Flight Bundle
Nov 14, 2017, 6:06 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
I just received an email from KLM about the flight bundle, and it now includes a Flying Blue status upgrade:
10 return flights bundle = free Silver status
20 return flights bundle = free Gold status
Which is quite a suitable offer. Much better than having to start at 0, earning status while flying these segments. Also, it may be a great way to jumpstart to Gold - especially with the new qualification requirements next year (getting status is much harder than keeping status). It does say that quantities are limited so the offer may not be around for long though.
10 return flights bundle = free Silver status
20 return flights bundle = free Gold status
Which is quite a suitable offer. Much better than having to start at 0, earning status while flying these segments. Also, it may be a great way to jumpstart to Gold - especially with the new qualification requirements next year (getting status is much harder than keeping status). It does say that quantities are limited so the offer may not be around for long though.
Also does 20 return flights mean 40 segments in total?
Nov 14, 2017, 6:30 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
I was called today by Optiontown - the company that runs the bundle for KLM. Seemed to come from Massachusetts but sounded like this weekend - bad VOIP line with lots of lost connections.
They told me they fixed the problem with the bundle and I could book now - but still not go.
Told them I made alternative arrangements so the bundle is not much worth to me now - want to cancel the purchase. They told me that is not possible sir. And then again connection lost.
I will try to resolve this with KLM.
SO WARNING - DO NOT PURCHASE A BUNDLE AT THIS STAGE - CRAPPY BACK OFFICE !
They told me they fixed the problem with the bundle and I could book now - but still not go.
Told them I made alternative arrangements so the bundle is not much worth to me now - want to cancel the purchase. They told me that is not possible sir. And then again connection lost.
I will try to resolve this with KLM.
SO WARNING - DO NOT PURCHASE A BUNDLE AT THIS STAGE - CRAPPY BACK OFFICE !
Nov 20, 2017, 3:31 pm
#18
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
It took another week - with help from the Plat line and from the general complaints office at KLM AMS - but now I have been told, they will cancel and reimburse my bundle.
Lessons learned:
1. Bundle is technically a challenge (for pax)
2. KLM has minor control over the execution
3. Claims 'we reserve a seat' and 'any flight is available' are not correct - if Y has sufficient availability you might be able to book with the bundle, but only if the technical side runs well and/or if it is a weekday and (I guess) Indian daytime - because then they have agents available who might be able to book for you.
4. For me not worth the hassle for now
5. If I were KLM I would step in to either improve execution right away or pull the bundles off the markets for now....
Lessons learned:
1. Bundle is technically a challenge (for pax)
2. KLM has minor control over the execution
3. Claims 'we reserve a seat' and 'any flight is available' are not correct - if Y has sufficient availability you might be able to book with the bundle, but only if the technical side runs well and/or if it is a weekday and (I guess) Indian daytime - because then they have agents available who might be able to book for you.
4. For me not worth the hassle for now
5. If I were KLM I would step in to either improve execution right away or pull the bundles off the markets for now....
Dec 1, 2017, 4:24 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
I am still waiting for my refund. The Plat line agrees that I am entitled to the refund, however Optionstown needs to do that. But they simple don't.
3 weeks and counting - and the Plat line keeps calling them and me....
Lousy setup - no control apparently over the way they run it.
As long as it works, it seems a great idea, but if you run into s**t, you seem to be on your own.
ADDED :
KLM sent me an email a few weeks ago, when they announced the Flight Bundle stating, they were offering for a limited number - with a purchase of a bundle for 10 - 19 flights, a free FB Silver card or 7,500 miles and for 20 flights and more, a free FB Gold card or 15,000 miles.
I purchased the (challenged) 20 flights bundle and received an email I could choose between Silver or 7,500 miles but I responded it should have been 15,000 miles (or Gold).
Then Optiontown sends me the following:
Thank you for your interest in Flight Bundle.
We would like to advise you that as per records you have purchased KLM Flight Bundle with total 20 Flights credits. As per KLM Promotion on purchase of 10-19 Returns Flights
you are eligible for Silver Card or 75,000 Awards Miles.
So in one sentence they go from 20 flights to 10-19, and then to the even better 75,000 miles...
And these people are supposed to handle a technology that makes it easy (or even workable) to purchase and use these bundles.
Me thinks this clearly demonstrates KLM did not choose the right partner to realise that...
ADDED - December 8
Optionstown finally refunded me for the payment and cancelled the bundle....
3 weeks and counting - and the Plat line keeps calling them and me....
Lousy setup - no control apparently over the way they run it.
As long as it works, it seems a great idea, but if you run into s**t, you seem to be on your own.
ADDED :
KLM sent me an email a few weeks ago, when they announced the Flight Bundle stating, they were offering for a limited number - with a purchase of a bundle for 10 - 19 flights, a free FB Silver card or 7,500 miles and for 20 flights and more, a free FB Gold card or 15,000 miles.
I purchased the (challenged) 20 flights bundle and received an email I could choose between Silver or 7,500 miles but I responded it should have been 15,000 miles (or Gold).
Then Optiontown sends me the following:
Thank you for your interest in Flight Bundle.
We would like to advise you that as per records you have purchased KLM Flight Bundle with total 20 Flights credits. As per KLM Promotion on purchase of 10-19 Returns Flights
you are eligible for Silver Card or 75,000 Awards Miles.
So in one sentence they go from 20 flights to 10-19, and then to the even better 75,000 miles...
And these people are supposed to handle a technology that makes it easy (or even workable) to purchase and use these bundles.
Me thinks this clearly demonstrates KLM did not choose the right partner to realise that...
ADDED - December 8
Optionstown finally refunded me for the payment and cancelled the bundle....
Last edited by pjhartog; Dec 8, 2017 at 2:11 pm Reason: new development
Dec 9, 2017, 8:28 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 18
Tried to redeem the second round trip just now... get the same "We are experiencing high volume at this time. Please check back with us after 15 minutes." message that pjhartog got. I am getting second thoughts whether it was a good idea to purchase this bundle...
Edit: Three hours later, after a few more tries, it finally worked. But I don't find this exactly "convenient".
Edit: Three hours later, after a few more tries, it finally worked. But I don't find this exactly "convenient".
Last edited by fkl; Dec 9, 2017 at 11:41 am
Dec 10, 2017, 9:13 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
Tried to redeem the second round trip just now... get the same "We are experiencing high volume at this time. Please check back with us after 15 minutes." message that pjhartog got. I am getting second thoughts whether it was a good idea to purchase this bundle...
Edit: Three hours later, after a few more tries, it finally worked. But I don't find this exactly "convenient".
Edit: Three hours later, after a few more tries, it finally worked. But I don't find this exactly "convenient".
Let's have experiences with the bundle post here so we can see what is improving and what is not...
Dec 13, 2017, 11:15 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,061
I am still waiting for my refund. The Plat line agrees that I am entitled to the refund, however Optionstown needs to do that. But they simple don't.
3 weeks and counting - and the Plat line keeps calling them and me....
Lousy setup - no control apparently over the way they run it.
As long as it works, it seems a great idea, but if you run into s**t, you seem to be on your own.
ADDED :
KLM sent me an email a few weeks ago, when they announced the Flight Bundle stating, they were offering for a limited number - with a purchase of a bundle for 10 - 19 flights, a free FB Silver card or 7,500 miles and for 20 flights and more, a free FB Gold card or 15,000 miles.
I purchased the (challenged) 20 flights bundle and received an email I could choose between Silver or 7,500 miles but I responded it should have been 15,000 miles (or Gold).
Then Optiontown sends me the following:
Thank you for your interest in Flight Bundle.
We would like to advise you that as per records you have purchased KLM Flight Bundle with total 20 Flights credits. As per KLM Promotion on purchase of 10-19 Returns Flights
you are eligible for Silver Card or 75,000 Awards Miles.
So in one sentence they go from 20 flights to 10-19, and then to the even better 75,000 miles...
And these people are supposed to handle a technology that makes it easy (or even workable) to purchase and use these bundles.
Me thinks this clearly demonstrates KLM did not choose the right partner to realise that...
ADDED - December 8
Optionstown finally refunded me for the payment and cancelled the bundle....
3 weeks and counting - and the Plat line keeps calling them and me....
Lousy setup - no control apparently over the way they run it.
As long as it works, it seems a great idea, but if you run into s**t, you seem to be on your own.
ADDED :
KLM sent me an email a few weeks ago, when they announced the Flight Bundle stating, they were offering for a limited number - with a purchase of a bundle for 10 - 19 flights, a free FB Silver card or 7,500 miles and for 20 flights and more, a free FB Gold card or 15,000 miles.
I purchased the (challenged) 20 flights bundle and received an email I could choose between Silver or 7,500 miles but I responded it should have been 15,000 miles (or Gold).
Then Optiontown sends me the following:
Thank you for your interest in Flight Bundle.
We would like to advise you that as per records you have purchased KLM Flight Bundle with total 20 Flights credits. As per KLM Promotion on purchase of 10-19 Returns Flights
you are eligible for Silver Card or 75,000 Awards Miles.
So in one sentence they go from 20 flights to 10-19, and then to the even better 75,000 miles...
And these people are supposed to handle a technology that makes it easy (or even workable) to purchase and use these bundles.
Me thinks this clearly demonstrates KLM did not choose the right partner to realise that...
ADDED - December 8
Optionstown finally refunded me for the payment and cancelled the bundle....
But it doesn't make sense, 20 flights will give you Silver anyway.
Does this promotion run still? I'd go check the terms, might work well for me.
edit: found it in my emails. Looks like it's indeed 10+ returns for silver (20+ for gold), but you can also gift it. so that makes some sense.
Dec 13, 2017, 3:46 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,064
Yes, but the difference is that for that you must fly them yourself. With this flight bundle you need only purchase them; someone else can fly them.
Dec 13, 2017, 3:53 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,061
I've only just noticed that it's even possible for multiple people to fly on a single bundle. So it's like 2 return flights for a family of 5 then. Which could be useful.
Dec 19, 2017, 1:29 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: FB Plat
Posts: 18
Booked even bundle for 3 people because it was same price as 2 people. Just need to find out if anyone else is interested in AMS-MUC 
At the moment trying to redeem the 3rd flight, but again "We are experiencing high volume at this time. Please check back with us after 15 minutes." since a few hours... makes booking a ~400€ flight for 124€ less fun than it would be otherwise.
Edit: After complaining via e-mail they fixed the issue very quickly... still...
At the moment trying to redeem the 3rd flight, but again "We are experiencing high volume at this time. Please check back with us after 15 minutes." since a few hours... makes booking a ~400€ flight for 124€ less fun than it would be otherwise.
Edit: After complaining via e-mail they fixed the issue very quickly... still...
Last edited by fkl; Dec 19, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Dec 19, 2017, 4:12 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
It seems they are getting more responsive to issues, but still - these issues should not occur at all.
In my view the bundle should work seamless with KLM and that is still not the case.
The hassle before I got my refund was really not acceptable.
But a good working bundle concept would really be great !
Let's hope these are just early hour issues - although Optionstown seems to have been around for a while.
In my view the bundle should work seamless with KLM and that is still not the case.
The hassle before I got my refund was really not acceptable.
But a good working bundle concept would really be great !
Let's hope these are just early hour issues - although Optionstown seems to have been around for a while.
Dec 20, 2017, 4:48 am
#29
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,340
In which fare class do these book? In a class that corresponds to a 400-euro fare, or, a class that is closer to a 124 euro fare (do they open extra space in that class when you book)? Or perhaps there is a dedicated class for these bundle-flights?
Dec 20, 2017, 7:51 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: AMS
Programs: FB plat for life
Posts: 316
I think if there is place in Y regardsless of fare class, you should get it. But clearly it not always works that way, certainly not in the early days.
Perhaps they can handle that now by phone - when I ran into my issues they could not do anything in Amsterdam, referred me to the India call centre (the Optionstown `+31 20....' number) but on Sunday the guy could not book 'by hand' and told me to call back on Monday - then the availability was zero...