KLM intra europe - a poor product?
#31
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 240
I used to do that, but i realized status trumps most issues and i don't request anything out of the ordinary which requires a ticket bought via KL/AF. Money-wise, 10 eur booking fee times amount MR is another 3 tickets. I'm also not a fan of slang speaking social media agents who reply after 24 hrs or not at all, even if it's regarding a future ICA booking. I know a lot of people way overpaying for KL and not getting the service they deserve. SM dep. earns 26 million a year, you would think the service would get better together with the product KL sells(e-comf. seats etc). But in stead, more seats are fixed into the sardine cans which has a negative effect on both service and comfort.
#32
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,051
I used to do that, but i realized status trumps most issues and i don't request anything out of the ordinary which requires a ticket bought via KL/AF. Money-wise, 10 eur booking fee times amount MR is another 3 tickets. I'm also not a fan of slang speaking social media agents who reply after 24 hrs or not at all, even if it's regarding a future ICA booking. I know a lot of people way overpaying for KL and not getting the service they deserve. SM dep. earns 26 million a year, you would think the service would get better together with the product KL sells(e-comf. seats etc). But in stead, more seats are fixed into the sardine cans which has a negative effect on both service and comfort.
Curiously enough, I just checked a flight I'm looking to buy for a friends wedding, and while AF site is happy enough to offer me a ticket that is wholly operated by OK, and wholly marketed by KL, the KL web only offers OK/OK connection on the outbound - for the return, it forces me to take me the KL (mainline or Cityhopper) flight on PRG-AMS sector... on the morning of the prefered day of return, this means a stagerring 226 EUR difference, in addition to a two hour later arrival (same departure from OK outstation, but while OK - and AF - offer a 40 minute connection, KL only offer a 2h30m one).
If I had any reason to use a travel agent (or even a good TA to use), I would consider using one, even at a cost. But as things are, there is no reason to do so. I can circumvent the booking fee by using AF website and my itineraries are simple enough.