SkyTeam - Delta/KLM or AF for Business SFO-IST?

Hello,

Not sure where to post this question. Don't have any miles but do have a voucher I can use on any of these airlines. Want to book business fare. SFO-IST returning ATH-SFO in October.

Any significant differences? Fares are, currently, about the same.

Thanks for your help!

Kim

Check the aircraft types and business class seating maps. I hate 2-3-2 in business class but I also try to avoid DL's nonreconfigured 767-300s.

Moving this thread to the SkyTeam forum. Thanks for your understanding.

Jouy31
TravelBuzz co-moderator

Flying on DL metal will likely require you to make 2 connections, while you can make it with 1 connection with AF or KL. Why not try one to go and one to return.
I agree with MSPeconomist, stay away from these old and tired non-reconfigured DL767-300ER

SFO-JFK-IST is a one-stop route on DL. However, it suffers from the old 763s. SFO-AMS/CDG-IST sounds much better. Looks like SFO-LAX-AMS/CDG-IST is legal as well if OP has interest in chasing the A380.

SFO-JFK-IST is a one-stop route on DL. However, it suffers from the old 763s. SFO-AMS/CDG-IST sounds much better.

I'm going to disagree on that one. I'll take Delta's international config 757 SFO-JFK plus 767-300ER JFK-IST vs. covering miles in a KL 737 in Europe Business class (getting you a snack box and effectively economy seating with an open center seat). On the return ATH-JFK is an A333 through the seasonal suspension date 10/27/12.

As probably the person on FT, and possibly ON EARTH that has done the West Coast of the US to IST more than anyone else in Biz, allow me to chime in. IF you can mix and match between the airlines involved then your best of all worlds strategy is SFO-JFK-IST with Delta and then ATH-AMS-SFO on KLM.

The other option would be to do it SFO-JFK-IST and then ATH-JFK (or ATL)- SFO all on DL.

Forget the somewhat ignorant comments about DL's 763's. As far as any of the experts above know, by the time the OP flies, the newly configured 763's could be on the route full time (they have been on and off the route) and keep in mind that at least one of the posters above believes the old NWA 333's to actually be a good product in Biz. Truth be told the old 76's are fine overall and no worse than the AF or KL products which are flat on an angle which is its own issue.

Firstly, if one is making a connection on this route or those of similar distance (and there is no other alternative, even if you flew TK's LAX flight you still have to make a connection) it is far preferable to do so earlier in the journey. There is nothing worse than having just done a 10-11 or 12 hour flight and then have to go through all the security, etc again. Therefore it would be preferable to do the connection in NY on the way out and AMS on the way back, furthermore, that way the arrival times are far preferable - you will arrive in IST at appx 10-11 AM (Do not know the schedule in OCT) and back in SFO probably around 2PM in the other direction. These connections if done right are also the fastest connections.

One thing for certain, you definately do NOT want to go through CDG. Not only is the AF product the worse of the three, but CDG connections are never pleasant (neither is JFK for that matter, but generally still preferable to CDG). As stated above the BE equipped 757 that DL flies on your SFO-JFK flight is FAR superior to any "biz" product offered in Europe by AF or KL.

I'm going to disagree on that one. I'll take Delta's international config 757 SFO-JFK plus 767-300ER JFK-IST vs. covering miles in a KL 737 in Europe Business class (getting you a snack box and effectively economy seating with an open center seat). On the return ATH-JFK is an A333 through the seasonal suspension date 10/27/12.
I guess JFK-IST clocks in at 10-ish hours block time, so probably long enough to actually sleep. Still, I think I'd take AF's angled flat seats and 3.5 hours of Eurobiz over the 763ER recliners. I seem to recall AF improving the food on the longer flights that don't have long-haul equipment, too. AZ appears to be sending their updated Magnifica (rave reviews) on LAX-FCO in October and uses an A321 on FCO-IST (only 2.5 hours). SFO-LAX-FCO-IST isn't the fewest connections, but it might be an interesting option.

I do agree that doing the return ATH-JFK with DL is probably the best idea.

As a lifetime Plat on AF and a 2MM DM on DL, and having done each of these options more times than I can count, I can assure you that 1) The food of AF in Biz is as poor as its ever been, so I do not know where you got your info, and 2) That even forgetting the horrible AF Euro seat which as you cavalierly do, that the connection at CDG is generally an experience that most people should give a miss, and that I am sorry but you are just so wrong about this.