Originally Posted by
TLVtraveler
FB Gold/Silver get a discount on economy comfort when flying AF-KL, you also get better recognition (for example when I was still a gold sometimes the purser would come and introduce herself/himself and recognize my status), I don't have status with DL nor have I been on board DL for a over a year so I can't comment on how it compares...
In general I find both service and hard product much better on AF-KL compared to DL, which is generally the case when comparing EU carriers vs. US carriers. I would pick AF/KL/BA/LH/LX/OS/AZ/TK any day over AA/DL/UA for trans-atlantic flights.
You can use your FB status on Delta to get free Economy Comfort+ seats and the free domestic upgrades. Delta's own Elites have priority for the upgrades but given that AF/KLM don't offer those at all on any of their routes, it is still a good deal. This is why I'm confused by the disparity - a discount on Economy Comfort by AF/KLM is a pretty measly advantage in comparison, while using the same FFP status on the same routes. Also, I wouldn't put AA, UA and DL in the same bag - in the 5 years I've been flying DL, not a single flight has been as bad as any of the flights I've taken with UA. You put it to luck on one or two occasions but not 5 years in a row.
AF might have better food than DL but a short-haul AF/KLM flight is not that different from a domestic DL flight in my experience - KLM gives you a stroopkoek and DL a small bag of pretzels...
