Originally Posted by
Sjondorn
True but let's not forget:
- you need to pump Delta with more $ than on FB to get status benefits
- redemption rates on Delta are worse in general than FB
- presently it's very hard to make Delta Skymiles work for you if you live in Europe and have ties to US (say you're US expat); but FlyingBlue can work for you if you live in US and have ties to Europe (thanks to credit cards in US though)
IHMO it's a bit of non-sense to compare frequent flyer programs globally as depending on your location / travel pattern one fits you better than another.
I agree and disagree.
To keep and go up to Platinum with Flying Blue is not "hard". But to get to Ultimate (where you get some real advantage, is much more hard than have a Diamond Skymiles.
It is even more hard to do the "distance" between Platinum to Ultimate with Flying Blue, than do
all the process to get a Diamond with Delta.
If you flight a lots AF/KLM, you can catch Diamond easy, because they convert your travel distance in MQD (revenue).
I flight a lots from Montreal to Asia. In Premium economy this give me around 5,000MQD. Take me around 5 to 6 trips to catch Diamond (I also add some small flights with China Eastern and Korean Air, (something I can not do to reach Ultimate)). With the same I can not pass from Platinum to Ultimate (even far from it), because the UXP begin only AFTER you reach Platinum.
I prefer to use my Skymiles with KLM than use my FB miles (even need less miles in some case).