Is There Some Way to Book a Multi-City or Open Jaw Online at the Light Fare?
Jan 11, 2023, 12:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
Is There Some Way to Book a Multi-City or Open Jaw Online at the Light Fare?
As has been discussed last year, it seems that klm.com does not allow the booking of a Light fare as multi-city or open jaw (except for open jaw within the same country.)
Is there any way to book such an itinerary online at a Light fare, or does one have to go to call the reservation number? It's been a very long time since I made a flight reservation by talking to a person.
Is there any way to book such an itinerary online at a Light fare, or does one have to go to call the reservation number? It's been a very long time since I made a flight reservation by talking to a person.
Jan 11, 2023, 12:42 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,468
As has been discussed last year, it seems that klm.com does not allow the booking of a Light fare as multi-city or open jaw (except for open jaw within the same country.)
Is there any way to book such an itinerary online at a Light fare, or does one have to go to call the reservation number? It's been a very long time since I made a flight reservation by talking to a person.
Is there any way to book such an itinerary online at a Light fare, or does one have to go to call the reservation number? It's been a very long time since I made a flight reservation by talking to a person.
I did manage to get a fare selection page when landing from Google Flights eventually, but it was very buggy.
Jan 11, 2023, 10:59 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
I thought when I had issues it defaulted to Light, or you could use the checkbox on the search to get Flex - but whatever the middle one is called was not available. Going from memory though, I thought a two-leg multi-city gave the normal screen (so all choices) but three or more legs locked you in.
I did manage to get a fare selection page when landing from Google Flights eventually, but it was very buggy.
I did manage to get a fare selection page when landing from Google Flights eventually, but it was very buggy.
I tried to outsmart it by making a reservation at the standard fare, and then calling up the reservation and seeking to modify it. That almost worked, except it wanted to charge the $199 change fee, even though I was well within the 24 hour free cancellation window.
Google flights does not do well with multi-city itineraries.
Jan 11, 2023, 11:14 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
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I just double checked. It gives you the option before you search of searching for a flex fare - but if you don't tick the flex fare box, it only provides Standard fares, no Light fares.
I tried to outsmart it by making a reservation at the standard fare, and then calling up the reservation and seeking to modify it. That almost worked, except it wanted to charge the $199 change fee, even though I was well within the 24 hour free cancellation window.
Google flights does not do well with multi-city itineraries.
I tried to outsmart it by making a reservation at the standard fare, and then calling up the reservation and seeking to modify it. That almost worked, except it wanted to charge the $199 change fee, even though I was well within the 24 hour free cancellation window.
Google flights does not do well with multi-city itineraries.
On three or more legs I never got a choice, but the default was a Light fare rather than standard.
Jan 11, 2023, 11:23 am
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
On the other hand, if the open jaw is between two cities in the same country - e.g., into MAD and back from BCN - then you get the choice of Light, Standard, Standard Plus, and Flex.
What open-jaw itineraries gave you the option .to choose a Light fare? I'll give it a try and see what result I get.
Jan 11, 2023, 11:35 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
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Strange - I just tried open jaw SFO to MXP and BCN to SFO and it gives me the Standard fare with no option for Light.
On the other hand, if the open jaw is between two cities in the same country - e.g., into MAD and back from BCN - then you get the choice of Light, Standard, Standard Plus, and Flex.
What open-jaw itineraries gave you the option .to choose a Light fare? I'll give it a try and see what result I get.
On the other hand, if the open jaw is between two cities in the same country - e.g., into MAD and back from BCN - then you get the choice of Light, Standard, Standard Plus, and Flex.
What open-jaw itineraries gave you the option .to choose a Light fare? I'll give it a try and see what result I get.
Jan 11, 2023, 11:57 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
Ah! I was using WAW and GDN. Changed one to BUD and don't get a choice - but what I'm seeing is a Light fare. Maybe long haul vs short haul...? If you go into the "Trip Details" and "View fare details" what are the change fee and baggage allowance? I've got no hold luggage and €70 change, so that's definitely Light.
If I try AMS - WAW and then back BUD - AMS it gives me the fare with the €70 change fee. So for long-haul it defaults to the Standard fare, and for short-haul it defaults to the Light fare.
Makes no sense, but that's how they have it.
Jan 11, 2023, 12:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
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...which was a long way of finding out that you probably have to call.
Jan 12, 2023, 8:09 am
#12
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
Also, as we all know here, it is better to book directly with the airline whenever possible. So probably best to just call and book over the phone, even though I have a resistance to not seeing my itinerary in front of me when I book.
Jan 12, 2023, 5:25 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,040
Nope, they are Light fares. AF/KL Light fares have a 'B' in second to last letter of fare basis code these days (just like DL BE fares). RLX86NBL and VLX86NBL fares are both AF Light fares as indicated by the 'B' in second to last letter. AF/KL don't have a reserved booking class for Light fares like DL has for BE fares (E class), so they can only be identified by their fare basis codes.
Last edited by xliioper; Jan 12, 2023 at 8:38 pm