Originally Posted by QDDawg

I really don't understand why it is so difficult for all the DM agents to be trained properly on how to apply GUC's to KLM flights. I just was on line and did extensive searches on Dl.com to find Z space available on KLM operated flights (DL #'s - operated by KLM). Found Z space available ATL - AMS - CPT and return CPT - AMS - JFK. Have all the flight #'s call the DM desk twice - HUCA - and both agents told me no upgrade available. The 1st one said she didn't see any Z class, the 2nd told me Z class availablity on KLM does not matter - its a special code only she can see, the Z class I see doesn't mean anything?

It's beyond frustrating when you do all the research, are looking at the screen clearly stating Z class available - and the DM reps keep telling you there is no room up front with GUC's.

I emailed a complaint so we will see if anything can be done, and I suppose I will continue to HUAC.

Originally Posted by uitailgater

Update: I've been watching EF for CPT-AMS availability on its own, as well as overall CPT-MDW. Today, searching just CPT-AMS, 1 seat showed available. I sent a DM to the Twitter team. They could see the 1 seat available that was showing in EF for the CPT-AMS route. They split our reservation and were able to upgrade my wife successfully. I've set an alert on EF and will keep watching for one more seat to open up.

So in this case at least, with part of the route operated by KLM and part by Delta, I needed to find availability searching just on the KLM-operated portion of the route by itself. On the outbound (ORD-AMS-CPT), I had to find availability on the route as a whole since it was all operated by KLM. This does match the way the reservation shows on klm.com. There it shows 3 segments: ORD-CPT (2 flights operated by KLM), CPT-AMS (1 flight operated by KLM), AMS-MDW (2 flights operated by Delta), even though I bought it as a round-trip and just have a 2 hour connection on the return.

I had called the Diamond line a few days ago to ask about changing the KLM-coded flight back to the DL codeshare, since they had changed it when they upgraded the outbound. They couldn't change it back, but they were able to confirm with the KLM desk, and put a note in my record, that the upgrade would be approved if available since I had originally purchased the codeshare. This helped today, because the first response on Twitter was that the flight wasn't eligible for an upgrade since it was a KLM flight number not in Y/B/M. After they read the notes in the record, there were no issues with confirming the upgrade.

Originally Posted by QDDawg

Okay, so the 2nd agent confirmed Z class was available on the KLM flights - just as I was seeing, but said it didn't matter. I'll HUCA later, hopefully have better luck. Once I find the agent that can get this done I'm going to ask for their direct line I should have done that after the last fiasco of applying GUC's to KLM.

Originally Posted by SamOF

Not to pile on, but you weren't seeing Z availability on the KLM flights—you were seeing Z availability on the Delta flights. It seems possible to me that the second agent was making the same mistake, and her confusing explanation was trying to say that you need Z on the KL numbers, not the DL numbers.

There's no way to check this on Delta.com. Expertflyer has the info you need, as does ITA Matrix if there is a Z fare filed in the market.

Originally Posted by iflyalexair

Has there been a change in the policy? On the website, this language no longer appears:

REDEMPTIONS ON KLM – ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES

Valid on Delta-marketed, KLM-operated flights for use globally on published Main Cabin fares booked in Y, B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class to Business Class.
Valid on all KLM-marketed, KLM-operated flights from published Main Cabin fares in Y, B, M, S, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X, or V class to Business Class.
Global Upgrades on KLM flights must be confirmed 24 hours prior to departure.
For flights departing Amsterdam, Global Upgrade Certificates may be applied prior to check-in either with a KLM ticketing agent or at a KLM Crown Lounge.
Global Upgrade Certificates may not be used to waitlist for a KLM-operated flight.

Now this is on the website, which is confusing as it sets up two circumstances that are identical (KL operated, DL Marketed):

For travel on KLM-operated, Delta-marketed flights this certificate may be used to upgrade on published fares booked in Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T, X or V class and all fare classes upgrade into Z class. For travel on KLM-operated flights marketed by either Delta or Air France, this certificate may be used to upgrade on published fares booked in Y, B, or M class. Fares booked in B or M are eligible to upgrade into O class, while fares booked in Y are eligible to upgrade into Z class.

I am trying to apply a certificate to a KL operated KL marketed flight, and I'm told I need Y class. I no longer see published information on KL operated KL marketed.

Originally Posted by flyerCO

Yes change around time could start using on KE. KL/KL requires Y to book into Z or BM into O. The second line was typo, it should read KLM or Air France marketed.(the sentence before wouldn't make sense otherwise) In fact it's been corrected online in some places.

Originally Posted by LBJ

It was changed well before the ability to use on KE. See my archive.org link above from Feb 2017 --

• Valid on all KLM-marketed, KLM-operated flights from published Main Cabin fares in Y, B, or M class to Business Class.