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Old May 9, 2019, 3:08 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Goldorak
FLYING BLUE ULTIMATE

Main facts
Ultimate is the top status in FB. It may be added to Club 2000 Skipper status.
While other FB status (Silver/Gold/Platinum) are based on experience points earning (XP), Ultimate status is obtained by Ultimate XP (UXP) earning. UXPs are earned exclusively on AF- and KL-coded (= marketed) flights, whatever the operating airline.
Some examples :
- CDG-JFK AF-marketing, AF-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- CDG-JFK DL-marketing, AF-operating : NON-eligible to UXP earning
- AMS-BOS KL-marketing, DL-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- BOS-IND KL-marketing, DL-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- SIN-SYD AF-marketing, QF-operating : eligible to UXP earning
- CDG-FCO AZ-marketing, AZ-operating : NON-eligible to UXP earning

XP earned via AFKL Amex cards are not eligible (those are XP and not UXP).

To qualify for Ultimate, it is needed to have 900 UXP over a year. It is similar to the normal XP counter, resetting as soon as the tier is reached. Ultimate is valid for 1 year once granted. Note 03/2023 : the qualification system just changed from 1800 UXP over 2 years to 900 UXP/1 year. Some transitional measures are in place for the current Ultimate members. See here for details about handling of transition period :
https://www.flyingblue.com/fr/landin...m_content=main

Since 03/2023, a rollover of surplus UXP (over 900) is now possible to the next year and only to the next year (example : year 1, the member earns 2000UXP. At the end of year 1, only 900 UXP will be rolled-over to year 2 and the remaining 1100 UXP earned in Y1 will be lost and not be transferred to year 3. If during year 2, the member earned 1000 new (fresh) UXP, 100 will be rolled-over to year 3.

Hard benefits
- All FB Platinum/Club 2000-Skipper benefits
- Access to a Travel Assistant service 24/7. They are reachable by phone or by email. In practice, from 8 pm to 8 am CET, calls are taken by the Platinum line.
- highest priority on waiting list and in case of irrops
- Possibility to register up to 8 persons who can benefit from Sky Priority services and lounge access when traveling with the Ultimate member and on same PNR (lounge access is only in AFKL lounges here).
- one companion Platinum card
- when the Ultimate member is flying P, 2 guests are allowed in CDG P lounge.
- Zone 1 boarding, irrespective of travel class.
- Access to Hertz Platinum status
- unlimited downloads of newspapers & magazines on AF Play (any day, not only on day of travelling).
- Miles overdraft : Ultimate members can redeem Miles for a reward ticket worth up to 100,000 Miles more than their current Miles balance. Borrowed Miles will be reimbursed later with newly earned Miles.
- When travelling in Y class, the adjacent seat is blocked, unless flight is fully booked or if a pax needs to be re-seated on-board due to a broken seat or other reason. The seat of the Ultimate pax needs to be pre-booked and not changed starting from 72hrs before flight.
- New 09/2024 : additional baggage allowance : +2 free bags on top of the ticket allowance
- New 09/2024 : free same-day change of flight, to an earlier or later departure) on the day of departure. This benefit only applies on flights marketed and operated by AF or KLM, providing there are still seats available in the new desired flight (but the change is not dependent on availability of certain fare classes). Change will apply to all travellers in the booking. Change has to be done by the Ulti TA team and not at the airport, until 1hr before original flight time. Free same day changes only apply at segment level, one direction at a time, and cannot be used to change the itinerary (e.g. if original itinerary contains CDG-AMS-JFK, this benefit cannot be used to change to a CDG-JFK direct flight). Change of flight is not possible if a bag has already been checked. In case of flight changed, added extras e.g. pre-selected seats or meals, cannot be guaranteed on the new flight.

- Free wifi on-board (Stream pass).
- four one-class upgrade certificates per membership year, requiring 1 from W to J, or 2 from Y to J. Upgrades are confirmed instantly at the time of booking (via the Travel Assistant). One voucher = one way. Vouchers can also be used by one of the 8 registered friend/family members travelling by themselves. In case of a long-haul flight with a medium-haul connection/feeder (e.g. CDG-AMS-JFK), the medium-haul segment will be upgraded also with still only one voucher used. In case of 2 long-haul flights in connection (e,g. DXB-CDG-JFK), the use of 2 vouchers is required to upgrade the 2 segments. Upgrade vouchers are usable only on AF- or KL-marketing and operating flights and the PNR must contains only the AFKL flights to be upgraded (if the PNR contains other non-AFKL flights, you cannot upgrade even just the AFKL flights).
The upgrade coupons are valid as soon as you reach Ultimate and is valid for 12 months. The vouchers need to be used within the membership year, but can be applied for travel post expiry date.

Rules for eligible booking classes for the upgrade vouchers are described below :
Eco to Premium Eco
Upgraded booking class : S (it means that availability in S is required to upgrade)

Premium Eco to Business
Upgraded booking class : D (it means that availability in D is required to upgrade)

Eco to Business
Upgraded booking class : D (it means that availability in D is required to upgrade)

Upgrade vouchers are not valid to upgrade to AF La Premire.
New 09/2024 : upgrade vouchers can now be applied to award tickets. Same rules as revenue tickets apply.

Airline-specific soft (unpublished) benefits
- AF, KL and contract staff at airports have a popup message on their computer screen when checking-in an Ultimate pax or when scanning a BP at the lounge (AFKL lounges only) asking them to be attentive at any special request of the Ultimate pax. See also below for airport-specific soft benefits. There is no known official policy for operational upgrades of Ultimates, but Ultimate members have all reported on FT a higher rate of op-up (but those remain rare !).
- AF and KL cabin crews are instructed to provide extra care and attentions on-board. It can take different forms : special greetings, extra amenities (pillow, oshibori, etc), F&B from the upper class, upgrades on board (Y to J medium haul, W to J or Y to W long haul), earlier and quicker meal service. This is not systematic and is up to the appreciation of the crew. Based on the reports of Ultimate members of this forum, AF crews seems to be more compliant than KL crews with those directives, although there has been several reports in this thread of nice attentions provided by KL crews.

Other Skyteam airlines do not provide any extra service or attentions to FB Ultimate passengers.

Airport-specific soft (unpublished) benefits
All benefits below should be understood for departure, unless otherwise noted. In addition to what is mentioned below, it has been reported several cases of expedited transfers organised by AFKL staff in case of short/endangered connection at various airports.

Please complete/edit this list as needed.

AFKL HUBS
Amsterdam
- AMS : some reserved tables in the Non-Schengen lounges. Reserved area in the Schengen lounge (former smoking lounge) Staff is able to see status but better announce. Pre-boarding sometimes granted at the gate if requested.

Paris CDG
- CDG 2E:
  • Departure : Escort from check-in to immigration in the morning (super fast track). Reserved space at K/L/M lounges. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate before beginning of general boarding
  • Arrival : access to dedicated lane at passport control, all the way to the left, follow the "ULTIMATE" sign.
- CDG 2F :
  • Departure : There is a special Ultimate check-in counter in the SkyP zone (on the left of terminal). Reserved room in the lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate before beginning of general boarding. Escort is provided from the counter to security (skipping the line).
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG 2G :
  • Departure : Reserved space in the lounge
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report
- CDG in connection : expedited transfer, possibly involving limo transfer, can be arranged upon request in case of short or endangered connection. Very rarely provided and never spontaneously (need to call the TA, but acceptance is never guaranteed).

Paris ORY
  • Departure : Reserved space at Schengen and non-Schengen lounges. Pre-boarding upon request at the lounge.
  • Arrival : no special treatment to report

EUROPE
Austria
- VIE: no special treatment to report

Croatia
- DBV: no special treatment to report
- SPU: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)

Czech Republic
- PRG: no special treatment to report. Pre-boarding refused.

Denmark
- CPH: no special treatment to report

France (non-hubs)
- AJA: no special treatment to report
- BES: no special treatment to report
- BIQ: no special treatment to report
- BOD: pre-boarding from lounge to plane inconsistently proposed
- CDG: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".
- LYS: Escort from lounge to plane when flying from B gates provided upon request . Preboarding with escort to the plane consistently provided.
- MPL: pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane, sometimes proposed (AF agent comes to the contract lounge to meet the Ultimate guest)
- MRS: no special treatment to report
- NCE: Reserved area in Infinity lounge for LP & Ulti.
- NTE: no special treatment to report
- ORY: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".
- PUF: bypass queue at security and pre-boarding provided upon request
- RNS: bypass queue at security and pre-boarding provided upon request
- TLS: Escort from check in to lounge inconsistently provided. Pre-boarding consistently provided

Germany
- BER: no special treatment to report
- DUS: no special treatment to report
- FRA: no special treatment to report
- HAM: no special treatment to report
- HAJ: No special treatment to report.
- MUC: Reserved area in the lounge, escort from lounge to plane with pre-boarding proposed.
- STR: reserved area in the lounge, pre-boarding

Greece
- ATH: no special treatment to report
- HER: no special treatment to report
- JTR: no special treatment to report

Hungary
- BUD: escort through security from check-in to lounge proposed

Ireland
- DUB: no special treatment to report

Italy
- BLQ: escort from check-in to lounge, and through security to plane.
- BRI: no special treatment to report
- CTA: no special treatment to report
- FCO: no special treatment to report
- FLR: no special treatment to report
- LIN: no special treatment to report
- MXP: pre-boarding granted by request
- VCE: escort through security from check-in to lounge, pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane (not always consistently proposed)
- NAP: no special treatment to report

Netherlands
- AMS: see top of the list in "AFKL hubs".

Norway
- OSL: no special treatment to report
- TRF: no special treatment to report
- KRS: no special treatment to report
- SVG: no special treatment to report

Poland
- WAW: no special treatment to report
- KRK: no special treatment to report
- GDN: no special treatment to report

Portugal
- LIS: pre-boarding proposed upon request

Russia
- SVO: no special treatment to report
- LED: no special treatment to report

Spain
- AGP: no special treatment to report
- BCN: no special treatment to report
- MAD: no special treatment to report
- PMI: no special treatment to report
- SVQ: no special treatment to report
- TFS: no special treatment to report
- VLC: no special treatment to report

Sweden
- ARN: no special treatment to report
- GOT: no special treatment to report

Switzerland
- GVA: pre-boarding upon request. Reserved area in the lounge
- ZRH: pre-boarding upon request.

United Kingdom
- ABZ: no special treatment to report
- EDI: no special treatment to report
- LHR: no special treatment to report

NORTH AMERICA
Canada
- YUL: Escort from check-in to lounge upon request. Reserved area in lounge, pre-boarding with escort from lounge to plane
- YYZ: escort on arrival through immigration, consistently offered. / Escort from check-in to lounge and from lounge to airplane
- YQB: escort from check-in to lounge proposed
- YVR: no special treatment to report

USA
- ATL: no special treatment to report (in connection)
- BOS: escort through security from check-in to lounge, pre-boarding, all consistently provided mostly spontaneously, sometimes upon request. A separate room in the AF lounge is also proposed.
- DTW: no special treatment to report (starting from DTW or in connection)
- IAD: escort through security from check-in to lounge upon request, but inconsistently provided. Reserved area at the lounge.
- IAH: no special treatment to report
- JFK (AF only / terminal 1) : reserved table in the dining area of the lounge (upstairs), Some kind of priority at the La Prairie spa (after P pax).
- JFK (KL only / terminal 4) : no special treatments to report.
- LAX: reserved area in AF lounge.
- ORD: On arrival, escort through immigration (not consistently provided). On departure, escort through security to lounge and from lounge to plane (pre-boarding)
- MSP: no special treatment to report, except one case of special DL Elite VIP treatment with expedited immigration and Porsche transfer to/from lounge (not a regular benefit to expect)
- SEA: pre-boarding with escort to plane
- SFO: reserved area in lounge

Mexico
- MEX (Terminal 1): escort through security to lounge with access to dedicated space. Ride from lounge to gate. Sometimes escort on arrival

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
- BOG: no special treatment to report
- LIM: escort to lounge, provided spontaneously
- GIG: Pre-boarding upon request.
- GRU: escort in case of short connection upon request, inconsistently provided; as of 02/2024 pre-boarding offered at check-in and provided by gate-staff (inconsistently provided).
- SCL: as of 03/2024 escort to lounge offered at departure check-in, pick-up from lounge and pre-boarding done
- EZE: escort to lounge with special crew lane for immigration provided spontaneously

ASIA / PACIFIC
- BKK: escort through security from check-in to lounge, upon request but inconsistently proposed. In connection : escort in case of short connection (better to request it before departure). Small Ulti area in lounge
- BLR: escort from lounge to gate, pre-boarding provided
- BOM : escort from plane to immigration, and from checkin to the lounge
- DEL: as of 01/2024 escort upon arrival; proactive pre-departure call to arrange terminal entry via VIP entrance and escort to gate for pre-boarding (if lounge used, offered to pick up for pre-boarding)
- HKG: no special treatment to report.
- HND: Arrival : new 09/2023 = escort through immigration. Departure : escort from check-in desk to private (crew) security, proposed spontaneously
- ICN : no special treatment to report.
- KIX: Arrival : escort through immigration, wait at baggage claim. Departure : escort from check-in desk to lounge All proposed spontaneously
- PEK : on arrival: awaited in jetway and escorted through immigration, wait with you at baggage claim and accompanied to taxi. On departure : escort from check-in counter to lounge and then to plane as per your boarding preference.
- SIN: no special treatment to report

CARIBBEAN & INDIAN OCEAN
- CUR: no special treatment to report, there is no (sky)priority lane for security or immigration, but escort/short track is available for 100 $.
- HAV: at departure, escort from check in counters until security checks. Pre-boarding offered. No escort at arrival. No reserved space in Lounge.
- FDF: No reserved space in Lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the gate.
- MRU: escort on arrival through immigration. Unknown for departures (no data point)
- PTP: Reserved table in lounge. Pre-boarding upon request at the lounge with escort from lounge to plane.
- RUN: Pre-boarding proposed at check-in and in the lounge, with escort from lounge to plane. Reserved seats in lounge
- SXM: Escort for incoming transit pax (from/to AF flight) through passport controls and security, pre-boarding pro-actively offered for AF departure

MIDDLE EAST
- AUH : no special treatment to report
- BEY: no special treatment to report
- DXB: escort from check-in to lounge and from lounge to plane, all upon request, consistently provided. Access to the Ahlan lounge (normally reserved for P pax) instead of Skyteam lounge.
- JED: no special treatment to report
- RUH: no special treatment to report
- IST: no special treatment to report

AFRICA
- AGA: escort from check in to lounge and from lounge to aircraft, provided spontaneously
- CAI: no special treatment to report
- CMN: escort on arrival through immigration (not always consistently provided)
- CPT: escort from counter to lounge, provided spontaneously
- JNB: escort from counter to lounge (no fast track at immigration), provided spontaneously
- LOS: no special treatment to report
- RAK: escort on arrival, upon request (not provided on departure)
- RBA: on departure : escort to lounge and to plane, provided spontaneously.
- TUN: escort on arrival through immigration provided. Escort from check-in to lounge provided
- ZNZ: no special treatment to report (not even lounge access)


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Flying Blue Platinum Ultimate Status

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Old May 23, 2024 | 8:27 am
  #7186  
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Originally Posted by Goldorak
Only if in the same PNR, unfortunately.
And this is exactly the kind of situation where I am mad at them: their rubbish IT does not allow for people with different reduction cards (carte week-end, carte jeune, none...) to be on the same PNR. So they force us to book on separate PNRs. And then they make us pay to sit together - as if I had a choice to book in a single PNR.
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Old May 23, 2024 | 11:48 am
  #7187  
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Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 22,634
Posting from flight to CDG. The glitch seems indeed to be fixed as I received salutations from chief purser + oshibori and water bottle before take off.
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Old May 23, 2024 | 10:54 pm
  #7188  
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I can confirm , they fixed it.
Ulti is shown on the iPad again. KLM flight - today

​​
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Old May 24, 2024 | 7:28 am
  #7189  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
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Originally Posted by Info79
I can confirm , they fixed it.
Ulti is shown on the iPad again. KLM flight - today

​​
Seems it doesnt matter for me this week 2 flights KL legacy and KLC; 0.0
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Old May 24, 2024 | 7:58 am
  #7190  
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Originally Posted by PascalGie
Seems it doesnt matter for me this week 2 flights KL legacy and KLC; 0.0
maybe they have no iPad any more 😂
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Old May 24, 2024 | 8:03 am
  #7191  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
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Originally Posted by Bullspread
maybe they have no iPad any more 😂
They for sure do as they are playing games ;-)
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Old May 24, 2024 | 12:33 pm
  #7192  
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Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 54
Addition: Ulti is visible again, but there is still no free internet on KLM long-haul flights. This seems to only be possible with AF so far. I was too quick to celebrate.




PS: Greetings to the Ulti from the Fishbowl in Amsterdam. If you're reading this, it was a nice and entertaining conversation. Have a good flight.
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Last edited by Info79; May 24, 2024 at 12:42 pm
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Old May 26, 2024 | 11:48 pm
  #7193  
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AF flights operated by Amelia

From your recent experiences as ULTI PAX can we expect a specific onboard treatment ?
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Old May 26, 2024 | 11:57 pm
  #7194  
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Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 22,634
Originally Posted by Bullspread
From your recent experiences as ULTI PAX can we expect a specific onboard treatment ?
No personal experience, but I'm sure there will be no specific treatment on-board knowing there won't be any AF flight attendant.
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Old May 27, 2024 | 12:48 am
  #7195  
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Join Date: Feb 2017
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Originally Posted by Goldorak
No personal experience, but I'm sure there will be no specific treatment on-board knowing there won't be any AF flight attendant.
I have a flight operated by Amelia at the end of the week; I will send a quick report later on this thread
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Old May 27, 2024 | 5:22 am
  #7196  
 
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by Bullspread
From your recent experiences as ULTI PAX can we expect a specific onboard treatment ?
i had few flights since april 2024 with AF operated by AMELIA.
There are absolutely no specific treatment onboard, the flight attendent didn't even have an ipad to see who is ulti plat or whatever
And it feels the legroom is smaller than in the AF airbus
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Last edited by gmt16710; May 27, 2024 at 5:29 am
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Old May 27, 2024 | 2:19 pm
  #7197  
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Programs: Marriott titanium, KL/AF FB Ulti
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Originally Posted by Bullspread
From your recent experiences as ULTI PAX can we expect a specific onboard treatment ?
Ive had an Amelia flight and AF flight on the same day last week. On Amelia the purser came to greet me, offered me water and a seat in business (not the meal). On AF there was no recognition or whatsoever. When I asked the crew to see whats in their iPad, they refused to tell. They told me verbally that no frequent flyer status was visible and offered me to write down my FF number so they could credit the miles.
connecting flights, same PNR.
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Old May 30, 2024 | 5:07 am
  #7198  
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Join Date: Feb 2017
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Originally Posted by gmt16710
i had few flights since april 2024 with AF operated by AMELIA.
There are absolutely no specific treatment onboard, the flight attendent didn't even have an ipad to see who is ulti plat or whatever
And it feels the legroom is smaller than in the AF airbus
Just flew this week CDG/RAK R/T
CDG/RAK J AF operated flight : zero ULTI recognition onboard on this 3 hours flight
RAK/CDG J operated by Amelia : zero ULTI onboard attention

The AF operated flight was A321 . The onboard WiFi software had not been upgraded , so ULTI status was not recognized .
No curtains between the J and Y sections.
Food : the usual cold platter.
Crew : very friendly towards all J PAX

Last edited by Bullspread; May 30, 2024 at 8:52 am
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Old May 30, 2024 | 6:11 am
  #7199  
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: FB Ultimate and PFL & ALL Accor Diamond
Posts: 521
Flying today AMS-JFK on C class KLM.
787-10

Good news: log into the wifi and enter booking no. & name and you’ll get free streaming (using it now).

Bad news: Seat 6A does not work and no other seat available… what a mess… 7h upright seating.
Yes we know, we have issues with maintenance… really…. I am looking forward to the compensation suggestion. Just bad.
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Old May 30, 2024 | 9:34 am
  #7200  
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Originally Posted by PascalGie
Bad news: Seat 6A does not work and no other seat available what a mess 7h upright seating.
There is something to be said for the non-motorised AY seat to do away with that kind of problems.
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