TATL Upgrades using Skymiles and SWUs on Air France/KLM
Mar 20, 2012, 9:02 am
#586
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
With all the communication issues and problems between AF and DL, I have a question regarding my upcoming trip.
I booked a W fare to CDG on DL and got the return flight upgraded to O class at booking. Ticket was reissued, fare class shows WKWLSUS/PU503, and SWU closed out. Last weekend EF alerts O availability for the outbound flight. I called, got the upgrade, and ticket was reissued. However, the fare class shows WKWLSUS and the SWU is still listed as open.
AF.com, KLM.com and DL.com all show me in O class, seat confirmed and everything. My DL receipt shows my original fare paid, however a receipt off of KLM.com shows a fare of $6k+. (I couldn't figure out how to get a receipt off of AF.com, so went with KLM)
So did I luck out and get an upgrade without the SWU being used? Or am I going to get a rude surprise and have AF demand more money when I try to check in for the outbound?
I booked a W fare to CDG on DL and got the return flight upgraded to O class at booking. Ticket was reissued, fare class shows WKWLSUS/PU503, and SWU closed out. Last weekend EF alerts O availability for the outbound flight. I called, got the upgrade, and ticket was reissued. However, the fare class shows WKWLSUS and the SWU is still listed as open.
AF.com, KLM.com and DL.com all show me in O class, seat confirmed and everything. My DL receipt shows my original fare paid, however a receipt off of KLM.com shows a fare of $6k+. (I couldn't figure out how to get a receipt off of AF.com, so went with KLM)
So did I luck out and get an upgrade without the SWU being used? Or am I going to get a rude surprise and have AF demand more money when I try to check in for the outbound?
Mar 20, 2012, 9:14 am
#587
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,202
Yup, doesn't sound like it was reissued correctly or at all. My guess is they just changed your ticket to show O and put it in the reissue queue, but then with the IT problems it never got done since DL can't see or rebook into AF O now.
Definitely call and push to get that corrected... last thing you want to do is end up going to the airport and find out you are stuck in Y because DL screwed up.
Definitely call and push to get that corrected... last thing you want to do is end up going to the airport and find out you are stuck in Y because DL screwed up.
Mar 20, 2012, 9:21 am
#588
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MSP
Posts: 203
Yup, doesn't sound like it was reissued correctly or at all. My guess is they just changed your ticket to show O and put it in the reissue queue, but then with the IT problems it never got done since DL can't see or rebook into AF O now.
Definitely call and push to get that corrected... last thing you want to do is end up going to the airport and find out you are stuck in Y because DL screwed up.
Definitely call and push to get that corrected... last thing you want to do is end up going to the airport and find out you are stuck in Y because DL screwed up.
Mar 20, 2012, 9:31 am
#589
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Thanks, the only reason I say the ticket was reissued was because on my receipt, the ticket numbers changed and the issue date is the day I called in for the outbound upgrade. I know it doesn't say PU503, but it looked to me that the tickets were reissued. AF.com is showing the new ticket numbers, confirmed into O.
Mar 20, 2012, 9:54 am
#590
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MSP
Posts: 203
What booking class does DL show you in on the details screen? If it's O, you might just have lucked out. However, I'd still be leery of something going wrong at the airport and finding myself in PV instead of Affaires. Alternatively, there might be some sort of audit sweep run that shows you in O with a W fare basis and no SWU or miles attached and dumps you back into W with no O available.
I never thought of the audit run, while a free upgrade would be great. I think I'll give a call to make sure it has been processed correctly. Thanks!
Mar 20, 2012, 10:21 am
#592
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, Alitalia Confiscated iPod Club
Posts: 434
just tried to upgrade AF IAD-CDG (today EF showed 2 O seats), was told by the skyteam desk that they could not see anything, and that the IT problems were ongoing
it wasn't looking good
then out of the blue the guy rebooked me in Z on DL metal!
it wasn't looking good
then out of the blue the guy rebooked me in Z on DL metal!
Mar 20, 2012, 10:55 am
#593
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: DM, KM,
Posts: 173
Mar 20, 2012, 11:13 am
#594
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,621
This has happened to me a few times after DL schedule changes and IROPs. Saves me a connection and gets me a real flat bed. Apparently when DL can't accommodate a passenger on Air France due to issues on their end, protocol is to rebook onto DL metal.
Mar 20, 2012, 1:12 pm
#595
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
Happened to me before when a delta schedule change made my connection from the TATL in O impoosible, was rebooked on DL metal in BE.
Mar 21, 2012, 7:44 am
#596
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
I just bought OKC-ATL-JFK-IST (M/SWU) and wanted to come back IST-AMS-MEM-OKC so I return home the same day but the DM agent said she could not see O inventory for KLM (IST-AMS) even though I see it on EF.
The agent said it was an IT problem and that they were trying to keep us on DL medal until this is resolved which doesn't pay my hotel bill in ATL.
The agent said it was an IT problem and that they were trying to keep us on DL medal until this is resolved which doesn't pay my hotel bill in ATL.
Last edited by Xeno; Mar 21, 2012 at 7:56 am
Mar 21, 2012, 9:26 am
#597
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: MHT, DL DM & now KM!/ formerNW Plat /HH Diamond/SPG plat
Posts: 830
Short Rant....
Joining in the frustration on lack of knowledge on the part of the phone agents. You would think at least the agents at the Diamond desk would be knowledgeable. Called to see about a flight out of JFK to JNB on a specific day in June. Want to use SWU's. Looked like cheapest M fare was through YUL.
First DM agent told me that only Y and B fares would upgradeable with SWU's on KLM and they upgrade into Z. I (nicely) mentioned I'm pretty sure the website reads Y, B, M, and U on KLM and if memory serves they upgrade into O.
She was adamant that only AirFrance uses O and that M fares were no longer upgradeable on KLM, but for another $440, she found inventory on both legs for upgrade. Well, fine, if she could get the upgrades, I'll go with her version.
As luck would have it, as she tried to work the return we got disconnected. Called back. Next DM agent agreed that KLM uses O for upgrades, but only on Y and B fares. I read her the line from Delta.com that I could use M.
She said nothing was available for upgrade on that route on KLM. I could seen off the W.A. inventory website that KLM had 3 open O in inventory for the flight that day.
Long story shortened, she was confused, couldn't see the inventory and then had the wrong dates. In the end she said "I think it's just too early to book"
I gave up.
Joining in the frustration on lack of knowledge on the part of the phone agents. You would think at least the agents at the Diamond desk would be knowledgeable. Called to see about a flight out of JFK to JNB on a specific day in June. Want to use SWU's. Looked like cheapest M fare was through YUL.
First DM agent told me that only Y and B fares would upgradeable with SWU's on KLM and they upgrade into Z. I (nicely) mentioned I'm pretty sure the website reads Y, B, M, and U on KLM and if memory serves they upgrade into O.
She was adamant that only AirFrance uses O and that M fares were no longer upgradeable on KLM, but for another $440, she found inventory on both legs for upgrade. Well, fine, if she could get the upgrades, I'll go with her version.
As luck would have it, as she tried to work the return we got disconnected. Called back. Next DM agent agreed that KLM uses O for upgrades, but only on Y and B fares. I read her the line from Delta.com that I could use M.
She said nothing was available for upgrade on that route on KLM. I could seen off the W.A. inventory website that KLM had 3 open O in inventory for the flight that day.
Long story shortened, she was confused, couldn't see the inventory and then had the wrong dates. In the end she said "I think it's just too early to book"
I gave up.
Mar 21, 2012, 11:02 pm
#598
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
With all the communication issues and problems between AF and DL, I have a question regarding my upcoming trip.
I booked a W fare to CDG on DL and got the return flight upgraded to O class at booking. Ticket was reissued, fare class shows WKWLSUS/PU503, and SWU closed out. Last weekend EF alerts O availability for the outbound flight. I called, got the upgrade, and ticket was reissued. However, the fare class shows WKWLSUS and the SWU is still listed as open.
AF.com, KLM.com and DL.com all show me in O class, seat confirmed and everything. My DL receipt shows my original fare paid, however a receipt off of KLM.com shows a fare of $6k+. (I couldn't figure out how to get a receipt off of AF.com, so went with KLM)
So did I luck out and get an upgrade without the SWU being used? Or am I going to get a rude surprise and have AF demand more money when I try to check in for the outbound?
I booked a W fare to CDG on DL and got the return flight upgraded to O class at booking. Ticket was reissued, fare class shows WKWLSUS/PU503, and SWU closed out. Last weekend EF alerts O availability for the outbound flight. I called, got the upgrade, and ticket was reissued. However, the fare class shows WKWLSUS and the SWU is still listed as open.
AF.com, KLM.com and DL.com all show me in O class, seat confirmed and everything. My DL receipt shows my original fare paid, however a receipt off of KLM.com shows a fare of $6k+. (I couldn't figure out how to get a receipt off of AF.com, so went with KLM)
So did I luck out and get an upgrade without the SWU being used? Or am I going to get a rude surprise and have AF demand more money when I try to check in for the outbound?
Mar 22, 2012, 5:51 am
#599
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BER, SAT, AUS
Programs: Feels like FO (AA EXP)
Posts: 1,611
I figured it was probably more broadly applicable to international fares, but thought I should restrict my comment to actual experience. Which government agency regulates things like publishing fare rules, DOC or DOT? Maybe we need to start filing complaints about it or calling in and asking the agents to read the rules to us in their entirety before booking tickets.
Mar 22, 2012, 7:07 am
#600
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
Short Rant....
Joining in the frustration on lack of knowledge on the part of the phone agents. You would think at least the agents at the Diamond desk would be knowledgeable. Called to see about a flight out of JFK to JNB on a specific day in June. Want to use SWU's. Looked like cheapest M fare was through YUL.
First DM agent told me that only Y and B fares would upgradeable with SWU's on KLM and they upgrade into Z. I (nicely) mentioned I'm pretty sure the website reads Y, B, M, and U on KLM and if memory serves they upgrade into O.
She was adamant that only AirFrance uses O and that M fares were no longer upgradeable on KLM, but for another $440, she found inventory on both legs for upgrade. Well, fine, if she could get the upgrades, I'll go with her version.
As luck would have it, as she tried to work the return we got disconnected. Called back. Next DM agent agreed that KLM uses O for upgrades, but only on Y and B fares. I read her the line from Delta.com that I could use M.
She said nothing was available for upgrade on that route on KLM. I could seen off the W.A. inventory website that KLM had 3 open O in inventory for the flight that day.
Long story shortened, she was confused, couldn't see the inventory and then had the wrong dates. In the end she said "I think it's just too early to book"
I gave up.
Joining in the frustration on lack of knowledge on the part of the phone agents. You would think at least the agents at the Diamond desk would be knowledgeable. Called to see about a flight out of JFK to JNB on a specific day in June. Want to use SWU's. Looked like cheapest M fare was through YUL.
First DM agent told me that only Y and B fares would upgradeable with SWU's on KLM and they upgrade into Z. I (nicely) mentioned I'm pretty sure the website reads Y, B, M, and U on KLM and if memory serves they upgrade into O.
She was adamant that only AirFrance uses O and that M fares were no longer upgradeable on KLM, but for another $440, she found inventory on both legs for upgrade. Well, fine, if she could get the upgrades, I'll go with her version.
As luck would have it, as she tried to work the return we got disconnected. Called back. Next DM agent agreed that KLM uses O for upgrades, but only on Y and B fares. I read her the line from Delta.com that I could use M.
She said nothing was available for upgrade on that route on KLM. I could seen off the W.A. inventory website that KLM had 3 open O in inventory for the flight that day.
Long story shortened, she was confused, couldn't see the inventory and then had the wrong dates. In the end she said "I think it's just too early to book"
I gave up.
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