Anyone Figure a Way Around the KLM Select Seating Problem?
Jan 10, 2006 | 12:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,965
Anyone Figure a Way Around the KLM Select Seating Problem?
Up until a few months ago, I would book a KLM flight originating in the US, then call KLM in Amsterdam to get my select seating. Now, KLM in Amsterdam refuses to assign seats for tickets bought from NW. Despite what they may tell you, even when a NW agent logs into the KLM system the agent does not have access to all of the select seating - in the good old days I would call NW in the US, they would log into the KLM system and tell me a seat was not available, and then I would call Amsterdam and they would reserve that very same seat for me.
I know this has been discussed before, but the question is, has anyone found a solution to the problem? How do you book select seats (as a NW Elite) on flights from the US?
I know this has been discussed before, but the question is, has anyone found a solution to the problem? How do you book select seats (as a NW Elite) on flights from the US?
Jan 10, 2006 | 1:26 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
I've just sent them an email with my seat requests & they honor it:
KLM Web Response - [email protected] - the last time I did this & flew KL transatlantic was about months ago - so things may have changed since them. Also, I make sure I send them the KL PNR, not the NW PNR.
KLM Web Response - [email protected] - the last time I did this & flew KL transatlantic was about months ago - so things may have changed since them. Also, I make sure I send them the KL PNR, not the NW PNR.
Jan 10, 2006 | 2:51 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: NW Plat, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 477
That email has also worked for me. They assign you the best seat available if you email them your KLM reference number, not NWA. Then I usually get to the airport early enough to be one of the first to check in, and get switched to an exit row. There shouldn't be a problem as long as you mail the ref number. Otherwise, doesn't seem that KLM cares about your status- as a Plat, I'm usually assigned to back of the plane unless I request better.
Jan 10, 2006 | 8:53 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MSN
Programs: NW PE
Posts: 134
The nice ladies in the lounges at AMS will happily get you a better seat (if one is available), of course that might be to late sometimes but it has worked for me most times
Jan 10, 2006 | 1:07 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,965
Returning from Amsterdam is not a problem - the reservations people will talk to you after you have flown the first leg from North America. Also, KLM OLCI will let you choose a select seat.
Originally Posted by ldahl
The nice ladies in the lounges at AMS will happily get you a better seat (if one is available), of course that might be to late sometimes but it has worked for me most times
Jan 10, 2006 | 1:08 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,965
I'll give that a try and report back - I suppose I will give them a list of seats in the order that I want them
Originally Posted by bhatnasx
I've just sent them an email with my seat requests & they honor it:
KLM Web Response - [email protected] - the last time I did this & flew KL transatlantic was about months ago - so things may have changed since them. Also, I make sure I send them the KL PNR, not the NW PNR.
KLM Web Response - [email protected] - the last time I did this & flew KL transatlantic was about months ago - so things may have changed since them. Also, I make sure I send them the KL PNR, not the NW PNR.
Jan 10, 2006 | 3:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Posts: 3,395
I have the same issue (needing to get preferred seats for a KLM flight). I just sent them an email through the "contact us about a reservation" section of their website. I will post back if I have any success.
Jan 10, 2006 | 4:50 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 306
I called AMS and got good seats for upcoming flights, but they do not show up on the seatmap at NWA.com, instead it shows the seats that NW automatically assigned and the good seats up front are not even available for me to change to online even though I am a Plat.
The last time this happened I thought I could probably fix it when I did OLCI but no, it gave me the NW assigned seats on the boarding passes and not the seats I thought I reserved through KLM.
so just because you arrange everything by calling or e-mailing KLM don't be so sure that you will end up with those seats after all.....
The last time this happened I thought I could probably fix it when I did OLCI but no, it gave me the NW assigned seats on the boarding passes and not the seats I thought I reserved through KLM.
so just because you arrange everything by calling or e-mailing KLM don't be so sure that you will end up with those seats after all.....
Jan 10, 2006 | 4:56 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,965
I have found that when I can convince KLM in Amsterdam to give me the good seats, while those seats do not show up at nwa.com, when it comes time to do online check-in through the NW system I will get the KLM assigned seats.
I do, however, always call NW and have them cancel my NW system seat assignments before contacting KLM, so that no seats are shown at nwa.com. I've always thought that it's one thing if there is a seat in the KLM computer but none in the NW computer, but might be more of a problem if there are competing seat assignments at OLCI time - one in the NW system, and one in the KLM system.
I do, however, always call NW and have them cancel my NW system seat assignments before contacting KLM, so that no seats are shown at nwa.com. I've always thought that it's one thing if there is a seat in the KLM computer but none in the NW computer, but might be more of a problem if there are competing seat assignments at OLCI time - one in the NW system, and one in the KLM system.
Originally Posted by SFO voyageur
I called AMS and got good seats for upcoming flights, but they do not show up on the seatmap at NWA.com, instead it shows the seats that NW automatically assigned and the good seats up front are not even available for me to change to online even though I am a Plat.
The last time this happened I thought I could probably fix it when I did OLCI but no, it gave me the NW assigned seats on the boarding passes and not the seats I thought I reserved through KLM.
so just because you arrange everything by calling or e-mailing KLM don't be so sure that you will end up with those seats after all.....
The last time this happened I thought I could probably fix it when I did OLCI but no, it gave me the NW assigned seats on the boarding passes and not the seats I thought I reserved through KLM.
so just because you arrange everything by calling or e-mailing KLM don't be so sure that you will end up with those seats after all.....
Jan 10, 2006 | 4:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,777
Haven't been on KL metal for a long time, but I have IAD-AMS coming up, with NW flt #. Questions: will all seats open at OLCI? Will I be able to OLCI? Can I email for an exit row (others seam pretty much all the same...)?
Jan 10, 2006 | 5:02 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,965
When using nwa.com to do OLCI on a KLM flight you cannot select or change seats. You are stuck with whatever is there.
On the way back from Europe, you can do OLCI at the KLM site, and you can select or change seats (including select seating.)
On the way back from Europe, you can do OLCI at the KLM site, and you can select or change seats (including select seating.)
Originally Posted by Alpha Golf
Haven't been on KL metal for a long time, but I have IAD-AMS coming up, with NW flt #. Questions: will all seats open at OLCI? Will I be able to OLCI? Can I email for an exit row (others seam pretty much all the same...)?
Jan 10, 2006 | 5:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YVR
Posts: 185
Originally Posted by BigFlyer
Returning from Amsterdam is not a problem - the reservations people will talk to you after you have flown the first leg from North America. Also, KLM OLCI will let you choose a select seat.
And only last month at YVR (outbound) I was assigned a lesser seat than the exit row one I selected by calling KLM Amsterdam and confirmed by OLCI. Since my printer wasn't working and they claimed they couldn't see any proof of my preferred seat in their system, it was my word against theirs.
In both instances I had to "fight" to keep my seat.
Jan 11, 2006 | 9:08 am
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Memphis, TN
Programs: DL-DM, Hilton-Dia
Posts: 201
KLM seating European flights
Does any of this work for KLM select seating on connecting flights IN Europe? I am DTW-AMS-MAD next month & have a unassigned seat AMS-MAD. I'd like an exit aisle, but don't know how to get that in advance. Any help?
Jan 11, 2006 | 9:21 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: NW Plat, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 477
In my experience, within Europe, KLM doensn't like to seat exit rows until the day of the flight- at least that is what I've been told via email and at the airport.
Jan 11, 2006 | 10:01 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,691
Originally Posted by 1Banker
Does any of this work for KLM select seating on connecting flights IN Europe? I am DTW-AMS-MAD next month & have a unassigned seat AMS-MAD. I'd like an exit aisle, but don't know how to get that in advance. Any help?