Most likely I'm just paranoid, but, what exactly does KLM mean when they call the thing you sign a Transfer form? "Transfer" seems to me to imply that something is removed from somewhere and put somewhere else. Most likely I'm just overly suspicious, but I'd nevertheless appreciate some comments...

Yes this is a point that concerned me, too. We have discussed it some time ago and the overall response was that there is NO WAY for KLM to put those miles of the other airline away. Even if they would act in your name (as of the transfer-form could be understand if really paranoid) and ask the other airline to delete the miles this would not be in the interest of the other airline. And think of the outrage if the customer gets to know it... The comp of the status is a common offer now for some airlines and it does not take away your status of the other airline.

Now someone is reporting KLM as saying they will indeed transfer the miles!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum28/HTML/000416.html

Still trying to decide whether I should send off my Transfer form...

I highly doubt any airline will transfer miles to another airline. However, one way around this would be to request the airline to close the account on your behalf. This would essentially mean that you lose your miles. FD would then give you credit. I would highly recommend that you redeem miles in your existing sccount before the six month date.

Dave - London, UK

On the webpage for the offer, it clearly states that KLM will "match" the "balance" of your other loyalty program:

http://www.klm.be/new_members/new_members.asp

Surely, the word transfer was not a good choice, but I wouldn't worry.

Roar Ahead, you made a good point.

I always thought, that most people from the Netherlands speak English pretty good...., at least I would expect KL to make sure, that the information on their website is triplechecked, just to avoid any confusion !!

Certainly the word "Transfer Form" is a complete desaster, when we are talking about matching miles from the other account.

I have posted it in the other forum as well.Concerning the transfer, a supervisor has confirmed, that they will match the miles/points from your original account, according to the segments/FD points, that you hace accumulated during the promotion period.

And there is absolutely no way to take away mileage from other programms....

Right, but in principle KLM could say after six months when you've done your qualifying flying that all you need to do to actually execute the "transfer" you signed up for is to send them your current FF card together with a confirmation that you have terminated your account with your old airline.

It would be really stupid of them, and I'm not saying they will do it, but the fact that other airlines will not terminate your account at the request of KLM doesn't necessarily mean that you will get the FD points without giving up your currents ones.

Again, I'm not saying this will happen, just that your conclusion is not waterproof.

How will KL really knows if you terminate your old account or not?

HAGBARD you are bull****ting!

------------------
Viele Gr��e

Oliver

I don't know. Let's hope it never becomes an issue, and that transfer was just really poor wording...

1) What KL exactly means nobody on the planet knows. FD is known for its inefficiency and poor communications to other KL departments like Reservations and Marketing (leave alone FD communications with NWA and communications with its best clients : FD members).

2) With the promotion KL will get top tiers from other FF programmes moving to FD. There is a misconception in the use of the wording transfer. In Dutch a transfer is a switch, switching to FD, switching of shopping mall, not more not less. An British advocate-of-the-devil will read a physical transfer (of points), which cannot be read in the Dutch text depicting the promotion which is at the Belgian KL website : http://nl.belux.klm.com/new_members/new_members.asp

Like all airlines KL is not doing well. By bringing high spenders into their planes in the next 6 months KL will do better than any of the competition. A good strategy to survive in heavy economic weather. Note that the whole promotion started in Belgium. The major Qualiflyer airlines SN and SR are dead or dying. No doubt the KL promotion had an initial focus at Qualiflyer top tier. A large part of the new RoyalWing members will stay with KL.

Assume KL issues 10b miles in the promotion. Even in that case KL fully stays in control. Award seats are limited per flight. KL can fill up their planes afterwards with new FD members spending their miles. Award seats will simply become scarcer and existing FD members will have to face FD award points inflation.

[This message has been edited by kurz (edited 01-30-2002).]

Do you really think that a large number of the new Royal Wing members will stay? I will get my 20 segments and then probably never fly KLM again on a revenue ticket(will use the miles of course).

and how much money will actually KL make? I believe alot of people will qualify flying domestic US on either CO or NW where you can easily make 8 segments for around 150USD or close to that

A lot of Flyertalkers will qualify in an inexpensive way for the promotion, and may or may not remain loyal to KLM after the promotion finishes.

At the same time, KLM may pick up a lot of ex-Qualiflyer passengers who fly paid business class. These customers may give KLM twenty paid segments in international C-class, and continue flying well after the promotion has ended. KLM are assuming that top-tier flyers are high-revenue flyers -- and in most European programs, a lot of top-tier flyers fly paid C-class or paid F-class. This is less frequently the case in US programs.

I suspect that for every FTer trying to qualify on cheap tickets, there are several non-FTers who qualify through their normal business travel routine. When you look at the incremental cost of providing an award seat, even the millions of miles that KLM are handing out are justified if they attract enough of these high revenue business flyers.

Matthew,

I just received KLMs business class brochure today. I am not sure if you theory is right, after reading this brochure. Even in KLMs owm advertisment, their C class does not look like as it would be able to compete with BA, AA, CX, LH, SQ or some other big airline. Hey, this is their own advertisement and it looks like SQ C class 1990 !!!
I am not sure if anyone from outside NL would go to Asia or USA through NL if he can go via LHR, CDG, or other places as well. I think after buring of the matched mileage many people will quickly disappear from the RW program.

Taking part in FD is not only flying KLM. There are a few other airlines that have a really good product (CO, MH, and China Southern for trips within China). I will really give KLM and their partners a chance and after my qualifying flights I'll decide about it. (I even intend to buy an intercont-ticket in C-class for the promo (& testing).)

[This message has been edited by LH738 (edited 02-01-2002).]