The ultimate thread on buy-ups at OLCI
Jul 3, 2013, 10:15 am
#841
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5
We've had reports in the past of this happening.
It seems this changed last year though. See these posts from page 32 of this current thread [link only works if your settings are the standard 15 posts per page]:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-f...l#post19351970
I'm sure, though, that I read since then that someone got the cash upgrade offer and had the EC fee deducted from the amount. Still searching for that.
EDIT: Someone has (after the date of the apparent rule change) reported twice getting a refund for EC after buying up at OLCI. Someone else has reported having the EC upgrade amount already deducted from the upgrade offer price.
These are posts 789, 790 and 791 of this thread - so they are relatively recent:
Though in an earlier post, kevinflyaway sounds less sure (which hopefully means that the post above occurred later, after his own personal experiences):
My advice - just fill in the refund request form I linked to above. And be sure to come back and tell us the outcome!
Is there any reason why you didn't ask the gate agent to deduct the cost of your economy comfort seat from the upgrade amount? That seems to have been the easiest, and most obvious way, to do this.
It seems this changed last year though. See these posts from page 32 of this current thread [link only works if your settings are the standard 15 posts per page]:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-f...l#post19351970
I'm sure, though, that I read since then that someone got the cash upgrade offer and had the EC fee deducted from the amount. Still searching for that.
EDIT: Someone has (after the date of the apparent rule change) reported twice getting a refund for EC after buying up at OLCI. Someone else has reported having the EC upgrade amount already deducted from the upgrade offer price.
These are posts 789, 790 and 791 of this thread - so they are relatively recent:
Though in an earlier post, kevinflyaway sounds less sure (which hopefully means that the post above occurred later, after his own personal experiences):
My advice - just fill in the refund request form I linked to above. And be sure to come back and tell us the outcome!
Is there any reason why you didn't ask the gate agent to deduct the cost of your economy comfort seat from the upgrade amount? That seems to have been the easiest, and most obvious way, to do this.
The guy in front of me, who also took advantage of the offer asked the gate agent the same question if it is possible to deduct the cost of the premium economy seat from the update. Her reply was that she can't do it here. He has to pay the normal price and call KLM for a refund. She was working fast but not necessarily very friendly.
Jul 4, 2013, 1:19 am
#843
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
One can of course look at this in any number of ways, so they will always be able to claim that 80% is correct in one way or another.
The highest return fare I could find after a cursory search was €849. I do not know what my ticket cost (it is a 100% mile earning fare, so it won't have been the cheapest), but let's say €149 to make the mental reckoning easier. Price difference is then €700, i.e. €350 one way. 80% off is €280, which leaves €70. That's is not far off the €79 asking price.
Johan
Jul 4, 2013, 7:41 am
#845
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Jul 5, 2013, 1:49 am
#846
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Gold, MR Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,003
Jul 7, 2013, 2:22 am
#847
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
Yesterday,
DL231
AMS-BOS
fare code/class : Q (Booked as a Delta flight, on delta.com)
offer : €150 + 25,000 SkyMiles for upgrade to BusinessElite
Thought the +25,000 SkyMiles was interesting, just expected a Euro-buy up.
This was not done at OLCI, but at the transfer desk, around 1 hour+ before departure.
DL231
AMS-BOS
fare code/class : Q (Booked as a Delta flight, on delta.com)
offer : €150 + 25,000 SkyMiles for upgrade to BusinessElite
Thought the +25,000 SkyMiles was interesting, just expected a Euro-buy up.
This was not done at OLCI, but at the transfer desk, around 1 hour+ before departure.
Jul 7, 2013, 4:07 am
#848
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St Maarten
Programs: FB plat, *G, Hilton diamond, Accor plat, Sixt plat
Posts: 27
2 days ago:
AMS - LHR
Got offered an upgrade at OLCI for 49 euros, didn't take it.
Got 1F at the gate for free, they even managed to bring 1 extra salad to the plane just before closing the doors. Plane was completely full behind the curtain, 4 rows of EBC with 5 seats taken.
AMS - LHR
Got offered an upgrade at OLCI for 49 euros, didn't take it.
Got 1F at the gate for free, they even managed to bring 1 extra salad to the plane just before closing the doors. Plane was completely full behind the curtain, 4 rows of EBC with 5 seats taken.
Jul 7, 2013, 11:04 am
#849
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Offered upgrade on 6 July 2013 KL653 AMS-IAD for EUR288 when checking my connection at AMS after arriving from BUD. (Checked in on app, so don't know if was offered at OLCI, too.) Was content with 10J on the A330 and also thinking an op-up might be in the cards, even as a DL PM. On my way to the gate, I checked a kiosk and found I had been upgraded. Glad I saved my money 
Jul 7, 2013, 11:29 am
#850
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: UK
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, BA Bronze, Emirates Skywards Blue
Posts: 40
On the 5th I was offered buy-ups at OLCI on both my GLA-AMS and AMS-DXB flights. I didn't take either of them then I was op-upped at the gate on both flights. Nice.
Jul 13, 2013, 8:34 am
#852
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
This morning,
AMS-BOS (DL231)
fare code/class : T
offer : €350 + 25,000 SkyMiles
AMS-BOS (DL231)
fare code/class : T
offer : €350 + 25,000 SkyMiles
Jul 14, 2013, 8:44 am
#854
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Jul 14, 2013, 8:48 am
#855
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
My wife asked at check-in, and they had no details. This offer was at the transfer desk; as she did not have time to stop at the lounge.
Since we are back and forth so often (on all different types of fares), I have asked my wife to start asking every trip about upgrades (and I love checking every time). My expectation is around 20 to 25 trips over the next year; so I anticipate having decent data-points regarding upgrades and the Boston market.