SkyTeam - Varig-GOL airline flight credit

I have an upcoming trip to FOR via GRU, all segments are on DL except last leg from GRU to FOR. I have a tough time tracking down where i can credit the last segment.
I have DL, AA and UA.

Thanks for any pointers.

@ORD

You'll be able to credit the flights to DL although you won't earn MQMs - http://www.voegol.com.br/smiles/en-us/miles/accrue/partner-airlines/delta-air-lines/paginas/default.aspx and http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/airline_partners.php#GOL

Until the 13th of this month, you could credit to AA, although that partnership has ended (probably because DL has purchased a 3% stake in GOL).

You can also credit to Air France / KLM and Qatar Airways with GOL - http://www.voegol.com.br/smiles/en-us/miles/accrue/partner-airlines/paginas/default.aspx

Thank you Supersonic!

DL it is then.

GOL may one day join Skyteam, particularly if TAM chooses to go with OW after the merger with LAN and now that Avianca/TACA has joined *A, but I doubt that (and therefore the ability to earn MQMs) will happen any time soon - and therefore in time for your flights...

And recently they announced a loss of R751 million (close enough to $US350 million) for 2011.
I sure hope they don't go the way of Varig Mark I

Gol reduz até água do banheiro e tamanho do bilhete para economizar

Após prejuízo de R$ 751 milhões em 2011, empresa adere a "economia da azeitona"

Uma azeitona a menos na salada, 40 mil dólares a menos na folha de despesas. A história da economia feita pela American Airlines no final dos anos 1980 é tão famosa que ganhou ares de lenda urbana corporativa. Pois a Gol, apósamargar prejuízo de R$ 751 milhões em 2011, anda em busca de suas "azeitonas". Além das medidas mais visíveis – comodemissões cortes de lanches gratuitos e eliminação de voos deficitários– para economizar, a empresa faz ajustes até no tamanho do papel usado para imprimir passagens e na quantidade de água no banheiro dos aviões.

With reference to AA's cutting back on an olive in their salads, GOL is cutting back on the amount of water in the planes' bathrooms

There are plenty of GOL routes that have DL codeshare flight numbers, and if the ticket is indeed available and purchased as a DL codeshare, then you would earn MQMs.

Are there any DL marketed codeshares that do not earn MQMs? DL has codeshares with WestJet, GOL, Virgin Australia ... I assume that if I buy a DL flight ticket, I will earn MQMs.

Are there any DL marketed codeshares that do not earn MQMs?

Not according to this page so long as he right fares are purchased, rightly the first stop for anyone with mileage earning/MQM questions with SkyMiles.

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/ways_to_get_miles/earning_miles_delta/index.jsp

My last leg was a DL codeshare, run by Varig-Gol. Amazingly the MQM for this leg was posted right away, at the same time as the DTW-GRU leg, so I am a happy camper!

The transit/check-in in GRU for GOL was a long wait, and the way they structure the airport, I couldn't use any lounge at all (United Club, AA Admirals).

In flight service was minimal. All food/drinks were for sale only. It appears they don't serve you water/juice unless you buy the snacks. I might be wrong, as I don't speak Portugese, just my observation. And I tried to purchase using a Chase visa card, and they only accepted Brazilian credit cards. Should have changed money in GRU:)

Cheers
@ORD

This sounds like an unpleasant experience except for the miles.

This sounds like an unpleasant experience except for the miles.

You could say that. But a couple of days of beach and sun in Fortaleza more than makes up for it!

Cheers
@ORD

My last leg was a DL codeshare, run by Varig-Gol. Amazingly the MQM for this leg was posted right away, at the same time as the DTW-GRU leg, so I am a happy camper!

The transit/check-in in GRU for GOL was a long wait, and the way they structure the airport, I couldn't use any lounge at all (United Club, AA Admirals).

In flight service was minimal. All food/drinks were for sale only. It appears they don't serve you water/juice unless you buy the snacks. I might be wrong, as I don't speak Portugese, just my observation. And I tried to purchase using a Chase visa card, and they only accepted Brazilian credit cards. Should have changed money in GRU:)

Cheers
@ORD
Did you have to reclaim your bags after the DTW leg? I've got a routing of ATL - GRU - POA coming up and the last leg is on GOL. It's giving me a layover of 2.5 hours in GRU but I'm not sure if I'll need to claim my bags, clear customs and then recheck in at the GOL desk. I hate the GRU airport with a passion so I was really hoping to minimize any hassles if possible.

Did you have to reclaim your bags after the DTW leg? I've got a routing of ATL - GRU - POA coming up and the last leg is on GOL. It's giving me a layover of 2.5 hours in GRU but I'm not sure if I'll need to claim my bags, clear customs and then recheck in at the GOL desk. I hate the GRU airport with a passion so I was really hoping to minimize any hassles if possible.


I am not sure since I only had carry-on. But I did have to check-in for the GRU-FOR leg with GOL, so I would venture a guess that you have to get the checked luggage out?

I agree GRU is no SFO:) They do provide free wi-fi, you need to register for the first time, and use barcode printed on the boarding pass.

Good luck.

@ORD

Talking about GOL - in Brazil they are codesharing partner of AF/KL/DL for quite a few years now, but still they don't seem to have proper interfaces within their IT infrastructure. If you board in CDG or AMS or whatever airport in EU, you won't get a boarding card for your GOL codeshare connection. You don't even have a chance to book a proper seat, irrespective of your Skyteam partner booking class.
On top of this, both hubs GRU & GIG offer poor transfer desk service with no recognition of FQTV status. More than once I already had to queue for more than an hour to re-check my luggage. In-flight service has deteriorated as well, no free drinks & beverages any longer. If ever they want to join Skyteam, they'll have to do a bit of homework...

First, it is not clear if they want to join ST. Rather ST wants them.
Second, it's not for no reason that the process of becoming a ST member often takes 2 years.
Third, GOL has many codeshares with different airlines. I am not sure if system integration with DLAFKL is a priority for them.

On top of this, both hubs GRU & GIG offer poor transfer desk service with no recognition of FQTV status. More than once I already had to queue for more than an hour to re-check my luggage. In-flight service has deteriorated as well, no free drinks & beverages any longer. If ever they want to join Skyteam, they'll have to do a bit of homework...

Bear in mind that Gol started as a low cost carrier and continues to have systems which aren't suited to integration with full service carriers, such as I don't think their Global Distribution System is integrated.

Much like Virgin Australia which started as a low cost carrier doesn't have full Global Distribution System capability and this will only change early next year when they change over to Sabre.

These conversions are expensive and increase an airline's cost base, which can be a barrier to low cost carriers joining alliances - which is why supposedly Skyteam is looking into ways of enabling LCCs to join without having to fulfil all the membership criteria of full members.