Award booking issues on FB website
Oct 28, 2006, 10:49 am
#106
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Norwich, UK
Posts: 127
And a new twist to this saga of the FB website. I booked an award ticket on the website from BKK-AMS-CDG-NCL in Business for 70,00 miles. Everything went through fine - confirmed at that number of miles & on those flights. When the e-ticket arrived - lo and behold - different flights (BKK-AMS-NCL) and at 120,000 miles. The call centre professes 'this cannot happen'. But I've got screenshot prints of the whole process, so we shall see what they have to say for themselves when they get the whole lot faxed to them......
Oct 31, 2006, 9:30 am
#108
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Malaga,Spain
Programs: KLM/CO/BA/IB
Posts: 54
Award Error
Trying to book award LHR-LAX for January 2007. Checked earlier this month and saw C for 160.000 with AF (for 2 pax).Ready to book yesterday but it now offers me Y or C, or F for only 200.000. Press all the right buttons almost to the payment stage, but I have this strange feeling of having read that AF don't do F anymore.This by the way for the AF062. I check the AF site as though trying to make a normal booking and sure enough it only offers me Y/C for this flight.
I ring FB helpline and spoke to rather officious person, who would not listen to my problem but said that first is available on afternoon flight only, but only one seat available.When I tried to question why it was showing up for me to make an award booking online on the morning flight, I was ignored, so just hung up.
I wonder what would happen if I brazen it out and actually do the booking of F on offer, giving CC details etc ??
I ring FB helpline and spoke to rather officious person, who would not listen to my problem but said that first is available on afternoon flight only, but only one seat available.When I tried to question why it was showing up for me to make an award booking online on the morning flight, I was ignored, so just hung up.
I wonder what would happen if I brazen it out and actually do the booking of F on offer, giving CC details etc ??
Nov 1, 2006, 1:00 am
#109
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Madison(WI) USA
Programs: , AA Plat 2MM, FB Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 375
Charged double miles
I was amazed on Aug 31 when I could book an 80,000 mile award in Buisness Class on Air France NYC-STR-NYC on the first attempt. I double checked on the confirmation page to make sure I was being charged 80,000 miles and that the class on Air France was "Affairs".
After returning from my trip on Oct 11, I notice Air France had debited my account 160,000 miles!
Wish I had read this thread before I booked : I didn't save the confirmation screenshot, and none of the emails or e-ticket confirmations from Air France show the number of miles (just the outrageous $280.40 in taxes).
Update : I found the confirmation screenshot still in my printer spool directory, showing 80,000 miles. Hopefully, FB cannot argue now that I accidentally booked an open miles ticket. I have still got no response to my original email enquiry to customer service.
Final outcome: I informed FB by email on Nov 5 that my confirmation screen showed 80,000 miles. They credited back the extra 80,000 miles on Nov 6 and 7 as two credits of 30,000 and 50,000 miles respectively, without even asking me to mail them the screenshot or boarding passes. Amazing !
After returning from my trip on Oct 11, I notice Air France had debited my account 160,000 miles!
Wish I had read this thread before I booked : I didn't save the confirmation screenshot, and none of the emails or e-ticket confirmations from Air France show the number of miles (just the outrageous $280.40 in taxes).
Update : I found the confirmation screenshot still in my printer spool directory, showing 80,000 miles. Hopefully, FB cannot argue now that I accidentally booked an open miles ticket. I have still got no response to my original email enquiry to customer service.
Final outcome: I informed FB by email on Nov 5 that my confirmation screen showed 80,000 miles. They credited back the extra 80,000 miles on Nov 6 and 7 as two credits of 30,000 and 50,000 miles respectively, without even asking me to mail them the screenshot or boarding passes. Amazing !
Last edited by ananthar; Nov 8, 2006 at 4:37 am Reason: Added final outcome
Nov 1, 2006, 2:41 am
#110
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,400
I would say this is clearly a mistake. Call them and be prepared to send them via snail mail all the boarding passes and copy of the e-ticket.
I recently had a minor issue regarding an upgraded AF flight using miles and I faxed them the documents, but they nevertheless needed the original documents sent by mail, as another AZ flight was also involved. In the past, with good old F+, I just needed to fax the documents for AF only flights. I don't know if it is still the case.
I recently had a minor issue regarding an upgraded AF flight using miles and I faxed them the documents, but they nevertheless needed the original documents sent by mail, as another AZ flight was also involved. In the past, with good old F+, I just needed to fax the documents for AF only flights. I don't know if it is still the case.
Nov 7, 2006, 1:10 pm
#111
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Co. Durham, UK
Posts: 217
Research needed
During a frustrating attempt to book rtn Award flights NCL - AMS - IAH I have found that if, when you get to the "Miles required and Tax details" page,
under "Amount" in the first column if any figure other than zero euros is shown then the Biz booking will revert to Eco. Call then needed to get FB to cancel booking
If on the other hand the Amount column shows zero euros your booking is OK and you will get your Biz Award. Only a theory so Buyer Beware etc.
I guess a way to test it would be to find an example of where the Amount is some figure and then ring FB to check Biz Award availability on that flight. I did that for a flight showing Biz availability NCL - AMS - IAH..guess what...no Biz availability but whilst I am on the phone I can see the availability on screen!
More research needed
Exraf
under "Amount" in the first column if any figure other than zero euros is shown then the Biz booking will revert to Eco. Call then needed to get FB to cancel booking
If on the other hand the Amount column shows zero euros your booking is OK and you will get your Biz Award. Only a theory so Buyer Beware etc.
I guess a way to test it would be to find an example of where the Amount is some figure and then ring FB to check Biz Award availability on that flight. I did that for a flight showing Biz availability NCL - AMS - IAH..guess what...no Biz availability but whilst I am on the phone I can see the availability on screen!
More research needed
Exraf
Last edited by Exraf; Nov 7, 2006 at 1:13 pm Reason: typo
Nov 8, 2006, 3:16 am
#112
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Plat, ICH Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 4,381
AF First booking went ok
I went all the way through the booking (LHR-CDG-SIN), only to find to my horror that after payment I got a screen with LHR-CDG 'bus', and CDG-SIN 'eco' 
Also on checkmytrip it displayed 'restricted economy'. I had checked for the correct amount of miles and availability with KVS tool.
However the ticket was booked ok, in O and A booking class. To be absolutely sure I called the FB helpdesk, no wait at all, and reserved seat 1A for CDG-SIN. Now checkmytrip shows 'Restricted Economy' and seat 1A... Clicking on the seat however brings up the first class cabin. Somehow there must be a problem with booking code 'A' on AF, and checkmytrip doesn't know it is first class.
Also on checkmytrip it displayed 'restricted economy'. I had checked for the correct amount of miles and availability with KVS tool.However the ticket was booked ok, in O and A booking class. To be absolutely sure I called the FB helpdesk, no wait at all, and reserved seat 1A for CDG-SIN. Now checkmytrip shows 'Restricted Economy' and seat 1A... Clicking on the seat however brings up the first class cabin. Somehow there must be a problem with booking code 'A' on AF, and checkmytrip doesn't know it is first class.
Nov 20, 2006, 11:08 am
#113
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NL
Programs: KLM-FB Gold, PriorityClub Platinum Amb.
Posts: 358
How to prevent 'Open Miles'?
Well, it can be quite easy to prevent Open Miles on a return ticket.
If you fly KL of AF, it might be cheaper to book 2 single tickets, rather than 1 return flight.
If you book AMS-Destination return and the booking tool shows: Open Miles, you basically pay the double amount. But it can happen that not both flights are Open Miles. In my case, I could book a ticket from AMS for Open Miles (70.000), and back to AMS for the regular amount (35,000). Saving me 'half a ticket' (35.000: I had to pay 105.000 instead of 140.000). When trying to book a return ticket, the booking tool would let me pay Open Miles both ways (i.e. 140.000)!
So: check carefully what flights are available, and split your ticket into to single flights. Again: Only on KL and AF flights!
If you fly KL of AF, it might be cheaper to book 2 single tickets, rather than 1 return flight.
If you book AMS-Destination return and the booking tool shows: Open Miles, you basically pay the double amount. But it can happen that not both flights are Open Miles. In my case, I could book a ticket from AMS for Open Miles (70.000), and back to AMS for the regular amount (35,000). Saving me 'half a ticket' (35.000: I had to pay 105.000 instead of 140.000). When trying to book a return ticket, the booking tool would let me pay Open Miles both ways (i.e. 140.000)!
So: check carefully what flights are available, and split your ticket into to single flights. Again: Only on KL and AF flights!
Nov 20, 2006, 12:14 pm
#114
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Plat, ICH Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 4,381
Originally Posted by Eendracht
Well, it can be quite easy to prevent Open Miles on a return ticket.
If you fly KL of AF, it might be cheaper to book 2 single tickets, rather than 1 return flight.
If you fly KL of AF, it might be cheaper to book 2 single tickets, rather than 1 return flight.
Nov 20, 2006, 12:19 pm
#115
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,400
I was looking for flights to CAI, before going with another carrier which brings me closer to my final destination, and I experienced the same results. While trying to book the return tickets, I was given flights at ungodly hours with AZ and KL (something like 4 AM). When I tried to book two one way tickets, the direct AF flights at decent times of the day opened up ...
Nov 23, 2006, 11:17 am
#116
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 950
What you are talking about sometimes happen. It is just Checkmytrip which is not correct. But you can be sure that A class is really first class booking class on AF.
Originally Posted by frankvb
I went all the way through the booking (LHR-CDG-SIN), only to find to my horror that after payment I got a screen with LHR-CDG 'bus', and CDG-SIN 'eco' Also on checkmytrip it displayed 'restricted economy'. I had checked for the correct amount of miles and availability with KVS tool.
However the ticket was booked ok, in O and A booking class. To be absolutely sure I called the FB helpdesk, no wait at all, and reserved seat 1A for CDG-SIN. Now checkmytrip shows 'Restricted Economy' and seat 1A... Clicking on the seat however brings up the first class cabin. Somehow there must be a problem with booking code 'A' on AF, and checkmytrip doesn't know it is first class.
Also on checkmytrip it displayed 'restricted economy'. I had checked for the correct amount of miles and availability with KVS tool.However the ticket was booked ok, in O and A booking class. To be absolutely sure I called the FB helpdesk, no wait at all, and reserved seat 1A for CDG-SIN. Now checkmytrip shows 'Restricted Economy' and seat 1A... Clicking on the seat however brings up the first class cabin. Somehow there must be a problem with booking code 'A' on AF, and checkmytrip doesn't know it is first class.
Nov 27, 2006, 12:52 pm
#117
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Frequence Plus/Flying Blue
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by davistev
She also said that I cannot mix a KLM/Air France flight with a Malaysia Airlines or China Southern flight. Is this now true?
Edit: it is not possible on China Southern
Nov 28, 2006, 5:07 am
#118
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KLM Plat, Hertz Gold,Priority club, Lufthansa, Mariott
Posts: 150
Originally Posted by JOUY31
When I tried to book two one way tickets, the direct AF flights at decent times of the day opened up ...
Two years ago I went to YVR (with KL from AMS) and I discovered that the amount of tax I had to pay was lower when using two one-ways than with a return ticket!
Didn't ask why, just booked the one ways and spent the difference in Vancouver
Feb 10, 2007, 4:54 am
#119
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ PPS, LH SEN, Amex something, nothing everywhere else
Posts: 994
During a frustrating attempt to book rtn Award flights NCL - AMS - IAH I have found that if, when you get to the "Miles required and Tax details" page,
under "Amount" in the first column if any figure other than zero euros is shown then the Biz booking will revert to Eco. Call then needed to get FB to cancel booking
If on the other hand the Amount column shows zero euros your booking is OK and you will get your Biz Award. Only a theory so Buyer Beware etc.
[...]
under "Amount" in the first column if any figure other than zero euros is shown then the Biz booking will revert to Eco. Call then needed to get FB to cancel booking
If on the other hand the Amount column shows zero euros your booking is OK and you will get your Biz Award. Only a theory so Buyer Beware etc.
[...]
Mar 7, 2007, 6:58 am
#120
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: GRU / SXB
Programs: FB Plat, CX Diamond, TK Elite *G, EK Gold, EY Silv, Amex Cent, R&C 5C, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Avis PC
Posts: 1,077
I booked 3 business class award tickets this morning. The AF website said I was gonna be charged 716 euros for the taxes of the 3 tickets.
I received a confirmation email a few minutes later, saying the total cost for the taxes was: 19 800 Euros !!!
I called Flying blue and they let me know that I had been charged for the 19 800 and that the award ticket hadn't been ticketed !!!!
They assured me they were gonna issue the award tickets and refund me for the taxes... (I'm gonna check my credit card statement closely because I don't trust them...)
Hopefully I carefully read the confirmation email... I would have ended up with no ticket at all and a charge of almost 20 000 euros for nothing if I hadn't checked carefully...
How can their booking engine be so wrong ??
I received a confirmation email a few minutes later, saying the total cost for the taxes was: 19 800 Euros !!!
I called Flying blue and they let me know that I had been charged for the 19 800 and that the award ticket hadn't been ticketed !!!!
They assured me they were gonna issue the award tickets and refund me for the taxes... (I'm gonna check my credit card statement closely because I don't trust them...)
Hopefully I carefully read the confirmation email... I would have ended up with no ticket at all and a charge of almost 20 000 euros for nothing if I hadn't checked carefully...
How can their booking engine be so wrong ??