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
Dec 12, 2018, 7:07 am
#1831
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Few. Some with long connections - which can happen in the non-Schengen area as intercontinental destinations aren‘t served that often - and then a few FTers who think that „experiencing“ a lounge is a trip in its own right. But most others probably try to minimise time at the airport and end up in the lounge only because they have built in some time in their planning and now find themselves with a few free minutes to kill, and so go to the lounge.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:58 am
#1832
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
The average for the non-Schengen Crown Lounge was 1,5h according to the SVP Hub Operations. These are mainly transfer PAX. PAX originating indeed try to minimise time spend at the airport.
Dec 12, 2018, 9:07 am
#1833
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 313
Indeed.
Rather than serving fancy gourmet cuisine, they should offer a wide range of unpretentious but tasty and wholesome choices that will appeal to the very variable tastes of their cosmopolitan patrons, and that can be served quickly.
How many guests spend more than an hour or two in the lounge?
Johan
Rather than serving fancy gourmet cuisine, they should offer a wide range of unpretentious but tasty and wholesome choices that will appeal to the very variable tastes of their cosmopolitan patrons, and that can be served quickly.
How many guests spend more than an hour or two in the lounge?
Johan
Dec 14, 2018, 8:57 am
#1834
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
Programs: AF/KLM Club2000 Ultimate / M&M HON Circle / ALL Diamond / Hertz President Circle
Posts: 1,040
A crazy experience once again with AF and I really hope some AF executives are reading this thread to understand how this company is going nut !!!
I am usually travelling in J or P on both medium & long hauls and will be ending the year with around 75 flights.
I exceptionally booked a ticket in W as I was travelling with one colleague to Canada and we have our flight back from YUL to CDG tonight...
When doing the online check-in, my colleague got an upgrade offer in J for 299 € while I got the same offer for 949 € (almost 700 € difference....).
Our tickets have exactly the same booking class and exactly the same prices ! We booked them together on the same day.
I have never used an upgrade offer this year (as usually in J).
After calling the Plat line to get more details and have the same offer than my colleague, the person (whom was nice) was not able to do anything as the system is deciding who might have the offer or not...
So instead of having 2 upgrades , we ended up taking no upgrade at all as the objective is to travel together.
Crazy to see that my colleague has the option to be upgraded with a cheap offer while he's travelling around twice a year (FB silver) while I am not !!! Absolute non-sense...
I am usually travelling in J or P on both medium & long hauls and will be ending the year with around 75 flights.
I exceptionally booked a ticket in W as I was travelling with one colleague to Canada and we have our flight back from YUL to CDG tonight...
When doing the online check-in, my colleague got an upgrade offer in J for 299 € while I got the same offer for 949 € (almost 700 € difference....).
Our tickets have exactly the same booking class and exactly the same prices ! We booked them together on the same day.
I have never used an upgrade offer this year (as usually in J).
After calling the Plat line to get more details and have the same offer than my colleague, the person (whom was nice) was not able to do anything as the system is deciding who might have the offer or not...
So instead of having 2 upgrades , we ended up taking no upgrade at all as the objective is to travel together.
Crazy to see that my colleague has the option to be upgraded with a cheap offer while he's travelling around twice a year (FB silver) while I am not !!! Absolute non-sense...
Dec 14, 2018, 9:05 am
#1835
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 760
A crazy experience once again with AF and I really hope some AF executives are reading this thread to understand how this company is going nut !!!
I am usually travelling in J or P on both medium & long hauls and will be ending the year with around 75 flights.
I exceptionally booked a ticket in W as I was travelling with one colleague to Canada and we have our flight back from YUL to CDG tonight...
When doing the online check-in, my colleague got an upgrade offer in J for 299 € while I got the same offer for 949 € (almost 700 € difference....).
Our tickets have exactly the same booking class and exactly the same prices ! We booked them together on the same day.
I have never used an upgrade offer this year (as usually in J).
After calling the Plat line to get more details and have the same offer than my colleague, the person (whom was nice) was not able to do anything as the system is deciding who might have the offer or not...
So instead of having 2 upgrades , we ended up taking no upgrade at all as the objective is to travel together.
Crazy to see that my colleague has the option to be upgraded with a cheap offer while he's travelling around twice a year (FB silver) while I am not !!! Absolute non-sense...
I am usually travelling in J or P on both medium & long hauls and will be ending the year with around 75 flights.
I exceptionally booked a ticket in W as I was travelling with one colleague to Canada and we have our flight back from YUL to CDG tonight...
When doing the online check-in, my colleague got an upgrade offer in J for 299 € while I got the same offer for 949 € (almost 700 € difference....).
Our tickets have exactly the same booking class and exactly the same prices ! We booked them together on the same day.
I have never used an upgrade offer this year (as usually in J).
After calling the Plat line to get more details and have the same offer than my colleague, the person (whom was nice) was not able to do anything as the system is deciding who might have the offer or not...
So instead of having 2 upgrades , we ended up taking no upgrade at all as the objective is to travel together.
Crazy to see that my colleague has the option to be upgraded with a cheap offer while he's travelling around twice a year (FB silver) while I am not !!! Absolute non-sense...
This is KLM policy and no coincidence.
You are the kind of customer that KLM earns the most on because you travel mainly in J and P, these are the cabins with the highest GM. KLM is offering semi frequent Y/W travelers like your colleague who is silver, an one time offer they can not refuse upon check in. The idea is that the amount is so low, 2-300 euros on a long haul flight that the passenger will take it. They can experience the J class and hopefully will be so impressed that they will book full fare J in the future. More J pax = higher GM and more profit.
This is is confirmed by KLM to me.
Dec 14, 2018, 10:29 am
#1836
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: France
Programs: LH Senator, AF/KL Platinum Ultimate, Le Club Accor Hotels Diamond, Nordic Choice Hotels Platinum
Posts: 60
And one more « crazy experience » as matmatlr defined it: I am sitting in the lounge in 2G and the reserved Ultimate area is not reserved anymore!
The displays showing « reserved » are not on the tables anymore, and the red rope barrier is gone! Of course the area is now packed with « regular » lounge visitors.
Too many people queuing at the front desk now to raise the question on what’s going on, and I have a quite short stay only.
To be reviewed in the next days... I will be in 2G next week again and will check / report accordingly.
Oh man, AFKL...
The displays showing « reserved » are not on the tables anymore, and the red rope barrier is gone! Of course the area is now packed with « regular » lounge visitors.
Too many people queuing at the front desk now to raise the question on what’s going on, and I have a quite short stay only.
To be reviewed in the next days... I will be in 2G next week again and will check / report accordingly.
Oh man, AFKL...
Dec 14, 2018, 11:44 am
#1837
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
And one more « crazy experience » as matmatlr defined it: I am sitting in the lounge in 2G and the reserved Ultimate area is not reserved anymore!
The displays showing « reserved » are not on the tables anymore, and the red rope barrier is gone! Of course the area is now packed with « regular » lounge visitors.
Too many people queuing at the front desk now to raise the question on what’s going on, and I have a quite short stay only.
To be reviewed in the next days... I will be in 2G next week again and will check / report accordingly.
Oh man, AFKL...
The displays showing « reserved » are not on the tables anymore, and the red rope barrier is gone! Of course the area is now packed with « regular » lounge visitors.
Too many people queuing at the front desk now to raise the question on what’s going on, and I have a quite short stay only.
To be reviewed in the next days... I will be in 2G next week again and will check / report accordingly.
Oh man, AFKL...
Dec 17, 2018, 3:06 am
#1839
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
Programs: AF/KLM Club2000 Ultimate / M&M HON Circle / ALL Diamond / Hertz President Circle
Posts: 1,040
Hi
This is KLM policy and no coincidence.
You are the kind of customer that KLM earns the most on because you travel mainly in J and P, these are the cabins with the highest GM. KLM is offering semi frequent Y/W travelers like your colleague who is silver, an one time offer they can not refuse upon check in. The idea is that the amount is so low, 2-300 euros on a long haul flight that the passenger will take it. They can experience the J class and hopefully will be so impressed that they will book full fare J in the future. More J pax = higher GM and more profit.
This is is confirmed by KLM to me.
Most of the passengers in J are travelling for business reasons and they're just following their company travel policy. For others travelling in W, this won't change anything to them whether they like it or not as they will stick to this policy for future flights...On the other hand, most of the passengers that are travelling in J for personal reasons are either passengers wealthy enough to travel always in J, either very frequent travelers that have enough miles to be in J (my personal experience
Anyway, I got an interesting end of story
After complaining to the TA about this strategy and sending them an email, I got an automatic upgrade for free a few hours before the flight... Probably because of surbooking ! As a conclusion, AF lost 299 € I would have paid right away if I had the same offer than my colleague..
Dec 18, 2018, 10:28 pm
#1841
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Why crazy? This is simple logic and pragmatism. AFKL has been doing teasing for years. If I had the choice between two PAXs, one whose loyalty is already acquired and guaranteed (you), and one whose loyalty is needed (your colleague), who should I target? The law of diminishing returns tells me that I will not get anything out of indulging you with a heavily discounted upgrade (the job is already done), whereas I may get a new loyal customer by seducing your colleague who seldom flies AFKL. In an ideal world, teasing should never be done at the expense of preserving the loyalty of your best customers, but who said we live in an ideal world?
Dec 19, 2018, 12:28 am
#1842
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
Why crazy? This is simple logic and pragmatism. AFKL has been doing teasing for years. If I had the choice between two PAXs, one whose loyalty is already acquired and guaranteed (you), and one whose loyalty is needed (your colleague), who should I target? The law of diminishing returns tells me that I will not get anything out of indulging you with a heavily discounted upgrade (the job is already done), whereas I may get a new loyal customer by seducing your colleague who seldom flies AFKL. In an ideal world, teasing should never be done at the expense of preserving the loyalty of your best customers, but who said we live in an ideal world?
Dec 19, 2018, 1:57 am
#1843
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
And AFKL are not the only ones doing this kind of teasing. I've discovered that LH does very similar things. They are giving OPUP priority to newcomers and low tiers with potential. I'm sure that big data plays a role in that, their system probably knows your frequent flyer status with other airlines. (For example through Tripit)
Dec 19, 2018, 2:32 am
#1844
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Interview with F. Kahane where he also talks lengthily about ULTI. Many words, but few tangible benefits he mentions.
Click here
Click here
Dec 19, 2018, 3:30 am
#1845
Join Date: May 2017
Location: LYS
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 438
Nos clients [Platinum] ne préfèrent pas utiliser [tous les miles], car ils pensent que notre monnaie a de la valeur. C’est ce qui caractérise l’attractivité de notre programme.
I wish miles had a relevant value.
