Upgrading to La Premiére
Mar 27, 2018, 4:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 47
Upgrading to La Premiére
Yesterday i flew from JFK to CDG on the AF11. I originally purchased an Y ticket in the K fare class and upgraded after my booking to J by ringing to the Platinum service line by paying 35.000 miles.
At the counter where i delivered my bag, I was asked how many miles I had and was offered to upgrade to La Premiére. Of course I was interested what AF had to offer and 190.000 miles was the offer, according to the agent specially for selected Platinum members.
I was kind of shocked that the amount was so high, because an award ticket sets you back for 200k miles ex taxes (around 300 euro). So in this case I would pay my original Y ticket, 35.000 miles for the upgrade to J and then an additional 190.000 miles from J to F.
I expressed my unbelief to the agent and she showed me a chart where the normal price would be 440.000 (!!) miles to purchase an upgrade from J to F.
It is one thing to ask for these exorbitant high prices but I am not pleased with making a 'special offer for selected Platinum members' that is actually more expensive than purchasing a regular award ticket.
What are your experiences with upgrading to F on AF? I'll fly soon AF long haul again and if the price is a bit reasonable, I might be seduced to upgrade myself.
At the counter where i delivered my bag, I was asked how many miles I had and was offered to upgrade to La Premiére. Of course I was interested what AF had to offer and 190.000 miles was the offer, according to the agent specially for selected Platinum members.
I was kind of shocked that the amount was so high, because an award ticket sets you back for 200k miles ex taxes (around 300 euro). So in this case I would pay my original Y ticket, 35.000 miles for the upgrade to J and then an additional 190.000 miles from J to F.
I expressed my unbelief to the agent and she showed me a chart where the normal price would be 440.000 (!!) miles to purchase an upgrade from J to F.
It is one thing to ask for these exorbitant high prices but I am not pleased with making a 'special offer for selected Platinum members' that is actually more expensive than purchasing a regular award ticket.
What are your experiences with upgrading to F on AF? I'll fly soon AF long haul again and if the price is a bit reasonable, I might be seduced to upgrade myself.
Mar 27, 2018, 7:40 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 312
#justairfrancethings , this is a case of vote with your 'wallet' and not do it. Might send out an Email to their support underlining your discontent on their crazy 'offer'. All these decisions go by revenue/numbers, if it turns out that their current policy doesn't work and they're pissing off their most frequent flyers enough that it negatively impacts sales numbers, that is usually followed up by investigations what's causing it. Those complaints may pop up in the overall picture eventually.
These prices go hand in hand with the dynamic upgrade pricing they introduced a year ago. Upgrades to business or first are now based on inventory and are often as expensive as the difference on a full flex fare ticket upgrade, but without the miles that come with it.
Let's see what happens when the new awards system goes into effect in May/June
These prices go hand in hand with the dynamic upgrade pricing they introduced a year ago. Upgrades to business or first are now based on inventory and are often as expensive as the difference on a full flex fare ticket upgrade, but without the miles that come with it.
Let's see what happens when the new awards system goes into effect in May/June
Mar 27, 2018, 9:32 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 792
From New policy for paid and miles upgrades (AF/KL) - sept 2017 :
SFO->CDG: $2700
HND->CDG: $3800
CDG->HND: $2350
Mileage upgrades are exorbitant pricing regardless of the class, on most data points. But two times I saw a cheap upgrade possibility that can be done through booking, recent booking I made in P has price difference about $1200 between J and P (SFO-CDG-PRG) one way (booked in advance), so if you want to get your way to P either book it with miles directly or scout some cheap "booking time" price difference.
SFO->CDG: $2700
HND->CDG: $3800
CDG->HND: $2350
Mileage upgrades are exorbitant pricing regardless of the class, on most data points. But two times I saw a cheap upgrade possibility that can be done through booking, recent booking I made in P has price difference about $1200 between J and P (SFO-CDG-PRG) one way (booked in advance), so if you want to get your way to P either book it with miles directly or scout some cheap "booking time" price difference.
Mar 27, 2018, 11:44 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 22,061
From New policy for paid and miles upgrades (AF/KL) - sept 2017 :
SFO->CDG: $2700
HND->CDG: $3800
CDG->HND: $2350
Mileage upgrades are exorbitant pricing regardless of the class, on most data points. But two times I saw a cheap upgrade possibility that can be done through booking, recent booking I made in P has price difference about $1200 between J and P (SFO-CDG-PRG) one way (booked in advance), so if you want to get your way to P either book it with miles directly or scout some cheap "booking time" price difference.
SFO->CDG: $2700
HND->CDG: $3800
CDG->HND: $2350
Mileage upgrades are exorbitant pricing regardless of the class, on most data points. But two times I saw a cheap upgrade possibility that can be done through booking, recent booking I made in P has price difference about $1200 between J and P (SFO-CDG-PRG) one way (booked in advance), so if you want to get your way to P either book it with miles directly or scout some cheap "booking time" price difference.
Mar 28, 2018, 12:40 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 22,061
Mar 28, 2018, 2:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 792
Mar 28, 2018, 2:29 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 22,061
Mar 28, 2018, 3:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 453
Last summer they had sub $3500 roundtrip fares from the US to certain cities in Europe for travel during fall and winter. Many of us here took advantage of it I believe.
Mar 29, 2018, 11:27 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 792
Mar 30, 2018, 6:15 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 363
I had a tour booking JFK-CDG-RAK ( Marrakech ) and return. Upgraded with the tour company RT at $US1900. Nov 2017. Upon check in, was offered a one way upgrade to F, 1700 Euros. So glad I did not take the offer. Flight was only 6 hrs 15" long. And the FAs on the flight were just magnificent. Service was polished and welcoming.