Experience Upgrading on KQ
 

Hi KLMers, long time, no see and all that.

After your sterling help on getting me an upgrade to CUR a few months ago, I wonder if you could also help me well on the way to burning the remainder of my FD miles before the award inventory gets so small, it becomes nigh-on impossible.

There are currently some stunning KQ fares ex-LHR, and I'm looking at doing LHR-NBO-EBB later in the year, as I've been wanting to visit Uganda for a long time. Does anyone have any experience upgrading KQ fares? How is the availability and request/confirmation process? Are there any new, nasty fare restrictions? And (although I doubt it), should that fail, is there any chance of upgrading in the Holideck at LHR?

Many thanks in advance...

Stuart

I cannot speak for advance upgrading, but I did do a Day of Departure upgrade at Nairobi which was surprisingly easy.


Isn't London now one of the stations where you can upgrade on Day of Departure ? Although I doubt it would be at the Holideck, but suspect it must be done either at checkin or at the ticketdesk.

Have not upgraded but if KQ run the sleeper Biz suites 767s on that run it is WORTH upgrading to. ^

Most pleasantly surprising for an outfit like KQ. :-:

I believe KQ101 is a 763 on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and a 772 on the other days. I assume the 772 Premier World cabin is equal to or superior to the 763 cabin. Whereas KL's 772's seat 53 WBC pax , KQ seats only 28.

johan

What is a "Day of Departure" Upgrade, and how does one get/pay for one?
 

Hi there!

I am currently a Platinum on American Airlines, but am seriously considering changing my loyalty to FD due to my frequent forthcoming travel to Africa, namely Nairobi.

How does one secure such upgrades? Do you have higher chances as a Gold or Platinum (I should hit one by March, the other by July)?

Any help would be appreciated.

All the best,
Ritesh

These are paid upgrades using FD miles. No special way to do it and no special conditions. All published fares are upgradable. It is a matter of available inventory in the appropriate booking class.

No. There no longer is any additional inventory released for Plats, unlike what used to be the case under the old scheme.

All levels of FD members have the chance to upg at the airport on the day of departure if your tkt is Y/S/B subclasses only pls check airport stations as well! GE and PE can do this in the lounge and SE and BP mbrs since they dont have lounge access they can do this to KLM tkt desk. Miles will be decuted directly from your acct.

The Y/S/B restrictions is for North America and India flights only. Don't think that LHR is a pilot station, though.

Sadly, no. When I asked about upgrading at checkin last month, I was informed that there were no actual KLM staff at LHR, so it wasn't possible. I had stay in coach LHR-AMS (no big deal) to wait til I got to AMS to upgrade my transatlantic leg at the Crown Lounge.

KLM staff @ LHR
 

When I last flew with KQ from LHR - last March, i.e. 3/2004 they advised me that they were anticipating the upgarding ability in the near future, i.e. certainly before the end of 2004.

This was from the KQ staff