Air France and KLM awards on the way?

[Ian Thompson]

Any talk on lounge access for QF status

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Any talk on lounge access for QF status

None.

 

[Tad]

I have a KL booking, which does not show under QF membership. Perhaps not all is linked between the airlines as yet.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I have a KL booking, which does not show under QF membership. Perhaps not all is linked between the airlines as yet.

I don't think bookings on AF/ KLM will ever show up under your QFF membership.
Have you tried adding it as a trip in the QFF app?

 

[Tad]

I don't think bookings on AF/ KLM will ever show up under your QFF membership.
Have you tried adding it as a trip in the QFF app?

I have. Get an error message.

Bookings with Qatar show (can be retrieved, no problems) KL - no luck!

 

[Rangalad]

I don't think bookings on AF/ KLM will ever show up under your QFF membership.
Have you tried adding it as a trip in the QFF app?

That's odd.
Both AF and KLM are Amadeus hosted.

Hazard a guess, either name or security element issue.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

That's odd.
Both AF and KLM are Amadeus hosted.

Hazard a guess, either name or security element issue.

I don't think it's that simple, from what I have read there are compartmentalised databases within Amadeus.

 

[Rangalad]

I don't think it's that simple, from what I have read there are compartmentalised databases within Amadeus.

Think you’re right.

My last few trips have been with OW Amadeus hosted carriers. Might have a SQ booking in March. Interested to see if I can retrieve it through QF MMB.

 

[williamsf1]

I don't think it's that simple, from what I have read there are compartmentalised databases within Amadeus.

Not true... Amadeus is one big data base , however various security settings control what can and cannot be seen across airlines ...

Sabre ( VA system) is VERY must broken into silos

 

[Oubline]

Think you’re right.

My last few trips have been with OW Amadeus hosted carriers. Might have a SQ booking in March. Interested to see if I can retrieve it through QF MMB.

I have been able to add bookings to the Qantas app, made through Krisflyer on e.g. Turkish Airlines. So it does work for Singapore.. not sure about AF/KLM.

It didn’t work on Manage Booking on the Qantas website though.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Not true... Amadeus is one big data base , however various security settings control what can and cannot be seen across airlines ...

Sabre ( VA system) is VERY must broken into silos

You say potato, I say potato.
Potato, potato, tomato, tomato.
Let's call the whole thing off.

 

[Danger]

How to Redeem Qantas Points for Air France & KLM Flights

It's now possible to redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points for Air France and KLM flights across the two airlines' entire networks.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

It would seem not much has changed. Spending 20,000 points to save EUR4 and get 23kg of luggage does not make for a decent redemption.

 

[henrus]

It would seem not much has changed. Spending 20,000 points to save EUR4 and get 23kg of luggage does not make for a decent redemption.

Come on... that's a really bad example. There are several points to bring up regarding the oddly specific route you've mentioned.

Firstly inter Europe flights are normally really cheap especially connecting options (due to pressure from low cost carriers) so it makes little sense to just buy with cash anyway. Although the Qantas award flights do come with the ability to cancel if that means something to people (by using points it's basically a refundable fare with a small penalty).

Secondly, anyone who holds QF silver status (or above) is entitled to free checked baggage on Air France or KLM (even when booking a Lite - no checked baggage fare). So I wouldn't even factor in checked baggage as a differentiator.

Qantas carrier charges (which for this example total €82) on AF or KL flights are also really high as QF applies carrier surchages. Looking at a breakdown of charges, you'll see just how bad this is:

QF Award 20,000 points + €134.09 taxes	Cash Fare = €138.09

Finally, you'd have to be nuts not to book the direct Iberia flight on that route, AF flights don't give lounge access for QF status holders but Iberia being apart of the oneworld does grant lounge access.

 

[Danger]

Come on... that's a really bad example. There are several points to bring up regarding the oddly specific route you've mentioned.

I'm happy to be presented with examples of value. I'm yet to find them.

Firstly inter Europe flights are normally really cheap especially connecting options (due to pressure from low cost carriers) so it makes little sense to just buy with cash anyway. Although the Qantas award flights do come with the ability to cancel if that means something to people (by using points it's basically a refundable fare with a small penalty).

If anything, that simply highlights just how bad the redemption option is although I agree the ability to cancel (albeit with a 25%-odd loss of points) is an added benefit.

Secondly, anyone who holds QF silver status (or above) is entitled to free checked baggage on Air France or KLM (even when booking a Lite - no checked baggage fare). So I wouldn't even factor in checked baggage as a differentiator.

I agree, hence my reference to 23kg of luggage.

Qantas carrier charges (which for this example total €82) on AF or KL flights are also really high as QF applies carrier surchages. Looking at a breakdown of charges, you'll see just how bad this is: ...

Well, yeah. That's kind my point. Bad value.

Finally, you'd have to be nuts not to book the direct Iberia flight on that route, AF flights don't give lounge access for QF status holders but Iberia being apart of the oneworld does grant lounge access.

Which means nothing if (a) you have no status or (b) IB is not an option (e.g. sold out). And for your second point to have merit (status), this one can't, because not having status means there's less of a reason to chose AF over IB.

Again, I'm very happy to learn of better value redemptions but I haven't seen anything to make me think the AF relationship presents any, especially when taxes - just like QF charges on QR redemptions - are ridiculous.

 

[Mattg]

I don't think there are many instances where it would make sense to redeem Qantas points for AF/KL flights within Europe. But there could be value in long-haul PE & J award seats, e.g. SIN-CDG.

 

[henrus]

I'm happy to be presented with examples of value. I'm yet to find them.

Generally longer haul business class represent best value (noting that Euro business is generally pointless). I've also had success with flights from Europe to the Middle East/Africa (and vv) because unlike the Europe flights these aren't point to point fares and oneway cash fares are really expensive

 

[Jack_OC]

I don't think there are many instances where it would make sense to redeem Qantas points for AF/KL flights within Europe. But there could be value in long-haul PE & J award seats, e.g. SIN-CDG.

I just booked an AF flight within Europe using QF points. Reason was simple - it's refundable without a fee (up to the end of Feb at least), whereas the current flexibility option on paid AF fares only applies to flights up to 31 March 22, and I'm hoping to go in April. I ended up paying 40,000 QF points to reduce the fare by $400 - clearly not the best value use of points that you will find, but when you factor in the flexibility, it's a good deal.

I've also booked AF CDG-NRT in J on the way home. Value was acceptable, but the main attraction in that case was that they had 4 J seats available, and it was literally the only option that even the QF VIP team could find availability on.

Having said that, does anyone know how seating is supposed to work? The AF website will allow me to select seats, but on our intra-EU flight, only in the back half of the plane, and it's trying to charge me $17 per seat (or more for extra legroom). QF Gold and above are supposed to get "preferred seating" when flying AF (and I'm P1). I'm guessing what I am being offered is not "preferred seating", but rather what would be available to anyone with no status?

 

[Mattg]

I'm guessing what I am being offered is not "preferred seating", but rather what would be available to anyone with no status?

No, this is not "preferred seating". I suspect it's a case of Air France/KLM not delivering what QF says they will. Wouldn't be the first time with this partnership

 

[Jack_OC]

No, this is not "preferred seating". I suspect it's a case of Air France/KLM not delivering what QF says they will. Wouldn't be the first time with this partnership

Kind of what I thought! However, I just realised that although my QFF number is in the booking on the QF website, it's not when I manage the booking on the AF website (which is the only way to choose seats). It seems to allow me to add it - even giving me a nice green "successfully updated!" notification, but it won't stick. That might be the problem, as obviously if the system doesn't have my QFF #, then it certainly isn't going to know what my status is. Not sure if I can be bothered trying to phone them about it.

 

[henrus]

I asked both KLM and Air France via Twitter if they could inform me of the benefits they offer Qantas Gold status holders when flying on their airlines.

KLM sent me a link to the Qantas website page about Gold status telling me to contact Qantas for further info, ironically that page only mentions KLM one in the lounge section saying you get access to the Amsterdam lounge when flying on a KLM flight with a QF flight number.

Air France took over two days to respond. They informed me that Qantas is not a part of the Skyteam alliance and that I should contact Qantas directly to check the benefits with them.

At least KLM knew that Qantas was a partner but I get the impression that Air France doesn't actually know that Qantas is a partner.