New policy for paid and miles upgrades (AF/KL) - sept 2017
Jan 22, 2019, 3:43 pm
#601
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
Last year when I was doing OLCI for my flight IAD-CDG, I could have upgraded into J. When choosing a seat in the Y cabine, there were a couple J seats available and that's where I got the price of 549€ or 77 k mls. I didn't get a proactive email the days before, I just saw it during check-in.
Now that I think of it, a lot of my intra-Europe flights are this way too- no advance mail. The seat map shows open Y and J seats, and prices the J selection accordingly.
Now that I think of it, a lot of my intra-Europe flights are this way too- no advance mail. The seat map shows open Y and J seats, and prices the J selection accordingly.
Jan 23, 2019, 12:59 am
#602
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
Programs: Many
Posts: 4,749
What you wrote for “before OLCI” seems correct to me, except I am not 100% sure for the award chart and for the independance from the booked fare. The upgrade with miles is still very obscure to me and to everyone I think, but I am quite certain it does now depend on the booked fare with the dynamic pricing scheme.
For paid upgrade at OLCI, it has to be proposed to you during OLCI or you can also return to the booking to check seats (as if you wanted to change seat after having done OLCI). If not proposed at that step :
- you can call AF
- you can ask at ticketing, airport check-in, customer service desk or at the lounge (not if it is a contract lounge, of course).
Status doesn’t influence availability (except for Ultimates). Availability and price depend on :
- number of seats available in the upper cabin
- if you have already benefited recently from a similar offer
- dynamic pricing policy may indeed apply, but it’s hard to know clearly its impact versus previous factors listed
(Bolding is mine).
My knowledge and experience is that before OLCI we still have the fixed upgrade scheme, based on availability of the upper class (A, O, F), the original booking fare and the route of course. So not a dynamic pricing based on demand, unless I am mistaken.
During OLCI, or if I understand correctly, at T-48 (where checkin is open in the systems but not for the pax), the dynamic pricing applies. Whilst I concur with the parameters highlighted by Goldorak, cannot prove it however.
There is also the third option which is to upgrade at the physical check-in with a combination from 100% cash to 100% miles. Prices vary everyday and are not dependent on original fare class as already highlighted by flyingjapans. Also it is a first comes first serves basis.
Jan 23, 2019, 2:37 pm
#603
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
OK, I think I just got my most ridiculous OLCI upgrade offers ever. JFK to CDG tomorrow in economy on the A380:
$659.43 to Premium Economy and...
$1932.61 to Business
.
What. The. Hell. I'll go ask at the airport as well to see what they have in store and maybe get another good laugh.
$659.43 to Premium Economy and...
$1932.61 to Business
.What. The. Hell. I'll go ask at the airport as well to see what they have in store and maybe get another good laugh.
Jan 23, 2019, 2:54 pm
#604
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
Was offered USD 1959 for upgrade from Business to Premiere on JFK-CDG during OLCI. Alternatively, 244,000 miles (which is odd as the award ticket costs only 200,000, and that is without having paid a Business class ticket before).
This and a very high percentage of flights where I was in Euro-Y and offered an upgrade to C belie the hypothesis that only non-frequent customers get an offer.
This and a very high percentage of flights where I was in Euro-Y and offered an upgrade to C belie the hypothesis that only non-frequent customers get an offer.
Jan 23, 2019, 2:58 pm
#605
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: US
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 21
Jan 23, 2019, 2:59 pm
#606
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
Agreed .I think somebody mentioned it in the past, but next time I'll use an alternate email address and won't enter my FB number until check in to see what happens... Might be a while though since most of my upcoming travel is already booked .
Jan 23, 2019, 4:16 pm
#607
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: 21,928
Long-haul, I receive an e-mail most of the times (when I am targeted).
Jan 23, 2019, 5:16 pm
#608
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: US
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 21
Just got on the phone with Flying Blue US for an upgrade on AF from SFO to CDG on Feb 3rd, quoted 35000 miles from Y to J, took it.
Also got quoted 45000 for the return flight on Feb 15th. Declined as it's not a red eye.
Not sure if being Platinum helps getting better upgrade offers.
Also got quoted 45000 for the return flight on Feb 15th. Declined as it's not a red eye.
Not sure if being Platinum helps getting better upgrade offers.
Jan 23, 2019, 11:49 pm
#610
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: 21,928
Just got on the phone with Flying Blue US for an upgrade on AF from SFO to CDG on Feb 3rd, quoted 35000 miles from Y to J, took it.
Also got quoted 45000 for the return flight on Feb 15th. Declined as it's not a red eye.
Not sure if being Platinum helps getting better upgrade offers.
Also got quoted 45000 for the return flight on Feb 15th. Declined as it's not a red eye.
Not sure if being Platinum helps getting better upgrade offers.
Platinum doesn't grant you better upgrade deals, AFAIK.
it's usually at H-30, when OLCI opens.
Jan 24, 2019, 12:46 am
#611
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
OK, I think I just got my most ridiculous OLCI upgrade offers ever. JFK to CDG tomorrow in economy on the A380:
$659.43 to Premium Economy and...
$1932.61 to Business .
What. The. Hell. I'll go ask at the airport as well to see what they have in store and maybe get another good laugh.
$659.43 to Premium Economy and...
$1932.61 to Business
.What. The. Hell. I'll go ask at the airport as well to see what they have in store and maybe get another good laugh.
.The hilarious part is that some people from premium economy even came to the back to enjoy a bed for most of the flight (but who can blame them when they have to ride the infamous PE seat for over 6 hours) .
Last edited by Klems; Jan 24, 2019 at 8:21 am
Jan 24, 2019, 5:33 am
#612
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,750
Just to wrap this up, but after getting the same price at the airport, it turns out that the flight was empty for the most part, which makes those prices all the more infuriating. It was so empty in fact, that most people in Y like me had a whole row to themselves so I was very happy with my four seats row aka the poor man business class. Even better than business on the A380, no toboggan .
.
Jan 28, 2019, 12:42 am
#615
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Was that on KL or KQ?
KQ used to have (might still have) a fixed price of around 750€ IIRC, or pay the fare difference to a booking class you can upgrade from (if needed) and then some odd 30K or 35K miles
Edit: seems like now all booking classes on KQ are eligible https://www.flyingblue.co.za/assets/...?target=_blank
KQ used to have (might still have) a fixed price of around 750€ IIRC, or pay the fare difference to a booking class you can upgrade from (if needed) and then some odd 30K or 35K miles
Edit: seems like now all booking classes on KQ are eligible https://www.flyingblue.co.za/assets/...?target=_blank