Platinum vs. Platinum Ultimate
 

Based on my current travel plans I should end up at around 800 XP this year. I understand that at the end of the year 300 XP will be deducted to renew my Platinum membership and that I can carry over the remaining 500 XP into the next year.

Now I'm wondering whether it's worth the extra effort to pass 900 XP which I believe is the threshold for Platinum Ultimate. I think I could make this work but it would require some trips that are strictly speaking not necessary.

Do you think it's worth the pain? Are the benefits of Platinum Ultimate much better than of normal Platinum?

Thanks,

Michael

That's very helpful. Thank you!

The flights are not an issue I think but some of my XP come from the Amex Platinum (I think it's 60).

So I guess I let things just unfold as they go and see where it lands me next year.

Is there a thread here that summarizes the benefits of Platinum Ultimate vs. Platinum? It seems there is nothing on the FB Webpage on that. Just curious to see what the incremental benefits actually are.

Thanks again,

Michael

There is a dedicated thread, where benefits are discovered by first-hand experience: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...te-status.html

TL;DR: The Ultimate Program is still in beta phase.
Some airports will let you skip all the lines
​​​​​​Now 2 free upgrade vouchers
Other inconsistent or minor perks
Nothing to expect from KL and the AMS hub.

It would be great if we could also use the upgrade vouchers to upgrade from Business to La Premiere.
Please if you are in favour of this please call your KLAF commercial manager and let them know.
They are thinking about this and need a little push. I reckon if they hear this a lot they will move.

It would certainly get me to consider taking more AF flights if this were to be allowed.

Apart from all of Air France's management perhaps :D

And what about all the non-revs, friends, family, relatives and neighbors of the crew, etc?

Johan

What could be the benefit?
 

I have been platinum at KLM (and Northwest when I lived in Asia) for about 20 years. I am also Diamond at Cathay Pacific so I have some top tier customer experience.

Being diamond at Cathay Pacific is a class apart, and the membership threshold is very high. Then again you get First class check in, a separate first class boarding queue (usually only 5-10 people qualify on a 777 or 787 flight), access to first class lounge, and personalised attention from
the purser/inflight manager. All of this is valid irrespective of which class you happen to trave on that flight. Even with a discount economy ticket you have this privilege.

that’s where the snag is. KLM’s frequent flyer membership thresholds are so low that half the plane has Sky priority 1, there is no first class boarding, no lounge, no 1st class queue, so the ability to differentiate is negligible. Only Air France first class could be the differentiator, but then KLM never sees the benefit.I struggle to see how this can take off.