Upgrades
 

I'm flying to SJO in November and booked the economy standard ticket (not the cheapest light nor the more expensive flex). My outbound flight is via CDG with Air France and inbound flight with KLM via AMS.

I read from the web that KLM doesn't necessarily offer upgrades on their mobile app nor website, even if available. Is this true, do I have to call them or ask for upgrade possibilities at the check-in counter? If not, is there any good estimates when the upgrades are released for sale?

Paid upgrades are visible at OLCI, if available. If you don't see a proposal in the app (= possibility to select a seat in the upper class for a fee), you can ask at the airport.

Thanks for a fast reply - so KLM/AIF don't offer (paid) upgrades prior the online check-in opens?

no

Well, you can always upfare. Meaning that you "change" your ticket to the same date/flights in a higher class of service. You'll then also get the additional miles. But the cost would, of course be the same as if you had straight up purchased the business class fare.

Just for reference - I flew AF to SJO a few months ago and the upgrade offer (From premium Economy to Business) was over 1000 euro one-way. This may be different for you, but it does not have to. Last minute upgrades are not always cheaper than just purchasing a higher cabin fare.

There's an "Upgrade your flight" button in your booking that you can click at any time while managing your booking.

You can click on that, rather than waiting for AFKL to proactively reach out to you and actively offer you an upgrade

I have found that upgrade button just points you to call in to AF for upgrade offers

Ditto here. I have never seen that button do anything.

isn't this the upgrade with miles button ? If yes, it's nor possible to do anything on-line for 2 or 3 years now and you need to call FB for this.

There are two buttons nowadays. One for the mileage upgrade (Which tells you to call in), and one to upgrade by means of payment. The latter gets stuck on a "One moment please, we're retrieving your details..." message for me, so not sure how that is supposed to work. It may just be a regular upgrade (Rebook into another class).

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a5a45826e6.png

It works for me....

One thing to consider - if you booked at klm.be to avoid the ticketing fee, then it might require that you consult the booking from the klm.be website

Next week's trip looks to be full already

Maybe I should also point out that if you bought the ticket from a third party, you probably need to enquire with your chosen agent about arranging the upgrade, rather than approaching the airline directly. Such tickets are still the property of the agent and the airline should be reluctant about making a change that would require ticket re-issuance, as I believe this would.

I assume this is before OLCI right? Does the existence of such option depend on the KL entity that sold the ticket (i.e. might it be limited to BE or other countries)? I have never seen it and only always have the upgrade with miles option.

You got it - if you are not on the right country version of the website it doesnt work. They could have implemented a message, or automatic redirect, but yes. Switching to the other country manually fixed the issue. Looking at the price it is indeed a regular upfare.
Yes, the one I posted is for a flight more than a month away. The button shows up on all klm websites for me, however it only works on the klm website that matches the country where the ticket was purchased.

A datapoint: I tried to upgrade Y -> PE for my flights in May 2024 using Manage My Trip, but the upgrade module is glitchy af.

First, I tried to upgrade my outbound flight, price is EUR 154 for AMS-CGK on Premium Standard fare class. Not bad.
But then I decided not to proceed first, went back and selected the return flight to upgrade as well. Now it costs EUR 250-plus-ish for the same outbound. Weird.
Removed the return flight from my selection, price is EUR 154 again. No seat map was shown and I was brought directly to the Passenger Details page (the one step before payment).
In the Passenger Details page, it kept saying "something went wrong" and referring me to KLM hotline. Any more click on that page brought me back to homepage.
Take 2, take 3, take n... same error.

Second, take 1, tried the upgrade buttom but only for return flight. EUR 204. Same error once getting to the Passenger Details page.
Take 2, now it said no upgrades available for this return flight. Oh well...

I did not try upgrading via KLM App, as there's no button to upgrade on KLM app.

Now I gave "Change Flight" a try by selecting a PE fare for my return flight, both in Manage My Trip online and in KLM app. It costs the same EUR 204.
This time, I got to see a seat map and managed to select my PE seat for EUR 55 minus 30 (offsetting for earlier paid seat reservation).
The next step is... Passenger Details. You probably guessed it right, it's the same error again.
For some, it might better be interpreted that it's not meant to be... or a way for the universe help me keep my 22,900 europenny.

I gave KLM Chat a try and was promptly taken care of by a helpful agent within 5 minutes.
They sent me a payment link (KLM Pay by Link by Adyen) for the same EUR 204 for upgrading my return flight.
I was told to make a seat selection myself after I get the confirmation email, which I received in minutes. Fine...

But... the seat reservation now costs EUR 55 instead of 55-30 = 25.
Started another chat... explained them and gave my seat choice, they managed to offset the price sent another payment link for EUR 25.

Fin.

Anyone knows when KLM offers the upgrade in Manage My Trip?
What are the parameters behind it?

Last time I upgraded from Y to PE, the button was available for both outbound & return flights in both website and KLM app.
Back then, fare classes were V and U (not sure if any of these matters).
Now I've got V and Q, but no option to upgrade yet. And if I click on Change my flight (as I upgraded for one of the legs in the past using this way), it was "not possible to change your flights online".