Points upgrade with Codeshare?
 

Hey guys, I just booked two Virgin flights through KLM. Both have a KL flight number. Virgin rep told me I can't upgrade with points without a VS flight number, and I would need to request KLM to switch them from KL to VS. KLM rep said they couldn't just switch the numbers without a fare difference of almost the full cost of the ticket. Are there any other workarounds for points upgrades?

Good question! I've only ever done a cash upgrade at the airport for an outbound KL-coded/VS-operated flight, and my outbound ticket was actually re-issued with a VS-code in the new cabin class and therefore separated from the rest of my original KL-coded booking which still contained my return leg.

Looking at the Virgin Flying Club upgrade information here, it states "Please note, if your flight starts VS but operated by another airline you can't use your points to upgrade."

Similarly, on AF/KL Flying Blue's upgrade information here, it states "Upgrades are available on Air France and KLM flights and selected partner airlines" - admittedly it's a little less clear than Virgin's policy, but one would have to assume that upgrades are only possible with Flying Blue points if the flight is both AF/KL coded and operated, and that Virgin Flying Club points can only be used to upgrade VS coded and operated flights.

Happy to be proven wrong though!

No workaround to use VS points, as it is a KLM ticketed flight, so Virgin can't touch it. Even if KLM switched it to the VS flight numbers, it would still be KLM ticketed and would run in to the same issue.