SkyTeam Elite+ - AF no longer opening up seat maps?
 

From an AF Platinum point of view, I also noticed a decrease in term of seats available immediately after check-in opens.

I noticed that my seat reservation for an AF flight AMS-CDG in early Jan was changed; From 7C to 9C and now to 12C. Now the seat map does not let me choose anything before row 11 (exit row). What's going on :(

Actually..yes. You're absolutely right, they moved the curtain from row 4 (I think) all the way until the exit row. A bit surprising to have such a large business cabin, but at least this is a proper reason to be reseated ;)

AMS-CDG is notoriously premium heavy, I expect due to all the long haul connections.

I've seen once even curtain behind exit row.

In some flights, mostly on "La Navette" flights they used to place the Platinum members on the first rows of the cabin. Now, they have a policy where if you are "Abonné" and paid full fare or just normal passenger and paid full fare, they have right to the seats on the front of the cabin. Therefore, the Platinums having paid basic fare or weekend fare or other are kicked to the back of the cabin...Proof that if you are Platinum who spent a lot on travelling during the year but you bought a low fare ticket, they don't care...Not really nice as the loyalty counts less and less...

I have never witnessed this. I was and am still always seated at the front of the cabin even on light fares.

Hi Goldorak,

Thanks for your reply. Interesting as it happens to me lately on ORY-MRS-ORY flights. Maybe is because you're Ultimate Platinum? I'm Platinum since 4 years now and fly quite a lot. Every time I experience this I call the Platinum line and get such answer as mentioned above (which has been inconsistent as they say also is a weight and balance issue, airport blocking the seats, or simply they can't move you to another seat because...) I've reported this to the agents at the airport, Platinum Line, and even to the purser when he/she approaches to say hi.

In any case I feel this not really nice from them.

Cheers,

Alex

I thought about it (Ultimate), but frankly I am not sure. I have a close relative who is "regular" platinum travelling sometimes on domestic lines from ORY who has not had this problem. So as you are several here reporting this, it worths to report it to AF.

My experience matches that of Alexbelt on a recent cheapo (€50 o/w) MRS-ORY flight, where I was shifted way back despite being Plat and no seat available to me in the first 15 rows. Later on, however, they did move me much further forward.

So maybe there is an Ultimate effect, as I flew the exact same route (CDG-LYS) last week and return, also on a Mini fare, and at check-in I was assigned at row 1 for both flights :confused:

I booked a CDG - LHR for mid april on a mini fare yesterday. I'm Platinum and I could select row 3 and 5, which are both right after the curtain.

I keep taking the cheapest fares. On Domestic AF and Hop flights, I am almost always in row 1. I am a regular platinum.

Non-FB STE+ - Mini fare - Front seat available?
 

Plat, waiting to become Plat4Life in April and it has happened to me last week, for the first time in the last 10 years +. A regular "la navette" flight, inbound in Flex, return in Smart. Row 1 for the first flight, no option to get better than row 10 for the return (far from being full at the end) :-(
Ultimate is (I hope) probably helping in maintaining that perk. But if they want to run the company only counting on Ultimate profile, they'll be a bit short...

Tonin

Probably... but I don't want to beg, yet another reason for me to move away when possible. With my flying pattern, award miles very limited compared to the cost for getting a free ticket, no seat in front anymore (cost 10€ on EZY), lounge overcrowded (I prefer to pay a good beer in a pub than being squeezed to get a tepid heiXXken), priority boarding is totally useless as we are all Elite+ nowadays, sky priority for security is already included when taking business. Their strategy is clearly to focus on very high contributors so no contradiction here, I'm just not part of them, despite 25k-30k€ spent on average per year, since almost 20 years... Most important perks for me are the one related to a smooth experience in the airport: fast track, getting out of the aircraft quickly, passport check. In that way the Ultimate vision is really aligned (on the paper) but too high for me to even think about it.

This week-end I took a CDG - TLS flight with my girlfriend, both Platinum, and the best option offered was.... Row 17. The last time I was this far back on a flight was Transavia the week before (row 22), but with them you can board by the rear :D

2 PAX / one non status / seat plus for free
 

Just flew CDG/PRG/CDG with a dirt cheap OK ticket AF metal. 2 PAX / one PNR. OLCI on AF website.

CDG/PRG. Full A321.

Had been assigned 2 exit row seats 10 B & C. I do not like the middle seat. I could change to 25 C&D, but thought it was too far to the back. There were plenty of available seats at the back, but the front of the cabin was showing very few available seats and no 2 aisle. A call to the Plat line solved the problem. I got 16 C&D.

PRG/CDG. Full A320

Had been assigned 2 exit row seats 11 E & F. This is the first exit row of 2 (seats don't recline / middle seat is bad). 2nd exit row 12 was free. I could move to 12 C & D but the system was asking for 18 € for the no status pax. A call to Plat line solved the problem. She managed to assign him 12 D at no extra cost.

P.S. unrelated, but worth mentioning. As I got to my seat, I noticed a red pillow with a hand written note and a bottle of water. The note had been written by the chief purser and was wishing me a good flight and a nice day.

AF - CDG - PRG - Sunday PM - Seat 2-6 min avail - STE+ - Mini
 

I next fly to PVG from CDG and return in F
The return seat map is not available on the AF website, same on AF mobile app.
I phoned to Plat line and the (charming voice) told me it is perhaps there will be a plane change (A380 to B777), but she confirmed my return seat (2L) on A380
So, I have a big issue: should I be downgraded to biz as there are only 4 seats in B777 First vs 9 in A380.

Nice experience today: I booked a CDG - MAN - CDG with my gf (also plat) and my parents (no status at all), and I was able to select 4 seats at row 4 of the aircraft for free on both flights! Nice perk for once!

Sorry, but I don't see what's nice about this perk - row 4 are just normal seats but in the front of the plane - I don't think they are Siege+ seats or any additional leg room seats. (or are these seats normally also for an upcharge?)

If it was for the Eco+ seats like those on KLM, that would be a nice perk.

Cheers!

First, check how busy your flight is in F.

Because non-status pax often get the choice of a handful of seats towards the rear.

Y : STE+ / Flex pax : front and rear // STE and non-status : rear depending on class
 

AFAIK, non-status pax cannot select seats before OLCI, and even then often not at the front of the plane. In this case, I'm certain that all 4 of us are seated together and will disembark at the same time :) So sure, those are not economy comfort seats, but still, it's nice.

Yes I think they can but for a fee.

On AF I think yes, but for a fee and only in back.
On KL anywhere for a fee, which is lower for status pax.