Flying Blue benefits and earnings on Delta
Nov 10, 2016, 9:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Flying Blue benefits and earnings on Delta
For someone living in the U.S., the Flying Blue program interests me a lot because of ability to earn top tier status with flying 70K miles or 60 segments. I had one main question I am not sure about: are there any chance of upgrades on international AF/KLM flights? Thanks!
Last edited by jediwho; Nov 10, 2016 at 9:08 pm
Nov 10, 2016, 11:06 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
For someone living in the U.S., the Flying Blue program interests me a lot because of ability to earn top tier status with flying 70K miles or 60 segments. I had one main question I am not sure about: are there any chance of upgrades on international AF/KLM flights? Thanks!
Nov 11, 2016, 12:26 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
To expand on that: Unlike in the US, European airlines (including AF and KL) do not typically upgrade passengers for free unless operation reasons require them to.
Nov 11, 2016, 4:08 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
I think the best is:
- to have a Canadian address
- use Skymiles Medallions program
- flying with AF (not KLM, except you expense a lots of short flight).
It is why, I will transfert on Skymiles for 2017.
- to have a Canadian address
- use Skymiles Medallions program
- flying with AF (not KLM, except you expense a lots of short flight).
It is why, I will transfert on Skymiles for 2017.
Nov 11, 2016, 6:19 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,510
Nov 11, 2016, 6:42 am
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,230
The only "upgrade" which is a perk of the FB program as a top-tier member would be free Economy Comfort instead of paid. Of course you need to look into what Economy Comfort actually is to make a value judgement on that benefit.
Nov 11, 2016, 7:46 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
The OP was asking about international flights. European airlines and US airlines are not fundamentally different there, as mentioned above by orbitmic. It is only for domestic or quasi-domestic flights that US airlines provide complimentary upgrades.
Nov 11, 2016, 11:00 am
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,061
Find emptier flights.
Nov 12, 2016, 4:30 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,953
Even if it looks appealing, I would not advise to use a Flying Blue account in the US to fly Delta, as you will get close to zero perk besides the traditional SkyPriority on Delta.
No lounge access, and moreover no Domestic upgrades. You will be considered with a lower priority than the lowest Silver Medallion member.
While I was living in the US, I switched to Delta SkyMiles and quickly attained the Platinum and even the Diamond status.
No lounge access, and moreover no Domestic upgrades. You will be considered with a lower priority than the lowest Silver Medallion member.
While I was living in the US, I switched to Delta SkyMiles and quickly attained the Platinum and even the Diamond status.
Nov 12, 2016, 10:39 am
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,230
If I am not mistaken (I regularly see youtube vlogs from "Travels with Sheila") United certainly does upgrade top tier frequent flyers on International flights. She very rarely sits in Coach and is almost invariably upgraded by way of tier status.
Nov 12, 2016, 12:43 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972
Perhaps I got lucky, I am not sure...
A couple of months ago I flew IAD -> MSP -> DEN.
My first leg I had the option to change to another IAD -> MSP flight as mine was going to be late. For this flight I got upgraded to FC from Y. I am FB Plat. FC was most definitely not full nor was Y. Probably 50% capacity in both.
For the second leg I missed my original flight MSP -> DEN so had to get the next one. They upgraded me on this one too! FC most definitely wasn't full nor was Y (I'd guess 75% capacity).
I have done quite alot of domestic DL legs over the past year or 2, perhaps 10% upgrade chance I have had. I always go in expecting nothing so it is a pleasant surprise when I do get upgraded.
A couple of months ago I flew IAD -> MSP -> DEN.
My first leg I had the option to change to another IAD -> MSP flight as mine was going to be late. For this flight I got upgraded to FC from Y. I am FB Plat. FC was most definitely not full nor was Y. Probably 50% capacity in both.
For the second leg I missed my original flight MSP -> DEN so had to get the next one. They upgraded me on this one too! FC most definitely wasn't full nor was Y (I'd guess 75% capacity).
I have done quite alot of domestic DL legs over the past year or 2, perhaps 10% upgrade chance I have had. I always go in expecting nothing so it is a pleasant surprise when I do get upgraded.
Nov 12, 2016, 1:12 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,918
Perhaps I got lucky, I am not sure...
A couple of months ago I flew IAD -> MSP -> DEN.
My first leg I had the option to change to another IAD -> MSP flight as mine was going to be late. For this flight I got upgraded to FC from Y. I am FB Plat. FC was most definitely not full nor was Y. Probably 50% capacity in both.
For the second leg I missed my original flight MSP -> DEN so had to get the next one. They upgraded me on this one too! FC most definitely wasn't full nor was Y (I'd guess 75% capacity).
I have done quite alot of domestic DL legs over the past year or 2, perhaps 10% upgrade chance I have had. I always go in expecting nothing so it is a pleasant surprise when I do get upgraded.
A couple of months ago I flew IAD -> MSP -> DEN.
My first leg I had the option to change to another IAD -> MSP flight as mine was going to be late. For this flight I got upgraded to FC from Y. I am FB Plat. FC was most definitely not full nor was Y. Probably 50% capacity in both.
For the second leg I missed my original flight MSP -> DEN so had to get the next one. They upgraded me on this one too! FC most definitely wasn't full nor was Y (I'd guess 75% capacity).
I have done quite alot of domestic DL legs over the past year or 2, perhaps 10% upgrade chance I have had. I always go in expecting nothing so it is a pleasant surprise when I do get upgraded.
Nov 13, 2016, 4:32 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: FB platinum
Posts: 373
Also, flights from/to ATL are clearly impossible to get an upgrade on for FB Elites, there are way too many DL status holders (from Diamonds to Silver).
But I recently flew EYW-ATL/ATL-MSY/MSY-NYC. Obviously on the first two flights, no upgrade and somewhere like #25 for the upgrade list, however on the MSY-NYC flight on a Friday evening, which wasn't too full, both my gf and I got upgraded to FC (we are both FB plat). So that was nice since it's a 3-ish hour flight!
I wouldn't say that this a a huge sample though. But clearly avoiding ATL and flying on low-load flights makes life easier for FB Elites
But I recently flew EYW-ATL/ATL-MSY/MSY-NYC. Obviously on the first two flights, no upgrade and somewhere like #25 for the upgrade list, however on the MSY-NYC flight on a Friday evening, which wasn't too full, both my gf and I got upgraded to FC (we are both FB plat). So that was nice since it's a 3-ish hour flight!
I wouldn't say that this a a huge sample though. But clearly avoiding ATL and flying on low-load flights makes life easier for FB Elites
Last edited by lynxy; Nov 14, 2016 at 1:08 am
Nov 13, 2016, 4:51 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Air Europa Silver, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,010
I had a different experience last August, getting upgraded on Toronto to ATL and ATL to LAX. Flying on a Sunday during the low season for business travel would have helped.
Nov 13, 2016, 6:51 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 391
And do not forget, buying DL low fare economy ticket will only accrual 25% of the miles flown in Flying Blue.
Which means, if you qualify through segment, after a year of 60 flights within NA, you may probably have around 17k bonus miles, which can't even make a one-way to Europe.
Which means, if you qualify through segment, after a year of 60 flights within NA, you may probably have around 17k bonus miles, which can't even make a one-way to Europe.