Old May 9, 2019, 3:08 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: sehgalanuj
FLYING BLUE ULTIMATE

Main facts
Ultimate is not a status in FB but a tag on Platinum / Platinum for life / Club 2000 Skipper existing status.
While regular 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

New 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). Note that we had several reports in 2022 showing that SP benefits are not granted in practice to travel companions.
- 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, upgrade 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 apps.

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. Otherwise no special treatment to report, apart pre-boarding sometimes granted Shame on KL !!!

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 Escort confirmed to be provided as of October 2nd 2023
  • Arrival : access to dedicated lane at passport control, all the way to the left, follow the "ULTIMATE" sign. On occasions, ADP staff refuse entry despite show of ULTI boarding pass/status card. Lane confirmed functioning as of October 5th, 2023 (unmanned line)
- CDG 2F :
  • Departure : There is a special Ultimate check-in counter in the SkyP zone. 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). Escort confirmed to be provided as of October 5th, 2023
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2G :
  • Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2C :
  • Arrival lounge : higher priority for a shower (Note : 2C arrival lounge definitely closed)
- CDG in connection : expedited transfer, possibly involving limo transfer, can be arranged upon request in case of short or endangered connection. Rarely provided spontaneously (need to call the TA, but acceptance is never guaranteed).

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)
- AJA: no special treatment to report
- 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" for most recent update
- 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" for most recent update
- 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
- UIP: no special treatment to report

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" for most recent update

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 + extra attentions from staff (table reserved for night service, etc)
- IAH: no special treatment to report
- JFK (AF only/terminal 1) : reserved table in the dining area of the lounge (upstairs), possible to benefit from the "night service" on all flights and not only the 2 last ones ex-JFK (update 09/2023 : no more night service in JFK lounge). Some kind of priority at the La Prairie spa (after P pax). KL flight no special treatments to report and access to Delta Sky Lounge at T4. Update as of 17th December 2022: dinner service not always offered, subject to whether the staff knows about this or not.
- 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 Porshe 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
- SCL: no special treatment to report; as of 03/2024 escort to lounge offered at departure check-in (not used), 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 (escort through security from check-in to lounge is now systematically refused, while provided during the 2 first years of Ulti)
- HND: Arrival : new 09/2023 = escort through immigration. Departure : escort from check-in desk to lounge, 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 though immigration provided. Escort from check-in to lounge provided
- ZNZ: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)


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Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status

Old Apr 9, 2019, 11:08 am
  #1996  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,831
Originally Posted by Gajan


Not to justify the high number of miles required, though I am guessing that for the specific flight you are referring to that only higher fares were available for sale (as now all tickets can be booked using miles).

In principle, if cheap fares (e.g. V class), then this should also correspond with a lower amount of miles required.
That's what we are trained to believe. Inexpensive fare classes available = not many miles required.

But not so: on this flight, it's 66,000 miles vs. EUR 491 on a standard fare (or even less if taking a LIGHT fare or an earlier flight operated by DL):


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Old Apr 9, 2019, 12:38 pm
  #1997  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Ultimate courtesy upgrades

The selling pitch for limiting to two the number of courtesy upgrades per year is the absence of restriction on the booking class of the original ticket (as opposed to other top-tier programs offering more complementary upgrades, though with some restrictions on the booking class). Today, I learned to my dismay from the Travel Assistant team that there are in fact strict restrictions on booking classes, e.g., premium-economy A tickets are not eligible to business upgrades. This is news to me. Can someone confirm?
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 1:46 pm
  #1998  
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: Flying blue LTP Ultimate, SPG platinum, Hertz Platinum, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 190
That is correct. From the top of my mind, V and N are not eligible. Not being able to chose the exact class when booking is therefore an issue.
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 1:56 pm
  #1999  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Originally Posted by breton1fr
That is correct. From the top of my mind, V and N are not eligible. Not being able to chose the exact class when booking is therefore an issue.
Thanks, breton1fr. It is, indeed, an issue. Are these restrictions documented somewhere? They certainly do not show anywhere on our Flying Blue homepage.
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 9:14 pm
  #2000  
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Originally Posted by San Gottardo
That's what we are trained to believe. Inexpensive fare classes available = not many miles required.

But not so: on this flight, it's 66,000 miles vs. EUR 491 on a standard fare (or even less if taking a LIGHT fare or an earlier flight operated by DL):


200K for W and 312K for J one-way ?? OMG
and this is for June, not even for a flight in the coming days...
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 9:18 pm
  #2001  
 
Join Date: May 2018
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It indeed really depends on dates, destinations and potential stop over...

I just booked a J ticket (round trip) for my wife and I from CDG to Cuba for 150 000 miles each.
I am stopping by Panama on the flight back which allows me to save something like 140 000 miles
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 9:40 pm
  #2002  
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Originally Posted by Macaron54
The selling pitch for limiting to two the number of courtesy upgrades per year is the absence of restriction on the booking class of the original ticket (as opposed to other top-tier programs offering more complementary upgrades, though with some restrictions on the booking class). Today, I learned to my dismay from the Travel Assistant team that there are in fact strict restrictions on booking classes, e.g., premium-economy A tickets are not eligible to business upgrades. This is news to me. Can someone confirm?
Originally Posted by breton1fr
That is correct. From the top of my mind, V and N are not eligible. Not being able to chose the exact class when booking is therefore an issue.
Originally Posted by Macaron54
Thanks, breton1fr. It is, indeed, an issue. Are these restrictions documented somewhere? They certainly do not show anywhere on our Flying Blue homepage.
hey guys, I posted all the details a year ago in this thread
so to refresh your memory, look here :
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29670117-post1187.html

there were very few restrictions for the originally-booked fare, and Premium Eco A fare was not excluded. This is worrisome to know that it is now excluded. But is this really true (I mean could the agent be wrong) ?
because it doesn’t really make sense to me as a A fare is more expensive than some upgradable Eco fares
We should investigate whether they changed the rules I described in the linked post. I wouldn’t be surprised if there have been a few changes (more restrictions) based on my recent experience :
- last year, I used my 2 upgrade certificates on a September round trip CDG-BOS. I called the TA and everything was done very easily booking me in the cheapest Eligible Y fare (I don’t know which one) and instant upgrade. I paid around €650.
- last month, I wanted to use the 2019 certificates also for a US trip next summer. I looked online first and saw that I could buy it in Eco for about €700 (which is not too bad for the summer). Of course, I wasn’t sure that, at that price, it was in an eligible fare for the upgrade, so I call the TA. They said that the cheapest Y fare they have to book me in for the upgrade was around €1250. which is a very significant difference.
So I finally didn’t take it and used miles instead to book the ticket in J...for about 173K and something like €530 in taxes



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Old Apr 9, 2019, 11:12 pm
  #2003  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Originally Posted by Macaron54
Thanks, breton1fr. It is, indeed, an issue. Are these restrictions documented somewhere? They certainly do not show anywhere on our Flying Blue homepage.
other non published condition for upgrade vouchers :flights must be fullly operated by AF or KL ie no code-share flights allowed even on Skyteam ones
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Old Apr 9, 2019, 11:32 pm
  #2004  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
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Originally Posted by Goldorak
hey guys, I posted all the details a year ago in this thread
so to refresh your memory, look here :
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29670117-post1187.html

there were very few restrictions for the originally-booked fare, and Premium Eco A fare was not excluded. This is worrisome to know that it is now excluded. But is this really true (I mean could the agent be wrong) ?
because it doesnt really make sense to me as a A fare is more expensive than some upgradable Eco fares
We should investigate whether they changed the rules I described in the linked post. I wouldnt be surprised if there have been a few changes (more restrictions) based on my recent experience :
- last year, I used my 2 upgrade certificates on a September round trip CDG-BOS. I called the TA and everything was done very easily booking me in the cheapest Eligible Y fare (I dont know which one) and instant upgrade. I paid around 650.
- last month, I wanted to use the 2019 certificates also for a US trip next summer. I looked online first and saw that I could buy it in Eco for about 700 (which is not too bad for the summer). Of course, I wasnt sure that, at that price, it was in an eligible fare for the upgrade, so I call the TA. They said that the cheapest Y fare they have to book me in for the upgrade was around 1250. which is a very significant difference.
So I finally didnt take it and used miles instead to book the ticket in J...for about 173K and something like 530 in taxes
Many thanks, Goldorak. You're the best! In the meantime, I have received confirmation from the program manager that there is in fact no restriction on A-class tickets towards business upgrades. I am very surprised by this dissonant note, as the Travel Assistant team always stroke me as extremely knowledgeable about ongoing rules.
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Old Apr 10, 2019, 5:58 am
  #2005  
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Originally Posted by Macaron54
Many thanks, Goldorak. You're the best! In the meantime, I have received confirmation from the program manager that there is in fact no restriction on A-class tickets towards business upgrades. I am very surprised by this dissonant note, as the Travel Assistant team always stroke me as extremely knowledgeable about ongoing rules.
Excellent ^
I’d like to ask you something about the 1st information you got that A fare was not eligible. As you are based in the US, by any chance was it at night Europe time when you called them ?
I am asking that because every time I called the TA team in France from the US (at night) because of an irrop or any question, the service was “bad”. At night (in France), calls are taken by the Plat line but I had the feeling many times that the call was taken by a “regular” agent on duty and was not properly trained on Plat/Ulti stuff or was on a “service minimum” mode.
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Old Apr 10, 2019, 6:41 am
  #2006  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
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Originally Posted by Goldorak
Excellent ^
Id like to ask you something about the 1st information you got that A fare was not eligible. As you are based in the US, by any chance was it at night Europe time when you called them ?
I am asking that because every time I called the TA team in France from the US (at night) because of an irrop or any question, the service was bad. At night (in France), calls are taken by the Plat line but I had the feeling many times that the call was taken by a regular agent on duty and was not properly trained on Plat/Ulti stuff or was on a service minimum mode.
I hardly ever call the Travel Assistant team; I mostly interact with them by e-mail, which I find more convenient. Lately, my messages have been answered by a number of new agents, but when it comes to a tricky issue, the matter is dealt with by the same senior person I have been exchanging with since the early days of the program. When I very occasionally speak with her, the English is flawless, with a hint of Dutch accent. I understand she and the rest of the Travel Assistant team handling overseas customers are based in Europe.
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Old Apr 14, 2019, 3:10 am
  #2007  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
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Posts: 1,028
Originally Posted by Goldorak

Please tell us. I am interested in view of a flight to/from YUL in the coming weeks, to see what they do for Ulti there.
A quick feedback from my return flight YUL -> CDG
Nothing special at check in counter, no escort through security and no special lane... It's usually pretty fast at this airport but that day was a big crowd waiting in priority lane.
Took me around 20/25 min to get through.

Nice welcome at the lounge with a reserved table while I did not ask anything upfront.
Quite convenient knowing the fact that this lounge is pretty small.

Excellent in-flight attention from the flight attendants !
No escort waiting for me at the gate when arriving in CDG and customs clearance was a total mess ! I've never seen so many people waiting there with the entire custom area fully packed
Hopefully, there was the Ultimate agent that helped me go through saving me at least 45 min for sure
That's to me the highest added value of this program (knowing that I had a 6h drive after my flight)

Last edited by matmatlr; Apr 14, 2019 at 4:57 am
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Old Apr 14, 2019, 10:21 am
  #2008  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AFKL Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 368
Little report from a medium haul trip and my first trip as ultimate.
The duty manager in BLQ escorted me to the lounge, and also wanted me to escort through security a little before boarding (since in BLQ the airport lounge is in landside - though there is a special fast track from inside the lounge itself). Had a great chat with her and extreme attention.
First flight to CDG: didn't ask for pre-boarding, but I was first in line anyways. Extra attention from the FA. Lounge in Paris: escorted from the lounge entrance to the reserved area.

Flight to GVA: Extremely messy boarding by bus with no respect for the Sky Priority side of the bus. The driver opened the central door. I ended up boarding after ~30 people.
Zero care from the FA.
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Old Apr 18, 2019, 12:57 am
  #2009  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Fair ULTI reco at STR as many time reported on this forum : seat reserved in AF lounge , top prio boarding proposed.
Onboard experience : zero extra attention as most of the time on HOP flights
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Old Apr 18, 2019, 1:48 am
  #2010  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AFKL Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 368
I want also to report that the TAs are amazing to book flights.
I wanted to book a KL A fare to fly DL Premium Select on the A350 with the KL codeshare to get UXPs (the same flight doesn't have an AF codeshare), and for what I can tell, they're significantly better trained than the Platinum Service Line.
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