnés" made the same request and were answered "not possbile/full" only station manager can authorize etc....
Finally I boarded as last passanger the previous flight AF6226 = Thank you AF ^^^^^^ and thanks to this Ultimate status recognition I arrived NCE on time for family diner !
I will request employee recognition to online customer service.
Oct 29, 2017, 1:40 am
#818
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Paris,FR
Programs: AF/KL FBPFL Ultimate, IHG Spire, HERTZ 5 stars
Posts: 82
You are totally right, TA told me he was not able to get hold of station manager, what I can believe with a fully crowded boarding hall Friday evening...
But recongition of status was there by ground staff !
Nov 4, 2017, 10:09 am
#819
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
Question/comment to the Ultimate fellows here : along with the FB changes (“enhancements” ) that will be announced on Monday, I am curious to know if those changes will have any impact on the 360K threshold for Ultimate qualification ?
We shall see...
) that will be announced on Monday, I am curious to know if those changes will have any impact on the 360K threshold for Ultimate qualification ?We shall see...
Nov 4, 2017, 12:55 pm
#820
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
Thoughts:
- not really a reason to pick an AF/KL hub then anymore!
- I wonder whether award tickets will be 40% less as well?
- will they change the value of the already accumulated miles?
- how will the level miles be counted?
Personally, I expect only bad news - and you know my stand on ULTI when using AMS. Looks like they deliver one more reason to switch.
Nov 4, 2017, 8:06 pm
#821
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
Well it is all preliminairy, but for those of use not living at a hub: a 800 EUR ticket (C class, European destination with connection in AMS or CDG) yields now 10.500 award miles (and 7.500 level miles) - that might soon be 6.400 award miles - that is 40% less.
Thoughts:
- not really a reason to pick an AF/KL hub then anymore!
- I wonder whether award tickets will be 40% less as well?
- will they change the value of the already accumulated miles?
- how will the level miles be counted?
Personally, I expect only bad news - and you know my stand on ULTI when using AMS. Looks like they deliver one more reason to switch.
Thoughts:
- not really a reason to pick an AF/KL hub then anymore!
- I wonder whether award tickets will be 40% less as well?
- will they change the value of the already accumulated miles?
- how will the level miles be counted?
Personally, I expect only bad news - and you know my stand on ULTI when using AMS. Looks like they deliver one more reason to switch.
Nov 6, 2017, 7:17 am
#822
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Flying Blue enhancements
Announcements of changes in the Flying Blue program have not percolated all the way to Illinois. Pleeeeeeeease, tell us more
. I always feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when I hear the word enhancements — or changes to better serve the airline loyal customers. These changes are never for the better, always for the worse. Insn't the general trend, irrespective of the airline, to raise the bar a notch further and make it harder to maintain upper-tier statuses? Insofar as Ultimate's are concerned, if they do, indeed, raise the bar, they'd better come with real hard benefits to entice us to remain loyal to the airline. Cheers,
Macaron54
Nov 6, 2017, 10:17 am
#824
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
Hello, Goldorak,
Announcements of changes in the Flying Blue program have not percolated all the way to Illinois. Pleeeeeeeease, tell us more. I always feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when I hear the word enhancements — or changes to better serve the airline loyal customers. These changes are never for the better, always for the worse. Insn't the general trend, irrespective of the airline, to raise the bar a notch further and make it harder to maintain upper-tier statuses? Insofar as Ultimate's are concerned, if they do, indeed, raise the bar, they'd better come with real hard benefits to entice us to remain loyal to the airline.
Cheers,
Macaron54
Announcements of changes in the Flying Blue program have not percolated all the way to Illinois. Pleeeeeeeease, tell us more
. I always feel like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when I hear the word enhancements — or changes to better serve the airline loyal customers. These changes are never for the better, always for the worse. Insn't the general trend, irrespective of the airline, to raise the bar a notch further and make it harder to maintain upper-tier statuses? Insofar as Ultimate's are concerned, if they do, indeed, raise the bar, they'd better come with real hard benefits to entice us to remain loyal to the airline.Cheers,
Macaron54
I received the information by e-mail and live during the press conference by our friend Olivedel. I have posted the info in the thread dedicated to the FB changes and you need to read it (or at least the wiki) to understand what it means. Here is what I have posted in the other thread :
No change in benefits (whatever the tier).
New Ulti requirements are 1800 XP over 2 years (01/01/2017 to 31/12/2018), still only on AF/KL/A5 (about that, it seems that during the press conference they said it will be all Skyteam, but the communication received from FB is very clear mentioning only AF/KL/A5. On 01/04/2018, they will convert what we have earned since January 2017 as per 1000 status miles = 5 XP. At that stage I don’t know if this is good or bad or neutral. I need to look at my spreadsheet when I will return home and make my own calculations and projections.
Nov 6, 2017, 11:38 am
#825
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Hello Macaron54
I received the information by e-mail and live during the press conference by our friend Olivedel. I have posted the info in the thread dedicated to the FB changes and you need to read it (or at least the wiki) to understand what it means. Here is what I have posted in the other thread :
No change in benefits (whatever the tier).
New Ulti requirements are 1800 XP over 2 years (01/01/2017 to 31/12/2018), still only on AF/KL/A5 (about that, it seems that during the press conference they said it will be all Skyteam, but the communication received from FB is very clear mentioning only AF/KL/A5. On 01/04/2018, they will convert what we have earned since January 2017 as per 1000 status miles = 5 XP. At that stage I don’t know if this is good or bad or neutral. I need to look at my spreadsheet when I will return home and make my own calculations and projections.
I received the information by e-mail and live during the press conference by our friend Olivedel. I have posted the info in the thread dedicated to the FB changes and you need to read it (or at least the wiki) to understand what it means. Here is what I have posted in the other thread :
No change in benefits (whatever the tier).
New Ulti requirements are 1800 XP over 2 years (01/01/2017 to 31/12/2018), still only on AF/KL/A5 (about that, it seems that during the press conference they said it will be all Skyteam, but the communication received from FB is very clear mentioning only AF/KL/A5. On 01/04/2018, they will convert what we have earned since January 2017 as per 1000 status miles = 5 XP. At that stage I don’t know if this is good or bad or neutral. I need to look at my spreadsheet when I will return home and make my own calculations and projections.
thanks for the heads up. I find it queer that requirements is the main keyword here. What about benefits? Instead of making extraordinary demands to achieve status, they should make an effort to elaborate a bit what this status entails. In other words, is it worth our unconditional loyalty? I am afraid that by asking this question I am already answering it
. It is also ironical that we still haven't heard about the hard perks like the long-awaited upgrade coupons 
. Were the Ultimate program an undisputed success, I would understand the urge to raise the bar a little, but given the many hiccups and mishaps, I would step on eggshells before heralding new requirements.Cheers,
Macaron54