FB Silver and Gold benefits "evolving" from 28 March
Apr 19, 2023, 9:54 am
#76
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,424
Apr 19, 2023, 3:14 pm
#77
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: FB Plat, *A Gold
Posts: 369
Greedy from KL.
Silvers are barely impacted -- they always had to pay, the only difference is now they have to pay 25% more which is a pretty marginal difference if you ask me, except I suppose at the very highest-end of the spectrum of EC pricing where it can be around €25 or so.
Golds are fine on short-haul where, just before the 72hr window opens, the EC seating tends to be expanded from one row (which is invariable already at least partially taken at that time by paid or plat customers) to whatever rows they can fit behind the C cabin, and usually ample seating is available. So golds now simply wait out the 72hr mark and select an EC seat for free.
The problem however is long haul. These seats are static (they don't adjust to C cabin size as all cabins are fixed) and, owing to the much longer flight durations, much more popular than they are on short haul where many (non-status) people don't consider the extra expense worth it for the short duration of the flight. So for those flights, golds may want to purchase the seat anyway instead of waiting, to be assured of one, and they now have to pay double what they used to.
Silvers are barely impacted -- they always had to pay, the only difference is now they have to pay 25% more which is a pretty marginal difference if you ask me, except I suppose at the very highest-end of the spectrum of EC pricing where it can be around €25 or so.
Golds are fine on short-haul where, just before the 72hr window opens, the EC seating tends to be expanded from one row (which is invariable already at least partially taken at that time by paid or plat customers) to whatever rows they can fit behind the C cabin, and usually ample seating is available. So golds now simply wait out the 72hr mark and select an EC seat for free.
The problem however is long haul. These seats are static (they don't adjust to C cabin size as all cabins are fixed) and, owing to the much longer flight durations, much more popular than they are on short haul where many (non-status) people don't consider the extra expense worth it for the short duration of the flight. So for those flights, golds may want to purchase the seat anyway instead of waiting, to be assured of one, and they now have to pay double what they used to.
As you wrote, at T-72 additional EC seats open up. So I used to move myself from a full row 6-7 (chosen when making reservation) to an empty row 3-4. For the outbound it still can be done, but then the seatmap blocks for both flights due to "pending payment" and no more changes can be made.
Only during checkin for the inbound I can change my seat (row 6-7) if there are any available, since 2 days earlier Gold can choose already those seats. Not really customer friendly towards plats.
Apr 20, 2023, 12:09 am
#78
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,481
There is however a problem for plats as well on short haul.
As you wrote, at T-72 additional EC seats open up. So I used to move myself from a full row 6-7 (chosen when making reservation) to an empty row 3-4. For the outbound it still can be done, but then the seatmap blocks for both flights due to "pending payment" and no more changes can be made.
Only during checkin for the inbound I can change my seat (row 6-7) if there are any available, since 2 days earlier Gold can choose already those seats. Not really customer friendly towards plats.
As you wrote, at T-72 additional EC seats open up. So I used to move myself from a full row 6-7 (chosen when making reservation) to an empty row 3-4. For the outbound it still can be done, but then the seatmap blocks for both flights due to "pending payment" and no more changes can be made.
Only during checkin for the inbound I can change my seat (row 6-7) if there are any available, since 2 days earlier Gold can choose already those seats. Not really customer friendly towards plats.
Apr 20, 2023, 2:15 pm
#79
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: FB Plat, *A Gold
Posts: 369
I’m not Plat, but this isn’t my experience. Firstly - at least for my wife’s flights this Friday which is the first time I’ve been paying attention - the curtain moved at the beginning of the day Tuesday (probably midnight but I was only looking in the morning) - so before T-72. Not sure if this is the standard though. Secondly, I’ve not seen the “pending payment” thing - but have noticed that once check-in is open for the first flight there appear to be two different routes to the seat map. The outbound is through the check-in flow, whereas the inbound is as normal from the reservation page (referring to the iOS app). I’ve certainly never had an issue getting to the seat map for the inbound after taking the outbound, so maybe tapping around will bypass your issues - hope that helps.
Just arrived from outbound, see screenshot for inbound, no possibility to click on seat assignment to open seat map. Screen on the Andriod app is similar, no option to click on the seat. So maybe only iOS version allows to change seats?
Apr 20, 2023, 2:29 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 979
The additional seats become available somewhere in the night before T-72, that's indeed the standard. The pending payment you will see at check-in, there will be no option to change the seat or to buy an upgrade.
Just arrived from outbound, see screenshot for inbound, no possibility to click on seat assignment to open seat map. Screen on the Andriod app is similar, no option to click on the seat. So maybe only iOS version allows to change seats?
Just arrived from outbound, see screenshot for inbound, no possibility to click on seat assignment to open seat map. Screen on the Andriod app is similar, no option to click on the seat. So maybe only iOS version allows to change seats?
That's indeed an evolution...
Apr 20, 2023, 5:42 pm
#81
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,064
The option to change seats is often locked out, presumably when the a certain percentage of seats selected is reached (there is some disagreement on this being the reason, however, no one knows for sure). Normally you're able to change seats just fine even after selecting one or OLCI opening.
Upgrades (with which I assume you mean selecting a business class seat as if it were a paid seat option) are not gone.
Upgrades (with which I assume you mean selecting a business class seat as if it were a paid seat option) are not gone.
Apr 21, 2023, 1:50 am
#82
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,481
The additional seats become available somewhere in the night before T-72, that's indeed the standard. The pending payment you will see at check-in, there will be no option to change the seat or to buy an upgrade.
Just arrived from outbound, see screenshot for inbound, no possibility to click on seat assignment to open seat map. Screen on the Andriod app is similar, no option to click on the seat. So maybe only iOS version allows to change seats?
Just arrived from outbound, see screenshot for inbound, no possibility to click on seat assignment to open seat map. Screen on the Andriod app is similar, no option to click on the seat. So maybe only iOS version allows to change seats?
Apr 22, 2023, 2:51 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: FB Plat, *A Gold
Posts: 369
Apr 22, 2023, 4:19 pm
#85
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: FB, M&B, UA, AA
Posts: 2,489
At roughly T-68 before my inbound flight I cannot do anything about my seat. I am at the only available EC row when I booked at least, but usually I could move a bit forward when J seats were converted to EC around 3 days in advance. Let us see what happens at check in.
Apr 23, 2023, 1:20 am
#86
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 186
Same here, but 5 days before the flight. It’s interesting because I have another flight with AF in 48h and I can still see the seatmap and change the seat, but the one I have with KLM in 5 days went rogue as soon as I changed one of the seats from one row to another. Now it doesn’t allow me to see the seatmap at all on any of the flights in the booking, not just the one I changed the seat on.
Apr 23, 2023, 3:57 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,481
How odd. I just checked again now that she's flown the outbound [for which I successfully got her into EC] and I can see the seat map just fine. This is a pre change booking, so she's in a Front Standard seat for free right now which means I'm not going to try moving her - but we've had this situation many times and I've never had an issue. [Again: all iOS app].
Apr 23, 2023, 9:40 am
#88
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 195
I just had the same experience. I often move myself around as they adjust the cabin for short-haul...but I ran into the payment pending issue every since the outbound. I also was unable to change my seat at a check-in kiosk. Never ran into this before.
Apr 23, 2023, 11:21 am
#89
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Netherlands
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum for Life, AccorLiveLimitless Platinum, Qatar Airways Gold
Posts: 365
Hier the same as well. I had changed my outbound seat 1 1/2weeks ago, when more seats opened up on a short hall flight. When I took the flight at no point could I change the seat after that, on any device.
For the inbound I wanted to change as well, also not possible since changing the outbound. What I had done approx 48 hours before departure was make a dummy booking and see what is available, then contact KLM through whatsapp. They replied within 10 minutes and moved me further forward.
They did not know what the issue was.
Also cannot change the seat on an inbound flight from Canada in September, don't know if that has the same issue.
For the inbound I wanted to change as well, also not possible since changing the outbound. What I had done approx 48 hours before departure was make a dummy booking and see what is available, then contact KLM through whatsapp. They replied within 10 minutes and moved me further forward.
They did not know what the issue was.
Also cannot change the seat on an inbound flight from Canada in September, don't know if that has the same issue.
Apr 23, 2023, 2:45 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: FB Plat, *A Gold
Posts: 369
In the end I didn't need the seatmap, when dropping off my luggage I ended up on 2A with no neighbour.
