As in my other thread I had problems with OLCI so thought I'd give a short description of how many of my flights turn out these days. I don't fly that often but just enough to withhold my FBG (i.e. 30+ segments per year) and why I'm starting to wonder...

Anyway, So as I could not do the OLCI I turned up at the airport quite early (2.5 hours ahead) and was given seats in row 3 from HEL to AMS and then row 19 from AMS to GVA (there's yet another thread about this).

Well, it all started (disregarding the OLCI) at the automatic check in machine at HEL which usually works 100%, but this time it only found my (or rather ours) HEL to AMS flights. Pressed the AMS on-screen-button and got an error that my booking could not be found.

Went over to the check in desk (Sky Priority was lined up with clearly non frequent flyers and normal was not ) and was told off by the woman behind the counter that I should print out my BP from the machine as they couldn't print from behind the desk. I kindly explained her what had happened when using my FB card and was again told off, to use my Passport as the cards didn't work as they should. She reluctantly got her behind off her seat and walked over to the machine with my other half as I was looking after our baggage and tried with both of our Passports. Of course it didn't work either and we got a lame excuse how KLM had changed something on this particular day.

Now all of a sudden she could print the BP's from where she sat and got the seats as mentioned above. Was so fed up at the time we didn't bother to say anything and headed for the lounge. Oh, our friend didn't mention a word about the lounge which they usually always do, and she was a senior person alright having been there a good few years...

The queue for security over in the 250+ check in area is a mixed bag of fun. Delhi rush-hour and 25x family members to follow a family of 4 to the scanner is apparently the norm for some cultures so turned around and walked to the main security queue. Why can't AF/KL fork out and have a fast track available? Finnair has...

Walked to the usual lounge up on the second floor to the right opposite from security, and was told that the "new" AF/KL lounge (servisair?) now had moved to the area opposite gate 26 (or something). Why were we not told this by the check in agent? Went over and was surprised how nice it actually looked. Food wise very poor (some soup and crackers) and ok'ish on drinks. Saw that one could buy a membership for EUR 300 for a year which allowed unlimited entry with a friend in HEL, CPH and somewhere in the UK (not sure) so this can't cost AF/KL much money for sure. Funny enough, here the FBG card worked without problems.

Uneventful flight from HEL to AMS and throught we'd try and change the seats at AMS. Went to the machine and seats were available in Row 7 (A & B) and of course chose these. When going to print out the BP an error came up and went over to a rude (maybe just a cultural thing) KLM person who eventually printed our new BP's out as he would not let us through to the people sitting at the desks doing, erh, nothing (the desk at the transfer area by the bar thingy). Went to the lounge and one thing that struck me was that when the sign read "go to gate" in the lounge, when we arrived at the gate a few min later the plane was more or less fully boarded. We did cut the queue (what was left of it on normal boarding) via the priority line and we were allowed to get in front of course.

Another uneventful flight from AMS to GVA, but now it get's exciting.

When we went to pick up the bag from the belt, ours came out first. This NEVER happens so it seems like the priority bag system is now working as only priority marked bags are now out first (in my experience lately anyway).

Another fun way of travelling with a FBG card at hand... Surely this was a mixed bag of fun and I'm wondering what happens the day I decide it is not worth it having a status card when travelling.

Ah well, looking forward to my next flight with KLM so I can complain about that as well

Don't count on the priority luggage too much!
I've had it very bad at GVA!

It sucks having too read again you've had yet another problematic set of flights. We can say it again and again, but KLM has to get their IT up to normal standards!!!

Hope your next flights will be flawless. Have you written KLM/FB about your issues?

I don't mean to hijack all your threads my dear Cupart, but I filled out a form in the AMS lounge about my revent OLCI problems etc, 4 weeks ago! Absolutely nothing! Don't hold your breath for Ralph's suggestion!

Three cheers for SkyPriority, by the sound of it.

Johan