The Platinum Effect
Mar 1, 2023, 5:44 am
#136
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,591
Mar 2, 2023, 4:34 am
#138
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Inside the (ITA) Matrix
Programs: A plethora of Platinum
Posts: 54
Perhaps I’ve just been «lucky» but it feels like KLM have improved on their consistency in blocking seats during the past months. Out of my last 6 flights in Y, 5 of them have included a seat block, all of these with pretty much full Y cabins otherwise
Anyone else with fresh data points?
Anyone else with fresh data points?
Mar 2, 2023, 5:04 am
#139
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 955
Two points on longhaul:
AMS-GRU in 10A: 10B was blocked (there were quite some empty seats around, so not sure if random or on purpose). In service i was acknowledged by my name and then some crew members stopped by to casually chat and ask if everything was ok.
GIG-AMS in 10K: One day before, 10J (and some other seats) appeared as "unavailable" but then..... the GIG-AMS flight on the previous day of my flight was cancelled (due to technical of the a/c after arriving in GIG), so aircraft swichted to 773 and was as full as it can be (i think some pax were reaccomodated to AF as well), so no empty seats and no acknolwedgement whatsoever from the crew.
AMS-GRU in 10A: 10B was blocked (there were quite some empty seats around, so not sure if random or on purpose). In service i was acknowledged by my name and then some crew members stopped by to casually chat and ask if everything was ok.
GIG-AMS in 10K: One day before, 10J (and some other seats) appeared as "unavailable" but then..... the GIG-AMS flight on the previous day of my flight was cancelled (due to technical of the a/c after arriving in GIG), so aircraft swichted to 773 and was as full as it can be (i think some pax were reaccomodated to AF as well), so no empty seats and no acknolwedgement whatsoever from the crew.
Mar 2, 2023, 6:50 am
#140
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NUE
Programs: *G (TK elite+), OW sapphire (QR), ST elite plus (AF). LA black
Posts: 3,669
checked in for a flight NUE-CDG for tomorrow - expertflyer shows C1 - still I am travelling in business class with my mother (silver) and my sister (explorer on a separate ticket). I could not put my sister or my mother beside me. the seat next to me was blocked (set to unavailable) automatically - no matter where i moved myself to. the only way I could put myself next to my mother or sister was to place them first and then select an adjacent seat. so the seat blocking is also implemented for checkin and not only for advance seat reservation (same issue)
Mar 2, 2023, 8:14 am
#141
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,671
checked in for a flight NUE-CDG for tomorrow - expertflyer shows C1 - still I am travelling in business class with my mother (silver) and my sister (explorer on a separate ticket). I could not put my sister or my mother beside me. the seat next to me was blocked (set to unavailable) automatically - no matter where i moved myself to. the only way I could put myself next to my mother or sister was to place them first and then select an adjacent seat. so the seat blocking is also implemented for checkin and not only for advance seat reservation (same issue)
(I booked some more flights in Y and put my companion(gold) next to me - KL flights, was not blocked)
Mar 2, 2023, 8:26 am
#142
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NUE
Programs: *G (TK elite+), OW sapphire (QR), ST elite plus (AF). LA black
Posts: 3,669
I will try on the return when we fly KL via AMS. Had the same issue on the last AF flight from SIN to NUE - could not place my mum beside me - had to select her seat first and then locate me next to her.
Mar 5, 2023, 1:54 am
#144
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Plat, *A Silver, Volare Exec (LOL), some hotels (Gold)
Posts: 621
a new option from AF, LIN-CDG flying economy, I'm plat, I can buy the seat close to me for 29€. not sure I will call this a perk.
the fun part? if I don't select ther option, it doesn't allow me to select 5C but puts me back to 21D. ouff...
the fun part? if I don't select ther option, it doesn't allow me to select 5C but puts me back to 21D. ouff...
Mar 5, 2023, 2:31 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,890
Is that at time of purchasing or at check-in ? And it’s not just the adjacent seat but the entire row as per your screenshot..
Mar 5, 2023, 3:42 am
#147
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,331
That...is pretty genius! I'd be certainly interested in that option. I wonder if this is available on AF only (or KLM as well), and on which routes. Perhaps only if the flight is expected to go out half empty anyway?
Was this option available from the time of booking or only close to departure?
Was this option available from the time of booking or only close to departure?
Mar 5, 2023, 6:48 am
#149
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 184
And we were hoping it was going to be a free benefit for Platinum members. 😅 Maybe they were just testing it and soon they will offer it for a price when they know the flight is not going to be full. I guess it won’t be offered only to Platinum members though, but maybe we’ll have a discount? 29€ for keeping the next seat free is a low price compared to what others charge (which is even 150-200€ at Turkish, for example).
Mar 5, 2023, 8:11 am
#150
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: FB, M&B, UA, AA
Posts: 2,467
See this. Another revenue stream. I guess they experimented first with blocking seats next to plats. Now that it works they ask a price for it. And of course this price may evolve...I wonder - why as a plat if you do not chose the option for 29 Euro you are move 16 rows back? Seat choice is free still for plats I hope?
FB Silver and Gold benefits "evolving" from 28 March
FB Silver and Gold benefits "evolving" from 28 March
