Let me start to say that I am Dutch so I may be a bit biased. Flying Dutchman used to be one of the best frequent flyer programmes around, and I agree with the reviews written before KLM decided to "modernise" it (October 2002). Although all the mailings in which the new programme was described hailed this modernization as a big improvement; actually in every single aspect the changes were at the members' disadvantage and the change can only been seen as a cost cutting exercise. The new programme is now very much the same as those of most other airlines, and no longer outstanding as it was before. It is much more difficult now to progress to the higher ranks or to remain there, as level miles are cancelled at the end of the year (in the old programme level points rolled over indefinitely). On my last visit to Amsterdam I noticed the lounges have been downgraded as well: the D-pier lounge (very close to the gates for flights to the UK) has been closed and in the lounge in the Schengen area champagne has been replaced by surrogate bubbly! As KLM will be taken over by Air France from April 2004, I suppose FD will then be equivalent to Air France's own frequent flyer programme.
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Connoisseur_Haggler 07.07.2001 (07.07.2001)
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Dec 16th, 2003
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