It's been over 2 decades since I've connected in Europe to fly on SkyTeam partners, so I have a couple questions about current logistics of how it works! I'm going to be flying USA-CDG-HAM (DL metal, then AF metal) and HAM-AMS-USA (KLM Cityhopper metal, then KLM metal), all booked in economy through DL with a US passport.
- Carry On Bags - How strict are AF and KLM on carry-on baggage and weight? (My carry on bag is about 1cm over the size limits listed online, and I might have a little more than 12kg). Trying not to check a bag if I don't have to.
- Immigration/Security - My understanding is that at CDG I'll have to go through immigration and security; and on the return it'll only be exit passport control at AMS. Are there any extra security checkpoints for US-bound flights? Does SkyPriority get any benefits at immigration or security?
- Boarding - Is there anything different about the AF/KLM boarding process that is helpful to know?
- Seats - DL let me pre-select seats on AF and KLM (including what seem to be marked as "preferred") - are those likely to stick? My understanding is also that they don't do day of departure upgrades the same way DL does, and I'm pretty much stuck with what I've booked unless I get a cash upgrade offer at checkin?
I can give you my experience for DL/AF through CDG:
1. AF didn't check carry-on sizes. In addition, I don't even recall even seeing a bag sizer anywhere.
2. Correct on CDG. You will clear immigration and go through security again since CDG is your first entry into the Schengen area. On the way back, you will only need to go through security in HAM. You won't need to go through security again in AMS because the HAM-AMS flight is within the Schengen area. In terms of "extra" security for US flights, we had to answer a couple more questions at the gate, and that was it.
3. In CDG, everything is handled by AF, so they didn't follow DL's boarding process. Can't speak to AMS, but my guess it is the same.
4. Our seat selections held on all our AF flights.