The first post mirrors exactly what I have been told.
In addition I have also been told that there will be two types of award:
1. Current limited availability awards which will be available across Sky Team.
2. Non limited awards : Like CO; If there is a seat you can have it but at twice the Miles price.

This is what F+ calls Optimiles (unrestricted) vs Skyteam (formerly Minimiles, restricted)

If the program starts on 1st June, what specifies elite level? Qualifying mileage in 2004?
Thus many AF Rouge will be split between Gold and Platinum. Isn't it like changing the rules after the game is over?

Thanks NickB. I missed to realise that 25/40 are the AF+ qualification level.
I checked and i saw

Requis pour accès__Fréquence Plus Bleu__Fréquence Plus Rouge

Miles qualifiants____25000_____________40000

Vols qualifiants_____ou 15_____________ou 30

It seems I need only 30 legs with AF for their top elite level but 40 for KLM Gold one. I think up to know the final requirements for elite qualification are for sure not so clear, logic and, I hope, not even so final...

very interesting read... what reamin to be seen is:
1) will they offer a merge option to people who have F+ AND FD accounts.
2) what level will correspond to Skyteam Elite Plus level (presume they will still be glod elite, but not sure as they lower requirements.. for comparizon: Delta Gold Medallion (with 50k MQM requirement) is only SkyTeam Elite (no lounge access)
3) will they make their redemption tables uniform... item N8 suggests that possibly, but we'll see.

Everyone please keep in mind that this is information passed on by the hinderdesk.

Have they ever been remotely right about anything they've ever said?

Before we do not get infos confirmed, I would stay calm and relaxed, simply based on the experience a couple of years ago, when they introduced the new miles based FD programm and roughly 75 % of all information coming out of FD before that was incorrect, sometimes even absurd....

I believe that patience is in order as well.

I'm sure we can all sit tight until FD/F+ decides to make their 'official' announcement.

Shouldn't be more than a month and change until the speculation turns into fact!

One more month
 

So thats one more month with no travel on KLM/AF etc...

Been over 6 for me now

Has somebody already some insight on the following topics:

- Will one-way awards still be possible at half price?
- Will eticketing be possible?
- Do award levels (eu-us, within eu) stay the same?

Thanks.

It depends who you ask. I have two (secret) agents :D at the helpdesk and information from both guys match.

I had to call the helpdesk again because of a problematic award and i took the opportunity to dig further. I can give some more info and I've been promised for more on Saturday.

BSL: partners leaving the program: air exel, avianca, sam.
New partners joining: twin jet, airlinair, air calin, japan airlines, air india, indian airlines, bangkok airways, taag, middle east, airlinair, taag (hope all names are correct)

connex2me: yes, one way awards will be possible; eticketing not (yet) foreseen for FB/KL.

Miles accrual on E/N class tickets will be possible, but credited only 25% (miserable but better than nothing). The problem is that also V class intercontinental tickets will only give 25% of the regular miles! :mad: :mad:

And listen to this: the business class bonus will cease to be 100% and become 50% as now with Fréquence Plus. Are they insane at AF-KL?

extended level
 

Anyone heard if the extended KLM PE level based on remaining years of RW will be honoured. If so I wil remain PE until 2008

Will any of the 'new' partners get me to Australia or New Zealand ?

Avianca and Sam have already left Globalpass back in January and therefore de facto stopped to be FD partners. As far as Air Exel is concerned, haven't they stopped flying?

The new partners are in fact F+ partners, so nothing new really. Just the consequences of the merger.

CoS bonus: yes, this is exactly what I feared.
Looks to me like the new programme is basically the F+ programme with the KL partners added and presumably a few additional perks for F+ members who do more than 70K a year.

If, as I fear, upgrades from any fare are also going, then the FD programme will have no attractive feature. As KL is not in itself an especially attractive airline, it looks to me like KL will be dying of a slow death over the next few years.

If only they understood at AF that KL cannot be AF and the NL are NOT France... F+ might work for AF but it is unlikely to work for KL.