Flying Blue (Air France & KLM) - Help FB Plat decide for 2010: FB or Delta SM?

I am FB Plat and have been for a couple of years. So I know well how bad FB has become. I am trying to decide if switching to Delta Skymiles starting 2010 would be any better? I mostly travel from Paris, mostly international.

The way I see it, the main negative of FB is the new 1 April rules for earning level miles, with many econ classes now 50% or worse. The other negative is how bad the online AF seat assignment system is. I fly too much, and like to at least be able to get a window exit seat to sleep on an overnight flight. Neither AF website nor personnel are very helpful about seats. Of course, AF NEVER comp upgrades.

For Delta SM, one negative is 75k instead of 70k miles for Plat, but not really a big deal. One positive is that almost all econ seats earn 100% status qualifying miles, and some are 150%. Another plus is when you buy tix at Delta, you can dial in exactly the letter fare class you want (and of course pay for it), while on AF you can't control the fare class (B,H,Q etc) unless you buy their Voyageur premium, which I can't make fly at work. Second positive of Delta is that their seat assignments, at least on their planes, is way better than AF, including can pick exit row.

Because of flying out of Paris, I think Skyteam is probably the only choice. Opinions? Am I missing anything? Can DL Plat still use CDG lounges? Will DL match FB Plat? Does DL ever comp up?

Thanks.

This is a decision I am still wrestling with - here are some other things to think about:

-Redemption on DL is brutally expensive, you are far better off with FB in that regard, especially with the promo awards. I have found this to be the case even when the cheaper FB awards are not available.

-Being in France, you will likely have fewer extra earning opportunities on DL, as compared to US based traveler. For a US-based traveler, there are SO many earning ops that even a 300,000 J award to asia (example) is not too painful.

-If you do fly in the USA at all, you will have a reasonable chance of domestic upgrades as a PM. The new DM level will have some effect, but the extent of that effect is up for debate.

-If you do ever fall to gold on FB, you will still be ST Elite Plus, whereas EP only starts with PM on DL.

-Lifetime plat on FB is attractive, and while FB Plat is not as good as DL PM, it is far easier to get to a point where you will never have to qualify for status. If you are going to get close to a million MQM on DL, that may be attractive because you can get lifetime SM, GM, PM at 1, 2, and 4 million miles respectively.

-A key is whether you are primarily a Y or J customer - it sounds like you are in Y a lot, do DL will provide far better earnings in that respect.

-I would not rule out Star Alliance - you may find cheaper flights on *A than ST, and while CDG1 is quite awful and you will likely add a connection to the *A hub, there are many opportunities on *A that ST does not offer.

This is difficult, partly because neither program FB or SM is any good. They are both bad in their own ways.

I travel from Europe to the US a lot, but not within the US that much, so comp upgrades are not a big attraction. FB doesn't give them ever, but I would never get them as SM either because I take few US domestic flights.

It's hard to tell which program has worse earning opportunities based on tickets purchased. However there are a long list of AF fare classes that earn zero on SM ("Mileage credit on SM is not applicable for AF fares booked in L, N, O, G, or X class."). But these zero fare classes turn out to be common discounted AF long-haul fares, so the whole trip gains nothing, which is kind of a bite. In contrast, DL flights all earn level miles on AF except for N, which is zero (although Delta K, L, U gain on FB 50 % de la distance parcourue, and T 25 % de la distance parcourue).

One convincing point is that -If you do ever fall to gold on FB, you will still be ST Elite Plus, whereas EP only starts with PM on DL. The Delta lounge people are looking for Elite Plus on the card for lounge access. Although this could be a difference ripe for 'harmonizing' between the programs...

Unfortunately, *A doesn't go too many places that I go (eg, Africa), so not an option.

It looks like I'll reluctantly stick one more year on FB, compare the fare class earnings under both programs, see if one program gets even worse than the other one, then consider again.

Flying a lot used to be grueling, now as flights are full and service reduced it's become even more stressful. Another option might be to just get off the treadmill and stop flying so much. Videoconferencing has gotten better as flying gets worse. There may be a tipping point...

motif2, welcome to FT!

There are numerous discussions on this. Have you searched a little? See these threads, for example:

The "master thread" on the FB changes:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/flying-blue-air-france-klm/907982-new-rule-book-here-new-rule-book-here-merged.html

A more specific thread to your issue:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/flying-blue-air-france-klm/979480-so-maybe-its-time-look-dl.html

Moderators, consider merging?

...Unfortunately, *A doesn't go too many places that I go (eg, Africa), so not an option...

Just on this point, where do you fly in Africa, exactly? Star Alliance is not that bad on that continent, plus with the entry of Brussels Airlines next month, there will be quite a few new destinations.

Hi motif,

nomad already referred you to my thread on the subject. A couple of additional considerations:

- Do you qualify on segments? 30 segments on Flying Blue will get you Elite Plus status, regardless of miles earned. To be EP with DL, you need 100 segments.

- DL has recently fixed a problem area ... V fares on KLM. They now earn 100% miles.

- DL will only match to Gold.

- Based in France, you can get the AF Gold Amex, and earn EQM. You won't have that option with DL.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

PS = Personally, I'm still debating. My travel pattern has changed a bit (more chances at C than before), but with regular domestic flights in the US, upgrades are interesting too.