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
Nov 15, 2018, 8:15 am
#1757
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AFKL Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 369
Sorry for the dumb question but I can't find the answer on this thread.
*When* are you supposed to actually become Ultimate?
My situation is a little weird, since I'll be soon having around 1400 XP this year with AFKL marketed flights, and according to my calculations, in 2017 I had 85'762 Qualifying LM in AFKL flights - which should roughly correspond to 429 UXP. Thus, I'll be slightly over 1800 UXP before December 31.
Assuming this is a valid case where FB will 'upgrade' me to Ultimate, when will this happen, roughly? As far as I understood, it's not immediately after 1800 UXP, but it will be sometimes in early 2019, and requires some manual check/intervention from FB.
Am I right?
Thank you.
*When* are you supposed to actually become Ultimate?
My situation is a little weird, since I'll be soon having around 1400 XP this year with AFKL marketed flights, and according to my calculations, in 2017 I had 85'762 Qualifying LM in AFKL flights - which should roughly correspond to 429 UXP. Thus, I'll be slightly over 1800 UXP before December 31.
Assuming this is a valid case where FB will 'upgrade' me to Ultimate, when will this happen, roughly? As far as I understood, it's not immediately after 1800 UXP, but it will be sometimes in early 2019, and requires some manual check/intervention from FB.
Am I right?
Thank you.
Nov 15, 2018, 4:16 pm
#1759
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
I would not call that a favor, the flight was overbooked, AF is fully responsible for the situation, it could cost them quite a lot to make someone arrive the following day since they can be sued for that on top of the legal compensation. It would be different if she had a ticket for the next morning flight and asked to fly earlier same day as an Ulti, this would be a real big favor if accepted. However, here, in case of overbooking, they must first ask for volunteers and it seems they did not. Goldorak even volunteered to give up his seat to make sure she gets her original flight, AF must have accepted but instead of VDB an ultimate, they found a ok solution, so why not. But here again, it is just the law, no favor for an Ulti: you cannot IDB before you VDB.
But here it’s AF who created the problem by postponing her return trip to the next day.
On the other hand, I can understand that they be reluctant to change your colleague's flight (cheapo, no status). All flights are full and someone has to be moved to tmr morning. The fact that your colleague was accommodated on the earlier flight means someone will have to take her seat tmr morning.and spend the night in London. And that person might also have good reasons to be back to Paris.
I don’t see why it was such a big favor to accommodate her on another flight on which they had a seat left, after having overbooked her.
Nov 16, 2018, 1:01 am
#1760
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
But who said, because she was finally accommodated on the previous flight than the one we were supposed to take together, that someone else was moved to the next day ? They finally proposed to change her to this flight because they had a few remaining seats. I don’t think anyone else was affected.
I don’t see why it was such a big favor to accommodate her on another flight on which they had a seat left, after having overbooked her.
I don’t see why it was such a big favor to accommodate her on another flight on which they had a seat left, after having overbooked her.
It's also possible that between T-30 and the time you finally got the call back seats on an earlier flight became available.
Ulti or not, in case of IDB I would have expected AF to allow PAX to go on an earlier flight (if there are available seats), I know KL does it for LHR-AMS, couple of times I had colleagues with no status booked in the last LHR-AMS flight and being accommodated to an earlier flight upon request as that one was fully booked.
Nov 16, 2018, 2:46 am
#1761
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
all the more so as it would then mean that there would be no IDB since the passenger would have voluntarily released their seat to go on an earlier flight and therefore no IDB compensation to pay.
Nov 16, 2018, 8:07 am
#1762
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,555
But who said, because she was finally accommodated on the previous flight than the one we were supposed to take together, that someone else was moved to the next day ? They finally proposed to change her to this flight because they had a few remaining seats. I don’t think anyone else was affected.
I have never been kicked because of overbook. But I have received the occasional email with automatic rebook when a flight was cancelled. If I did not like the rebook, I would call the airline and find a better option that best fitted my constraints/schedule.
If there were seats available on a previous flight (at H-30), I would be shocked if the pax would be denied that seat when calling directly AF. I understand the automatic rebook for a later flight (as the pax might have constraints to take an earlier one). But if there are seats available, I would have expected AF to offer her those seats if her schedule allowed it. This sounds shocking and unexpected from AF.
Nov 16, 2018, 10:35 am
#1763
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: AF/KL FB Platinum For Life Ultimate, LH Senator, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 9
Confused
I always have been confused with KLM/AF on the Ultimate intention. They say that it is to reward the revenue generating customers...
In the period 2016/2017, I flew 420'ish miles together on Flying Blue, mainly long haul J trips. If they wanted to draw more revenue to AF/KL metal, they could have simply marketed this a bit better to J customers on DL/KL/AF.
With no additional pain, but just making sure that I paid attention to the name on the metal (AF/KL/A5), I crossed the 1800 XP for 2017/2018 in May and I am probably up to 2500'ish now. No sign of live from Flying Blue. Curious to see what/where/when.
The Emerald Status in One World gives you almost equally good treatment in Asia if/when connections get tighter as well as on board.
In the period 2016/2017, I flew 420'ish miles together on Flying Blue, mainly long haul J trips. If they wanted to draw more revenue to AF/KL metal, they could have simply marketed this a bit better to J customers on DL/KL/AF.
With no additional pain, but just making sure that I paid attention to the name on the metal (AF/KL/A5), I crossed the 1800 XP for 2017/2018 in May and I am probably up to 2500'ish now. No sign of live from Flying Blue. Curious to see what/where/when.
The Emerald Status in One World gives you almost equally good treatment in Asia if/when connections get tighter as well as on board.
Last edited by flymaxman; Nov 17, 2018 at 1:10 am Reason: Typo
Nov 16, 2018, 11:46 am
#1764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
On the bright side, I can still report very good treatments and consideration on-board 95% of my flights and a consistent excellent care by LYS AF agents. This AF station is really very well staffed and managed. Many stations could take example on them.
Nov 17, 2018, 11:40 am
#1766
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,922
Nov 18, 2018, 12:29 am
#1767
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: AF/KL FB Platinum For Life Ultimate, LH Senator, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 9
During 2018, I flew more than 1400XP on KL/AF/A5 planes, with still a few long haul to come. The good network for KL in Asia kept me there, otherwise I would have taken a shot at the HON. Now I just kept myself to renewing the LH Senator, PR Elite Plus and BA Gold. The rest I still keep on KL/AF for schedule reasons.
I did ask the Platinum Service Line in July and August about the when/if they check Ultimate levels... The answer was an astonishing, "wow you fly a lot, but it is another department who decides that." In the wake of that call, I wrote an e-mail with the same question and the now frustrating answer (in writing) was:
"The ultimate card is indeed on invitation only. There is a special department that will check all Flying Blue Platinum and PLatinum for Life members each year if they qualify to become an Ultimate member. The criteria before 1 April 2018 is that you need to fly 360.000 Level Miles on Air France / KLM and HOP marketed and operated flights.This does not include Carry Over Level Miles and Level Miles earned with American Express. As per 1 April the criteria is a minimum of 1800XP excusively on board with Air France, KLM and HOP Marketed flights during 2 consecutive years.The conversion rate to XP on the 1 April is only to be used to recalculate the amount of Level Miles earned between 1 January 2018 and 31 March 2018. It is not possible to use this conversion for the Level Miles accrued during 2017. I can not inform you when the Ultimate status will be available for you. This status is purely on invitation and if you qualify for this then a representative will contact you personally. In the mean time if you have any questions concerning the Ultimate level please se contact the Platinum Service Line on telephone number 0031-20 47 47 737."
This mail told me, "thank you for your business", but we don't care! Even more since none of their "representatives" contacted me in the six months since I hit the target they described. I understand it is an annual process from reading these posts, but would it be so difficult for them to answer "thanks you for your business, but the review happens only once a year, a policy we have to stick to". It would for sure make me feel more appreciated as a customer.
Nov 18, 2018, 1:04 am
#1768
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Would it have been so difficult to actually look into your situations and realise that you have the 1800 XP and give you the Ultimate card already in May? Or in case you don’t have the 1800 Ulti XP - which you cannot tell because those geniuses don’t show you how close you are to the next level, avoiding to incentivise you to fly more with them to attain it - they could at least have gotten back to you and tell you thank you very much for your great loyalty. You are currently at x Ulti XP.
But it instead of being commercially savvy they are just bureaucratically difficult (“it’s a different department”).
But then, if you mostly fly KLM and to/from AMS, after everything you read here, are you sure you want to be an ULTI? What difference will it make?
But it instead of being commercially savvy they are just bureaucratically difficult (“it’s a different department”).
But then, if you mostly fly KLM and to/from AMS, after everything you read here, are you sure you want to be an ULTI? What difference will it make?
Nov 18, 2018, 1:16 am
#1769
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AFKL Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 369
In the past, I contacted the PSL in CH and (at the phone though) after forwarding my question to "the department in charge of Ultimate", they confirmed that it is possible to qualify for Ultimate for flights done in 2017/2018. They did not exactly specify the method though - I assumed that they would use the same conversion as of April 1 2018 for normal XPs.
To be fair, I also re-calculated my flights in 2017 using the new XP scheme, and if that would be applied, I would still qualify as Ultimate in 2019.
I guess we'll discover that...
Nov 18, 2018, 2:01 am
#1770
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: AF/KL FB Platinum For Life Ultimate, LH Senator, BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 9
Would it have been so difficult to actually look into your situations and realise that you have the 1800 XP and give you the Ultimate card already in May? Or in case you don’t have the 1800 Ulti XP - which you cannot tell because those geniuses don’t show you how close you are to the next level, avoiding to incentivise you to fly more with them to attain it - they could at least have gotten back to you and tell you thank you very much for your great loyalty. You are currently at x Ulti XP.
But it instead of being commercially savvy they are just bureaucratically difficult (“it’s a different department”).
But then, if you mostly fly KLM and to/from AMS, after everything you read here, are you sure you want to be an ULTI? What difference will it make?
But it instead of being commercially savvy they are just bureaucratically difficult (“it’s a different department”).
But then, if you mostly fly KLM and to/from AMS, after everything you read here, are you sure you want to be an ULTI? What difference will it make?
It is not about "aspiring Ulti", rather than having access to the TA that would be easy. With the amount of flying them, things happen and rather than waiting up to 10-15 minutes for the Platinum Service Line, faster access would be nice. At least they wouldn't re-route on Turkish Airlines and tell me it is a good company. Also overfull SkyPriority lines in CDG/ORD and smaller French airports would help. And yes, there is a lot of AMS, but with 1500+ "UXP" in 2018, some 30%+ is non-KLM that would/could make travel experience nicer, but foremost a little easier.