KLM matching Status

[tuppaware]

Get the points: Free Air France-KLM frequent flyer Platinum, Gold or Silver status - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Flying Blue, the joint frequent flyer programme for Air France and KLM, is matching other airlines' frequent flyer tier status from now until the end of March -- for free. You don't even need to have flown on the airlines, or be planning to fly in the future.

 

[samh004]

Nice find, the bonuses for hotels is what’s caught my eye… I might have to apply.

Silver
Gold
Platinum

 

[futaris]

Hotelwise, they seems to offer the same benefits as A-Club Gold or Platinum.

And Platinum doesn't even give free lounge access, except at CDG and AMS...

 

[Grooba]

great stuff, thanks for the heads up tuppaware.

 

[tuppaware]

Hotelwise, they seems to offer the same benefits as A-Club Gold or Platinum.

And Platinum doesn't even give free lounge access, except at CDG and AMS...

The way I read it, you do get lounge access but at CDG and AMS you have to pay for your guest.

Take the time to relax at the airport! Throughout the world, you and a guest of your choice have access to any of our airport lounges*. From now, you can also invite others to join you in the lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.For €35 per person, your extra guests can gain access

 

[samh004]

And Platinum doesn't even give free lounge access, except at CDG and AMS...

I thought that too, but wasn’t sure if it meant guests were an extra cost?

Edit: As tuppaware highlights.

 

[im.daniel]

Pretty sure Gold and Platinum allows lounge access worldwide for you and one guest. Additional guests will be charged a fee ...

Unless you live in the US/Mexico where FB Gold = Elite status only, not Elite Plus

 

[DJ737]

KLM have a flight from Jakarta to KUL for about A$120 in Y or around A$300 in J for the round trip incl taxes.
Useful if you need a couple of flights on KL to keep the account ticking over.

 

[LiamR]

Just sent of the request then.... Might be handy considering I'm travelling on Vietnam Airlines towards the end of the year. Wonder how long it'll take.

Thanks for the link.

LR

 

[toronto]

Get the points: Free Air France-KLM frequent flyer Platinum, Gold or Silver status - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Just did it. Waiting for email confirmation.

 

[anat0l]

I've been debating with myself whether it is worth pursuing this. I'd get AF Platinum to match my QF Platinum.

Too bad Virgin Australia Velocity is not a recognised FFP (at least immediately - may be recognised on further examination) for this status match. Although they are only matching VS Gold to AF Gold, too. Compare this with say LH SEN which is being matched to AF Platinum (although I'm guessing the reason for that is a response to the mass exodus of AF elites to LH which happened in a previous year).

On one hand, the status would last less than a year, and I'm not sure if I have any ST flights coming up at all (I could possibly make a case for flying OK but that is the only consideration). No mention on any Flying Blue airline site about soft drops from status. The benefits of AF Platinum look pretty weak - well, probably just as weak as QF Platinum but the effort required to get AF Platinum that high is considerably higher than QF's (which when compared to equivalents around the world is relatively easy to obtain). At least miles do not expire, but can be kept active as long as there is flying activity every 20 months. You could take advantage of ST benefits on DL if you fly them quite a bit, but Virgin Australia Velocity can also afford you some of the key benefits, plus points earn and burn.

One whimsical reason to go for the match is that upon doing so I'd have elite status in all three global alliances (and a handful of people here could do the same, and in fact have four elite statuses if you count Virgin Australia Velocity).

 

[Alanslegal]

Just did it. Waiting for email confirmation.

Same.

One flight booked with Alitalia being FCO-AMS ... so I guess I'll enjoy the benefits for one flight

 

[samh004]

Will be interesting to see who gets it, considering the rules said they could deny the match if they so wish too. Also will be interesting to see how long it takes us, especially considering we’re applying on a Friday!

 

[thewinchester]

I've only just read anat0l's post regarding length of match validity. I looked back at the T&C's for this, and it was slightly vague on what is meant by that.

I've filed the match against my VS Gold membership (acquired and awarded after last year's promotion leak), but that only has two months to live. If the meaning is meant to be that the match is awarded for the remaining life at the matching program status, then I might have been better off using my QF PS to take it through to EOM January 2012.

 

[samh004]

I've only just read anat0l's post regarding length of match validity. I looked back at the T&C's for this, and it was slightly vague on what is meant by that.

I've filed the match against my VS Gold membership (acquired and awarded after last year's promotion leak), but that only has two months to live. If the meaning is meant to be that the match is awarded for the remaining life at the matching program status, then I might have been better off using my QF PS to take it through to EOM January 2012.

Would really depend on whether they’d give a soft landing or not… though perhaps it’d then be just the same?

 

[anat0l]

I've only just read anat0l's post regarding length of match validity. I looked back at the T&C's for this, and it was slightly vague on what is meant by that.

I've filed the match against my VS Gold membership (acquired and awarded after last year's promotion leak), but that only has two months to live. If the meaning is meant to be that the match is awarded for the remaining life at the matching program status, then I might have been better off using my QF PS to take it through to EOM January 2012.

My understanding (at least through my admission of only quickly reading the T&Cs) was that the status is only valid until the end of the calendar year, i.e. Flying Blue qualification years work on calendar years. A shade unfair it it means you really only have 9 months to prove your new loyalty (perhaps more difficult the higher the tier you are matched for).

However, if they match one year + remainder of this year, then that'd be nice, of course.

 

[Grooba]

I've been debating with myself whether it is worth pursuing this. I'd get AF Platinum to match my QF Platinum.

What is there to debate? Sign up for free (20 seconds), take a pic of your WP card (10 seconds), fill in the online form and upload the pic you took (30 seconds).

One minute to have top tier AF membership?

Even if I don't use it, it was worth the one minute effort.

 

[SYD]

Well I'll give it a try before the weekend is out.

I do a little bit of travel to the Netherlands and France, but usually in and out on CX. Last visit, I took a high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris because the only flights were KLM, and I wasn't a member nor would have lounge access etc. Mind you, even with lounge access, I'd probably still take the train! Possibly just as quick or quicker from downtown to downtown and the First class fare is very good value - meals, booze and free Wi-Fi.

 

[bertflyer]

Have just applied as well. This may change whether I use a OWE ticket later this year to get to the US and Europe or try other options. The OWE wont be enough to reach WP anyway and I'll easily make SG before that again so I guess this means I can try some other carriers (loss of FF points/SCs aside). With the Gold status and associated lounge access it is quite tempting to try another alliance.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Just joined Flying Blue and applied for the status match. I hope the format of QFF only showing our initials instead of printing full first name on our QFF cards are not an issue with verify proof of status.

Likely I will not be taking any flights with SkyTeam the coming 12 mths, but its free so why not join.

Had a skim through the Platinum benefits of KLM/AF Flying Blue - in the lounge access it includes access to Malex and Kingfisher lounges :shock:, ?????, would of thought being part of OW, it would be getting into bed with the enemy to have lounge agreements with a SkyTeam airline. Codeshare is one thing but lounges!

Also the PDF doc refers to 'Singapour' Airlines .

Thanks AFF for another great travel tip!