I am booked on a KLM flight (with a NW flight number) in mid-January. Is it possible to reserve the exit row seat like on NWA operated flights? A call to the plat line resulted in a negative answer, but I wonder if that's really the policy, or if I just got a clueless agent.

If it's an intercontinental flight where you can reserve seats ahead of time, you might be able to get into the exit row by calling KLM directly in AMS. I don't think NW agents can get you in the exit row. There's always the change KLM will later knock you out of your exit row seat in favor of a KLM elite or nonrev, though.

If it's an intra-European flight, you won't be able to reserve any seats ahead of time (at least not more than a day or two before travel).

Also note that on KLM passengers travelling in the exit rows (including window exits on 737s) cannot store anything on the floor for takeoff or landing. It's all gotta go in the seatback pocket in front of you or in the bin overhead. Nothing under the seat.

Thanks. I called KLM and was told that the exit row seats are already taken. Don't know if it's true or not, but the plane is a B767, and according to a thread I found in the KLM forum, even the exit row in this plane manages to be uncomfortable. So I will stick with my row 21.

The window seats and adjacent aisle seats in the front row (bulkhead) of coach (sorry--I don't have a seat map handy) on a KLM 767 are actually rather comfy. I think it's row 16.

Do ask about bulkhead/exit seats when you get to the airport--"already taken" might just mean "we don't want to bother."

KL's front Eco-Bulkhead is row 14 - however NW cannot access these through their system as they always shows up as taken. Only KLM has access to these seats, and usually gives them to their own elite only...

That said these seats are my favourite as well on the 767 (same goes for the 777 btw).

Greetings - Dirk

I was able to select a row 14 window seat when I checked in online for an LHR-AMS flight a cople weeks ago (I was NW Gold at the time). That might be a good strategy to try as well

Great idea. I've never done an online checkin for a KLM flight, so would I check in through NW's site, or KLM's?

If you're departing from this side of the pond, you checkin with nwa.com regardless of metal. If departing from the other side of the pond, you checkin with klm.com regardless of metal. I think in Asia you also checkin with nwa.com for NW flights, but I don't know about Asia-originating KL metal flights.

In my experience, nwa.com checkin does NOT let you pick/change seats on KL metal flights. It just gives you BPs with the seats you've already been assigned. So OLCI can't help you score good seats on ex-USA parts of your itin. But for flights where you can checkin with klm.com, definitely do it, since you'll probably have access to seats you couldn't access before.

.....

I have found the KLM Tokyo Office very co-operative in assigning good seats on my flights from NRT>AMS (in stark contrast to the NWA Tokyo Office)

When I first took the new KLM 777-200, I called up and asked the KLM agent if I could have row 10 (bulkhead) but she recommended me to 11C and said 'This is thought to be the good seat in economy' ^ ^ ^ so you really should sit there.

It was great to have that extra leg stretching room on both legs of the long 6000 mile flights to Europe and back.

I have never gotten exits preassigned on KLM.

If you have a KLM ticket you can email their support address and they can assign good seats... I have had 14AB bulkheads on the 767 assigned before.

Otherwise you have to wait for KL online checkin. I almost always score an exit though... I'm not sure you can get an exit row any other way ???