BobTL

PeteM01

The nicest Plat attention in 2.5 years has been on my two Joon flights - pleasant, natural chats and genuine offers of little extras. I have had greetings on AF, but more forced and with nothing offered (never had the offer to move rows, for example). I was only Gold for a few months so cannot compare the two levels. The best I can remember was a glass of pre-departure champagne from J (when flying W) on a flight from Riyadh, brought spontaneously by a very kind FA - I must have been looking very 'dry'...

Solevita

I've been Plat only since December but had a fair amount of attention - on KL, nothing on AF. All my flights since have been EU except for 1 long haul where no special attention was given although me & the wife were offered a 3rd huisje.

One theme I've noticed seems to be when EC as well as J is fairly empty there's a good chance of extra attention, typically drinks from J. In the summer me & the wife both Plats were travelling with a non-status friend so we took the last EC row and the friend took the seat behind us. After boarding it tured out our EC row was full and the purser came to ask if me & the wife would like to move forward to an empty EC row, and I asked if the friend could come with us, the purser was happy to oblige. All 3 of us were offered drinks from J.

The only thing to mention for AF (Hop actually) was in LYS earlier this year. I was called for boarding personally, at first I thought there was something wrong when they called me but turns out they just wanted to board me first. Maybe I was the only SkyP on that flight...

rosensfole

I was gold for a few years until 18 months ago and got upgraded either at check-in or at the gate several times on both AF and KL including twice when traveling with my non-status partner - she got upgraded too. Since being Plat... nothing.

Most of my flights are in the furthest forward cabin so, obviously, no upgrades possible but the on-board treatment varies from perfunctory on AF to unbelievable on KL. On our last J trip on KL from YYC we were treated to brilliant banter with the head purser and captain. The captain came and sat with us and chatted for several minutes while holding my (still non-status) partner's hand (she was thrilled) and making friendly jokes about the FAs as each came by. KL are fairly consistently good at acknowledging platinum status and gold for that matter yet AF vary from nothing at all up to slightly better than grudging attention in J and never anything in Y. P is another matter but I've had a couple of meh moments in there too.

Totally the opposite in their respective hubs of course. AF dragons invariably pleasant, KL not so.

Xandrios

I have been Gold for close to 10 years now. And yes, I have had similar interactions with the crew like you described. But generally...not.

I've had the best and worst experience in this regard both on Economy AF intra european flights. Best was once when the purser came to welcome me on board, asked if I would like anything from the business class menu - some champagne perhaps - and she brought extra pillows etc.

However last week was the opposite, also on an AF flight. The purser came around and did his welcome talk to the lady next to me, the lady at the other side of the isle from me, and a guy a bit further down. Totally ignored me though.

First I thought that maybe he was only targeting Platinum members, but when we deplaned I noticed Gold tags on one of their bags. Seems AF doesn't like me anymore!

NickB

I have been yo-yo'ing from ivory to Platinum for many, many years. IME, acknowledgement of status is very haphazard, at Plat level just as much as Gold. KL flight attendants tend to be more chatty and prone to banter than AF ones but it does not seem to be particularly related to status.

Mirendo

The absolute majority, more than 90% of my flights are done in businessclass. As such, I already receive a very good all around service, completely regardless of status. I get served first on most of my flights and those few times I have to fly in economy I almost always get an offer from any of the Flight Attendants to bring me some champagne in a glass, but they put the glass in a paper cup so other passengers won't see and ask.

I have received personalized maps of how to go inside the terminals for my connections, even though I am highly familiar with those, I still apprecite the guesture! Someone took the time and effort to care and instead of just talking in the galley, they looked up my connection, got the connecting gate and drew a map for me specifically.

I have also received personalized menu cards, where my name has been hand written on top along with a greeting and a sincere thanks for flying so much and especially businessclass with them.

I have experienced being asked which bag in the overhead locker was mine, when they needed space, I guess I had ordinary clothes on or looked a little young or whatever, when I pointed to my bags and said it's those two with the Platinum tag on them, then someone elses bags got taken out and put in the hold and room was made in the overhead bin for another Platinum member who boarded late.

I have had short connections where escort has been dispatched and been standing at the gate, ready to get me to my next flight within minutes even if we needed to switch terminals and pass security and passport control again. I have also had the purser coordinate from onboard a very delayed flight for ground services to make preparations and have a car standing by for me in CDG for very quick transportation directly from gate to gate. There have been two occasions where my next flight has been delayed, remained at the gate with the forward door open, waiting for me as the very last passenger to make the connection and as soon as I boarded came the all too familiar "boarding completed, cabin crew, arm doors, cross check and report please!".

I have gotten private escort from the plane, to the lounge and a red velvet rope cordoned off a window table, with a sign saying "escpecially reserved", just for me. Once it was time to leave, the escort came and picked me up again and we were yet again on the move, using passport control for crew and diplomats (I am neither) and jumping to the front of the line at the security control, along with private pre-boarding where the escort followed me up and onto the plane as the first passenger onboard. I have no special needs and are perfectly able to walk by myself, I still appreciated being able to walk directly from the lounge and up on the plane, effectively skipping all lines.

The first time I had to overnight at CDG for having missed a connection, I received a personalized escort from the lounge to the hotel, since I had mentioned upon entrance that it would be my first time overnighting at the CDG airport hotel. I will admit though that the staff in the lounge knew my name by heart since a number of frequent visits before. So this one might not have been a de facto Platinum benefit, but rather offered on a more personalized level, just for being me.

I have also had the purser sit down almost the entire flight just to talk about the status of the company, their situation and how things work. It sure enough made for an interesting flight!

I have had the Platinum line take my calls at any and all odd hours, listening to my complaints and sometimes issuing compensation and sometimes calmly explained that even if they did their best, sometimes the system fails, which I accept. None of us are perfect. The Platinum line has arranged extensively complicated trips for me, putting tickets on hold while we confirmed things, coordinated transatlantic routes with Delta domestic USA and all on the specific fares I wanted and specified. When their computer showed a higher price than mine, the Platinum line simply adjusted theirs into the lower one I could produce. Very easy, there was no way I could book that type of itinerary myself online. I love the Platinum line always being there.

There are many many more stories, those listed above are some of the better ones. All in all, I am very happy with my Platinum status. It is highly beneficial!

Goldorak

Are you by any chance Club2000 instead of Platinum or are considered as a VIP, or were those experiences when flying P instead of J ??? And are all those great experiences with AF or KL, or both ?
I have to say I am extremely surprised by your stories, because in about 15 years of regular Platinum before I got Ultimate, I never never experienced what you describe (apart the services rendered by the Elite then Platinum phone lines). And I know plenty of Platinums among my relatives and friends and no one ever experienced that. What you describe is in no way the treatment received by Platinum members even very frequent J flyers, not even consistently for Ultimates.
You are not telling us everything here...

Billyfergus

Well I am platinum (wife is gold but with all the bookings we have made, she will be platinum this coming year) and had a "bad" experience last week where platinum did nothing to help us. Partly my fault I guess but booked the tickets on Delta direct instead of going through KLM or AF. Get decent prices heading to Orlando via Detroit from ABZ-AMS. Not allowed to reserve seats and conditions states seats assigned at check in. Checked in at ABZ to be told on AMS-DTW flights our seats were 52 A and B. Asked if they could change them and told no. Got to gate at AMS and asked KLM lady there if she could change them and she was very surprised a Platinum was so far back on plane. She tried to change but she could not.

Got on plane to find 52 C was occupied by an older type woman who had mobility issues and extremely deaf and not speaking English. When we asked her to move to let us take our seats she was extremely abusive in a language I am not familiar with (we deducted this by her numerous head shakes and her extreme angry look on her face). Did not make the flight very pleasurable as the one time my wife tried to exit to go to toilet she pretended she was asleep and then started making loud groaning noises when my wife had to squeeze past her. The old lady actually called a flight attendant to complain but I explained to the attendant what happened as she understood. Old lady was moaning when my wife came back. We were last off the plane as old lady would not move until all people were off (I know not many rows behind us).

A very unpleasant flight for us and my Platinum did not help at all. I did sent email to Delta to ask if they treated all platinum members from sister airlines the same but so far no reply.

maarten22

If this was the basic economy fare, next time try to book it with AF or KLM. Delta operated but booked by KLM/AF gives you the ability to select a seat.

olivedel

tezzer

I'm now plat for life having done 10 years as Platinum, and a number of years as Royal wing in the old Flying Dutchman programme.

I seldom get "special " treatment, but it's never rude, I think that perhaps we become used to the senior purser coming and saying hello, and no longer notice it when it happens, only when it doesn't.

HalconBCN

It's a lottery for me. Last week I flew from ATH to BCN via AMS in J and got lots of attention on the ATH to AMS (I was the only passenger addressed by name, plenty of chit chat from the purser) but zero attention on the AMS to BCN, had to even ask for a coffee after the meal.
To be fair to the FA on that flight though, she was racing around the galley trying to serve the 16 pax in the cabin. I think she simply had no time. On quieter flights the FAs have more time to give attention.

bankops

Lifetime Plat and I used to be met when late connecting in CDG (LUX-CDG-SVO) back in mid 2000's. Never since. Never had an escort (pun intended). On board was often greeted and got upgraded or extras on AF or KL....up until I got Club 2000. Since then, radio silence on AF except my MIA-CDG iin J last week. Great FA, Purser came by twice too. Otherwise, not a peep. This past year, KLM has been a bit better, but sometimes they have thought my Club 2000 was actually an employee code. Handwritten notes from the FA's on the KLM shorthaul home too. This week DL and KLM long haul, so we'll see.

Zarmakuizz

I got more attention on board when gradually moving from Ivory to all ranks up until Platinum. Since I am Platinum, I get to chat more often with FAs, be it AF, A5 and KL.
The customer support gradually became more helpful as well.

Of course, I would like upgrades on long-haul flights instead of the 2 I got on KL's 1h30 flights since I am Plat, but I will not complain.