New policy for paid and miles upgrades (AF/KL) - sept 2017
Oct 15, 2018, 3:23 am
#511
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,002
Asking for a friend, since neither of us are regular AF/KL fliers: he's in Beijing at present, and due to a work-dictated schedule, he has a very short window of time from which to finish his business in China and make it to Paris -- and since AF has the only PEK-CDG nonstops, that was his only option. While I can't pull up the seat map since it's less than 51 hours until his departure, ExpertFlyer is showing wide-open availability in J (9+ seats). He's EXP on AA but has no status on any ST airline.
I scrolled through a number of pages on this thread but didn't see anything about that particular route. Do any of you guys know if he can upgrade from Y to J with cash -- either at OLCI or via phone -- and if so how much it might cost? I know from my own experience that prices on flights into and out of PEK have plummeted to borderline-absurd levels, so I'm wondering if he has any options here.
I scrolled through a number of pages on this thread but didn't see anything about that particular route. Do any of you guys know if he can upgrade from Y to J with cash -- either at OLCI or via phone -- and if so how much it might cost? I know from my own experience that prices on flights into and out of PEK have plummeted to borderline-absurd levels, so I'm wondering if he has any options here.
Oct 15, 2018, 9:35 am
#512
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
First, OP talks about 9+ available seats but we don't know the numbers and but that could be just 9. Agreed that means J is not full though.
Then revenue management can decide to target some pax in Y or W before OLCI with dedicated emails. If targeted people buy the upgrades, the J cabin may end up full before OLCI opens.
Now let's say that is not the case and out of 9 seats, revenue management opens 7 seats for upgrading at OLCI and keep 2 for last minute revenue tickets (or change of ticket, quite frequent among full fare business travelers). They can target W pax and not Y ones. And if OP's friend does OLCI after all upgrades are taken, no offer will be put through of course.
Not to mention other parameters such as last minute equipment change.
Oct 15, 2018, 12:59 pm
#514
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,904
I would not be so sure.
First, OP talks about 9+ available seats but we don't know the numbers and but that could be just 9. Agreed that means J is not full though.
Then revenue management can decide to target some pax in Y or W before OLCI with dedicated emails. If targeted people buy the upgrades, the J cabin may end up full before OLCI opens.
Now let's say that is not the case and out of 9 seats, revenue management opens 7 seats for upgrading at OLCI and keep 2 for last minute revenue tickets (or change of ticket, quite frequent among full fare business travelers). They can target W pax and not Y ones. And if OP's friend does OLCI after all upgrades are taken, no offer will be put through of course.
Not to mention other parameters such as last minute equipment change.
First, OP talks about 9+ available seats but we don't know the numbers and but that could be just 9. Agreed that means J is not full though.
Then revenue management can decide to target some pax in Y or W before OLCI with dedicated emails. If targeted people buy the upgrades, the J cabin may end up full before OLCI opens.
Now let's say that is not the case and out of 9 seats, revenue management opens 7 seats for upgrading at OLCI and keep 2 for last minute revenue tickets (or change of ticket, quite frequent among full fare business travelers). They can target W pax and not Y ones. And if OP's friend does OLCI after all upgrades are taken, no offer will be put through of course.
Not to mention other parameters such as last minute equipment change.
Oct 18, 2018, 5:41 am
#518
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,949
Oct 19, 2018, 12:32 am
#520
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,400
CDG-CMN
EUR 189
or
47,300 miles
3 seats available at check in in the Y cabin
2 seats available at check in for the C cabin
EUR 189
or
47,300 miles
3 seats available at check in in the Y cabin
2 seats available at check in for the C cabin
Last edited by JOUY31; Oct 19, 2018 at 2:04 am
Oct 19, 2018, 11:39 am
#521
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,904
Oct 21, 2018, 6:18 pm
#522
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: DL, AA, US, NW, CO, SW,
Posts: 8
So,,, I'm holding an AF flight JFK>CDG>TXL and then back, starting on 04 November (return is 09 November). The flight was booked in Premium Economy, "S" Class (just in case I don't get an upgrade), with the "notion" that I might be able to upgrade for 15k miles each way on the long segment, as I have many times in the past 10 years.
I have read and understood that AF now does NOT allow upgrades until 30~36 (or some other number) hours before the flights. Is this about right?
I see that some people have had more luck calling by phone... and though I am a bit far out, every agent I have spoken to seems to know NOTHING about the possibility of upgrades. While earlier agents I spoke to in Reservations say it is/was possible... calls to Flying Blue say, "non."
Am I wasting my time??
Thanks for any assistance!
I have read and understood that AF now does NOT allow upgrades until 30~36 (or some other number) hours before the flights. Is this about right?
I see that some people have had more luck calling by phone... and though I am a bit far out, every agent I have spoken to seems to know NOTHING about the possibility of upgrades. While earlier agents I spoke to in Reservations say it is/was possible... calls to Flying Blue say, "non."
Am I wasting my time??
Thanks for any assistance!
Oct 22, 2018, 12:07 am
#523
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,904
So,,, I'm holding an AF flight JFK>CDG>TXL and then back, starting on 04 November (return is 09 November). The flight was booked in Premium Economy, "S" Class (just in case I don't get an upgrade), with the "notion" that I might be able to upgrade for 15k miles each way on the long segment, as I have many times in the past 10 years.
I have read and understood that AF now does NOT allow upgrades until 30~36 (or some other number) hours before the flights. Is this about right?
I see that some people have had more luck calling by phone... and though I am a bit far out, every agent I have spoken to seems to know NOTHING about the possibility of upgrades. While earlier agents I spoke to in Reservations say it is/was possible... calls to Flying Blue say, "non."
Am I wasting my time??
Thanks for any assistance!
I have read and understood that AF now does NOT allow upgrades until 30~36 (or some other number) hours before the flights. Is this about right?
I see that some people have had more luck calling by phone... and though I am a bit far out, every agent I have spoken to seems to know NOTHING about the possibility of upgrades. While earlier agents I spoke to in Reservations say it is/was possible... calls to Flying Blue say, "non."
Am I wasting my time??
Thanks for any assistance!
Oct 22, 2018, 1:28 am
#524
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: AF/KL FB Plat ; A3 Gold ; HH Gold ; IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 2,375
BCN CDG operated by AF (not Joon!), Classic fare, very cheap X class at 50 EUR the coupon+tax (since I got 400 miles). Upgrade proposed at online check-in for 109 EUR. I was very happy with my emergency exit window seat, so of course no.
Free op-up to C at airport check-in. Some empty J seats but Y looked pretty packed. My flight arrived after the following BCN CDG flight, not very pleasant, but I got a few Laurent Perrier and Liqueur de Poire Williams
Free op-up to C at airport check-in. Some empty J seats but Y looked pretty packed. My flight arrived after the following BCN CDG flight, not very pleasant, but I got a few Laurent Perrier and Liqueur de Poire Williams
Oct 22, 2018, 8:01 am
#525
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: DL, AA, US, NW, CO, SW,
Posts: 8
Sorry, "MMB" (I'm a bit short on abbreviations). I do check online almost daily, and did pay more for "S" Class for what I was told was upgradeable fare. But they are not showing any upgrades and THAT is the part I am trying to understand. The agents will tell you there are NO upgrades, but they will NOT tell you when or whether any will be released (there are seats available online, not sure how many are "upgrade" seats).
