The Platinum Effect
Feb 4, 2023, 12:05 am
#106
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 186
That is ok and more than reasonable, it’s a risk you take by default when in economy. But knowing that if the flight is not fully booked you will have an empty middle seat is a great bonus. On my recent flights only 1 in 4 was fully booked, with the others almost full but with a few middle seats blocked, so all good.
Feb 4, 2023, 5:27 am
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,939
Feb 5, 2023, 2:43 am
#109
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: FB platinum
Posts: 378
I'm not sure if this falls in the "platinum effect" but it's certainly a first for me in 7+ years of being (mostly) platinum:
My flight from Orly to Toulouse for this Tuesday got cancelled because of the strikes, and I was proactively called by the platinum Line yesterday morning, less than 24 hours after getting the notification, to check if the rebooked flight was ok or if I wanted to take another one.
As my plans had changed since I booked this a few months ago, I was hoping anyway to go-show on an earlier flight (abonné fare), but with the strike, being able to rebook on the right flight is much safer and was granted easily
My flight from Orly to Toulouse for this Tuesday got cancelled because of the strikes, and I was proactively called by the platinum Line yesterday morning, less than 24 hours after getting the notification, to check if the rebooked flight was ok or if I wanted to take another one.
As my plans had changed since I booked this a few months ago, I was hoping anyway to go-show on an earlier flight (abonné fare), but with the strike, being able to rebook on the right flight is much safer and was granted easily
Feb 5, 2023, 8:17 pm
#110
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,676
I'm travelling with a gold member in Y soon and I am not seeing the middle seat being blocked.
On AF it will let us select the window + aisle, but the middle is still selectable too.
We got puhed back 1 row already and autonatically reassigned to window + middle, which I changed again to window + aisle.
When I try do a dummy booking it does not let me select front row seats at all (not even with paying) so at least it looks like these are reserved for elites.
On KL the system is actively blocking us from doing a window + aisle on the same row. You just have to take the middle seat...
On AF it will let us select the window + aisle, but the middle is still selectable too.
We got puhed back 1 row already and autonatically reassigned to window + middle, which I changed again to window + aisle.
When I try do a dummy booking it does not let me select front row seats at all (not even with paying) so at least it looks like these are reserved for elites.
On KL the system is actively blocking us from doing a window + aisle on the same row. You just have to take the middle seat...
Feb 5, 2023, 8:22 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,939
I'm travelling with a gold member in Y soon and I am not seeing the middle seat being blocked.
On AF it will let us select the window + aisle, but the middle is still selectable too.
We got puhed back 1 row already and autonatically reassigned to window + middle, which I changed again to window + aisle.
When I try do a dummy booking it does not let me select front row seats at all (not even with paying) so at least it looks like these are reserved for elites.
On KL the system is actively blocking us from doing a window + aisle on the same row. You just have to take the middle seat...
On AF it will let us select the window + aisle, but the middle is still selectable too.
We got puhed back 1 row already and autonatically reassigned to window + middle, which I changed again to window + aisle.
When I try do a dummy booking it does not let me select front row seats at all (not even with paying) so at least it looks like these are reserved for elites.
On KL the system is actively blocking us from doing a window + aisle on the same row. You just have to take the middle seat...
Feb 6, 2023, 6:00 am
#112
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,676
Thanks, have added my thoughts about this system to that other thread...
Still seems that seat next to me isn't being blocked when I book in Y, contrary to what others have claimed in this thread, who were also travelling with a companion. Maybe it should only apply when you travel alone and they just fixed a bug with companions?
Still seems that seat next to me isn't being blocked when I book in Y, contrary to what others have claimed in this thread, who were also travelling with a companion. Maybe it should only apply when you travel alone and they just fixed a bug with companions?
Feb 6, 2023, 2:28 pm
#113
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Netherlands
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum for Life, AccorLiveLimitless Platinum, Qatar Airways Gold
Posts: 365
Thanks, have added my thoughts about this system to that other thread...
Still seems that seat next to me isn't being blocked when I book in Y, contrary to what others have claimed in this thread, who were also travelling with a companion. Maybe it should only apply when you travel alone and they just fixed a bug with companions?
Still seems that seat next to me isn't being blocked when I book in Y, contrary to what others have claimed in this thread, who were also travelling with a companion. Maybe it should only apply when you travel alone and they just fixed a bug with companions?
So possibly they did change something recently.
Feb 6, 2023, 2:45 pm
#114
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: 39000ft
Posts: 957
Had 3 recent (shorthaul) flights in Y (one KLC, two KL). No recognition. Seat next to me (in comfort) was blocked(?) or at least not available till 1h30 before boarding. In all cases, I ended up having somebody next to me (on the KLC flight was a crew, so perhaps last minute check-in). I did notice that there were 1-3 more empty seats, not sure if these pax. were also platinum (or sth else).
Feb 13, 2023, 3:07 am
#115
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In between PTY, MEX and CPH
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, SAS Eurobonus Silver, Connect Miles Gold, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Disc.
Posts: 587
Flew MEX-CDG in W Friday evening. Got greeted by a senior staff member and was proactively offered beverages from J class throughout the flight. Even refills on wine during dinner. Very impressed with that on an otherwise underwhelming inflight experience (What on Earth has happened to catering on AF!?)
Feb 13, 2023, 2:51 pm
#118
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,051
Feb 22, 2023, 9:34 am
#119
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 223
Good lady and me are both platinum for over 5 years with almost enough XP’s in the bank to take us to PFL (if scheme rules stay the same). Yesterday, whilst returning from our 5th weekend away this year, we were welcomed by the note attached pinned to the seat back in front of us. Nice recognition which was followed up by an offer of a little champagne.
Feb 22, 2023, 10:53 am
#120
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 761
Just landed in Paris after 14 hours SIN-CDG in W. A welcome card as well as a personal and well meant welcome. The purser went above and beyond to make the trip as good as possible despite the terrible aircraft (extremely old B77W). The cabin was nearly falling apart. Seat was malfunctioning and also IFE screen stopped working 3 hours prior departure.
Despite this, had a really nice flight. Got espresso and champagne from J, multiple personal approaches if I needed something and felt that everything was possible. Never felt so appreciated and welcome on a flight.
The crew makes or breaks the flight really.
Despite this, had a really nice flight. Got espresso and champagne from J, multiple personal approaches if I needed something and felt that everything was possible. Never felt so appreciated and welcome on a flight.
The crew makes or breaks the flight really.