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

[Mattg]

I flew KLM on an Economy Light fare today and added my QFF number to the booking. At check-in, I was told I had no included baggage allowance.

I was able to check in my bag only after changing the frequent flyer number to a SkyTeam one (I have Elite Plus).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I flew KLM on an Economy Light fare today and added my QFF number to the booking. At check-in, I was told I had no included baggage allowance.

I was able to check in my bag only after changing the frequent flyer number to a SkyTeam one (I have Elite Plus).

Thanks matt! Four years since this thread opened, but we finally got an answer!

 

[SYD]

I flew KLM on an Economy Light fare today and added my QFF number to the booking. At check-in, I was told I had no included baggage allowance.

Which does seem consistent with the QF info page re KLM. No mention of baggage etc.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/klm-airlines.html

But the equivalent AF page is quite different! It specifically mentions a bunch of tier member benefits including extra bags, priority checkin etc.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/partners/air-france.html

 

[henrus]

Which does seem consistent with the QF info page re KLM. No mention of baggage etc.

Except the part on the KLM page that has a tick next to “Extra checked baggage allowance”

 

[SYD]

Except the part on the KLM page that has a tick next to “Extra checked baggage allowance”

That’s weird. When I opened (and posted!) that link earlier it looked different and now is similar to the AF page (which I opened afterwards…)… After the first bit, there was just a table of benefits flying QF codeshares on KL operated flights.

I‘ve not looked at the KLM rules for “lite” fares @Mattg mentioned. Some airlines don’t extend tier benefits to those (eg BA) but apparently his ST Elite Plus worked.

I‘d be printing out and carrying those pages with me if flying AF or KLM… From memory, no one has found and posted a KLM or AF webpage reflecting QF partnership?

 

[henrus]

I‘ve not looked at the KLM rules for “lite” fares @Mattg mentioned. Some airlines don’t extend tier benefits to those (eg BA) but apparently his ST Elite Plus worked

AF/KL don’t operate that way in the sense that lite fares do get a bag with status. I’m curious if this is done in the form of a override manually by the agent (which could explain why given QF not well known in Europe) or if it’s automatic in the system.

From memory, no one has found and posted a KLM or AF webpage reflecting QF partnership?

Nope,

A couple of comments on Flyertalk but that’s about it

FB benefits when flying Qantas [AF codeshare agreement] - FlyerTalk Forums

Air France, KLM, and Other Partners | Flying Blue - FB benefits when flying Qantas [AF codeshare agreement] - I am want to book a Qantas flight between AUS/NZ and within AUS. If I input my Flying Blue status number (I am ST Gold with FB) will I get the typical benefits associated with ST Gold...

www.flyertalk.com

 

[jase05]

Seems to be a few glitches with this partnership but one thing absolutely I’ve noticed is that QF seems to only get a sprinkling of award seats from AF/KLM in comparison to their main partners

 

[Danger]

I flew KLM on an Economy Light fare today and added my QFF number to the booking. At check-in, I was told I had no included baggage allowance.

I was able to check in my bag only after changing the frequent flyer number to a SkyTeam one (I have Elite Plus).

Well that simply can't be. AFF was assured by Qantas that measures had been taken to prevent this sort of fraud happening.

We now (finally) have some answers about the specifics of this partnership. I hope this clarifies things!

After we reached out to Qantas, Air France & KLM also sent a reminder to their staff about the QFF partnership.

Qantas Clarifies Air France, KLM Tier Benefits

Last year, Qantas introduced a new frequent flyer partnership with Air France & KLM.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

...

I‘d be printing out and carrying those pages with me if flying AF or KLM… From memory, no one has found and posted a KLM or AF webpage reflecting QF partnership?

I can't imagine any AF or KLM employee (let alone a contractor at an outstation) will give a damn what the Qantas website says.

 

[Mattg]

I can't imagine any AF or KLM employee (let alone a contractor at an outstation) will give a damn what the Qantas website says.

The check-in staff at HAM certainly did not. Their computer said no, and that was that. They showed me their screen which displayed a checked baggage allowance of zero bags, and were not able (or willing) to override it.

They were at least very polite about it, though.

 

[AFF Editor]

We asked Qantas if Qantas Frequent Flyer status benefits like additional baggage and priority check-in still apply when flying KLM/Air France. They're now telling us that these benefits only apply when booked on a QF codeshare flight.

You can see the response from Qantas here:

Qantas Status Benefits on KLM: Only on Codeshares?

The Qantas website states that Gold and Platinum frequent flyers receive additional benefits flying KLM, but it seems this only applies on codeshare flights.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[jase05]

We asked Qantas if Qantas Frequent Flyer status benefits like additional baggage and priority check-in still apply when flying KLM/Air France. They're now telling us that these benefits only apply when booked on a QF codeshare flight.

You can see the response from Qantas here:

Qantas Status Benefits on KLM: Only on Codeshares?

The Qantas website states that Gold and Platinum frequent flyers receive additional benefits flying KLM, but it seems this only applies on codeshare flights.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Out of interest do you happen to know how award inventory is allocated between AF/KL and QF?
Do QF only get given limited award seats as it’s only a secondary type partnership as I never can see much availability despite plenty being offered to SkyTeam partners

 

[Flyfrequently]

Good article, thanks.
As QFF SG, our J experience flying OPO to AMS last September did not have priority boarding for J or other status pax.
Fortunately (or not) we were able to use pre boarding due to my mobility issue.

 

[JimmyJ]

I’ve received sky priority benefits when flying on Air France paid flights with qff number (QF gold) attached to the ticket last year.

Priority check in, priority tagged bags, preferred seat selection, sky priority security at CDG.

Additional Baggage benefits didn’t seem all that forthcoming. I had paid extra to check 2 bags. They couldn’t find record of the second bag that I’d paid for until I showed them the ticket confirmation and were keen to charge for excess baggage. They were also sticklers for the maximum weight of individual bags.

In hindsight I should have taken the upgrade option for 65 euro which would have included extra luggage, lounge access and a couple of glasses on the plane.

 

[Port Power]

I always had the impression that the benefits only applied if your boarding pass had a QF flight number. I have always booked my KLM flights through the Qantas call centre (classic rewards), so did have a QF flight number. As I said, it has always been my impression. Whether I read it somewhere near the time of launching or whether I just assumed, but I have always just walked up to check in and the staff have taken the extra bag. "Priority" was actually printed on the boarding pass.

However, back then I thought the rules were quite explicit that entry to KLM lounges was not an included benefit, but I note in the 2020 AFF article that I just re-read, that it actually is! I am flying AMS-HAM and return in June on QF flight numbers. One flight departs at 6:30am, so at least I can eat a bit of breakfast in the lounge. My major interest is the extra bag, though. The Fiji call centre didn't ticket one of my J classic reward seats and only Y was available by the time I returned to Australia and realised.

 

[MikeG]

I booked a Business Class KLM flight from DPS-SIN as a Classic Reward, and noting this is not a codeshare flight, does anyone know how the KLM Lounge access works, and how the guesting works?

 

[Mattg]

I always had the impression that the benefits only applied if your boarding pass had a QF flight number. I have always booked my KLM flights through the Qantas call centre (classic rewards), so did have a QF flight number.

If you've booked a Classic Reward, it would have a KL flight number as you can't book QF codeshares on KLM as Classic Rewards - only in conjuction with a paid QF ticket to/from Australia (or Points Plus Pay).

That said, if you've booked J on KLM you'd get all these benefits through your class of travel.

 

[Port Power]

If you've booked a Classic Reward, it would have a KL flight number as you can't book QF codeshares on KLM as Classic Rewards - only in conjuction with a paid QF ticket to/from Australia (or Points Plus Pay).

That said, if you've booked J on KLM you'd get all these benefits through your class of travel.

My apologies, the classic reward flights do have KLM flight numbers, and did previously. As I said, ”priority” or some such word was printed on the boarding pass along with my QFF number, and I did check in a second bag without even asking. Staff were great! That was a Y seat.

It was @MikeG who was asking about lounge access. Yes, being booked in J, he has lounge access and anyway, as well as a second bag.

 

[aussieinams]

I always had the impression that the benefits only applied if your boarding pass had a QF flight number. I have always booked my KLM flights through the Qantas call centre (classic rewards), so did have a QF flight number. As I said, it has always been my impression. Whether I read it somewhere near the time of launching or whether I just assumed, but I have always just walked up to check in and the staff have taken the extra bag. "Priority" was actually printed on the boarding pass.

However, back then I thought the rules were quite explicit that entry to KLM lounges was not an included benefit, but I note in the 2020 AFF article that I just re-read, that it actually is! I am flying AMS-HAM and return in June on QF flight numbers. One flight departs at 6:30am, so at least I can eat a bit of breakfast in the lounge. My major interest is the extra bag, though. The Fiji call centre didn't ticket one of my J classic reward seats and only Y was available by the time I returned to Australia and realised.

As someone who is QF Platinum but lives in AMS and has tested this a few times (via phone calls to both airlines prior and at a the counter), sadly you will not get KLM Lounge access nor additional baggage with KLM flights even with your QFF added. There are only 2 lounges in AMS - KLM & Aspire (BA Lounge closed back in 2020) so even with a QF or Emirates flight you end up in the very average Aspire Lounge. These days I purchase my own breakfast vs going to the lounge if that gives you some idea of the quality there!!! The benefits you do get are Priority boarding, but thankfully AMS security has improved since the horror waits of 2022 so I find the Priority queue is the exact same timing as standard. All in all only decent benefit is QFF points.

Also, forgot to add exact same experience with AF flights.

 

[SYD]

As someone who is QF Platinum but lives in AMS and has tested this a few times (via my home calls to airlines prior and at a counter), sadly you will not get KLM Lounge access nor additional baggage with KLM flights even with your QFF added. There are only 2 lounges in AMS - KLM & Aspire (BA Lounge closed back in 2020) so even with a QF or Emirates flight you end up in the very average Aspire Lounge. These days I purchase my own breakfast vs going to the lounge if that gives you some idea of the quality there!!! The benefits you do get are Priority boarding, but thankfully AMS security has improved since the horror waits of 2022 so I find the Priority queue is the exact same timing as standard. All in all only decent benefit is QFF points.

You’ve not checked out the new OW lounge then? Although not relevant flying KLM - even with a QF code.

First look: Oneworld opens new Amsterdam Lounge

The new lounge at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport comes as the alliance marks its 25th year.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[aussieinams]

You’ve not checked out the new OW lounge then? Although not relevant flying KLM - even with a QF code.

First look: Oneworld opens new Amsterdam Lounge

The new lounge at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport comes as the alliance marks its 25th year.

www.executivetraveller.com

I hadn’t realised but I’m flying to the US next week so will check it out! Thanks for the heads up!