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
Aug 21, 2018, 7:32 am
#1396
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
A very flat Ultimate experience yesterday. I was flying a domestic flight in France to CDG, connecting to IAD (in J). It was 2 separate tickets as the domestic sector was personal and the US flight was work. I had only 55min for the connection. I am all aware of the risks of that and that’s not the debate here. I managed to have only carryons because I was pretty sure it would not make it’ especially knowing the very poor performance of AF recently for this.
So sorry to hear this, Goldorak. It does defy once again the idea of being a top-tier ultra-frequent flyer. As an aside, I would like to mention another (sadly self-repeating) upending experience at terminal 2G immigration, when transiting between the Shengen and the international space. The room tends to rapidly get packed with PAXs heading towards the different 2E subterminals, with disheveled lines extending outside in the long corridor. There is usually an AF agent at the back of the room, who beyond sympathizing will not lift a finger to assist (probably due to a lack of empowerment from the airline and/or cutting a deal with ADP/immigration). Plenty of space for improvement here by the Ultimate management.
Macaron54
Aug 21, 2018, 8:04 am
#1398
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 313
[QUOTE=travelbits;30109846].. and in case you search for a radical solution to the bad food, crowded space and old furniture, they have provided for a suicide machine at the AMS lounge:
just put your finger in here:
Now that would be the Ultimate experience...
just put your finger in here:
Now that would be the Ultimate experience...
Aug 21, 2018, 8:10 am
#1399
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
.
Aug 25, 2018, 5:51 pm
#1400
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Paris,FR
Programs: AF/KL FBPFL Ultimate, IHG Spire, HERTZ 5 stars
Posts: 82
No UXP at toilet campaign #2
Dear Travelbits,
I received the same note (I prefer they take time to work on program consistency than sending me this reminder), with missing 109 for renewal, due to :
- No confirmation of roll-over UXP for 2019
- No upgrade voucher for the 2017 year
- Bad communication of 03/20 vs 03/19 card validity (physical card/website with 03/20)
I will make special efforts to achieve 1801 UXP (lot of FRA/MUC/LHR hub in Q4 for me) to avoid throwing them in the toilets (already PTFL)&to demonstrate how i can master they counter using trips to confirm my M&M, OneWorld Gold level at least !
Rgds
I received the same note (I prefer they take time to work on program consistency than sending me this reminder), with missing 109 for renewal, due to :
- No confirmation of roll-over UXP for 2019
- No upgrade voucher for the 2017 year
- Bad communication of 03/20 vs 03/19 card validity (physical card/website with 03/20)
I will make special efforts to achieve 1801 UXP (lot of FRA/MUC/LHR hub in Q4 for me) to avoid throwing them in the toilets (already PTFL)&to demonstrate how i can master they counter using trips to confirm my M&M, OneWorld Gold level at least !
Rgds
In parallel, I received the confirmation for no roll-over UXP (see below in French), the 1801 UXP counter till Dec,end will be my answer to this policy !
Rgds
FB answer regarding roll-over ="Remarque: l'excédent XP, Miles statut ou vols qualifiants gagnés avec un AIR France KLM et la carte AMERICAN EXPRESS / Flying Blue ne sont pas prises pour le statut Ultime." (Ultime = they don't even know the program name or check the spelling)
Aug 26, 2018, 12:51 am
#1401
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,120
As follow-up of no UXP at toilet I missed my calculation for 1801 objective and the rest of the year travel at M&M, Oneworld counter with 1799 UXP ! => I will have to go for small domestic flight one way....
In parallel, I received the confirmation for no roll-over UXP (see below in French), the 1801 UXP counter till Dec,end will be my answer to this policy !
Rgds
FB answer regarding roll-over ="Remarque: l'excédent XP, Miles statut ou vols qualifiants gagnés avec un AIR France KLM et la carte AMERICAN EXPRESS / Flying Blue ne sont pas prises pour le statut Ultime." (Ultime = they don't even know the program name or check the spelling)
In parallel, I received the confirmation for no roll-over UXP (see below in French), the 1801 UXP counter till Dec,end will be my answer to this policy !
Rgds
FB answer regarding roll-over ="Remarque: l'excédent XP, Miles statut ou vols qualifiants gagnés avec un AIR France KLM et la carte AMERICAN EXPRESS / Flying Blue ne sont pas prises pour le statut Ultime." (Ultime = they don't even know the program name or check the spelling)
Prises ? What kind of French is that? Maybe they meant "pris en compte"? However it should be "n'est pas pris en compte ", not "ne sont pas".
Aug 26, 2018, 2:39 am
#1402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,940
Aug 26, 2018, 7:20 am
#1403
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
IMHO, Goldorak, your statement is a non-sequitur. I would say that precisely because AFKL is in a financial predicament, they strategically refrain from indulging their high-contribution customers freebees and (otherwise standard) benefits. They cultivate the Sisyphus myth by asking you to push the stone from the bottom of the hill up, cleaning up the slate at the end of each two-year period. It remains unclear to me what the long-term goal of this strategy is.
Aug 26, 2018, 7:30 am
#1404
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Paris,FR
Programs: AF/KL FBPFL Ultimate, IHG Spire, HERTZ 5 stars
Posts: 82
FB professionnal skills
Your are right, and it was written by a french guy (no hesitation based on the family name).
I will send them back to school for :
- Grammar per your detection
- Graphic design&math ( first semester of this year with card received with 03/2020 & website showing 03/2020, quickly corrected to 03/19 while denying the facts)
- MBA * no roll-over proposed to high revenue customer & no upgrades coupons for 2017 prom
At least no need to learn them how to clean toilet, thus no UXP in ....
Aug 26, 2018, 11:53 am
#1405
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Ultimate, Accor Platinum, Eurostar carte blanche...
Posts: 22
A very flat Ultimate experience yesterday. I was flying a domestic flight in France to CDG, connecting to IAD (in J). It was 2 separate tickets as the domestic sector was personal and the US flight was work. I had only 55min for the connection. I am all aware of the risks of that and that’s not the debate here. I managed to have only carryons because I was pretty sure it would not make it’ especially knowing the very poor performance of AF recently for this.
2 days before the flight, I called the TA to alert them on this and asking them to activate a rescue plan for my transfer (escort) in case the domestic flight would be delayed. My request was well received. I was told a note would be given to the TA on duty that day, but I was asked to call again on the day of the trip in case the things were actually really turning bad.
I didn’t call back as the flight left the station only 5 min late, but the delay turned into about 12 min late at the gate in CDG. No big deal in normal circumstances, but a 55 min transfer turning into a 43 min one is another story, knowing that you are supposed to be on-board 15-20 min before flight time. Furthermore I was not lucky as arrived at 2F1 and my connecting flight was leaving from the end of M concourse, so the longest possible walk. No one was waiting for me in the jetway (surprised ?), so I did everything on my own. I made it. The flight was in last call but there were still about 100 pax to board. But I was for sure the last J pax to board. The big J cabin of the A380 was 100% full.
On-board : the service was good, certainly nothing to complain about (service was well by the book), but no extra attention (apart a hello from the chief purser). Contrarily to other flights with an upper cabin available, no wine or champagne from P was proposed to me. So a basic (but good) J service without extra attention.
The worse was to come : arriving in IAD and disembarking from the aerobus shuttle that bring you to immigration, we arrived in a complete chaos. For those who know the place, you arrive on a kind of mezzanine overlooking the immigration room. The room was completely packed with people and the mezzanine was also packed with about 200 pax. I have been there countless times and have never seen that before. There were likely something like 2000 pax waiting for clearing immigration. It took me 2hrs to go through this madness. I have to mention that the situation for the crews (including the AF one) was not better. The last AF crew cleared immigration at the same time as me. When I was in this mess, I called the TA to know if an agent from the IAD station could help me to pass this in a faster way (as they do for P). She called the station but, as I was fearing, it was declined by the station
. I am certainly not blaming AF for the immigration chaos at IAD, but overall that was a complicated travel day with 0 Ultimate benefit apart a hello from the chief purser...
2 days before the flight, I called the TA to alert them on this and asking them to activate a rescue plan for my transfer (escort) in case the domestic flight would be delayed. My request was well received. I was told a note would be given to the TA on duty that day, but I was asked to call again on the day of the trip in case the things were actually really turning bad.
I didn’t call back as the flight left the station only 5 min late, but the delay turned into about 12 min late at the gate in CDG. No big deal in normal circumstances, but a 55 min transfer turning into a 43 min one is another story, knowing that you are supposed to be on-board 15-20 min before flight time. Furthermore I was not lucky as arrived at 2F1 and my connecting flight was leaving from the end of M concourse, so the longest possible walk. No one was waiting for me in the jetway (surprised ?), so I did everything on my own. I made it. The flight was in last call but there were still about 100 pax to board. But I was for sure the last J pax to board. The big J cabin of the A380 was 100% full.
On-board : the service was good, certainly nothing to complain about (service was well by the book), but no extra attention (apart a hello from the chief purser). Contrarily to other flights with an upper cabin available, no wine or champagne from P was proposed to me. So a basic (but good) J service without extra attention.
The worse was to come : arriving in IAD and disembarking from the aerobus shuttle that bring you to immigration, we arrived in a complete chaos. For those who know the place, you arrive on a kind of mezzanine overlooking the immigration room. The room was completely packed with people and the mezzanine was also packed with about 200 pax. I have been there countless times and have never seen that before. There were likely something like 2000 pax waiting for clearing immigration. It took me 2hrs to go through this madness. I have to mention that the situation for the crews (including the AF one) was not better. The last AF crew cleared immigration at the same time as me. When I was in this mess, I called the TA to know if an agent from the IAD station could help me to pass this in a faster way (as they do for P). She called the station but, as I was fearing, it was declined by the station
. I am certainly not blaming AF for the immigration chaos at IAD, but overall that was a complicated travel day with 0 Ultimate benefit apart a hello from the chief purser...
Aug 26, 2018, 12:18 pm
#1406
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
This inchoate operation on board can only be rationalized by (hopefully a handful of) pursers feeling that they don't have to go the extra mile for us. Russian roulette, on the same route, you can be pampered, or grossly ignored. Both have happened to me, when it clearly should not have. With the best intentions, the Ultimate program management has little to no power over rogue pursers to whom top-tier customers are tantamount to extra work. When crew members are ready to jeopardize the future of their airline, why should they care about a few high-contribution customers?
(the 1st one in a very long time).
Aug 26, 2018, 7:26 pm
#1408
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Singapore
Programs: FB PFL, ALL Diamond, Marriott Ambassador, EK PLAT, Air Caraïbes Diam, SQ PPS, ̷IHG Diam
Posts: 98
quite interesting Goldorak ! I believed is was totally out of question on AF. I am quite often upgraded in P on Emirates for instance, but you are the first reported case among my acquaintances of a P upgrade on AF
Aug 26, 2018, 11:50 pm
#1409
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,940
Operational upgrades from J to P have always existed on AF (when J is overbooked). This was the case of my flight. But of course they are very rare (relatively few aircrafts with P, and only 4 or 9 P seats/aircraft equipped with P). My last upragde of that kind was something like 5 years ago.
Aug 27, 2018, 1:18 am
#1410
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 191
The purser, same than outbound flight, told me that the upgrade was to make it up.