Originally Posted by PMMMDL
I book the original tickets through DL SMS. If I have a problem while I'm on the road, I just call the SMS number in the USA to take care of things. I've done this in BKK for a medical emergency to return to the USA on KE, I've done this in Germany to get my lost bags from AF at MUC...
As long as you have booked through DL and are willing to pay the international phone charges, the SMS folks are great at fixing things around the world.
But not all flights on ST members are DL codeshares! If I book a NW flight on their website, I want to be able to call and do business with NW and be treated as elite plus with their reservations services just as I am treated as elite plus at the airport checkin, seat selection, lounges etc.
This ain't brain surgery or rocket science... this really comes down to common sense. It doesn't even have to be the same phone # as it is for the carrier's own elites, but it should be a phone number which gets special attention.