Qantas reciprocal relationship with KLM/Air France (2020 onwards)

[Port Power]

I flew AMS LYS last week with KLM. It was a reward booking with Flying Blue miles.
I could input my QFF number (WP) and Mrs chrismars too (gold) at time of booking. From there, my booking was always showing my flying blue number (used for the reward flight) and I couldnt change it back to QFF, neither from the app nor from the website. I could only choose standard seats until checkin.

At online checkin time, we both had the sky-priority logo on the digital boarding pass. We have no status with AF/KLM, so that meant the qff number were recognized and used. I could select the front-of-the-plan seats for both of us for free, and I could only select the extra legroom seat (more at the front) for free for myself, while it was for a fee for Mrs Chrismars indicating that the system could differentiate gold and wp. We were on the aame booking.

Food in Y was the worst bread-cheese-mustard sandwich you can imagine, at least for a non dutch pax. Dutch people I think eat that everyday at the office, from memory. Hopefully I am offending no-one!
Anyway, we got luky as we didnt get affected by the ongoing issues at Schiphol last week (something similar to what happened in SYD a couple of weeks ago), and arrived on time.

Great news that it all worked out. Seeing is, indeed, believing. The extra checked bag is what I particularly want rather than leave one in a locker at AMS. That is a published benefit by QF.

 

[SYD]

I flew AMS LYS last week with KLM. It was a reward booking with Flying Blue miles.
I could input my QFF number (WP) and Mrs chrismars too (gold) at time of booking. From there, my booking was always showing my flying blue number (used for the reward flight) and I couldnt change it back to QFF, neither from the app nor from the website. I could only choose standard seats until checkin.

At online checkin time, we both had the sky-priority logo on the digital boarding pass. We have no status with AF/KLM, so that meant the qff number were recognized and used. I could select the front-of-the-plan seats for both of us for free, and I could only select the extra legroom seat (more at the front) for free for myself, while it was for a fee for Mrs Chrismars indicating that the system could differentiate gold and wp. We were on the aame booking.

Food in Y was the worst bread-cheese-mustard sandwich you can imagine, at least for a non dutch pax. Dutch people I think eat that everyday at the office, from memory. Hopefully I am offending no-one!
Anyway, we got luky as we didnt get affected by the ongoing issues at Schiphol last week (something similar to what happened in SYD a couple of weeks ago), and arrived on time.

Great to hear.

Did you get lounge access? I understand it’s not a benefit but curious if ST Priority equates to lounge?

 

[ChrisMars]

Great to hear.

Did you get lounge access? I understand it’s not a benefit but curious if ST Priority equates to lounge?

I didn't try and test the lounge dragon. I would expect a rejection. The AirFrance mobile app indicated lounge was not included. Luckily I had 2 priority pass entry hanging around I could use. The lounge (aspire?) was quiet nice, not as good as the KLM crown lounge of course, but really good and spacious enough.

I didnt have checked baggage, let alone in large quantity, so I can't comment on baggage allowance.

 

[SYD]

Looking at KLM’s own website, they list the “Sky Priority” benefits (no mention of Lounge or extra baggage, but QF apparently negotiated the baggage benefit):

https://www.klm.com.au/information/flying-blue

SkyPriority advantages​

There are perks that you will always have when flying with SkyPriority:

• Dedicated check-in desks
• Priority baggage drop-off and pick-up
• Access to the priority boarding lane
• Faster through security

 

[Batterytraveller]

Great news that it all worked out. Seeing is, indeed, believing. The extra checked bag is what I particularly want rather than leave one in a locker at AMS. That is a published benefit by QF.

Does anyone know if the extra checked bag benefit applies to 'light' (HBO) fares or do you have to buy 'standard, which already includes a checked bag?

 

[Port Power]

Does anyone know if the extra checked bag benefit applies to 'light' (HBO) fares or do you have to buy 'standard, which already includes a checked bag?

According to the AFF article, you get your extra status bag with all fare types.

 

[Infrequent]

Don't know if this is actually news (can't search 3 letters words like "KLM" on this site!), but KLM is now appearing as classic rewards.

(Apologies, and remove thread if this has been the case for ages and I missed the news previously!)

 

[defurax]

AF/KLM have been QF partners for a few years now. QFF only get points and no status credits when flying on AF/KLM flight numbers, while Flying Blue members of AF/KLM do get XPs (equivalent to QF status credits) when flying on QF flight numbers.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Don't know if this is actually news (can't search 3 letters words like "KLM" on this site!), but KLM is now appearing as classic rewards.

(Apologies, and remove thread if this has been the case for ages and I missed the news previously!)

Qantas recently announced some kind of reciprocal relationship with KLM/Air France

I flew AMS LYS last week with KLM. It was a reward booking with Flying Blue miles. I could input my QFF number (WP) and Mrs chrismars too (gold) at time of booking. From there, my booking was always showing my flying blue number (used for the reward flight) and I couldnt change it back to QFF...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[MrJetset]

Given the current state of AMS, it’s probably worth avoiding KLM atm

 

[Port Power]

Don't know if this is actually news (can't search 3 letters words like "KLM" on this site!), but KLM is now appearing as classic rewards.

(Apologies, and remove thread if this has been the case for ages and I missed the news previously!)

Yes, known for some time. I posted up thread that I had booked a classic reward KLM flight through QF.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

According to the AFF article, you get your extra status bag with all fare types.

Does anyone know if the extra checked bag benefit applies to 'light' (HBO) fares or do you have to buy 'standard, which already includes a checked bag?

With all the uncertainty raised in this thread I wrote to KLM ages ago to ask if QF status gets a free bag… the response was along the lines of (a) there is no agreement between QF and KL/AF and (b) please contact QF.

QF only has the text on their website, but not knowing whether or not KL would honour it was enough to make me change carriers.

 

[Port Power]

With all the uncertainty raised in this thread I wrote to KLM ages ago to ask if QF status gets a free bag… the response was along the lines of (a) there is no agreement between QF and KL/AF and (b) please contact QF.

QF only has the text on their website, but not knowing whether or not KL would honour it was enough to make me change carriers.

That’s interesting; thanks for sharing. I have a paid Y flight out and a J classic reward booking return, so will print out the QF article and take it with me. If the second bag is denied, I’ll just put it in luggage storage for two days.

My flight isn’t until September, but I will report back on the outcome.

 

[kevinyhli]

Just a data point on my experience just now flying BOD-CDG on Air France as QF PL. Had difficulty adding my QF number on the AF website (it doesn't save), but worked when we used the Air France app. Had my partner (QF NB) and myself on the same booking, Sky Priority only showed up on my booking and it allowed me to select exit rows FOC, but wasn't allowing my partner to do so.

Priority check-in was extremely helpful as my friends who arrived at the airport earlier than us took a full hour to get through check-in at BOD, while there was no wait for us on the Sky Priority line. The check-in agent did not think there was extra baggage (said normally it is 3x 32kg, but only in Business). The AF app also did not show any additional bags available when recognising my QF status.

 

[bam71]

Does one need to call QF to book redemptions on KLM? I’ve checked expertflyer and seats are showing, but the QF site doesn’t give KLM as an option, or it could be phantom?

 

[Port Power]

Does one need to call QF to book redemptions on KLM? I’ve checked expertflyer and seats are showing, but the QF site doesn’t give KLM as an option, or it could be phantom?

Yes, you have to ring.
(There is no booking fee as cannot be done online.)

 

[bam71]

Thanks!

 

[Mattg]

Does one need to call QF to book redemptions on KLM? I’ve checked expertflyer and seats are showing, but the QF site doesn’t give KLM as an option, or it could be phantom?

Yes, you have to ring.
(There is no booking fee as cannot be done online.)

Are you sure that you have to ring? Normally KLM awards are available on the Qantas website (if there is availability). Notwithstanding various glitches with the QF website of course, and you would need to ring if booking from an origin not available online.

 

[Port Power]

Are you sure that you have to ring? Normally KLM awards are available on the Qantas website (if there is availability). Notwithstanding various glitches with the QF website of course, and you would need to ring if booking from an origin not available online.

I definitely had to ring to book AMS-BLL. Maybe that was because, as you say, it was not available online.

Anyway, if @bam71 can’t see it or book it online, I suggest he telephone to book before the seat goes.

 

[SYD]

Does one need to call QF to book redemptions on KLM? I’ve checked expertflyer and seats are showing, but the QF site doesn’t give KLM as an option, or it could be phantom?

I just searched a random date next year and could see plenty of availability one-way AMS-FRA (as an example) with whY and Biz award seats bookable online.

I used the multi-city search - if that helps.