OK OK

Fly NWA ALOT!

Fly KLM pretty much ZIP.

I have two KL segments from AMS - IST and not able to get any seat assignments. Even Plat desk said NO CAN DO. Does KL do advance seat assignments or everything a day of frenzy????

This is typical of intra-European segments for European carriers. No seat assignments until checkin.

It's not really a frenzy, it's quite orderly, actually. First come, first served, they fill up the plane from the front to back, barring any special requests.

As opposed to the U.S. system where they pre-assign seats, but can't release no-shows until x minutes before departure to accommodate frustrated pax who are waiting, hovering around the podium. Now that's the frenzy.

KLM does not assign seats until 48 hours before a flight for European flights. If you have a flight from the US to AMS, a NW agent can select seats for you on the international leg although you can not do it yourself online.

Thom

If you're a NW elite, make sure to check your seat assignments when you check in. KLM has a tendency to put NW elites in the BACK of their 737s.

Be very wary of Row 24 on KLM's 737-300s. It's the last row and the seats don't recline. But if you're flying to a European airport that doesn't have jetbridges, you might be the first person off the plane.

It used to be possible to get seat assignments via KL elite lines for NW tickets, not anymore . See also http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=491768 in the FB forum.

Channa's overstating it a bit. You are assigned seats at checkin. You just can't pick them.

For trans-ocean flights only: If you purchased your ticket through nwa.com, you can select your own seats on-line if you edit your itinerary from this menu on nwa.com:

Reservations Center \ Manage My Reservations \ My nwa.com Itineraries

If your reservation was made through nwa.com and your flight to IST is a continuation of a trans-atlantic segment, you can do 24 hour online check-in and get assigned a seat automatically for the KLM part. You don't get to choose but at least you know you got a seat. If you are unhappy with it you could probably change it at a KLM transfer desk which are scattered all over Amsterdam when you get there.

As a NW Platinum who has flown ~40 intra-Europe segments on KL each of the past two years, I wholeheartedly disagree with this. When I go to KLM.com for OLCI, I generally find I've been put in the first 5-6 rows of economy. I can't recall being assigned anything behind the exit row in recent memory.

I was on recent flights from North America to Europe and back, with a connection in AMS. As a NW Platinum using NWA.com checkin leaving from North America, I was assigned row 24 in the 737-300 - the absolute worst seat on the plane - last row, by the bathrooms, with no recline. Checking in on KLM.com for the return on the 737-900, KLM's system originally placed me in the last 5 rows, but since KLM.com lets you change your seats online, I was at least able to move my seat to the front of the plane. I don't think you can change an Intra-European KLM seat when you use NWA.com to check in.

So I guess YMMV. Perhaps the difference is leaving from North America instead of within Europe, or that I was traveling with a NW Gold elite companion (although neither should matter, if the computers are programmed correctly).

I booked a Z fare online to IST via NW to AMS. then KLM to IST and was able to select seats at time of booking. The seat map just popped up and I chose my seat in Europe Select (KL's faux business class) 2D & 3D. My res record now on NW shows these seats but I cannot "click" and see the seat map or make any changes.

You're right... YMMV. My flights are generally of European origin to destinations within Europe, and generally purchased on nwa.com. Also usually two NW plats travelling together. I also usually check in very early, I often wonder if the seats are assigned ahead of time (a day or two ahead of flight) or when you check in online.

That's right, the only time you can pre-book a seat is if you book their "business class" seats. Otherwise, you're stuck with what they assign you. Sometimes NW agents can't even select your seat assignment when you ask when departing the U.S. Their systems still have communication glitches.

I've been put towards the front of coach as well as in the back within Europe. I don't think they're consistent with how they treat SkyTeam Elites. On a positive note, I have been upgraded within Europe on KLM as a SK Elite Plus when coach is oversold. Even happened on an IST-AMS flight once.

Here's a strange one .. I've a LAX-AMS-ATH in December. When I go through Reservations Center / Manage My Reservations / My nwa.com Itineraries, I can't update or even see my KL flight from LAX-AMS, but if I go to My Info / (Reservation Name) / Seat Selection, I can see the KL flight. Has anyone else seen this?

Thom

[QUOTE=thomdis]Here's a strange one .. I've a LAX-AMS-ATH in December. When I go through Reservations Center / Manage My Reservations / My nwa.com Itineraries, I can't update or even see my KL flight from LAX-AMS, but if I go to My Info / (Reservation Name) / Seat Selection, I can see the KL flight. Has anyone else seen this?

I have. I booked an award trip 4 months out, and I assume seat assignments are not available till 90 days out. So within 90 days I want to nwa.com and accidentally followed the second link and was able to select seats, including the KL metal ATL-AMS. It may or may not make a difference that this has a NW codeshare number. When I went back through your first link route, it would not show the KL seats. I finally refound the second link and there were the KL seats.

The connecting KL 737 out of AMS does not show seats, and I assumed like the previous writers said that they assign these at check in or at the gate.

After 8 hours of "Cattle Class across the Pond"���, I am not too concerned about the seat I get on the 737.

I figure one hour in the worst seat in a 737 will be better than one hour in the best seat in a RJ anyday.

That is absolutely correct. My Info will allow you to select seats on KLM in Business. However! If KLM will change your seats in their system, NWA.com or even NW seat maps available to phone agents will not reflect it. I had my seats assigned to me by NWA.com for my Europe Select flights, I didn't like the seats, called KLM directly (in Netherlands, since NW agents were unable to assign exit row in Europe Select), they assigned me what I wanted, however nwa.com and NW agents still tell me I have original seats. KLM res indeed tells me I have the seats I like. It happened to me before, and it is obvious that KLM has real visibility of your seat on their flights, where NW only shows what has been selected for you when you purchased your ticket.