Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - Should I switch from Skymiles to FB?

I'm based in TLV and am currently PM on DL. I recently tried booking an award trip on AF to CMN and was very frustrated to find many empty seats showing on AF but none that were available to DL pax.

Given that most of my award travel would be on AF/KL or AZ and to/from Europe from TLV, I'm wondering if it wouldn't make more sense to switch to FB?

A few considerations:

1) I really like the rollover miles on DL - last year I rolled over something like 45,000 miles.

2) Most of my business flying is to/From Europe on AZ, AF/KL or SU with leisure flying to/From NYC and SFO on either AZ/AF or KL since they are usually way cheaper connecting through Europe than nonstop on DL.

I guess the questions are:

1) would I get better award availability? (I suspect so)
2) can I roll over miles?
3) are there better lounge benefits? (i.e. more guests)
4) would they status match me?
5) Would I get domestic upgrades on DL in the US?
5) anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance

I'm based in TLV and am currently PM on DL. I recently tried booking an award trip on AF to CMN and was very frustrated to find many empty seats showing on AF but none that were available to DL pax.

Given that most of my award travel would be on AF/KL or AZ and to/from Europe from TLV, I'm wondering if it wouldn't make more sense to switch to FB?

A few considerations:

1) I really like the rollover miles on DL - last year I rolled over something like 45,000 miles.

2) Most of my business flying is to/From Europe on AZ, AF/KL or SU with leisure flying to/From NYC and SFO on either AZ/AF or KL since they are usually way cheaper connecting through Europe than nonstop on DL.

I guess the questions are:

1) would I get better award availability? (I suspect so)
2) can I roll over miles?
3) are there better lounge benefits? (i.e. more guests)
4) would they status match me?
5) Would I get domestic upgrades on DL in the US?
5) anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance

It regularly is a good choice to be affiliated with the program that is owned by the airlines you fly most.

1) If you have status with FB you will have better availability. (Possibly also without status.)

2) With FB miles are rolled over if you have kept or improved your status. If your status gets downgraded, no rollover. However, with FB status is always downgraded by 1 level only, provided you had at least 1 flight during the previous year.

3) 1 guest. If you are at least Silver you can buy lounge tickets for additional guests IIRC.

4) No status match, but you will be able to benefit from your Skyteam Elite plus status via your DL membership until you have built up status with FB. So ideally you would switch to FB at a point of time where your Delta status remains valid until you are at least Gold with FB.

5) Yes, but you would have pretty low upgrade priority. If US upgrades are important to you, don't switch FFP.

6) Compare earning rates for your typical booking classes with respect to the spending rates for your typical award flights. When doing so, take into account FB promo awards.

Is there a difference with KL Flying Blue vs. AF?

If I can piggyback on this thread I have a not dissimilar issue; I find myself flying inside Europe on AF around 10 segments per year (mostly discounted economy) plus an occasional TATL trip. If I understand correctly Silver would be within reach at 15 segments total as a nonFrance based member...is this correct?

If I can piggyback on this thread I have a not dissimilar issue; I find myself flying inside Europe on AF around 10 segments per year (mostly discounted economy) plus an occasional TATL trip. If I understand correctly Silver would be within reach at 15 segments total as a nonFrance based member...is this correct?

Yes. A TATL return can easily amount to 6 segments, so plus 10 segments intra-Europe and you have Silver.

Is there a difference with KL Flying Blue vs. AF?

No. There is only one Flying Blue Program, which is owned by the airline AF/KL. (The confusion might arise from the fact that AF and KL have kept the two brands AF and KL since they merged into one airline in 2005.)

On further investigation, the problem with FB seems to be the percentage earned by ticket class. I do several transatlantic flights a year on discounted tickets and if I am earning 50% or less because of the fare class vs 100pct on Delta, then I'm not sure it is worth it

On further investigation, the problem with FB seems to be the percentage earned by ticket class. I do several transatlantic flights a year on discounted tickets and if I am earning 50% or less because of the fare class vs 100pct on Delta, then I'm not sure it is worth it
Check that your current Delta booking class doesn't fall under last Friday's annoying announcement: http://www.johnnyjet.com/2012/08/delta-adjusts-skymiles-mileage-accrual-for-select-special-fares/

Yes. A TATL return can easily amount to 6 segments, so plus 10 segments intra-Europe and you have Silver.

Thanks; one more question: does an Alitalia segment count as an AF segment?

does an Alitalia segment count as an AF segment?


Yes, unless you are on a highly discounted fare.

Ciao
Ulxima

On further investigation, the problem with FB seems to be the percentage earned by ticket class. I do several transatlantic flights a year on discounted tickets and if I am earning 50% or less because of the fare class vs 100pct on Delta, then I'm not sure it is worth it

That's why I wrote under item 6) in my first reply to you that you should check earn/burn ratios. There is no way around doing the Math, with respect to both your particular flight situation and award wishes.

I am also making a choice between FB and SM at the moment. I am based in Paris but unlike AF, DL gives 100% miles for almost all types of tickets. So one can gain miles faster but there is worse award availability. In addition, Skymiles do not expire which is very good for me as my average accrual is smth like 15-20k per year.

Do you know, if FB offers some signup bonuses? I have only found signup bonuses for travelers based in Singapore and Australia...