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

[Port Power]

Sigh, sadly this wasn't the case for me. Agent informed me partnership only meant I could get miles. Gently corrected her and asked her to look again. Nothing.. Asked for a supervisor, put me on hold for 15 mins to come back with no supervisor and just tell me the same thing.. So I asked again for a supervisor, hold for some more before she comes back that they want to contact HQ and call me back. Nothing so far, I am not hopeful it appears AF systems and staff know nothing of the partnership.

Sounds like you will have to wait until check in. (My seats were assigned by the Qantas agent when I booked the KLM flights by phone.)

 

[simong]

Reply from Air France:

Hello From Air France!

This is regarding your concern yesterday about the benefits you are asking for on the Air France flights care of your Qantas Gold status.

Please note that after checking with our back office in Europe and our counterparts from Qantas, and they have advised us the same as mentioned to you over the phone. That while we do have an agreement with Qantas on earning miles on Air France flights, the benefits such as free seats or extra baggage allowance is not reciprocated, as said benefits only apply to elite Sky Team members.

The benefits you are asking of us only applies on codeshare flights or for tickets booked thru Qantas, however the booking you made was done directly thru Air France. We may refer you to check and confirm this as well with Qantas.

We do apologize for this but do appreciate your kindest understanding on this matter.

Errr so is this partnership over? Any ideas on where to next?

 

[ChrisMars]

Reply from Air France:



Errr so is this partnership over? Any ideas on where to next?

Don't think this email implies in any way that the partnership is over. Seems like according to this email that your booking doesn't qualify for mutual benefit.
Having said that I have a data point that seems to contradict the email: I am sure I booked an AF number on Flying Blue miles a while back, and not only could I select my seat (as a WP) but I also had better seat selection than Mrs who is gold. Now, the seat selection might have been available only a few days before departure, can't remember. This was in a short haul in April.

 

[encryptededdy]

GIven the Qantas website is pretty clear about requiring codeshare flights for anything but points (not SC) earn/burn, any data point to the contrary is a happy accident and I wouldn't rely on it.

 

[simong]

I would say the website isn't actually clear, it's possibly ambiguous but Qantas were clear when @AFF Editor contacted them as per this article written Qantas Clarifies Air France, KLM Tier Benefits

 

[Port Power]

Reply from Air France:



Errr so is this partnership over? Any ideas on where to next?

The point here is that you had to book through Qantas. The benefits don’t apply if you book directly with AF. “Codeshare” has relevance.

 

[simong]

The point here is that you had to book through Qantas. The benefits don’t apply if you book directly with AF. “Codeshare” has relevance.

I am missing in the article where it says that? It specifically shows booking direct fares and points out the code share is required for lounge access. So am I missing something in the article, was it never correct or has the situation changed and it's no longer correct?

 

[ChrisMars]

I am missing in the article where it says that? It specifically shows booking direct fares and points out the code share is required for lounge access. So am I missing something in the article, was it never correct or has the situation changed and it's no longer correct?

While I am sure AFF editor took great care in writing this article, since Qantas is publishing the benefits of the AF partnership, I would rather look at this Qantas webpage as a source of truth:

https://www.qantas.com/fr/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/air-france.html#before-you-fly

In particular

Before you fly​

There are a selection of benefits available that can be booked ahead of your trip when flying on a Qantas codeshare flight with Air France.

Followed by a matrix of travel class / Qantas status vs benefits, including seat selection via partner airline.

A few caveats: I am not aware of a similar web page in AF / KLM website, and of course, getting your benefit recognised is sometime a challenge. But overall, the email you got from the AF staff seems in line with what is published on the Qantas website, and the partnership is still ongoing.

 

[justinbrett]

The whole point of this relationship was when QF moved back to SIN, for Australian pax to be able to connect to other European destinations without flying via LHR. QF wanted to retain the business for the AU-SIN leg, and as these carriers no longer operate to AU, QF can do the same for them.

It was never supposed to be a wider alliance that recognised intra-European flights not booked with an international connection. Most of QF's non-oneworld relationships are like this, including Westjet and now LATAM.

 

[simong]

I would rather look at this Qantas webpage as a source of truth:
https://www.qantas.com/fr/en/qantas...rtner-airlines/air-france.html#before-you-fly

But if I look at this one.. https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/partners/air-france.html its says

Qantas Frequent Flyer Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One members can also enjoy additional benefits when travelling with Air France.

I guess the reason this whole thread exists is because of the ambiguity.. My gut tells me that the first web site was set up with the initial partnership and the second related to the expanded one at the end of 2019. But at this point I guess I will give up!

 

[simong]

So an update, just waiting at BHX for my fight to CDG with AF. As some point, maybe the day before online checkin opened, I was able to select a seat for free, but not that far forward. Then I could checkin, I received Sky Priority on my BP and was able to change the others on my PNR (no status) to forward seats for no charge. They didn't get sky priority on their BP's but were placed in Zone 2.

At checkin, the great contract agent suggested it was saying she should charge me for my bag but she said you shouldn't because of your gold and over rode it.

So will see what happens on the return at CDG but based on the actual experience at the airport the partnership works as documented in the AFF article it's just unfortunate that Air France gave me such wrong information before, if I had listened to them I would have pre paid for a checked bag.

 

[jboy90]

Have checked in for an intra Europe economy flight on KLM. Even though it never appeared to save correctly on their manage booking site, my Qantas FF number shows at the top of the broadening pass, followed by ‘Club Silver’.

I’m currently silver status with a qantas club membership. Will see how long points take to post, though it only earns maybe 200!

 

[jboy90]

Have checked in for an intra Europe economy flight on KLM. Even though it never appeared to save correctly on their manage booking site, my Qantas FF number shows at the top of the broadening pass, followed by ‘Club Silver’.

I’m currently silver status with a qantas club membership. Will see how long points take to post, though it only earns maybe 200!

As an update: points posted one business day after the flight!

 

[simong]

So will see what happens on the return at CDG but based on the actual experience at the airport the partnership works as documented in the AFF article it's just unfortunate that Air France gave me such wrong information before, if I had listened to them I would have pre paid for a checked bag.

Just confirming that at CDG I was afforded all the benefits, Sky Priority Security Fast Track was a life saver too.. I have sent Air France Australian centre an email reply back informing them that they were wrong.

 

[simba24]

I've a flight booked on Air France J as a classic reward via Qantas (SIN-CDG). Does anyone know if that means you get access to the QF lounge in SIN? It seems like it's an AF flight number so that would lead me to think no, but since it's booked via QF as a reward seat thought I might get lucky.

 

[encryptededdy]

I've a flight booked on Air France J as a classic reward via Qantas (SIN-CDG). Does anyone know if that means you get access to the QF lounge in SIN? It seems like it's an AF flight number so that would lead me to think no, but since it's booked via QF as a reward seat thought I might get lucky.

No, but you'll be able to access whatever lounge Air France uses for business pax in Singapore, which I believe is the Marhaba Lounge. If it's T1 then it should be right next to the QF F lounge.

To access the Qantas lounge you'd need to be, generally speaking, on a QF (incl. Codeshare), oneworld, EK, or JQ flight number.

 

[AIRwin]

I've a flight booked on Air France J as a classic reward via Qantas (SIN-CDG). Does anyone know if that means you get access to the QF lounge in SIN? It seems like it's an AF flight number so that would lead me to think no, but since it's booked via QF as a reward seat thought I might get lucky.

In addition to QF, JQ/3K/GK, EK and oneworld, there is reference to MU but not AF:

Qantas Lounge Access Eligibility | Qantas

Find out more on Qantas Lounge access eligibility whether your traveling in First, Business; are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Club or oneworld member.

www.qantas.com

 

[Danger]

Yesterday I flew out of Luxembourg with KLM on a QF award ticket. At check-in, I handed the Luxair ground agent my Qantas card and got a perplexed look. He said, "But KLM is in SkyTeam and Qantas is in oneworld. I can't add a Qantas number to the reservation." Fortunately, I was travelling in J and didn't need the extra baggage allowance from my Qantas status, but if I did, it's clear there would have been a problem.

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday I flew out of Luxembourg with KLM on a QF award ticket. At check-in, I handed the Luxair ground agent my Qantas card and got a perplexed look. He said, "But KLM is in SkyTeam and Qantas is in oneworld. I can't add a Qantas number to the reservation." Fortunately, I was travelling in J and didn't need the extra baggage allowance from my Qantas status, but if I did, it's clear there would have been a problem.

That's weird. My QfF number appears in our KLM award flights. How did they think you'd obtained the award?

 

[Danger]

That's weird. My QfF number appears in our KLM award flights. How did they think you'd obtained the award?

I should have mentioned that. My QF number did actually print on my boarding pass but I didn't notice that until I was in the Luxair lounge. I'm not sure that would have made a difference to the Luxair agent, though. I did point out to him that it was a 081 ticket but in hindsight, the ticket stock really doesn't make a difference as to FF benefits.