Confirmed: KLM introduces Economy Comfort short-haul
Oct 22, 2012, 2:14 am
#91
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,342
Press release: KLM biedt Economy Comfort op Europese vluchten
Last edited by KLflyerRalph; Oct 23, 2012 at 9:57 am Reason: edited link
Oct 22, 2012, 3:58 am
#94
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Oct 22, 2012, 8:27 am
#95
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 5
Ok, time to try *A... as a Dutchman I regret this so damn much because with FBG I feel like being home in KL planes. Especially all my many flights in Europe. But now it feels like family is making me to pay for all kind of things in what used to be my own house.
Wanted to try Lufthansa long ago, now it's time to search for better treatment.
Wanted to try Lufthansa long ago, now it's time to search for better treatment.
Oct 22, 2012, 8:46 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,757
Oct 22, 2012, 9:52 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Programs: Many
Posts: 773
So I just tested the system a bit with a flight in December.
Generally: I like it. As a PE flyer I am able to reserve my seats in advance in the whole plane (minus C seats of course) and I am also able to select exit row now but change back to a regular seat as well.
That wasn't possible before.
The big problem I see however is how a full flight will be handled. In the past what happened was that at CheckIn people would just be put into the middle seat front to back. If they continue doing that, their EC seating will be seating unhappy passengers pretty quickly.
Really looking forward to seeing how many people will be sitting in front of the exit row from now on. So far, the exit rows have been conspicuously empty on many of my flights...
Generally: I like it. As a PE flyer I am able to reserve my seats in advance in the whole plane (minus C seats of course) and I am also able to select exit row now but change back to a regular seat as well.
That wasn't possible before.
The big problem I see however is how a full flight will be handled. In the past what happened was that at CheckIn people would just be put into the middle seat front to back. If they continue doing that, their EC seating will be seating unhappy passengers pretty quickly.
Really looking forward to seeing how many people will be sitting in front of the exit row from now on. So far, the exit rows have been conspicuously empty on many of my flights...
Oct 22, 2012, 10:44 am
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Oct 22, 2012, 4:32 pm
#99
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Programs: Many
Posts: 773
Around noon today I was able to select seats on the whole plane. Even after I chose the exit row.
Now that I have checked again all I have is the exit row or the comfort zone. No regular seats available as ASR...
Hmpf.
Oct 23, 2012, 2:14 am
#101
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, ALL Silver
Posts: 3,038
This is just great
I love the fact that I have forked out to mainly fly KLM as my chosen airline for the last 4-5 years (together with AF) and then I get the opportunity to pay even more for seats I have had for free before. Poor show
Oct 23, 2012, 4:25 am
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,757
Oct 23, 2012, 5:09 am
#103
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,343
Well it seems clear that we have two separate parties here: PE and Zilver/Gold Elite members.
For PE members the system in generally an improvement: Fewer people having access to the best seats (Which PE members get for free). Many more chances for an empty middle seat.
For Gold members it is a huge downgrade. Like said above, 30 euro extra roundtrip is a 30% price hike on some routes. A very important Elite benefit has become paid.
I would advice all Gold members to send in a complaint to KLM. I did and told them I have booked a high number of roundtrips recently (Alitalia sale O-)), based on the fact that I would receive my Elite benefits, including access to the Select Seating rows. They cannot revoke this benefit without notice, as the ticket purchases were based on the fact that these would be available to me. And it is up to them to find a solution for this.
Not sure if it would yield any results, but I guess we will see. And the more complaints the better.
For PE members the system in generally an improvement: Fewer people having access to the best seats (Which PE members get for free). Many more chances for an empty middle seat.
For Gold members it is a huge downgrade. Like said above, 30 euro extra roundtrip is a 30% price hike on some routes. A very important Elite benefit has become paid.
I would advice all Gold members to send in a complaint to KLM. I did and told them I have booked a high number of roundtrips recently (Alitalia sale O-)), based on the fact that I would receive my Elite benefits, including access to the Select Seating rows. They cannot revoke this benefit without notice, as the ticket purchases were based on the fact that these would be available to me. And it is up to them to find a solution for this.
Not sure if it would yield any results, but I guess we will see. And the more complaints the better.