SkyTeam - Sky Team does not work

SkyTeam terrible, terrible, terrible---
Last week flew OTP-MSN via FCO.
Checked bags in OTP on alitalia---
Alitalia said could not check thru on NW
because "our computers don't talk to theirs".
Flight on NW from FCO to DTW delayed---
gate at FCO for NW handled by KLM---
asked KLM to rebook my flight from DTW because of
delay---KLM said could not rebook because
"our computers don't talk to theirs"....

I'm changing from my DL-NW platinum stuff to
Continental and Star Alliance....

...and you're expecting Continental, who haven't even joined *A yet, to have joined-up systems with the 20-odd Star members?

Can't wait till your next post on the *A forum!

nice....

You went via FCO!? Well, therein lies the problem.:) Why not fly KL via AMS instead? ;)

The agent in OTP lied to you. You should have insisted and/or asked to speak to someone more informed, such as a supervisor. You can too interline bags on SkyTeam airlines.

If a long flight such as FCO-DTW is delayed, the GAs in FCO can not help you. They're only responsible for that flight alone. A transfer desk would normally help you, but for a longhaul flight I would wait until I actually get there. There can be further delays (bad winds, storm on the way, immigration delays, etc) and you're better off waiting until you're in DTW to do this.

...and you're expecting Continental, who haven't even joined *A yet, to have joined-up systems with the 20-odd Star members?
Actually, I do. StarNet - their system to share IT data - actually is pretty good. And it is consistent for all partner carriers. That means that once you can talk to one you can talk to all the others. I believe that CO will be up and running on StarNet when the time comes.

thanks---
actually I did talk to an AZ supervisor---
she then talked to a KL supervisor that said neither
the KL or AZ systems would access the NW system...