Using mileage upgrade is nearly impossible?
Sep 22, 2017, 3:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
Using mileage upgrade is nearly impossible?
Hi everyone,
I'm new to flyertalk, and im running into some trouble here. I booked my round trip tickets from LAX to AMS 3 months ago for next year 4/15/18 departure. Meanwhile I transferred 190k miles to my flying blue account. I have been calling flying blue since I bought my tickets but it just receiving the same answer that they don't have availability. Is there anyone run into the same situation before?
I'm new to flyertalk, and im running into some trouble here. I booked my round trip tickets from LAX to AMS 3 months ago for next year 4/15/18 departure. Meanwhile I transferred 190k miles to my flying blue account. I have been calling flying blue since I bought my tickets but it just receiving the same answer that they don't have availability. Is there anyone run into the same situation before?
Sep 22, 2017, 4:12 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Rongarlicbun Welcome to FT
Upgrades are never guaranteed. Supply is limited. Having freq flyer status can help at times, but depends on the airline/freq flyer program.
With some airlines low priced are fares are not eligible for upgrades.
With some airlines low priced are fares are not eligible for upgrades.
Sep 22, 2017, 4:22 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
Yes I understand, good thing is the tickets I purchased are eligible for upgrade. Do you think it's still too early to request, it's 204days away from departure
Sep 23, 2017, 1:17 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Rotterdam
Programs: AMEX Platinum, BA Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,280
LAX is a heavy flown awards route I think. AF/KL uses different buckets for seat upgrades and standard award seats, although mostly there are seat upgrades (what you want) available if you can book a standard award seat for the cheapest flight. I believe for AMS-LAX it's 62.500. You can search in the booking engine on the website.
If seat upgrades are not available, then your best chance will be when OLCI starts or even at the airport. Every empty seat would then be available for seat upgrade requests.
There is a small chance that somebody booked award seats and cancels, but don't count on it.
If seat upgrades are not available, then your best chance will be when OLCI starts or even at the airport. Every empty seat would then be available for seat upgrade requests.
There is a small chance that somebody booked award seats and cancels, but don't count on it.
Sep 23, 2017, 2:22 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
LAX is a heavy flown awards route I think. AF/KL uses different buckets for seat upgrades and standard award seats, although mostly there are seat upgrades (what you want) available if you can book a standard award seat for the cheapest flight. I believe for AMS-LAX it's 62.500. You can search in the booking engine on the website.
If seat upgrades are not available, then your best chance will be when OLCI starts or even at the airport. Every empty seat would then be available for seat upgrade requests.
There is a small chance that somebody booked award seats and cancels, but don't count on it.
If seat upgrades are not available, then your best chance will be when OLCI starts or even at the airport. Every empty seat would then be available for seat upgrade requests.
There is a small chance that somebody booked award seats and cancels, but don't count on it.
I think keep calling flying blue is the only method for now...
Sep 23, 2017, 3:17 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Rotterdam
Programs: AMEX Platinum, BA Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,280
Are you on the 747 or 789? The 747 only has Elite availability, the 789 has Classic Award. Might be that they still have seat upgrades for that flight. I don't know how badly you want it, but you might be able to switch your flight to the 789 and then do a seat upgrade. You can call KL and ask for somebody. The desk was previously called Ticket+, they are able to look and book cash tickets + seat upgrade request etc.
Sep 23, 2017, 6:04 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
It's always worth checking again closer to departure time, maybe 2-3 weeks before, but nothing is guaranteed, I hope you have a backup plan for using those miles in case you cannot use them for an upgrade.
Sep 23, 2017, 3:41 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
Are you on the 747 or 789? The 747 only has Elite availability, the 789 has Classic Award. Might be that they still have seat upgrades for that flight. I don't know how badly you want it, but you might be able to switch your flight to the 789 and then do a seat upgrade. You can call KL and ask for somebody. The desk was previously called Ticket+, they are able to look and book cash tickets + seat upgrade request etc.
May I know more information about Ticket+?
Sep 23, 2017, 3:42 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
All KL tickets are eligible for an upgrade, however using miles to upgrade an economy ticket is almost always a bad deal, it is much better to just use your miles to redeem business class tickets in the first place, with 190K miles you could have purchased 3 one-ways in business, you'd have to be in a relatively expensive economy bucket to be able to make more out of it...
It's always worth checking again closer to departure time, maybe 2-3 weeks before, but nothing is guaranteed, I hope you have a backup plan for using those miles in case you cannot use them for an upgrade.
It's always worth checking again closer to departure time, maybe 2-3 weeks before, but nothing is guaranteed, I hope you have a backup plan for using those miles in case you cannot use them for an upgrade.
Sep 23, 2017, 6:22 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
Updates:
i just spent 2 hours with flying blue, the agent suggested me to book award ticket one way from lax to ams for 62500 miles each plus tax, and she puts a remark for able to change and cancel on tickets. Then i got all 3 business award tickets already with separate booking code. After connected with KLM, they want $6700 extra to cancel the outbound ticket as the ticket difference. Connect back to flying blue, they said they can't do anything, apologize about didn't mention for extra cost, and they couldn't do anything beside cancelling my award tickets.
i just spent 2 hours with flying blue, the agent suggested me to book award ticket one way from lax to ams for 62500 miles each plus tax, and she puts a remark for able to change and cancel on tickets. Then i got all 3 business award tickets already with separate booking code. After connected with KLM, they want $6700 extra to cancel the outbound ticket as the ticket difference. Connect back to flying blue, they said they can't do anything, apologize about didn't mention for extra cost, and they couldn't do anything beside cancelling my award tickets.
Sep 24, 2017, 1:10 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Rotterdam
Programs: AMEX Platinum, BA Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,280
I don't know if the fares have gone up from when you bought it. The prices for both flights are the same now. So you might be able to change your tickets to the 789 flights and upgrade from there. You have to call though to find out availability.
Sep 24, 2017, 1:14 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 195
For what it's worth, I've never had success calling and being able to use miles to upgrade. The only chance I've ever had was either OLCI or on-board. The on-board upgrades are quite high as everyone has been saying.
Finally, in my experience LAX-AMS is always full in J. I've been watching an upcoming trip in two weeks and the availability plummets 3-2 weeks out...which is expected.
That said you can always get lucky... You could always get EC seats and, as it's the 3 of you, reserve the front row near the exit. Tons of leg room...
Finally, in my experience LAX-AMS is always full in J. I've been watching an upcoming trip in two weeks and the availability plummets 3-2 weeks out...which is expected.
That said you can always get lucky... You could always get EC seats and, as it's the 3 of you, reserve the front row near the exit. Tons of leg room...
Sep 24, 2017, 2:54 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 10
It used to be a special desk were agents could access award seats/tickets and cash tickets. They could also look at the possibility of buying 1 ticket with cash, 1 with miles and then join the PNR's, etc.
I don't know if the fares have gone up from when you bought it. The prices for both flights are the same now. So you might be able to change your tickets to the 789 flights and upgrade from there. You have to call though to find out availability.
I don't know if the fares have gone up from when you bought it. The prices for both flights are the same now. So you might be able to change your tickets to the 789 flights and upgrade from there. You have to call though to find out availability.