Ever thought of swapping your economy seat for a lie-flat bed after completing the reservation? You can bring this thought into reality with KLM upgrade options.
The KLM upgrade policy provides you an option to get the most comfortable seats on the plane even if you have missed them while booking. Whether you are a last-minute deal hunter, a mile collector, or just looking for some extra legroom to enhance your travel experience, there is definitely an option available that actually works for you. No stress of finding the perfect bidding number or confusion; there are simple ways available to upgrade your seat to the next best cabin.
This guide will break down everything you need to know from charges and policy to the payment option and everything in between to get the best seats on KLM.
What Is the KLM Airlines Seat Upgrade Policy?
Get a KLM seat upgrade and move to Premium Comfort or Business Class for a more elegant trip. . In order to upgrade the seat, the passenger must follow certain rules and regulations. To understand these rules, review the points below:
- Passengers can utilize their Blue Miles or cash to purchase the KLM seats.
- Each passenger can purchase one upgrade per flight segment. However, if you have moved to Premium Comfort from Economy, you can later buy a KLM business class upgrade.
- The airline will refund the upgrade fee if they had to cancel the flight for any reason.
- KLM Airlines does not guarantee the seat as it heavily depends on the availability of the seats on the given day.
- When you upgrade to a higher class, your previously booked perks may not be applicable.
- To upgrade a seat, the passenger must pay the fare difference between the two cabins.
- Passengers requesting an upgrade within 24 hours of booking are not liable to pay an upgrade fee.
When are upgrades not allowed on KLM flights?
The upgrade option is available on all KLM-operated flights, but some passengers cannot apply for an upgrade. These restrictions are made to comply with operational logistics, meet legal requirements, and ensure passenger safety. Here is a list of restricted passenger from apply a seat upgrade:
- Medical Assistance: Passengers who have requested medical assistance from the airline may not be eligible for upgrades, as the airline may be unable to accommodate specialized seating or cabin arrangements on short notice.
- Travelling with Pets: The passengers are not allowed to travel in business class with a dog. Therefore, such passengers cannot seek an upgrade from the airline.
- Waiting list passengers: Passengers without a confirmed booking are denied from requesting seat upgrades.
- Special Seats: The passengers bringing fragile goods or reserved extra seats will not be allowed to get an upgraded seat because these elements are tied to exact floor-plan measurements.
- Infant & Unaccompanied: Parents traveling with an infant will not be allowed to upgrade due to oxygen mask allocation. Similarly, unaccompanied minors will also not be allowed to upgrade as they require special monitoring from the cabin crew.
Read Also – Singapore Airlines Upgrade
What do I receive if I upgrade my seat?
KLM has three types of cabins: economy, premium comfort, and business class. The services and amenities in each cabin differ, with the business class travelers enjoying the highest level of luxury and comfort. The table below compares the three cabin classes to help you understand the benefits and services included with your upgrade on KLM flight cabin.
| Features | Economy | Premium Comfort | Business Class |
| Seats | Get 79 cm legroom space and standard recline 12.5 cm | Spacious legroom of 97 cm with 20 cm of recline | Fully lie-flat bed |
| Cabin baggage allowance | Bring one small bag and one handbag (max weight 12 kg) | Bring one small bag and two handbags (max weight 12 kg) | Bring one small bag and two handbags (max weight 18 kg) |
| Checked baggage allowance | One checked bag allowed, weighing 23 kg | Two pieces of checked baggage are allowed, weighing 23 kg each | Two pieces of checked baggage are allowed, weighing 32 kg each |
| Meals | Get a snack, warm meal, or sandwich with a choice of juice, beer, or wine | Get a premium comfort meal with option to choose liquors and wines | Get 3-course dinner created by top chefs with options of premium liquors and wines |
| SkyPriority | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Lounge Access | Pay a fee to access the lounge at the airport | Pay a fee to access the lounge at the airport | Complimentary access to the KLM lounge |
How do I pay for an upgrade?
Passengers upgrading their seats are available with multiple options to pay for an upgrade. Here are the options to pay for an upgrade:
- The payment for an upgrade business class KLM can be made directly in cash at any KLM agency or at the airport.
- KLM accepts card payments and iDEAL for seat upgrades. To make a payment on KLM’s official website, mobile app, call center, or KLM travel agency, you can use Wero.
- Passengers with Flying Blue membership can pay using miles. Also, if you are facing a shortage of miles, pay the rest in cash.
How many KLM miles to upgrade to business class?
Join the KLM Flying Blue Membership and make KLM upgrade to business class by paying the miles. Now, you might ask how much the KLM upgrade will cost. There are certain factors that determine the miles to spend on an upgrade. The table below will help you understand the miles to be spent on upgrading under different conditions.
| Route Type | Low Fare Class (T, E, N, etc.) | High Fare Class (Y, B, M, etc.) |
| Short-haul (Europe) | 20,000 – 30,000 miles | 10,000 – 15,000 miles |
| Long-haul (US/Asia/Africa) | 45,000 – 60,000+ miles | 15,000 – 30,000 miles |
Here are some things to remember when undertaking your task:
- An upgrade can be paid with cash, miles, or a combination of the two (not more than 25% of the ticket price with miles + cash).
- If you have already switched from Economy to Premium Comfort, you are still able to book an additional upgrade to Business Class for the same flight leg; KLM does make a special exception to its ‘one upgrade per segment’ policy for this reason.
- You would get miles and XP at the booking class in the original economy, not in business class.
Read Also – Air France Upgrade
How much does it cost to upgrade to business class?
KLM uses dynamic pricing, and thus, there is no fixed KLM upgrade cost. There are various factors that determine the upgrade cost, such as route, seats availability and volume, timing, and the original price of the ticket. Based on the recent data, the short-haul flight upgrade can cost you between $350 and $1000, whereas the long-haul flights’ prices can range between $1000 and $3000 or more.
Can I bid to upgrade on a KLM flight?
Yes, the passengers can bid to upgrade their seats to Premium Comfort Class or Business Class. However, the KLM bid for upgrade is available only on selected flights. The payment for the upgrade can be made via cash or Flying Blue Miles. If your flight is eligible for bidding, here is the process:
- Check your Eligibility: Bidding is not available for all tickets. You cannot bid in the following cases:
- Light Ticket: If you have booked a Light Fare ticket.
- Unqualified passengers: Unaccompanied minors, passengers requiring special assistance, or travelling with pets cannot bid for an upgrade.
- Partner Airlines: When your flight is operated by a partner airline.
- How to Place the Bid: Bidding can be through two different methods:
- Email Invite: KLM Airlines sends an invitation to eligible passengers to participate in the bid.
- How to Place the Bid: Log in to your “My Trip” portal and look for the “Place a bid” option. If you see a fixed price, the KLM bid upgrade is not available for your flight segment as of now.
- The Bidding Process: Eligible passengers can bid using the process below:
- Set Your Price: Enter the price you are willing to pay for an upgrade.
- Make the Payment: Enter the card details and make the payment.
- Waiting Zone: KLM will receive the bids between 7 days and 48 hours before departure.
- Notification: If your bid is accepted, the airline will notify you via email and send you a new boarding pass.
How to get an upgrade on KLM?
Passengers can request to upgrade business class KLM by paying an additional fee above the fare. An upgrade can be made after making the reservation or during the check-in process. The passengers can pay for the upgrade using cash or Flying Blue Miles.
KLM Airlines paid upgrade
- Visit the KLM official webpage or open the KLM app.
- Select the “My Trip” option.
- Enter the passenger’s last name and booking code.
- Wait until your itinerary is loading and find the “Extra Options.”
- Look for “Upgrade your flight,” “Change to Business Class,” or “Treat yourself to more comfort.” If the options are not available, your ticket is not eligible for an upgrade.
- Select your option between Premium Comfort and Business Class.
- Choose a vacant seat from the seat map.
- Enter the card details and make the payment.
- Receive a confirmation email with the details of your new seats.
KLM Airlines Upgrade via Flying Blue Miles
- Go to the official website of KLM Airlines.
- Move to the “My Trips” tab and tap on “Log in to my account.”
- Enter the Flying Blue number or e-mail address to log in.
- Look for the “seat upgrade” option and open the seat map to select a seat.
- Pay using the miles (if you are short on miles, pay the rest in cash).
- Get the confirmation email from the airline with your new boarding pass.
Read Also – Cathay Pacific Upgrade
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for the extra space of premium comfort or the comfort of a lie-flat bed in business class, upgrading your KLM flight is a simple way to make your travel experience better. Knowing the KLM upgrade policy helps you make informed decisions about how to upgrade your seat; you can use cash, Flying Blue Miles, or even bidding to get a better seat. Availability and eligibility can differ, but if you know what is available and are eligible, you will never miss out on extra comfort.
Looking to get on the wing in style? Just go to “My Trip” and enjoy the high-quality trip that you deserve.
FAQs – KLM Airline Upgrade
Yes, you can upgrade your seat to Premium Comfort or Business Class by paying the upgrade fee and fare difference.
KLM restricts certain passengers from seat upgrades. It includes passengers who requested medical assistance, are traveling with an infant or a pet, and are unaccompanied minors.
A KLM last-minute seat upgrade allows passengers to move to a higher cabin class at a discounted price during online check-in. These upgrade offers are subject to seat availability and provide a more comfortable travel experience at a lower cost.
Yes, Delta is a partner airline of KLM. The passengers can use the Delta SkyMiles to get an upgrade on a KLM flight.
Generally you will not be able to upgrade to a higher cabin after check-in. But for certain cases, passengers might cancel their check in and ask for an upgrade, if available, and depending on the fare eligibility.
At times, KLM can offer free upgrades to the elite Flying Blue members for their flights, particularly if their Economy class is overbooked. But free upgrades are not assured and cash or miles purchase means greater chance of upgrade.
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