Does any know what "HIPP" stands for?
Nov 3, 2019, 5:32 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,049
As I published in the ULTI thread, this multiplication of number of tiers can only bring confusion to AF staff . If you mix it with the travel classes, as flight attendant, you can have all these PAX to consider in your plane :
La Premiere
Business
Premium Eco
Economy
C2000
Hippo
Ultimate
Skipper
Platinum for Life
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Explorer
Petroleum
You can just get nuts as AF staff ...
So in conclusion the best way to get a consistant and expected good treatment is to pick up the right travel class.
This is finally the single true protocol trained and followed by cabin crew !
La Premiere
Business
Premium Eco
Economy
C2000
Hippo
Ultimate
Skipper
Platinum for Life
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Explorer
Petroleum
You can just get nuts as AF staff ...
So in conclusion the best way to get a consistant and expected good treatment is to pick up the right travel class.
This is finally the single true protocol trained and followed by cabin crew !
Nov 6, 2019, 8:12 pm
#62
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Somewhere...
Programs: AA PLT/3MM, UA GM/1MM, DL DM/1MM, FB Plat, AS MVP Gold, WN AList+
Posts: 1,588
Indeed, and this is for me makes Air France, Air France - representing the company and the (expected) elegance of flying with Air France [sadly this is not alway the practice with the onboard service and offerings].
Alhought I suspect the majority of the public will not know this or even what it is known as.
Cheers!
Alhought I suspect the majority of the public will not know this or even what it is known as.
Cheers!
Another time, another model, another reality - and one not coming back - but at least we will pretend for a special few that you will receive service like you would have expected before when service (above just transport from point A to B) was assumed and expected.
Which, typifies all the above perfectly. An illusion that makes no sense to all concerned at best, and is a confusing riddle in reality of what to expect.
Again, another time...
Nov 7, 2019, 1:53 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
What qualifies as HIPP in terms of spend? My outlay on flights is around EUR 15K to 22K a year on just a few flights (4 returns this year, 2 in P and 2 in J) which apparently qualifies me as a VIP. I get a direct line to a specialist TA who has swiftly sorted out travel issues for me and I always get exceptional welcomes onboard nearly always with a visit from the captain, even in J. I doubt I'll be classed as HIPP though.
Nov 7, 2019, 2:18 am
#65
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Swiss Senator, Flying Blue Gold, BA EC Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 330
What qualifies as HIPP in terms of spend? My outlay on flights is around EUR 15K to 22K a year on just a few flights (4 returns this year, 2 in P and 2 in J) which apparently qualifies me as a VIP. I get a direct line to a specialist TA who has swiftly sorted out travel issues for me and I always get exceptional welcomes onboard nearly always with a visit from the captain, even in J. I doubt I'll be classed as HIPP though.
HIPP are ~ 200 individual hand picked by the CEO. Formally for the influence over travel decisions, I wouldn't be surprised if informally other criteria play a role as well.
Nov 7, 2019, 2:26 am
#66
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Paris and around the WW
Programs: AF/KLM Club2000 Ultimate / M&M HON Circle / ALL Diamond / Hertz President Circle
Posts: 1,040
What qualifies as HIPP in terms of spend? My outlay on flights is around EUR 15K to 22K a year on just a few flights (4 returns this year, 2 in P and 2 in J) which apparently qualifies me as a VIP. I get a direct line to a specialist TA who has swiftly sorted out travel issues for me and I always get exceptional welcomes onboard nearly always with a visit from the captain, even in J. I doubt I'll be classed as HIPP though.
I might be wrong but with your number of flights, you should end the year around 400 XP while Ulti require 1800 UXP on 2 years
No specific spend required for HIPP as this is an "invitation only" status so it's up to AF to select who will receive it or not (mainly CAC 40 CEO, travel managers & influencers...)
I am Plat Ulti, will spend around 50k€ with AF in 2019 and over 1300 UXP. I am 99% sure that I will remain Ulti and not HIPP
Nov 7, 2019, 3:48 am
#67
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,063
Some non-Ulti Platinums also get TA access on an invitational basis.
Nov 7, 2019, 5:12 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,836
And some non-ULTI Platinums also get visits from the Captain. And then invitation to join them in the cockpit for landing (I landed an hour ago from GRU, with front line views of everything between Tours and Paris. Nice)
Nov 7, 2019, 7:09 am
#69
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Swiss Senator, Flying Blue Gold, BA EC Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 330
A bit jealous, but maybe a nice motivation for me to get my remaining 7XP before year end to finally become plat as well. The other Plat benefits are really not that appealing.
Nov 7, 2019, 7:48 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
I don't mean the plat line. As Fabo.sk mentioned above some non-ulti are invited to use a VIP TA service, I was offered it after I booked a 2nd La Premiere inside a couple of months and when I was still gold! it came with a complimentary upgrade to Plat as I would still have been short of the required miles at the time even after the booking (they were separate years).
Last edited by rosensfole; Nov 7, 2019 at 7:58 am
Nov 7, 2019, 3:09 pm
#71
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,049
My earning this year will be over 500XP so yeah I'm never going to be Ulti and, tbh, am not too bothered about that. I also know that HIPP is unlikely but my spend is quite high as my bank manager reminds me often.
I don't mean the plat line. As Fabo.sk mentioned above some non-ulti are invited to use a VIP TA service, I was offered it after I booked a 2nd La Premiere inside a couple of months and when I was still gold! it came with a complimentary upgrade to Plat as I would still have been short of the required miles at the time even after the booking (they were separate years).
I don't mean the plat line. As Fabo.sk mentioned above some non-ulti are invited to use a VIP TA service, I was offered it after I booked a 2nd La Premiere inside a couple of months and when I was still gold! it came with a complimentary upgrade to Plat as I would still have been short of the required miles at the time even after the booking (they were separate years).
Nov 7, 2019, 4:17 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
And I fully understand the need for an airline to have an invitation-only program with good benefits for some VIPs of different kind. But at the best period of C2000, there was no Ulti program, just the regular Fréquence Plus (entry level, blue and red). But now they have created the Ultimate level for what should be their VIPs (their best 1000-1200 customers who spend their life in their planes).
Nov 7, 2019, 10:52 pm
#74
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Nov 7, 2019, 11:30 pm
#75
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,928
I don't that this follow. Somebody who has the capacity to direct a very large amount of spend towards AF (or benefit AF is some other, but equally important way) is surely at least as important as (and indeed even possibly more important than) an ulti who spend their life onboard? These are two different (albeit probably overlapping to some extent) target populations which are both important for AF. I do not see why Ulti should obviate the need for a Hippo-style programme nor assuming that ultis are more important to AF than, shall we call them Hippies?