dingdong380

Booked KLM flights (with segments operated by Etihad metal) - LHR - AMS - AUH - SYD return

KLM fare was for world business class and showed business class against all segments. Manage booking section on KLM website all looks fine.

However after getting my Etihad PNR to try to log in and select seats on Etihad website was shocked to see it showing economy class for all their segments other than the 45 minute hop to Amsterdam.

How can that have happened - and what is my best course of action to get things fixed (I don't want KLM to just cancel the ticket). I could have easily only found out when at Amsterdam which would have been rather horrific to say the least!!

mfkne

What do the booking classes in the ticket say? I have flown AMS-AUH-SYD on KLM/Etihad (ticketed by KLM), and I remember having trouble with viewing the booking and selecting seats, so personally I wouldn't worry too much.

dingdong380

Thanks. I can't find booking class - its not shown anywhere on my PDF ticket or if I log back in can't seem to find booking class anywhere on the website. However it does say Business Class against each segment in my PDF.

Interestingly I couldn't book any seats on Etihad so maybes the best plan is to call them to book seats and see what cabin they want to give me?

irishguy28

I wouldn't worry too much about it. KLM and Etihad use different GDSs so there may be some miscommunication there.

But you are probably correct to ring Etihad, give them the Etihad PNR, and verify that your booking is in order, and request seat assignments. Beware, though, that Etihad customer service is not the best.

KLBGO

Why call Etihad? He booked it on KLM.com. Ask them to clarify etc, and they even have a better CS.

Andy82

I had a similar ticket KL marketed / EY operated to SYD via AUH last December and I had no trouble on pre-selecting seats.
Anyway, just to be sure, you can put your KLM reservation number / ticket number on the Saudia website and easily check your booking classes.

irishguy28

Because the issue here is with how Etihad sees the ticket, not with how KLM sees the ticket.

We all know that KLM sold a business class ticket, and KLM doesn't doubt that it's a business class ticket, but the question mark is over what Etihad's internal systems see - so asking KLM isn't going to solve anything. The worry here is that Etihad will instead seat the customer in Economy. That's why Etihad - as the party that are "in the wrong" - need to be queried. KLM won't know or see that there is any potential issue with the ticket, because they are not looking at the ticket in Etihad's system. So ringing KLM is just going to confirm their side of the story - that everything looks fine from the KLM side - which is not the side where the potential problem is.

KLM and Etihad do not work so closely that asking KLM will be of any help here.

And besides, if the OP wants to select seats on the Etihad flights, (s)he will have to ring Etihad anyway, given that the website doesn't allow seat selection for this ticket. And again, assigning seats on Etihad flights is a task that requires you to contact Etihad, not KLM.

skycruiserNL

Had similar issues last year flying a combined AZ / EY ticket in Business Class.
I solved my seating issues by contacting EY via Twitter (and followed up via DM's on Twitter). >> @EtihadHelp

Why Twitter? Because first I called their CS and the girl I spoke to was very not understanding and giving me rather ...... CS which made me actually pissed off on her.

erik123

You can select seats on the Etihad app if you have the correct PNR.

sbams

KLM tech is notoriously bad at communicating with other carriers' systems. Even KLM and Delta can't get it right between them and they are first tier partners. I am sure Etihad will be able to confirm that you have a business class reservation. Interested to read result.

warakorn

If Etihad seats you in Economy, at least you get back 75% of the fare - from Etihad, as it is the operating carrier from AMS.
What was the price of the ticket?
If less than GBP 1700, I'd worry.

irishguy28

That is not always guaranteed to work when the ticket was booked in a different GDS/issued by a different airline.

And the fact alone that website is reporting the wrong class, and preventing ticket selection, makes it unlikely that the app will do any better.

Wunk

Call KLM and let them investigate first. You booked with them, they should be able to see/check with their partners how it's recorded into the systems.

sbams

You're joking of course ...