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
Sep 21, 2017, 1:51 pm
#751
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
I also got a wonderful ULTI treatment recently on CDG-ABV-PHC in J. And I'm not an ULTI.
A very warm welcome. Only person to choose the preferred menu before service started. An extra G&T refill was proposed without asking for it, snacks and drinks proposed during the stop in ABV. And multiple inquires if I was OK or needed anything extra recurred during the whole flight. All in all I felt quite VIP and my colleague sitting elsewhere in the same cabin was very puzzled!
A very warm welcome. Only person to choose the preferred menu before service started. An extra G&T refill was proposed without asking for it, snacks and drinks proposed during the stop in ABV. And multiple inquires if I was OK or needed anything extra recurred during the whole flight. All in all I felt quite VIP and my colleague sitting elsewhere in the same cabin was very puzzled!
Sep 21, 2017, 2:58 pm
#752
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
Unless they have started rolling out the "give special attention on board" treatment to Plats for Life (like Zembla and me) because that doesn't cost them a penny more, leaving the things that actually cost money (such as the escorts through security) to ULTIs. Why not, other airlines do it that way as well, I find it a good idea.
Sep 22, 2017, 12:12 am
#754
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
Sep 22, 2017, 12:52 am
#756
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,044
After many years of almost weekly flights, the conclusion is that in almost all cases if you want to get from the crew extra mile service and careful attention, the travel class you are flying in remains for the crew much more relevant than the frequent traveler status you have !
Keep that in mind
Keep that in mind
Sep 22, 2017, 1:32 pm
#757
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
Not sure if there is a policy or if my experience is just getting the statistics off, but often there is some recognition, frequently to the point of people around me/us wondering what is going on, sometimes just small touches - but 50% of the flights nothing at all - as LTPE.
When my better half - als LTPE - is with me it changes a little bit - but if our kids are with us (all lowest status) there is lots of effort to move them closer or help them (picky eaters) with nuts and such.
ULTI is far from me - LTPE gives the same feeling as wondering decades after graduation high school if they would still catch you that one missed exam - but going for ULTI would put pressure on me to reach the threshold that I now have not reached in years.
When my better half - als LTPE - is with me it changes a little bit - but if our kids are with us (all lowest status) there is lots of effort to move them closer or help them (picky eaters) with nuts and such.
ULTI is far from me - LTPE gives the same feeling as wondering decades after graduation high school if they would still catch you that one missed exam - but going for ULTI would put pressure on me to reach the threshold that I now have not reached in years.
Sep 23, 2017, 4:55 am
#758
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
A quick question to our ULTIs here, because they have most direct interaction with higher ups at AFKL: did you ever discuss why they didn't offer a booking guarantee for status pax?
Not sure whether I am the only one who feels that there is a benefit in having a booking guarantee, which could work on a "up to 24 hours before departure, in the highest fare bucket for Business and Economy respectively". It's the kind of thing frequent travelers find useful because it gives them flexibility, and they're prepared to pay for it.
Just wanted to change a ticket for departure on Monday afternoon from CDG, agent told me it's full, and by reflex I answered "so what, I can use my booking guarantee" - realising in the second that I said it that FB doesn't offer it. Guess what, I now take another airline whose flights are also "full", but where I can make use of a booking guarantee. I am not ULTI, but since other airlines offer that benefit also for the second highest and not just the top tier level I always thought that it should be part of the PLAT offering. If at least it was part of ULTI, that would at least signal that they understand what customers need and at the same time make ULTI more attractive.
Not sure whether I am the only one who feels that there is a benefit in having a booking guarantee, which could work on a "up to 24 hours before departure, in the highest fare bucket for Business and Economy respectively". It's the kind of thing frequent travelers find useful because it gives them flexibility, and they're prepared to pay for it.
Just wanted to change a ticket for departure on Monday afternoon from CDG, agent told me it's full, and by reflex I answered "so what, I can use my booking guarantee" - realising in the second that I said it that FB doesn't offer it. Guess what, I now take another airline whose flights are also "full", but where I can make use of a booking guarantee. I am not ULTI, but since other airlines offer that benefit also for the second highest and not just the top tier level I always thought that it should be part of the PLAT offering. If at least it was part of ULTI, that would at least signal that they understand what customers need and at the same time make ULTI more attractive.
Sep 23, 2017, 6:40 am
#759
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: FB platinum
Posts: 372
Just wanted to change a ticket for departure on Monday afternoon from CDG, agent told me it's full, and by reflex I answered "so what, I can use my booking guarantee" - realising in the second that I said it that FB doesn't offer it. Guess what, I now take another airline whose flights are also "full", but where I can make use of a booking guarantee. I am not ULTI, but since other airlines offer that benefit also for the second highest and not just the top tier level I always thought that it should be part of the PLAT offering. If at least it was part of ULTI, that would at least signal that they understand what customers need and at the same time make ULTI more attractive.
Guaranteed seat in Economy
On long-haul flights with AIR FRANCE, KLM or SkyTeam partners
On full-fare tickets booked at least 24 hours in advance and only if all classes (Economy, Business, and when applicable First Class) are fully booked.
On long-haul flights with AIR FRANCE, KLM or SkyTeam partners
On full-fare tickets booked at least 24 hours in advance and only if all classes (Economy, Business, and when applicable First Class) are fully booked.
Sep 23, 2017, 6:52 am
#760
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
A quick question to our ULTIs here, because they have most direct interaction with higher ups at AFKL: did you ever discuss why they didn't offer a booking guarantee for status pax?
Not sure whether I am the only one who feels that there is a benefit in having a booking guarantee, which could work on a "up to 24 hours before departure, in the highest fare bucket for Business and Economy respectively". It's the kind of thing frequent travelers find useful because it gives them flexibility, and they're prepared to pay for it.
Just wanted to change a ticket for departure on Monday afternoon from CDG, agent told me it's full, and by reflex I answered "so what, I can use my booking guarantee" - realising in the second that I said it that FB doesn't offer it. Guess what, I now take another airline whose flights are also "full", but where I can make use of a booking guarantee. I am not ULTI, but since other airlines offer that benefit also for the second highest and not just the top tier level I always thought that it should be part of the PLAT offering. If at least it was part of ULTI, that would at least signal that they understand what customers need and at the same time make ULTI more attractive.
Not sure whether I am the only one who feels that there is a benefit in having a booking guarantee, which could work on a "up to 24 hours before departure, in the highest fare bucket for Business and Economy respectively". It's the kind of thing frequent travelers find useful because it gives them flexibility, and they're prepared to pay for it.
Just wanted to change a ticket for departure on Monday afternoon from CDG, agent told me it's full, and by reflex I answered "so what, I can use my booking guarantee" - realising in the second that I said it that FB doesn't offer it. Guess what, I now take another airline whose flights are also "full", but where I can make use of a booking guarantee. I am not ULTI, but since other airlines offer that benefit also for the second highest and not just the top tier level I always thought that it should be part of the PLAT offering. If at least it was part of ULTI, that would at least signal that they understand what customers need and at the same time make ULTI more attractive.
you are addressing a very good point. Personally, I never discussed this with the TA team or any AFKL manager. There is currently one Platinum benefit of having a guaranteed Y seat on full long-haul flights when booked 24hrs in advance (I never used this benefit so far). But that’s only Y and long-haul. However, they can sometimes help the Ulti pax and I benefited recently from it. I was in LHR and needed to postpone my return flight to the last flight of the day, it it was 100% full Y and J and with some overbooking. So even #1 on the waiting list thanks to my status, the TA said there was no hope. So, my TA sent ŕ message to the CCHub in CDG and within minutes, my seat was confirmed ^
Of course, I felt bad for the pax who would likely be kicked-out of the flight because of me, but...that’s the kind of circumstances when we appreciate the FFP status.
But a real published benefit would be indeed nice. For all Plat or restricted to LTPE (+ Ulti, club2000, Skipper of course)?
Sep 23, 2017, 7:45 am
#761
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,338
They will most likely need to refuse boarding to somebody else. So that person is directly entitled to Denied Boarding compensation. That may run them up to 600 euro + hotel (for a long-haul flight). Plus re-routing on another airline may cost them more (full fare?) than the offloaded pax paid originally.
Of course the exact amount depends on the situation, in some cases people would voluntarily be re-routed for lower compensation. Or a hotel night may not be needed. Sometimes other pax miss their connection, leaving empty seats anyway. But it can be quite expensive for the airline to accept another pax for an already fully booked flight.
Sep 23, 2017, 2:08 pm
#762
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,832
Isn't that supposed to be a Gold + Plat benefit for long-haul flights in economy, based on https://www.flyingblue.com/about-fly...-benefits.html ? (I've never used it though, so I don't know if and how it's actually supposed to work)
But maybe you can bring it up to them.
What they do instead: since they can forecast peak travel period they simply set availability to zero even when there are still seats available. That way only status pax with booking guarantee have access to the available seats, but the "wider public" does not. Based on their data they can forecast the expected number of status pax that will activate their booking guarantee, and accordingly leave that number of seats inaccessible to others. No need to bump anyone.
AFKL has a modern and powerful yield management system, they should be able to do this. They don't do it not because they can't, they only have to want to do it. But that would require more thinking about customer needs, which is something they do better and better but still often find difficult.
Sep 24, 2017, 4:34 pm
#763
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
CDG to ORD flight report
New Ultimate experience from CDG to ORD.
All in all. Ultimate mission partially fulfilled. There are a still a few loose ends that need to be tied up. At least, statistically speaking, we are getting consistency: At ORD, T5, upon arrival, there is consistently no escort through immigration. The absence of escort through security at CDG, past police control, either at 2E-K, L or M, is also an issue, as lines can be quite long, including SkyP's.
Macaron54
- At CDG 2E, AF counter. Fast check-in and proactive offer of an escort to passport control. Express police clearance ^^. Train to 2E-L. No escort to go through security
. Empty SkyP line though. - At CDG 2E-L, lounge. Overcrowded, noisy lounge
. Reserved space ^ with coffee tables . - Boarding flight AF144. Upon request, pre-boarding with the flight supervisor ^^. Introduction to the chief purser when entering the aircraft.
- On-board flight AF144. Warm personalized welcome by the J-cabin purser ^. Top-notch service ^^. Interview by the purser on the Ultimate program (after other Ultimate PAXs on other flights expressed their very moderate enthusiasm).
- Arrival at ORD. End of the Ultimate service and another oddity of the program. No one to get me through immigration . This is in stark contrast with the service in the other direction, with an escort through the TSA passport control and ProVision security check.
All in all. Ultimate mission partially fulfilled. There are a still a few loose ends that need to be tied up. At least, statistically speaking, we are getting consistency: At ORD, T5, upon arrival, there is consistently no escort through immigration. The absence of escort through security at CDG, past police control, either at 2E-K, L or M, is also an issue, as lines can be quite long, including SkyP's.
Macaron54
Sep 30, 2017, 10:46 am
#764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,909
Another report for a medium-haul round trip (to TXL, AF), not so good to go and super top on the return.
CDG-TXL
- good welcome at the lounge at entrance, guided to reserved area. Was greeted at my lounge seat10 min later by another lounge attendant who told me he will come again for boarding ^
- time of boarding : guess what, nobody came . I waited 10 min and as nobody was coming, I left the lounge and boarded the last (when I arrived at the gate, I heard the agent at the gate pronouncing my name calling someone and they were in fact calling the lounge to enquire about me because I was the last pax missing...). So I had before me the entire jetway filled of people
- on board : no greeting, no special treatment/recognition
TXL-CDG connecting to a French domestic flight from 2G on a separate ticket
As I had only 1:15 for this connection on a separate ticket, I called the TA a couple of days before to ask them to keep an eye on my connection and organise an accelerated transfer in case the connection would be in danger. They said they will send a message to CDG.
-lounge TXL : nothing special (no reserved area) but was informed that the incoming flight was arriving late from CDG and so we were now scheduled to depart TXL with a 45 min delay
. To stay on the safe side, I called again the TA from the lounge to make sure that they will activate the rescue plan, because with now only 30 min to go from 2F to 2G (without counting the time to disembark), there was no way I could make it without help. They said they will monitor the situation and act as needed. ^
- boarding was a complete zoo with both KL and AF boarding at the same time at the same gate (see picture below) but I got an op-up to J at the gate ^
- on-board : excellent service from the chief purser and she sent another message from the plane to make sure I would get my expedited transfer and she confirmed it later on during the descent ^
- I was awaited in the jetway in CDG and was transferred by car immediately to 2G to my next flight, like for a P pax ^ ^ ^
I could have not made it without that, and I couldn’t have reached my final destination this day would I have missed the flight. So thank you to all people involved for this super top service.
CDG-TXL
- good welcome at the lounge at entrance, guided to reserved area. Was greeted at my lounge seat10 min later by another lounge attendant who told me he will come again for boarding ^
- time of boarding : guess what, nobody came
. I waited 10 min and as nobody was coming, I left the lounge and boarded the last (when I arrived at the gate, I heard the agent at the gate pronouncing my name calling someone and they were in fact calling the lounge to enquire about me because I was the last pax missing...). So I had before me the entire jetway filled of people - on board : no greeting, no special treatment/recognition
TXL-CDG connecting to a French domestic flight from 2G on a separate ticket
As I had only 1:15 for this connection on a separate ticket, I called the TA a couple of days before to ask them to keep an eye on my connection and organise an accelerated transfer in case the connection would be in danger. They said they will send a message to CDG.
-lounge TXL : nothing special (no reserved area) but was informed that the incoming flight was arriving late from CDG and so we were now scheduled to depart TXL with a 45 min delay
. To stay on the safe side, I called again the TA from the lounge to make sure that they will activate the rescue plan, because with now only 30 min to go from 2F to 2G (without counting the time to disembark), there was no way I could make it without help. They said they will monitor the situation and act as needed. ^- boarding was a complete zoo with both KL and AF boarding at the same time at the same gate (see picture below)
but I got an op-up to J at the gate ^ - on-board : excellent service from the chief purser and she sent another message from the plane to make sure I would get my expedited transfer and she confirmed it later on during the descent ^
- I was awaited in the jetway in CDG and was transferred by car immediately to 2G to my next flight, like for a P pax ^ ^ ^
I could have not made it without that, and I couldn’t have reached my final destination this day would I have missed the flight. So thank you to all people involved for this super top service.
Last edited by Goldorak; Sep 30, 2017 at 10:52 am
Oct 3, 2017, 2:29 pm
#765
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
ORD to BSL flight report
New Ultimate flight report, ORD to BSL
After four AF flights, statistically meaningful confirmation of a top Ultimate service at ORD (as advertised).
No expectation for flight AF1392, and, hence, no disappointment.
However minimal, the wait at the security filter prior to the transfer to CDG-2G underscores another dysfunction of the airport, in all likelihood independent of AFKL. Still, the problem at hand could be addressed by means of an AF escort.
Cheers to all.
Macaron54
- At ORD, AFKL counter. Fast check-in and proactive offer of an escort. Expedited TSA passport control and ProVision security check ^^. For travelbits — this service is offered for both AF and KL flights without discrimination!
- At ORD, multi-airline lounge. Reserved table ^.
- Boarding flight AF153. Paging at gate for pre-boarding ^.
- On-board flight AF153. Personalized welcome by purser. Excellent service ^.
- Arrival at CDG 2E-K. No SkyP line for the security check prior to transfer to CDG-2G
. A little over 10-minute wait . - At CDG-2G lounge. Very courteous welcome. Offer of shower access ^^.
- Boarding flight AF1392. SkyP line ^.
- On-board flight AF1392 (operated by WDL). Nothing.
- Arrival at BSL. Nothing.
After four AF flights, statistically meaningful confirmation of a top Ultimate service at ORD (as advertised).
No expectation for flight AF1392, and, hence, no disappointment.
However minimal, the wait at the security filter prior to the transfer to CDG-2G underscores another dysfunction of the airport, in all likelihood independent of AFKL. Still, the problem at hand could be addressed by means of an AF escort.
Cheers to all.
Macaron54