PE / GE differences
 

Just cadged a look at a colleague's GE card to compare what it says on the back to my PE.

They have restricted lounge access irrespective of airline flown, and guest access, to PE only. And of course all the old RW lounges are now PE-only lounges.

No great surprise, but annoying for those who managed to get RW fairly easily but will struggle to maintain PE - I suspect this will include me.

I'm going to find it a lot easier to maintain *G status via BMI and LH - this is likely to affect where I steer my business!

GE is essentially equivalent to old SW and PE to old RW.

What does "restricted" mean?

Do you mean that a GE can use the business class lounges irrespective of airline flown but cannot use PE lounges and cannot bring in a guest?

The irrespective bit would be a significant plus over the old SW lounge policy IMHO, particulary if it applied to all KLM/NW lounges.


-- Dambus

In other words:

KLM has restricted the following perks to PE only:
- lounge access irrespective of airline flown
- lounge access for guests


i.e. nothing new, PE = RW, and GE does not get RW perks.

Slightly off topic, but what "perks" does a SE get?

Ahhh. Thanks, I thought "they" referred to GE members but in fact "they" is KLM. Makes a *lot* more sense.
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-- Dambus

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


Basically exactly the same as a SW, except that SE's will lose lounge access in 3/2004.

GE's get a few minor improvements over SE/SW, such as elite help and ticket desk, lounge upgrades (AMS only) and check-in, and 15 v. 10kg extra luggage allowance.

SW could get that. GE is basically SW except perhaps for luggage allowance which might have been 10kg

I'm glad they've finally printed the rules on the back of the cards,it might finally convince some of the lounges that PE do have access to their lounge when flying another Airline. The hassle I had getting into the Montreal lounge earlier this year with my girlfriend while flying a cheap Airline YUL-YYZ was amazing. They just had a scrap of paper with a few scribbles on it but eventually allowed us to go in until the supervisor arrived!. We were allowed to stay and I wouldn't have minded so much but we had flown C to Montreal with KLM and were returning the same way out of Toronto.

Nigel

Is there a difference on award inventory for GE and PE? I know there have been discussions here about the differences for the old SW and RW. I just wonder as GE is now also entitled to call the elite line, if the overbooking award inventory on KLM rule also applies for them?