KLM and Air France upgrade at check-in: costs, tips and pitfalls
What is the upgrade at check-in?
When you check in online for a KLM or Air France flight, you may be offered a paid upgrade to a higher cabin class. This is not an auction or bidding system: you see a fixed price in euros (or miles) and can accept or decline on the spot. The price is dynamic, personalized and differs per passenger. The offer only appears if there are empty seats in the higher cabin.
Key facts at a glance
Important: an upgrade upgrades your seat, not your ticket
A last-minute upgrade at check-in only changes your seat. Your ticket remains unchanged. This means you earn XP based on your originally booked travel class, not the cabin you sit in. Upgrade from Economy to Business Class on AMS-BKK? You get 12 XP (Economy fare), not the 36 XP that a booked Business Class ticket earns.
You do, however, earn extra miles on the upgrade price. KLM and Air France award miles based on euros actually spent. The number of miles per euro depends on your status level: Explorer receives 4 miles per euro, Silver 6, Gold 7 and Platinum 8 miles per euro. Pay EUR 500 for an upgrade as a Platinum member and you earn 4,000 extra miles.
- How does the check-in upgrade work?
- Which upgrades are available?
- Real prices: within Europe
- Real prices: intercontinental
- Why paying with miles is always bad value
- The NDPU system: higher status = higher price
- When do you get offered an upgrade?
- Comparison with other upgrade methods
- 8 tips for the best deal
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources and verification
How does the check-in upgrade work?
When online check-in opens, the system automatically checks whether there are empty seats in a higher cabin. If so, you receive an upgrade offer with a fixed price. This applies to both KLM and Air France flights. The KLM app and Air France app are technically the same application with a different look, so the system works identically.
- Online check-in opens - 30 hours before departure (24 hours for flights to/from the US)
- Upgrade offer appears - in the app or on the website, with a price in euros and/or miles
- You accept or decline - upon acceptance your seat is changed immediately and the amount is charged
- Boarding pass is updated - your new seat in the higher cabin appears on your boarding pass
The offer appears in multiple places:
- KLM app / Air France app - often with more options than the website (including Premium Comfort and Business). Both apps are technically the same system.
- KLM.com / AirFrance.com - during the online check-in process
- Self-service kiosks at the airport - even after checking in online you can still upgrade at the kiosk
- Check-in counter - staff can process the same upgrade
Which upgrades are available?
| From | To | Available on |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Premium Comfort | Intercontinental only (widebody aircraft) |
| Economy | Business Class | Within Europe and intercontinental |
| Premium Comfort | Business Class | Intercontinental only |
According to the KLM terms and conditions, you can only purchase one upgrade per flight segment, with one exception: if you first upgrade from Economy to Premium Comfort, you can then upgrade further to Business Class.
Real prices: within Europe
Neither KLM nor Air France publish a fixed price list. The price is dynamic and differs per passenger, route and moment. The prices below come from the FlyerTalk OLCI thread with 3,800+ posts, where travelers share their actual upgrade offers.
Economy to Business Class (within Europe)
| Route | Price |
|---|---|
| DUS-AMS (short) | EUR 49 |
| FRA-AMS (short) | EUR 59 |
| AMS-PRG | EUR 65 |
| AMS-CAG / AMS-HAM | EUR 69 |
| OSL-AMS / BGO-AMS | EUR 79 |
| AMS-BEG | EUR 89 |
| AMS-ALC | EUR 99 - 109 |
| AMS-FCO | EUR 110 |
| AMS-BCN | EUR 130 - 151 |
| CDG-LHR / AMS-MAD | EUR 159 - 179 |
| CDG-AMS | EUR 199 |
| GVA-AMS | EUR 249 |
| AMS-BGO (highest reported) | EUR 399 |
Based on actual upgrade offers reported on FlyerTalk (2022-2025). Prices are dynamic and individual; the above values are indicative. Source: FlyerTalk OLCI thread.
Real prices: intercontinental
Economy to Business Class
| Route | Cash price | Flight hours | Cost/hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPS-SIN (short) | EUR 99 | ~2.5 | EUR 40 |
| IAH-AMS | ~EUR 280 | ~10 | EUR 28 |
| MSP-AMS | ~EUR 570 | ~9 | EUR 63 |
| YUL-AMS | EUR 700 | ~7 | EUR 100 |
| AMS-YUL | EUR 800 | ~8 | EUR 100 |
| AMS-NBO | EUR 799 | ~8.5 | EUR 94 |
| BOG-AMS | EUR 799 | ~11 | EUR 73 |
| AMS-PTY | EUR 999 | ~11 | EUR 91 |
| AMS-JFK | EUR 1,250 | ~8 | EUR 156 |
| AMS-BOS | ~EUR 1,570 | ~8 | EUR 196 |
Prices from FlyerTalk reports (2022-2025), converted to EUR where needed. "Cost per hour" calculated as upgrade price divided by flight hours. Source: FlyerTalk OLCI thread.
Premium Comfort to Business Class
| Route | Cash price |
|---|---|
| DXB-AMS | ~EUR 300 |
| KL807 (unknown route) | EUR 329 |
| 16.5-hour flight | ~EUR 350 |
| AMS-ORD | EUR 1,099 |
Economy to Premium Comfort
Less data is available, but reports point to prices around EUR 250-400 for a typical intercontinental flight of 10-11 hours. The Points Guy reported USD 400 for an 11-hour flight.
Calculation example: when is an upgrade worth it?
Say you fly AMS-Bogota (11 hours) and get an upgrade to Business for EUR 799. That is EUR 73 per hour. A KLM World Business Class seat on this route normally costs EUR 2,500-4,000. You "save" EUR 1,700-3,200 compared to a separate Business ticket. Verdict: good deal.
But if you fly AMS-JFK (8 hours) and have to pay EUR 1,250, that is EUR 156 per hour. On that route you can regularly find award tickets for 60,000 miles + EUR 250. Verdict: too expensive, book an award ticket next time.
Why paying with miles is always bad value
Never pay for an upgrade with miles
KLM offers a miles price with every upgrade. This is bad value without exception. You get on average 0.7 to 1.0 euro cents per mile, while the same miles on an award ticket are worth 1.5 to 2.5 euro cents. Here are real examples:
| Route | Cash price | Miles price | Value/mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLM intra-EU | EUR 79 | 11,300 miles | EUR 0.007 |
| AMS-LIS | EUR 199 | 24,800 miles | EUR 0.008 |
| AMS-YUL | EUR 800 | 114,200 miles | EUR 0.007 |
| YUL-AMS | EUR 700 | 99,900 miles | EUR 0.007 |
| AMS-NBO | EUR 799 | 85,000 miles | EUR 0.009 |
| KL807 | EUR 329 | 47,000 miles | EUR 0.007 |
For comparison: a Flying Blue mile is worth EUR 0.01 to 0.013 on average. At sweet spots you can get EUR 0.02-0.08. With a check-in upgrade you get only EUR 0.007. That is the worst way to spend your miles.
Personal experience: how I wasted 94,000 miles
In November 2025 I was offered an upgrade from Economy Comfort to Premium Comfort at online check-in for EUR 329. A decent deal. But I was traveling with a colleague and only one seat was available. I called the Platinum Service line. They could arrange two seats, both for EUR 329.
The problem: the second seat was not guaranteed and the fastest way to lock everything in was through miles. I wanted the upgrade too badly and decided to pay for both seats with miles: 2 x 47,000 = 94,000 miles.
SkyStatus later showed me I had received EUR 0.0070 per mile. With my Subscribe to Miles subscription (highest tier: 17,000 miles per month for EUR 187) I effectively paid EUR 522 per upgrade via miles, while the cash price was EUR 329. I paid nearly 60% more.
Two months later I flew to Toronto on an award ticket for 90,000 miles in Business Class, yielding EUR 0.0317 per mile. Not only did I pay far more than necessary, I burned miles that would have been worth more than four times as much on an award ticket. Pain on both sides.
This was the direct reason for founding SkyStatus: to never make this mistake again, and to help other travelers avoid the same pain.
The NDPU system: higher status = higher price
This is one of the most surprising aspects of the KLM and Air France upgrade system: passengers with a higher Flying Blue status typically pay more for an upgrade, not less.
Both airlines internally use the NDPU system (Non Discounted Paid Upgrade). This works as follows:
- New or low-status passengers receive a discount on the upgrade price. The airline wants to entice them to experience Business Class, hoping they will book it directly next time.
- Frequent upgraders are tagged with an NDPU code and pay the full, undiscounted rate.
- Platinum members report on FlyerTalk prices that are 2-3 times higher than what passengers without status are offered for the same seat.
Real example
On the LAX-AMS route, a FlyerTalk user reported two prices for the same upgrade to Business Class: the discounted price was USD 794, while the NDPU rate was USD 1,851. That is more than double for the same seat on the same flight.
The NDPU tag disappears after a period in which you decline upgrades. But do not count on a quick reset: it can take months before you see attractive offers again. KLM and Air France track your upgrade behavior and adjust their prices accordingly. Once labeled as an "upgrader," you are stuck with the higher rate for a long time.
Important: the first time you accept an upgrade, you typically get a lower price. On subsequent upgrades you fall into higher price buckets. That makes your first upgrade extra valuable, and this has two consequences:
When do you get offered an upgrade?
The upgrade is not always offered. The key factors:
- Empty seats in the higher cabin - there must be unsold seats. If Business Class is full, no upgrade is possible.
- Economy load - upgrades are offered more frequently when Economy is full and Business has empty seats. Both airlines use this to balance the aircraft load.
- Route - intercontinental flights show upgrade options more often than short European flights.
- Your upgrade history - the NDPU system determines your price level based on how often you have upgraded before.
- Timing - the offer appears when online check-in opens. Some travelers report that the price increases as departure approaches (for example at the kiosk versus online).
Comparison with other upgrade methods
The check-in upgrade is not the only way to get into a higher cabin. Below is a comparison of all options, using the route AMS-JFK as an example:
| Method | Cost (indicative) | Miles needed | Guaranteed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Business directly (cash) | EUR 1,800 - 3,000 total | 0 | Yes |
| Business award ticket (saver) | ~EUR 250 taxes | 60,000 | Yes (subject to availability) |
| Business award ticket (Promo Reward) | ~EUR 250 taxes | 45,000 | Yes (limited routes) |
| Upgrade at check-in (cash) | EUR 800 - 1,250 + Economy ticket | 0 | No |
| Upgrade at check-in (miles) | Economy ticket | 85,000 - 114,000 | No |
| Upgrade with miles (via OLCI/Service Line) | Economy ticket | 25,000 - 52,500 | No (O-class required) |
How many miles do you need for an award ticket?
Track your miles balance and see when you have enough for a full Business Class ticket, instead of an expensive upgrade.
Start tracking for free8 tips for the best deal
1. Upgrade immediately when online check-in opens
Want to upgrade? Do it immediately as soon as online check-in opens, 30 hours before departure (24 hours for US flights). The more passengers check in before you, the fewer seats are available and the higher the price goes. The first upgraders get the best deals.
2. Always check both the app and the website
The KLM app and Air France app sometimes show upgrade options (including Premium Comfort and Business) that do not appear on the website. Always check both. You can also upgrade at the self-service kiosk at Schiphol even after checking in online.
3. Calculate cost per flight hour
Divide the upgrade price by the number of flight hours. As a rule of thumb: under EUR 50 per hour is a good deal for intercontinental, under EUR 75 is acceptable. Over EUR 100 per hour you are better off booking an award ticket next time.
4. Always pay in cash, never with miles
The miles price is always bad value. Pay the upgrade in euros and save your miles for a full award ticket, where they are worth two to three times more.
5. Be strategic about your upgrade frequency
The NDPU system punishes frequent upgraders with higher prices. If you notice your prices are rising, skip a few times. After a period without upgrades the NDPU code can be reset.
6. Never upgrade a short European flight
That EUR 69 or EUR 89 for a short flight looks appealing, but it activates the NDPU system. After that you pay full price on a long-haul upgrade where it truly matters. Save your first upgrade for an intercontinental flight.
7. Do not trust the seat map for availability
Never look at the seat map on KLM.com or AirFrance.com to estimate how many seats are available. The seat map only shows reserved seats, not the actual occupancy. In Business Class passengers pay for a seat reservation. Platinum and Ultimate members reserve for free, the rest pays. Gold members only get free seat selection 72 hours before departure. The result: the seat map often looks empty, but at check-in many more seats are occupied than expected.
8. Always compare with a separate Business ticket
Add your Economy ticket and the upgrade price together. If that amount comes close to a regular Business Class ticket, the upgrade is not a good deal. In that case it is smarter to book Business directly next time or use an award ticket.
Frequently asked questions
When does the upgrade option appear?
The upgrade option appears when online check-in opens: 30 hours before departure on most flights, 24 hours for flights to and from the US. You will see the offer on the KLM or Air France website, in the app, at self-service kiosks at the airport and sometimes at the counter. The option only appears if there are empty seats in the higher cabin.
How much does an upgrade from Economy to Business cost at check-in?
Prices are dynamic and personalized. Within Europe it typically costs EUR 49-250. On intercontinental flights it ranges from EUR 300 to over EUR 1,500. The price depends on the route, demand, your Flying Blue status and your upgrade history. Frequent upgraders pay more due to the NDPU system.
Is upgrading with miles at check-in a good idea?
No. You get on average only EUR 0.007-0.01 per mile, while a Business Class award ticket yields EUR 0.015-0.025 per mile. Moreover, the upgrade often costs more miles than a full Business Class award ticket. Always pay for an upgrade in cash and save your miles for a separate award ticket.
Do Platinum members pay less for an upgrade?
No, if anything they pay more. KLM and Air France use the NDPU system where frequent upgraders and higher status holders actually see higher prices. The strategy is to entice new passengers with lower prices. Platinum members report prices that are 2-3 times higher than what passengers without status are offered.
What is the difference with a Business Class award ticket?
With an upgrade you pay on top of your existing Economy ticket. With an award ticket you book a complete ticket with miles. An award typically costs 60,000 miles (or 45,000 with Promo Rewards), while a check-in upgrade can cost 85,000-114,000 miles. The award ticket is almost always cheaper.
Sources and verification
Last verified: February 19, 2026. Price examples are based on actual reports from passengers. Upgrade prices are dynamic and personalized; your offer may differ.
- KLM - Upgrade to Premium Comfort or Business Class - official upgrade information
- KLM - Last-minute upgrade terms and conditions - official terms and restrictions
- FlyerTalk - The ultimate thread on buy-ups at OLCI - 3,800+ posts with real upgrade prices
- FlyerTalk - KLM uses individual code system (NDPU) - explanation of personalized pricing
- Live and Let's Fly - KLM's Curious Approach To Upgrades - analysis of the upgrade system
- FlyerTalk - Day of Departure upgrades using miles - miles pricing at OLCI upgrades
This guide is based on publicly available information from KLM, FlyerTalk reports and personal experience as of February 2026. Upgrade prices are dynamic and personalized. Always check the current offer at check-in. SkyStatus is not affiliated with Air France-KLM or Flying Blue.