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 13, 2017, 7:08 am
#661
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Sorry to spoil the party folks, but my last two weeks were not glorious at all. With 6 flights (all in C) I cannot report consitent recognition. In 2 out of the 6 I was not even adressed by name on board and with 2 only I noticed something like a recognition. There were no pick-ups at gates or preboarding.
The lounge in AMS is still as hostile as ever and in CDG (2F & G) it was 'standard ULTI' procedure. It was interesting to read that you got informed about a delay, I never had that.
My experenience re gate pick-up at CDG is that those only happens in case you are in danger of missing a connecting due to your late incoming plane you were on. That is the only consistant trigger I was able to notice.
On a close to comical note ULTIs (with seat in the NL ?) got an e-mail informing about a new service during this summer where one would be accompanied through (departing) security and boarder control at AMS if one showed up 2 - 2.5 (eur/inerconti) hours before departure at the check-in counter. 2 - 2.5 hours is exactly the time that KLM recommends as well to all non-priority guest to arrive at the airport to ensure catching one's flight. I have no clue what the idea behind this is, but by using this service one would actually loose time compared to current (faster) skypriority lanes at security.
On the other hand the zoo is currently loose on arrival at AMS (as prio is given to departure and transit due to chances of missing flights, aka claims from KLM towards SPL) and no service is offered there.
And to let you know I will report less and less experiences here regarding ULTI as I have started to book other carriers, where I will for sure not have less attention/service than with ULTI at AFKL.
Cheers and safe travels!
The lounge in AMS is still as hostile as ever and in CDG (2F & G) it was 'standard ULTI' procedure. It was interesting to read that you got informed about a delay, I never had that.
My experenience re gate pick-up at CDG is that those only happens in case you are in danger of missing a connecting due to your late incoming plane you were on. That is the only consistant trigger I was able to notice.
On a close to comical note ULTIs (with seat in the NL ?) got an e-mail informing about a new service during this summer where one would be accompanied through (departing) security and boarder control at AMS if one showed up 2 - 2.5 (eur/inerconti) hours before departure at the check-in counter. 2 - 2.5 hours is exactly the time that KLM recommends as well to all non-priority guest to arrive at the airport to ensure catching one's flight. I have no clue what the idea behind this is, but by using this service one would actually loose time compared to current (faster) skypriority lanes at security.
On the other hand the zoo is currently loose on arrival at AMS (as prio is given to departure and transit due to chances of missing flights, aka claims from KLM towards SPL) and no service is offered there.
And to let you know I will report less and less experiences here regarding ULTI as I have started to book other carriers, where I will for sure not have less attention/service than with ULTI at AFKL.
Cheers and safe travels!
It did not take very long to get our enthusiasm curbed after all, and frankly speaking, I saw it coming. While I am sure that Frederic Kahane, head of FB, and Olivier Brung, Ultimate program director, do whatever they can to get a smooth operation, the positive experience that we have all had at one point or another has been tarnished by too many hiccups, which I can only ascribe to a staff — using travelbits's own words — either hostile to the program, or too lazy to implement it properly
. The account of what happened on your recent flights is quite telling and in line with my penultimate message. The purser and his or her crew set the tone. If he or she is not a proponent of the program, you can rest assured that no one will lift a finger to make your flight more enjoyable. I naively believe that most pursers are good people, eager to work in the best interest of the airline. Yet, there is a clique of insubordinate flight attendants (as well as pilots and ground personnel) more concerned about their own privileges than the common good. Because of them, people like you are now considering other more reliable carriers, where the offer will be more consistent . Pretty sad.Macaron54
Aug 13, 2017, 11:31 am
#662
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Will you let AFKL know that you'll be booking other carriers, and that the under-delivery of ULTI program benefits is the reason? Would be interesting to see what they say, if anything at all.
Aug 13, 2017, 5:19 pm
#663
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,927
Sorry to spoil the party folks, but my last two weeks were not glorious at all. With 6 flights (all in C) I cannot report consitent recognition. In 2 out of the 6 I was not even adressed by name on board and with 2 only I noticed something like a recognition. There were no pick-ups at gates or preboarding.
The lounge in AMS is still as hostile as ever and in CDG (2F & G) it was 'standard ULTI' procedure. It was interesting to read that you got informed about a delay, I never had that.
My experenience re gate pick-up at CDG is that those only happens in case you are in danger of missing a connecting due to your late incoming plane you were on. That is the only consistant trigger I was able to notice.
On a close to comical note ULTIs (with seat in the NL ?) got an e-mail informing about a new service during this summer where one would be accompanied through (departing) security and boarder control at AMS if one showed up 2 - 2.5 (eur/inerconti) hours before departure at the check-in counter. 2 - 2.5 hours is exactly the time that KLM recommends as well to all non-priority guest to arrive at the airport to ensure catching one's flight. I have no clue what the idea behind this is, but by using this service one would actually loose time compared to current (faster) skypriority lanes at security.
On the other hand the zoo is currently loose on arrival at AMS (as prio is given to departure and transit due to chances of missing flights, aka claims from KLM towards SPL) and no service is offered there.
And to let you know I will report less and less experiences here regarding ULTI as I have started to book other carriers, where I will for sure not have less attention/service than with ULTI at AFKL.
Cheers and safe travels!
The lounge in AMS is still as hostile as ever and in CDG (2F & G) it was 'standard ULTI' procedure. It was interesting to read that you got informed about a delay, I never had that.
My experenience re gate pick-up at CDG is that those only happens in case you are in danger of missing a connecting due to your late incoming plane you were on. That is the only consistant trigger I was able to notice.
On a close to comical note ULTIs (with seat in the NL ?) got an e-mail informing about a new service during this summer where one would be accompanied through (departing) security and boarder control at AMS if one showed up 2 - 2.5 (eur/inerconti) hours before departure at the check-in counter. 2 - 2.5 hours is exactly the time that KLM recommends as well to all non-priority guest to arrive at the airport to ensure catching one's flight. I have no clue what the idea behind this is, but by using this service one would actually loose time compared to current (faster) skypriority lanes at security.
On the other hand the zoo is currently loose on arrival at AMS (as prio is given to departure and transit due to chances of missing flights, aka claims from KLM towards SPL) and no service is offered there.
And to let you know I will report less and less experiences here regarding ULTI as I have started to book other carriers, where I will for sure not have less attention/service than with ULTI at AFKL.
Cheers and safe travels!
Regarding the sentence I have bolded in your post, this is my understanding as well : the escort during a connection is when your connection becomes "unsafe".
Aug 14, 2017, 3:02 am
#664
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
But, my philosophy was never to force something by "threathening" to leave. I have been constantly (4-5 years now even?) giving feedback on their lacking C class product, lounge performance and lack of elements within ULTI compared to competitors. It's their choice not to understand (see the recent 'offer' for accomp. services through security/border control) or not wanting to improve it. As it is mine to choose for something else.
And frankly, I think I said this before, being Plat4L and ULTI offering very little beyond Plat (I do have my on secretary that can handle most of my travel related problems pretty well) it will not get worse for me on a AFKL plane in the future, so what is there to loose for me?
Goldorak, it was within Europe, C and half AF, half KL.
Aug 14, 2017, 4:49 am
#665
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Programs: FB Plat for life, FB PC, M&M FT, Hertz President (+ many low tier cards)
Posts: 2,777
Very disappointing to hear about the ULTI experience often being nothing more than marketing blah. Definitely not an interesting status to pursue. But I do wonder, what was hostile about the lounge in AMS?
In past times that even happened to me a few times as a low tier silver Frequence Plus card holder travelling in Y...
IMHO the hope of individuals changing their flying habbits going noticed is overrated. After all, the decision of an individual may be the opposite of the trend. One might hope they notice. But they are probably more interested to see the statistics of all ULTI members and check if there is improvement or decline.
IMHO the hope of individuals changing their flying habbits going noticed is overrated. After all, the decision of an individual may be the opposite of the trend. One might hope they notice. But they are probably more interested to see the statistics of all ULTI members and check if there is improvement or decline.
Last edited by Zembla; Aug 14, 2017 at 6:34 am
Aug 14, 2017, 10:20 am
#666
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
Their general attitude: most of the time when I enter there is no "Welcome Mr. travelbits" but a "OK, good" after they checked the boarding pass. They still see themselves as guardians of the treasure lounge, rather the first KLM service personnel one sees on a journey.
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
Aug 14, 2017, 1:09 pm
#667
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 179
Does it say Ultimate on the boarding pass? Have you tried to highlight that with a yellow marker or something? Seems something simple to try out.
Their general attitude: most of the time when I enter there is no "Welcome Mr. travelbits" but a "OK, good" after they checked the boarding pass. They still see themselves as guardians of the treasure lounge, rather the first KLM service personnel one sees on a journey.
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
Aug 14, 2017, 1:12 pm
#668
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
but still, it would feel weard having to tell/highlight/pinpoint to them, don't you think?
Last edited by travelbits; Aug 14, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Aug 14, 2017, 1:21 pm
#669
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
And AFKL should feel ashamed that it has to put its best customers in the position of pulling a "Do you know who I am" just to obtain not even a special favour, but something that the airline has promised.
Aug 14, 2017, 5:46 pm
#670
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,927
Hi guys
posting from JFK lounge. Well...the planets didn't remain aligned too long for me
. I am furious
Knowing that this is a "real AF station" (and the most important outside France), with AF staff and an AF lounge, my level of expectations was quite high. And I think you guess where I'm going : to Ultimate emptiness.
Nothing special at check-in, despite Ultimate clearly written on the BP. The agent said at the of the process "I suppose you know where the lounge is ?" Which has immediately lightened some alarm signals in my mind. So I asked if we would be escorted to the lounge ? He looked at his computer and said "sorry, but no, I don't see any remark in your file". So I showed him the word Ultimate on the BP. He seemed clueless and so he asked his colleague seating 1m away and he was the supervisor and the supervisor replied quite rudely "escort is just for P pax". I want to precise that the counter was not busy at all as we arrived 2h45 before flight (as I was fearing the traffic to JFK at rush hours), so they couldn't even use the usual excuse of being understaffed.
I was so furious that I left the counter without saying a word. 
At the lounge, nothing special, not even a reserved area
In the lounge, I am trying to take a shower. It is occupied for now more than 1hr. Every time they see me going out of the toilet/shower area, they just say "oh, still occupied, too bad". Do you think they could just let you know when it's available...or even see if the ones upstairs* are available ? no of course they couldn't care less. I gave up with the shower.
*as a Y pax, I cannot go upstairs because now it's reserved for J pax with the dinner pre-flight service
No need to say that I didn't even bother to ask for a pre-boarding.
Let's see for the on-board experience, but for the moment, this trip will have been from top excellence to incompetence at its best.
posting from JFK lounge. Well...the planets didn't remain aligned too long for me
. I am furious Knowing that this is a "real AF station" (and the most important outside France), with AF staff and an AF lounge, my level of expectations was quite high. And I think you guess where I'm going : to Ultimate emptiness.
Nothing special at check-in, despite Ultimate clearly written on the BP. The agent said at the of the process "I suppose you know where the lounge is ?" Which has immediately lightened some alarm signals in my mind. So I asked if we would be escorted to the lounge ? He looked at his computer and said "sorry, but no, I don't see any remark in your file". So I showed him the word Ultimate on the BP. He seemed clueless and so he asked his colleague seating 1m away and he was the supervisor and the supervisor replied quite rudely "escort is just for P pax". I want to precise that the counter was not busy at all as we arrived 2h45 before flight (as I was fearing the traffic to JFK at rush hours), so they couldn't even use the usual excuse of being understaffed.
I was so furious that I left the counter without saying a word.
At the lounge, nothing special, not even a reserved area
In the lounge, I am trying to take a shower. It is occupied for now more than 1hr. Every time they see me going out of the toilet/shower area, they just say "oh, still occupied, too bad". Do you think they could just let you know when it's available...or even see if the ones upstairs* are available ? no of course they couldn't care less. I gave up with the shower.
*as a Y pax, I cannot go upstairs because now it's reserved for J pax with the dinner pre-flight service
No need to say that I didn't even bother to ask for a pre-boarding.
Let's see for the on-board experience, but for the moment, this trip will have been from top excellence to incompetence at its best.
Last edited by Goldorak; Aug 14, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Aug 14, 2017, 9:51 pm
#672
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,282
Their general attitude: most of the time when I enter there is no "Welcome Mr. travelbits" but a "OK, good" after they checked the boarding pass. They still see themselves as guardians of the treasure lounge, rather the first KLM service personnel one sees on a journey.
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
And on top there is a lot to say about the food & beverage the missing dedicated space, etc, etc.
There are only 80 ULTIs in the NL...
Anyway, for me - why is there such a need for them to greet you by name even though yes, you are right that they are the first impression point. For me as long as they are friendly, smiling and looks welcoming, calling me by name is not a necessity.
Wow - only 80 ULTI's in NL.. I must be lucky to know one working in my company (though I know he flies like once -twice per month in Business intercontinental). I had expected more looking at how crowded/busy the front cabins are on both AF and KLM the past year on all my different flights.
Cheers!
Aug 15, 2017, 12:42 am
#673
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Understaffed ground personnel is a poor alibi
Hi guys
posting from JFK lounge. Well...the planets didn't remain aligned too long for me . I am furious
Knowing that this is a "real AF station" (and the most important outside France), with AF staff and an AF lounge, my level of expectations was quite high. And I think you guess where I'm going : to Ultimate emptiness.
Nothing special at check-in, despite Ultimate clearly written on the BP. The agent said at the of the process "I suppose you know where the lounge is ?" Which has immediately lightened some alarm signals in my mind. So I asked if we would be escorted to the lounge ? He looked at his computer and said "sorry, but no, I don't see any remark in your file". So I showed him the word Ultimate on the BP. He seemed clueless and so he asked his colleague seating 1m away and he was the supervisor and the supervisor replied quite rudely "escort is just for P pax". I want to precise that the counter was not busy at all as we arrived 2h45 before flight (as I was fearing the traffic to JFK at rush hours), so they couldn't even use the usual excuse of being understaffed.
I was so furious that I left the counter without saying a word.
At the lounge, nothing special, not even a reserved area
In the lounge, I am trying to take a shower. It is occupied for now more than 1hr. Every time they see me going out of the toilet/shower area, they just say "oh, still occupied, too bad". Do you think they could just let you know when it's available...or even see if the ones upstairs* are available ? no of course they couldn't care less. I gave up with the shower.
*as a Y pax, I cannot go upstairs because now it's reserved for J pax with the dinner pre-flight service
No need to say that I didn't even bother to ask for a pre-boarding.
Let's see for the on-board experience, but for the moment, this trip will have been from top excellence to incompetence at its best.
posting from JFK lounge. Well...the planets didn't remain aligned too long for me
. I am furious Knowing that this is a "real AF station" (and the most important outside France), with AF staff and an AF lounge, my level of expectations was quite high. And I think you guess where I'm going : to Ultimate emptiness.
Nothing special at check-in, despite Ultimate clearly written on the BP. The agent said at the of the process "I suppose you know where the lounge is ?" Which has immediately lightened some alarm signals in my mind. So I asked if we would be escorted to the lounge ? He looked at his computer and said "sorry, but no, I don't see any remark in your file". So I showed him the word Ultimate on the BP. He seemed clueless and so he asked his colleague seating 1m away and he was the supervisor and the supervisor replied quite rudely "escort is just for P pax". I want to precise that the counter was not busy at all as we arrived 2h45 before flight (as I was fearing the traffic to JFK at rush hours), so they couldn't even use the usual excuse of being understaffed.
I was so furious that I left the counter without saying a word.
At the lounge, nothing special, not even a reserved area
In the lounge, I am trying to take a shower. It is occupied for now more than 1hr. Every time they see me going out of the toilet/shower area, they just say "oh, still occupied, too bad". Do you think they could just let you know when it's available...or even see if the ones upstairs* are available ? no of course they couldn't care less. I gave up with the shower.
*as a Y pax, I cannot go upstairs because now it's reserved for J pax with the dinner pre-flight service
No need to say that I didn't even bother to ask for a pre-boarding.
Let's see for the on-board experience, but for the moment, this trip will have been from top excellence to incompetence at its best.
apparently, one of the perks of being Ultimate that you can consistently count on is a free ride on an emotional roller-coaster. It will take you, on one flight, to the apex of professionalism, and, on the next flight, to the pit of nothingness 🤢.
The morality of the stories that we have read over the past months is very simple. First, the Ultimate program is an embodiment of inconsistency. Second, (and after Goldorak's account, I am more convinced than ever) it matters more to have a J or a P printed on your boarding pass than an Ultimate. This is AFKL's own acceptation of the word elitism. The dumbasses checking our boarding passes in the lounges have no concept that a (hyper-frequent) Y PAX can in reality be a greater source of revenue for the airline than a (one-shot) J PAX. Third, and I have said it time and time again, ground personnel and flight attendants altogether (in their vast majority, I naively think) work towards a successful Ultimate program, but their effort is thwarted by a handful of lazy, incompetent and self-centered individuals, at the airports and in the air
. I can assert (if I have not emphasized it already) that on so many occasions I have seen empty lounges with a plethora of ground personnel sitting on their hands and watching the grass grow. Yet, there was no escort service offered that day between point A and point B of the airport. An understaffed ground personnel has been consistently their lame alibi. Playing the devil's advocate, to their defense, the Ultimate program is something that has been shoved to them, without any formal consultation, in addition to their usual duties. A few misaligned or broken cogs is just what it takes to bring the AFKL machinery to a herky-jerky motion, or even to a halt 
. These individuals could not care less of not working in the best interest of the airline, and should they decide to not play along with the decisions made by the higher management, who will coerce them to do so? And just for travelbits, in response to the comments of nldogbert, perhaps do these individuals make a point of honor to not properly salute PAX's with an Ultimate printed on their boarding pass, as an expression of their contempt.Macaron54
Aug 15, 2017, 12:51 am
#674
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,531
Too bad, after those good experiences that we reported. Could you tell us if those flights were AF, KL, medium- or long-hauls ?
Regarding the sentence I have bolded in your post, this is my understanding as well : the escort during a connection is when your connection becomes "unsafe".
Regarding the sentence I have bolded in your post, this is my understanding as well : the escort during a connection is when your connection becomes "unsafe".
What I mean by that is that to an extent, AF has always sent escorts to facilitate transfers to anyone when there is a significant enough group on a late flight connecting onto another. They have always sent it to anyone in P with terminal change. My guess is that Ultimate might be somewhere in between, top priority in case of late arriving flight, but maybe also in other cases where there are spare staff to do so.
However, peak summer is a very unusual season: more passengers (think peak traffic and peak summer plane configurations), more families with young kids and groups, higher proportion of connecting travel (as you do not have the business point-to-point traffic), etc. This may mean more outstretched resources despite lower P intake, and maybe come September, Ulti's will get a better experience again?
Of course, once winter is here, it will be IRROPS that increase because of weather so maybe Ulti is at its best in Autumn and Spring?!
Aug 15, 2017, 2:41 am
#675
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 367
Secondly, they are just the worst if you compare them to any other station. In CDG they address you by name, get out of their seat and bring to to a designated area and (in best cases) ask you whether they can help with food and drinks. Other outstations even go further. In AMS in 50% of the time I get 'OK, good'. So, not only is their standard already lower compared to other lounges, they don't even do that single piece of effort to always address by name.
And don't get me wrong, with the miles we fly we understand all operational elements, but they are/were not hampered by a too long queue, being understaffed, etc. - they just don't (want) do it.