Upgrades for SkyTeam Elites
Apr 17, 2013, 2:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP & 1MM, SkyTeam Gold, *A Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, mother's favorite son
Posts: 333
Upgrades for SkyTeam Elites
I'm KLM Flying Blue Gold and I'm waitlisted for a complimentary upgrade on a domestic Delta flight. I could get a 90-day status match to Delta Gold Medallion thanks to my AA status but I don't know if it's worth it -- the Delta website says nothing about the order in which Delta processes upgrades for partner airlines' elites. Do SkyTeam and Delta elites clear at the same time, or do all the lowest Delta elites clear before the highest partner elites?
Apr 17, 2013, 4:38 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
FB elites are eligible for free "domestic" upgrades, after all DL elites and companions have cleared. I think they get the same priority as AS elites, but this isn't clear.
Apr 17, 2013, 4:52 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP & 1MM, SkyTeam Gold, *A Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, mother's favorite son
Posts: 333
Frankly, I was surprised myself. But when I entered my Flying Blue elite number, my booking switched from "not upgrade eligible" to the upgrade waitlist. But sounds like it won't clear unless I do the Medallion status match. Thanks, all.
Apr 17, 2013, 4:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, AA EXP, US G, SPG P, HH D, MR G, NEXUS/GE, DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 2,035
You won't clear. Kettle get upgrades for SK.
Apr 17, 2013, 5:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX, SFO
Programs: Delta GM, Lifetime Marriott Platinum, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,634
The way UGs are going lately, you STILL may not get the UG after a status match...an UG is not a foregone conclusion even for a DL Elite, especially depending on the route you flying. I would be certain that I really wanted to use my status match for this, since I believe, and someone correct me if I am wrong, a status match is a once in a lifetime thing.
Apr 17, 2013, 6:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA Hater
Posts: 2,020
Not likely you get upgraded as GM, and you already get all the other benefits from being ST Elite. I would not waste my time.
Next question..... why would ST elite get upgraded on DL when we cannot get upgraded on KLM/AF?
Next question..... why would ST elite get upgraded on DL when we cannot get upgraded on KLM/AF?
Apr 17, 2013, 6:49 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,628
Apr 17, 2013, 6:54 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
AF/KLM could offer reasonable award and upgrade inventory (for using SWUs) as they had been doing. At the very least, they could make it easy for those who use SWUs TATL to get into Eurobusiness class for connections beyond AMS and CDG. (Again, this once was easy.)
Apr 18, 2013, 4:11 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
Complimentary upgrades is a feature of US airlines that is usually not found - or expected - elsewhere.
Apr 18, 2013, 8:22 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP & 1MM, SkyTeam Gold, *A Gold, Hilton Gold, Starwood Gold, mother's favorite son
Posts: 333
Apr 18, 2013, 8:24 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
TO ADD:
https://www.delta.com/contactus/page...atch/index.jsp
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ve-thread.html
Apr 18, 2013, 11:53 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Berlin, Germany
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA PE, HH Gold
Posts: 1,080
Spot on. Contrary to US based elite members european flyers would ask "why should i have been upgraded?". The Slogan over here is BCGC - bought coach got coach.
