UK Flyer 1

It's just a bit inconvenient and intuitively feels a bit barking but hey, I am probably not the only person in the UK who feels resentful at being victimised by policies brought about by Government failings and bailing out banks.

There is admittedly some risk of delay to the LON - AMS but by building in sufficient time for calamity it's not particularly risky.

It almost reminds me of those mad days where you had to slop over to AMS for a Concorde NYC ticket AMS LON NYC LON . . . to buy a ticket in for not much over £1,000, Happy days. And a happier exchange rate.

Well I've done the business on the business class, now to source that ex LGW flight and a hotel.

STelite

Was able to book a return flight from YYZ to MEM (1 stop on the outbound, non stop in bound) using FB miles on their website and during US thanksgiving. I got all the flights I wanted and just confirmed today, 3 weeks before thanksgiving. I thought there would be no way I would get a flight.

sbt007

really, was this on Delta metal? I tried YYZ to lots of US cities all through the next 10 months and nothing anywhere. Maybe delta pulled their seats since you booked.

conrad1402

I am looking to book a trip on 26/12/2010, returning 27/12/2010.

If I search ANY UK AIRPORT > Chicago (ORD), there is no availability.
If I search AMS > Chicago (ORD), there IS availability.
If I search ANY UK AIRPORT > AMS there IS availability.

So, it seems that I can book from Amsterdam and to Amsterdam, but a connection through Amsterdam as an award is impossible.

If anyone wants to try booking ANY UK AIRPORT > PromoAward US destination I'd really appreciate to hear your results.

conrad1402

Gajan

This has to do with the married segment logic, i.e. even though there is availability AMS-ORD and UK-AMS, there is no fare available for UK-AMS-ORD.
Could have to do with being Christmas and many people travelling.

Gajan

conrad1402

I see. Rather annoying.

Will probably just book return to AMS and make the connection from UK to AMS myself, it seems I'll benefit from reduced taxes this way too.

Thanks for the advice Gajan.

Roger

I have noticed an improvement. (Did I really mention 'improvement' in connection with FB? )

In the past, when trying to find a London connection to an ex-AMS flight leaving in the morning (e.g. KL to AUA), FB would say 'there are no flights' or similar, though ex-AMS flights were available. Of course, the connecting flights from LON would have to be the day before with an overnight in Amsterdam.

Today, I see that there are several flights the day before connecting in AMS. This is the improvement.

Unfortunately, they are all <24 hours. If I want a >24 hours connection for lower UK APD, I will still have to call.

CaseyJay

Was trying for days to get a Y-class booking after Christmas, availability (on Flex miles) shown but each time I get to passenger details and confirm, it bugs me out ('last places just taken...').

Here's the irony - I wanted a one way from DUB-CDG-TLS - through ticket is 20k + €90 but impossible to book online. I can however book two separate tickets but at 20+10k + €78 (this is the same tax for a cash booking - how are AF able to get away with charging more taxes on a through ticket for the same flights? The difference is in the fuel surcharge apparently, is this legal?)

I resort to the telephone (good news for me, in France - Skype = 2ct/min whereas landline is 34ct/min) and swiftly make booking and use miles too to pay for Europe taxes; plenty availability. Didn't charge me for the offline booking fee either.

Call centre^ - Website

Roger

I'm thinking particularly of the Bucuti Beach, Aruba. We had a booking there plus KL biz flights for earlier this year. Iceland intervened, we couldn't travel and we got a full refund.

Since then, I've been trying to book for 2011. I can book flights, but availability of Bucuti vouchers ended yesterday with nothing for 2011.

FB say details will be posted online when available. OK, except that the current posting is out of date, and I need to book for 2011 - not just the hotel but flights and, er, time off.

Has anybody any idea if this offer will be available in 2011 and if so, when? Thanks.

emviflyer

normally takes a few minutes to get your booking confirmed.

jms_uk

Is this married segments issue as well?

Looking into booking TIA-LCA one way. Or LCA-TIA, either would be fine.

I can get TIA-FCO and FCO-LCA with no problems, but not the whole itinerary together.

Any ideas, or shall I have to resort to calling FB call centre?

edit: same for TIA-FCO-MLA.

Roger

The booking engine allows me to book ex LON, changing planes in AMS to connect to longhaul destinations.

How can I book a >24 hour stopover in AMS outbound? E.g.:

• day 1: LHR/LCY-AMS
• day 2: AMS-XXX
• day 10: XXX-LHR/LCY via AMS

The reason is twofold. This would allow lower (= less high) UK APD. And we could enjoy a Rijstafel on the way with the savings.

Grateful for your advice.

(I suppose I could phone, though I imagine there would be a surcharge.)

troje

Tried to book an award ticket on KL's website: SVO-AMS-SVO in Y. After choosing dates and flights and filling in all personal details, I get the error message returned that the requested flights are currently already taken by other persons. After this, it leads you back to the screen where you can choose flights. Other flights gave me the same error message.

I remember this bug exists for many years now, still FB is not able to get it solved. AF/KL can spend millions on brand marketing to shape it's image into their ideal one, but a lousy IT department can ruin it all.

One call to the FB helpdesk got me the ticket I was looking for.

Uchafu

I am so disappointed with KLM FB service - this from someone that has been a loyal customer for over 20yrs!.

The FB website doesnt work - trying to access, modify or make any booking with award miles doesnt work. The only access number that works is the swiss nr - when I asked KLM why the numbers published on their website dont work, they couldnt answer me!!!. So, if I have a question, I have to dial international and pay the costs - the chances of me getting through to anyone in a reasonable period of time is <10%.

In short, KLM FB is not competitive, they should be ashamed of their (lack of) service. As soon as I use up my miles, am kissing goodbye to my FB FQTV membership - I will only use this airline if there is really no other alternative.

clobrda

Hi, two weeks ago I have booked the FB award ticket MEX-SFO (through LAX) - presented taxes charge was US$ 46.72. Indeed good price, so I have purchased.
It was only the day of my flight when I have printed the electronic ticket and noticed that my CC was charged US$ 285.81! I thought that maybe I have made some mistake and actually didn't noticed the real tax costs when booking,so I have tried to do the same booking immediately just for later dates - screen clearly showed US$ 46.72 for taxes (I have saved the screen). Have sent complaint to FB and got response that US$ 285.81 was correct charge for taxes .... so. What to do? this is clear misleading of the client and lie in their system ...