Purchase Upgrades?
Mar 20, 2007 | 11:08 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Netherlands
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M, BA Executive Club, Sofitel Plat, Priority Club, Starwood Preferred Guest
Posts: 1,447
They will send you to the ticketing office for three possibilities:
1) upgrade your fare to business class (provided fare rules of the original ticket allow that)
2) upgrade your fare to fare class B with a fixed fee per fare class AND pay mileage to upgrade to business cabin (not for V-class, not for AF flights)
3) upgrade with miles to business cabin (S/B fare code only on KL)
--> 1) possible if seats for sale in availability display 2/3) possible if any spare seats in the flight load but subject to approval of flight supervisor.
Alternatively you can swipe your credit card onboard for an onboard upgrade.
But note that comes at a very hefty fee (usually much more expensive than option 1)
1) upgrade your fare to business class (provided fare rules of the original ticket allow that)
2) upgrade your fare to fare class B with a fixed fee per fare class AND pay mileage to upgrade to business cabin (not for V-class, not for AF flights)
3) upgrade with miles to business cabin (S/B fare code only on KL)
--> 1) possible if seats for sale in availability display 2/3) possible if any spare seats in the flight load but subject to approval of flight supervisor.
Alternatively you can swipe your credit card onboard for an onboard upgrade.
But note that comes at a very hefty fee (usually much more expensive than option 1)
Mar 20, 2007 | 11:19 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
It looks like my outbound segments are Q (QLUSE), and inbound are B (BLEPX). There are a couple rail segments, and an AMS/CDG/AMS internal trip (both directions B), but the ones I'm most concerned about are the trans-Atlantic (ORD/AMS/ORD) segments.
All segments are KLM.
All segments are KLM.
Mar 20, 2007 | 11:21 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Netherlands
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M, BA Executive Club, Sofitel Plat, Priority Club, Starwood Preferred Guest
Posts: 1,447
For your outbound flights you could then use option 1) or 2)
For your inbound flights option 3) would do,
Both of course only if sufficient seats available.
Good luck!
For your inbound flights option 3) would do,
Both of course only if sufficient seats available.
Good luck!
Mar 20, 2007 | 11:21 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
P.S. Love to use miles, but I don't have any, as this is my first KLM trip, and don't have any other Skyteam cards.
Mar 20, 2007 | 2:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
Open a Flying Blue account. Transfer points from SPG to Flying Blue (takes about a week) and with 20K Starpoints, you got your 25K Flying Blue miles for a one-way upgrade between North America and Europe.
Mar 20, 2007 | 8:45 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
Neat idea. Sadly, I don't have enough SPG points available right now, plus I don't have the week to do the transfer, as I'm flying out on Sunday.
Mar 21, 2007 | 9:02 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
In that event, odds are very high that you'll have to stick with coach unless you want to pay up to the applicable business class fare.
Mar 21, 2007 | 11:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,965
As your chances of getting an upgrade (unless you pay for it) are close, if not equal to zero, I'd suggest you buy some nice flowers and offer them to the check-in agent when asking. If (s)he is of the right sex, it might work...
Mar 28, 2007 | 12:00 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Based in Michigan, but I could be anywhere!
Programs: Hilton, American, Club Carlson, United, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 409
FWIW, and for some reason, my return flight appears totally (and probably way over) booked. What are the chances of being op-up'ed on a B fare without status? If offered vdb (assuming a re-route resulting in same-day arrival at final destination), what can/should I go for?
Apr 1, 2007 | 5:55 am
#13
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Naples FL, Munich DE
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,817
I have never actually seen anyone be "offered" VDB. I once offered to volunteer on a flight that appeared to be overbooked, and was told, "We don't do that."
There seems (from other threads) to be some question whether AF and KL follow the European rule about asking for volunteers.
There seems (from other threads) to be some question whether AF and KL follow the European rule about asking for volunteers.