The Select Seating zone (SSZ) in the economy cabin is one of the published perks of the FD program available to PE members, amongst others. An excellent service, and I always always avail myself of the possibility of booking a seat in this zone on intercontinental flights. By phoning the FD help desk as soon as the 90-day seat allocation window opens, I have never had a problem securing a good seat, generally my favorite 9C on 744 and 74M aircraft. Until yesterday, that is.

I phone the elite help desk on July 14 to request a seat on a flight on a 744/74M, having already obtained seats earlier on the outbound flights. The agent I spoke to could only offer me seats from row 22 onwards. When I enquired about the SSZ (rows 9-18), she said that these did not appear on her screen, and speculated that these seats had not yet be released for allocation. I was advised to call back again today.

This morning, I spoke to another agent, who again offered me seats from row 22 onwards. When I once again asked about the SSZ, he said that Select Seating was not available for �this ticket�. I mentioned that these seats had in the past always been available to me as a PE member, and asked if the rules had been changed, specifically whether access to the SSZ was now determined on the basis of booking class, not elite status. Whilst on the one hand saying that he was not aware of any rule changes, he also said that he believed that booking class indeed was the determining factor.

If this is correct, it constitutes a considerable (and unannounced) erosion of elite privileges. I have sent FD an e-mail, and eagerly await their answer, which I shall post here.

Has anybody else had a similar experience recently?

johan

This would indeed be a blow. Its the one thing that keeps KL just about bearable on intercontinental flights in Y. Be very interested to hear their replies.

Not had any experience other then positive ones in the SSz previously.

If KLM remove this perk for elites then it will be a major blow and I can see people moving in herds to other airlines.

Agree a 100% with the previous comments, it is indeed a nice and very important perk for me flying KLM across the pond more or less regularly.

However personally I prefer to have the seat next to me blocked, even in a non bulkhead / exit row , cause it gives you even more personal space.On LH the system autmatically blocks the seat next to a Senator as long as it is possible, so I would like KLM to adopt that rule as well.

Ironically I received a mail from KLM today advising me that they have a new Platinum Elite only service team, at your service from 0800 until 1700 Monday to Friday.

Could become a nice service improvement, however I hope they do not cut other important benefits...

Do give us the tel no for the PE service team - no email about it for this PE yet. And as FD seem to be in the process of messing up an award upgrade for me, it would be very timely.

I didn't get the e-mail either.

Maybe it's only for special PEs.

Response received :

"Dear Mr. Rebel,

Thank you for your email.

With regards to Seat allocations for our Platinum members, please be confirmed that seats can be booked for our most loyal members in the Select Seating Zones. In order to process your seating request, our systems will check the membership number entered in the booking against your account details to ensure that the information provided matches. The Flying Dutchman number and your name need to be identical with your FD account.

Unfortunately this option is not on all flights available and I can only advise you to contact our helpdesk to verify the matter on your flight. If seating cannot be booked, our agents can leave messages in the booking for the check-in with preferred seating details. Please do not hesitate to request this option when we are unable to book seats in advance.

Please accept my apologies for this matter and I trust that the information provided is sufficient. If further queries arise, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

X X
Correspondence Officer
KLM Flying Dutchman Helpdesk"

I really like the suggestion to "contact our helpdesk to verify the matter on your flight". I did, thrice!

My Reply :

"Dear Ms X X,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

My PE number was in the booking, and both of your colleagues I spoke to on the phone were obviously aware of my membership status.

You write that "Unfortunately this option is not on all flights available". A quick check of my FD transactions will show that I fly this particular route regularly, and have been doing so for many years. Never before have I been unable to obtain a seat in the Select Seating zone, and I had no difficulties either when I booked seats for the outward leg two weeks earlier. I hope therefore that you can clarify the matter further by answering the following questions :

1. Why is Select Seating not available on this particular flight (or route), when it always has been in the past?

2. My understanding has always been that Select Seating is available on all intercontinental flights on KL metal. Why is this no longer so, and does this apply to specific routes, aircraft types, or are there other reasons?

3. If Select Seating is not available, does this mean that it will remain unavailable until check-in, or should one call the help desk again and again on the chance that it might suddenly be possible to obtain a seat?

4. If a particular flight does not have select seating , does this means that the seats normally in that zone (e.g. rows 9-18 on 744/74M aircraft) will be allocated to one and all upon check-in, or will they still be reserved for eligible elites?

5. You write that "If seating cannot be booked, our agents can leave messages in the booking for the check-in with preferred seating details". Will such a request also be taken into consideration when the passenger checks in online or uses self-service check-in at the airport?

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

johan rebel"

johan

This is exactly the same annoyance we're now suffering on the former KLM uk flights.

I'd like to book seats

"That is not possible on this flight sir, it is split class"

After change to F70

"That is not possible on this flight sir, it is single class"

FOR GOD'S SAKE KLM, MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MINDS!
Mind you after my last incident with them we've now decided to jump ship and go to Air Canada instead - I just can't take FD any more

My Mum and Dad arfe burning up the miles to jump ship. They have just flown to Vancouver on a "well worn" plane in Biz class with a "even more well worn crew" who verbally let everyone know how bad things are at KLM and how much worse they will get when AF have finished with them.

Concerning Select Seating:

I too have experienced a change in this process. I fly the KL661/662 to AMS/IAH at least four times a year and the last three times I have booked a seat in select seating and apon arrival at Schiphol it has been changed once, and upon incheck at IAH all three times I was put back in the back and a non-elite had my seat.

This time had a lengthy discussion with the manager at IAH (who manages an independent ground crew no longer affiliated with NWA) explained to me that I may make a reservation in this section but 24 hours before the flight leaves their system in Houston opens all the seats again, the reason non-Elites get seats in select seating is simple, they just click on the seat number with an e-ticket.

Apparantly the system is not configured to couple FD numbers and status to seat choice.

Great service guys, each time I must fight for my select seating choice and am running out of allegience to the KLM product.

Would be interesting to get a straight answer what is going on right now and how the plans are in the ( near ) future.

I have to say that they did not take away a previously confirmed seat from me in a long time, but I can confirm that they had huge problems in the past, especially on NW metal ex US, however they fixed that and I cannot complain at all.

Beside that I will forward the issue to the new dedicated PE desk in Germany to see if I can get an answer there...

Either that Helpdesk lady is going to call in the correspondence cavalry on this one, or you will get an answer as close to your question as the templates allow, OR you won't get an answer at all.

Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets please

I really dont think select seating works on European flights any more. My partner and I who are both PE are always given the strangest of seat assignments usually split up even on the same booking way down the plane. We just change them on internet check in.

Here we go! The latest comprehensive and lucid answer. Most satisfying!

"Dear Mr. Rebel,

Thank you for your email.

Please note that selected seating will be available 90 days in advance depending on route, type of aircraft and occupancy. Please rest assured that we have provided you with all information available to your concerns and if you wish to receive further details, please contact our reservation department on 0031 20 47 47 747.

We thank you for your understanding and if we can assist further with details about the Flying Dutchman programme, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

X X
Correspondence Officer
KLM Flying Dutchman Helpdesk"

I'm tempted to comment on this, but for once I shall restrain myself.

johan

Nahh.. do it, you know you want to