Getting preferred seating on KLM
 

I have an upcoming reservation through NW that includes 2 segments (AMS-BRU and CDG-AMS) on KLM. Is it possible to get seat assignments beforehand? If so, as an elite how do I arrange for preferred seating?

Thanks,
Gary

Are you flying in WBC or coach?

Coach no. If you're in KLM's "Select" cabin then yes. Either way the seating is 3x3, but at least up front you can request a seat assignment 90 days out.

Alwyas worth asking at the lounge if you have access. I have had them block middle seats for me on the 747 across the pond.

Also be careful which seat you get. I'm a window guy, and on a recent AMS-LHR trip was put in 7A on a 737, which I thought would be in the Europe Select cabin (was hoping my NW elite status was good for something :rolleyes:). Turned out 7A was the first row in "regular" coach, but there's no extra bulkhead-type space between Europe Select and regular coach, so I got stuck in a seat with a curtain inches from my face (this ain't row 5 on the NW DC9/319/320) AND on that plane row 7 didn't have a window, so I had a wall butting into my shoulder for the flight. Luckily it was short, so it wasn't too big a deal, but it was far and away the most claustrophobic seat I've ever had on an airplane.

Different KL 737's have different layouts (on the return LHR-AMS row 7 was in Europe Select), and I'm not sure if there's a way to tell which one you're on ahead of time, unfortunately.

Is the Europe Select more like a first class cabin or is it more like Economy Plus (like on the new A333 with more room)?

For traveling in economy, call up NW & get your KLM confirmation number. Then get in touch with KLM - either send them an e-mail (via their website) or call them in AMS. You can secure elite seating if you want in advance. The past 2 flights I've had on KL (JFK-AMS & AMS-ORD), I've been able to secure bulkhead & exit rows as a Silver Elite. It's worth the price of a long distance phone call if you have to make it. After filling out the webform, the e-mail response was sent to me from [email protected] - you may just want to try e-mailing that e-mail address directly. Go to KLM.com & pick your particular seat you want from their seatmaps & request it.

I just got through two segments on KL (AMS-FCO-AMS) this weekend. You can't tell which cabin your plane will be configured for before the trip. I was on the 738 or 739 both ways and each of them were configured differently.

KLM Europe Select is not like first class seating at all - it is still 3x3, just slightly wider seats. I'm not sure if they recline more or not.

My NW Plat Elite didn't get me into Europe Select seating at all - even though I was on an 'M' fare (which is middle of the road for KLM).

I've never had a problem securing seats on the trans-atlantic sectors but I haven't been successful securing intra-european seats. Maybe if I bought through klm.com, I would be able to...

-RM

It is very frustrating since NW agents have to access the KLM computers to do so. Some just say no, others tell you it is done but do not do it properly. I often have to call a few times. Big problem is that the seat assignments do not show on the NW website, or if they do they are not the new seats.

I hope for better integration soon!

NW *can* make KLM seat assignments in coach
 

NW reps can definately tap into the KLM system and make seat reservations, but I think some of the reps are unaware.

Example: I called 3 times to get seats on KLM ORD-AMS over Xmas. First time I called for outgoing seats the rep put me in 12 DE (2-across row). Second time I called for incoming seats (but was 1 day early), the rep said I had no seat reservations for outgoing and wanted to put me somewhere in the back, but after a while on hold he came back and said I had 12 DE outgoing. Third time I called same thing, but this rep knew right away to look in KLM's system, where she found the previously booked seats. She also gave me the incoming seats.

So hopefully I am all set. NW site does not reflect KLM-assigned seats as someone mentioned.

I had a devil of a time securing KL seats for an AMS-ORD flight last April. I called NW a few times and they "went into the KLM system" and requested seats, through the computer, which then KL has to reply with a yes or no. Even though my companion and I are both NW Elite (Plat and Silver), we were told "request denied".
Then I called KL directly in Holland (look up their reservation numbers at www.klm.com) and was able to book seats in row 11DE (great seats!). Still, I felt unsure since when I called NW they couldn't see those seating assignments in my reservation.
It all worked out, but you'd think after like 10-15 years of this alliance, they'd have figured out an easier way to synchronize their computer systems.

The NW Elite line can access the KLM computer. While they may tell you they can access Elite seating, they are wrong, they cannot. I have tested this by having NW Elite reservations look and tell me that specific seats are not available, then called KLM in Amsterdam a minute later and gotten those seats.

The number for KLM reservations in Amsterdam is +31 20 4 747 747. Calling from the US, you should pay no more than 10 cents per minute assuming you have a discounted long distance plan (if you don't have one, dialling 1016868 before the int'l. codes will get you a rate of 10 cents per minute.)

The seat assignments in the KLM computer do not migrate to the NW system (for KLM flights leaving the US) until the day before the flight. Once you have made the reservation with KLM in Amsterdam, you can call the Elite line in the US and they can look in the KLM system and verify your seat assighment.

You cannot get advance seat assignment on intra-European flights on KL, except in Europe select, even if you are super-duper elite with KL themselves, booked on KLM, etc... They just don't pre-assign seats in ordinary economy on intra-European flights, period. Used to be different on single cabin KLM Cityhopper flights, but not sure what the policy is now on these, especially as they are bein converted to a two-class cabin configuration (Europe Select and standard economy).

Elite status is irrelevant to Europe Select. You need a business-class type fare (C,D,J,Z type fare). If your fare is an economy type fare, you'll be behind the curtain, unless they op-up you.

Europe Select are standard economy seats but the rows are slightly more spaced out, giving you a seat pitch of about 33in on 737s.

Frankly, there is little point in my mind of paying what is essentially a business fare for an intra-European Europe Select flight. If you buy an intra-European flight at a business fare, you might as well go with a carrier that has a business class.
If you buy an intercontinental flight in WBC with an intra-European connection, you will be in Europe Select on intra-European legs, so you might as well go with it. Otherwise, ES is a waste of money and it makes more sense to get an ordinary coach ticket.

Thanks for the AMS reservation number, I will give it a try, and report back.

But as I tried to say in my earlier post, for my upcoming Dec ORD-AMS flight I called NWA Silver line 3 times, and the third time they were able to retrieve the seat assignments I had asked for earlier, which seems to indicate the assignment was made.. ?

I would call the AMS reservation number anyway, then the issue is settled. It is easy and the telepohne reps all speak excellent English.