how do upgrades work with KLM / Air France Flying Blue?
Jan 24, 2024, 3:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: NE England
Programs: BA, KLM
Posts: 84
I would say you would not get an upgrade 99% of the time in that scenario. I have been Platinum, with 100-140 legs flown in a year and never received as much as an upgrade on a Newcastle to Amsterdam leg
Jan 24, 2024, 5:10 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
The cheap BC fares - which apparently have been running regularly for quite a while - are certainly attractive as they don't reduce elite status (just the earned miles). All these changes at FB (and other airline FFPs) are new to me to me as I stopped flying for quite a while.
FWIW, the very few times I've checked, the BC fares to Germany and Austria (among some other places) seem to be a higher than to say, FR, NL, IT, HU, CZ among other European countries. Might as well tag on an "international" (AMS/CDG-BRU/LUX?) segment if you can to earn more XP.
Have you ever priced out SEA-YVR-FRA (or wherever) on AC vs YVR-FRA at the same time? I imagine there is probably a non-stop premium for the latter.
FWIW, the very few times I've checked, the BC fares to Germany and Austria (among some other places) seem to be a higher than to say, FR, NL, IT, HU, CZ among other European countries. Might as well tag on an "international" (AMS/CDG-BRU/LUX?) segment if you can to earn more XP.
Have you ever priced out SEA-YVR-FRA (or wherever) on AC vs YVR-FRA at the same time? I imagine there is probably a non-stop premium for the latter.
And I often find this is the case with flying out of SEA vs. YVR. It's nearly always much cheaper to fly out of YVR than SEA. And that's fine with me.
Jan 24, 2024, 5:19 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,808
Anyway, I did just price out flying out of SEA (connecting in YVR), and for that flight where I was quoted over $7K USD, it's now jumped up to over $11K USD!! Yup...that's right.....an additional $4000 USD to take a puddle jumper from SEA to YVR to catch that exact same flight.
And I often find this is the case with flying out of SEA vs. YVR. It's nearly always much cheaper to fly out of YVR than SEA. And that's fine with me.
And I often find this is the case with flying out of SEA vs. YVR. It's nearly always much cheaper to fly out of YVR than SEA. And that's fine with me.
Jan 24, 2024, 5:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: Flying Blue, Hilton Honors, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 2,407
Ah, live on the north side. Yes, I can see not driving through SEA (unless in the wee hours) being attractive.
Maybe the cheap AC US-Int'l fares are for the back cabin only. Long been a complaint north of the border. At any rate, Canada is a low premium fare market compared to U.S. I hate to think AC's SEA-FRA BC fare may still be less than, say, whoever else flies SEA=>Europe (are there SEA-FRA flights?)
Maybe the cheap AC US-Int'l fares are for the back cabin only. Long been a complaint north of the border. At any rate, Canada is a low premium fare market compared to U.S. I hate to think AC's SEA-FRA BC fare may still be less than, say, whoever else flies SEA=>Europe (are there SEA-FRA flights?)
Jan 24, 2024, 5:42 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,808
^
Looks like AC is being ridiculous. Just did a sample and LH is charging ~USD 3,500 each way in BC for the n/s flight, or one-change ones with AC or UA. Small difference (~USD 300) between basic and flex fares. AC wants ex-YVR ~C$4K each way for the basic (fees for change/refund) and ~C$4.5k each way ex-SEA (1 change). Flex ex-SEA with one change is CAD $11k each way!
Looks like AC is being ridiculous. Just did a sample and LH is charging ~USD 3,500 each way in BC for the n/s flight, or one-change ones with AC or UA. Small difference (~USD 300) between basic and flex fares. AC wants ex-YVR ~C$4K each way for the basic (fees for change/refund) and ~C$4.5k each way ex-SEA (1 change). Flex ex-SEA with one change is CAD $11k each way!
Jan 24, 2024, 6:09 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
So an international flight KLM or AF flight is departing with 10 free biz class pods and 8 free premium economy seats. I've purchased the highest fare economy ticket and I'm a FlyingBlue Platinum. Both Air France and KLM will let those seats go empty and not upgrade me at the gate?
Jan 24, 2024, 6:44 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
Jan 24, 2024, 7:21 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: DTW, IST, ESB
Programs: AF/KLM Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 425
That's correct - No major airline routinely upgrades people for free on long-haul international flights; even for their own elites. It's always a matter of cash/miles/upgrade instruments, unless it's an OP-UP
Apr 4, 2024, 4:18 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OPO
Programs: UA 1k MM, KLM Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 312
Hello -- new to the FlyingBlue program so I'm hoping someone can help me understand how upgrades work.
I've been a long-time top-tier elite with Air Canada, and just recently jumped ship to FlyingBlue. On Air Canada, we would receive "eUpgrade credits", dependent upon your Aeroplan status and mileage flown and spend. Whenever you'd reach a certain threshold in a calendar year, you'd 'earn' these eUpgrade Credits that could then be used for upgrading on a future flight (either to premium economy or business, and dependent upon the class of service on the ticket you're wishing to upgrade on). You'd also be gifted these credits at the beginning of the calendar year based on your status. Note that these eUpgrade credits are different than the miles that you accrue with Aeroplan. On VERY rare occasions, at the gate you could receive a "complimentary" upgrade. I think in my 6+ years of flying Air Canada, this maybe happened twice.
So how do upgrades work on FlyingBlue? I'm looking through the FlyingBlue website and not finding anything obvious as to how upgrades work.
thanks in advance!
I've been a long-time top-tier elite with Air Canada, and just recently jumped ship to FlyingBlue. On Air Canada, we would receive "eUpgrade credits", dependent upon your Aeroplan status and mileage flown and spend. Whenever you'd reach a certain threshold in a calendar year, you'd 'earn' these eUpgrade Credits that could then be used for upgrading on a future flight (either to premium economy or business, and dependent upon the class of service on the ticket you're wishing to upgrade on). You'd also be gifted these credits at the beginning of the calendar year based on your status. Note that these eUpgrade credits are different than the miles that you accrue with Aeroplan. On VERY rare occasions, at the gate you could receive a "complimentary" upgrade. I think in my 6+ years of flying Air Canada, this maybe happened twice.
So how do upgrades work on FlyingBlue? I'm looking through the FlyingBlue website and not finding anything obvious as to how upgrades work.
thanks in advance!
Apr 4, 2024, 4:23 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: DTW, IST, ESB
Programs: AF/KLM Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 425
Out of curiosity, what made you switch programs - especially after such a significant investment in UA MP?
Apr 4, 2024, 4:26 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OPO
Programs: UA 1k MM, KLM Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 312
I moved to Portugal and my daughter moved to Amsterdam, so I am often in the OPO-AMS route on KLM. And due to most of my business destinations being within Europe now, there's little chance I'll spend 24k to re-qualify for 1k :-(
Apr 4, 2024, 4:30 am
#27
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,482
I've yet to find a published table with miles upgrade in Flying Blue. Like you, I recently migrated from a North America program (United's) where I'm a million miler and 1k for over 10 years. It's a real shock to the system, because the programs in Europe are radically different. One thing to note - if you upgrade Y with miles, the XP you earn is still the same as the original itinerary, so there is no boost towards elite qualification. I haven't upgraded any reservation yet and can't locate any information on how many miles it would take to upgrade from Europe to the US, for example.
Apr 4, 2024, 4:32 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: DUS, BRU, POA
Programs: Skyteam E+ (FB PfL), Latam Black, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy: Plat
Posts: 1,124
I thought MM with UA is a lifetime status, so what does re-qualification mean in that context (sorry, not an UA expert)?
Apr 4, 2024, 4:34 am
#29
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OPO
Programs: UA 1k MM, KLM Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 312
The big advantage of being Gold for life is that it means you're also Star Alliance Gold, so those benefits remain.
Apr 4, 2024, 4:37 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OPO
Programs: UA 1k MM, KLM Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 312
Thank you, I wasn't sure about the cash upgrade.
Does KLM use dynamic pricing for miles upgrade? Do you know if there's a table somewhere I can refer to?
I'm considering buying Y on a personal trip to the States and upgrading with miles but I don't know if a) I have enough miles and b) it would be worth it. Thanks!
Does KLM use dynamic pricing for miles upgrade? Do you know if there's a table somewhere I can refer to?
I'm considering buying Y on a personal trip to the States and upgrading with miles but I don't know if a) I have enough miles and b) it would be worth it. Thanks!