Using OP miles to upgrade on KL
 

I am on a flight in February from LAX-AMS-ATH and I am finding that it's quite difficult to upgrade using OP miles. I am in Q class. Has anyone had difficulty using OP miles to upgrade on KL? THanks :)

Mike

Hi Mike,

someone will correct me if im wrong but I beleive that you need to be booked in B class or higher to upgrade on NW/KLM (aprox $500.00 more than the Q fare) see below, taken directly from NW/KLM fare rules

*** NOTE - GENERAL RULE DOES NOT APPLY NOTE - MILEAGE
MAY BE EARNED BUT UPGRADING USING WORLDPERKS OR OTHER
FREQUENT FLIER PROGRAMS IS NOT PERMITTED FOR FARES
BOOKED IN M/H/Q/V/K

I won't say it is impossible, but KL upgrade availability to CO Onepass members is extremely limited. The best chance is to buy the KL ticket through CO, otherwise linking the KL ticket with your CO miles will be difiicult. Many agents don't know how to handle such a request.

Further, availability for LAX-AMS and AMS-ATH might differ from LAX-ATH. KL is famous for asking more miles for the first itinerary though.

There are some (limited) success stories which you can find searching this forum.

Good luck.

I have tried upgrading KLM in the past and been told by more than one agent on separate occasions that it is virtually unknown for this to happen. They say they can put in a request but in their experience they have not seen it successful. Maybe they were too lazy to try, but it sure is harder than other partners.

i've tried upgrading KLM flights on numerous occasions and usually what gets me to quit is that it seems 90% of elite reps simply dont know how to do it....i've spent hours on the phone trying to hold their hand reading through intructional guides they have as well as fare rules, yet in the end they still dont know how to do it...

marshall200 is correct though, you will need a B or higher fare to upgrade, but on the plus side you will not have to pay any BF upgrade fees as you are used to with CO

most likely your flight is a NW/KL codeshare, may i suggest in the future trying to book a NW ticket (B class or higher again)and upgrading from there, i feel CO reps are more comfortable with the NW rules and processes

Thanks for the tip. It seems that I'll have to just suck it up in coach. At least I'll get the miles along w/a 50% Silver Elite bonus. It was worth a shot! :)

Michael

My breaking point is usually when the amount of time spent on the phone with CO exceeds the flight time.
:D

I had a last minute, well within the CO BS 3 day rule last July. I wanted to upgrade and could not do it on CO, I then asked about NW and was told no availability. I then had to ask the agent to check KLM, well what do you know, I got it.
Never hurts to ask and try, try again does pay off. Well, sometimes.