rfrn

I think upgrade chances are influenced by time of travel more than anything. I'm upgraded 30-40% of the time on DL flights, mostly between JFK and east coast or midwest cities, including flights to other DL hubs like ATL and MSP. And I'm real bottom of the upgrade list as only FB silver, so getting the upgrade simply means fewer people on upgrade list than empty first class seats. But that seems to happen to me a lot more than some FB members. All of my flights are for leisure so I suspect I end up on relatively empty flights without any heavy business travelers.

Orwaid

Hi -

Are the RDM earnings better on FB than on DL Skymiles now? the miles/$might still be worse than the reduced % of flight miles.

orbitmic

Just a technical precision: FB status makes absolutely no difference in the pecking order for DL upgrades. FB Silver, Gold, Platinum are all part of the exact same pool for upgrades (which is after all DL own elites) with the other DL discriminators (when was ticket booked, fare, etc) used to prioritise between them but not their FB status.

Goldorak

oh really? I didn't know that.

orbitmic

Yep. One of the very annoying things about the system Confirmed to me by both FB and DL.

irishguy28

Here's hoping for an FB Ivory upgrade! ^

FBplatinum

it is more easy to reach a diamonds level with Delta, than a Platinum with AF/KLM ...
I will transfert to Skymiles for 2017...

Orwaid

Hi -

Maybe, provided you spend enough $$.

The RDM earnings still stink on DL though.

Mirk

Can you give more details ? This may be true for some flying patterns but not all.

FaBSy

Indeed kind of curious how it should be easier.
At least regarding the $ element, I think KLM/AF should be cheaper:
60 flights : 15 times 4-Segment runs 140€ each = 2100€ (w/o any sales/coupons).

FBplatinum

The only less "easy" side, is the $ you must expense for each levels. But this apply ONLY if you have an USA address.
This did not apply to me (I am Canadian...)
It is more easy because with Flying Blue, to calculate your level miles they use only the % of your class of ticket. With Delta is minimum the % of the distance.

Example (for a flight YUL-CDG) (Montreal-Paris):
Real distance 3432 miles (one way).

Flying Blue is 25% of the distance(For most economy ticket):
Give you 858 miles for your level miles AND award miles.

Skymiles is 100% (3432) for the level miles, and 25% (858) for the award miles (if is AF ticket).

Even if is base on the $/expense (Delta flight) to calculate the award miles, the level miles is still base on the distance.

If you flights in Economy a lots (at 25%for FB, but 100% with SM):

You need 125,000 miles total travel distance for a diamonds with Skymiles.

The same "total travel distance" in Flying Blue give you 31500 miles.
is not even a gold (in Flying blue...).

irishguy28

But you are ignoring the fact that, in Flying Blue, you get Platinum automatically after 60 individual sectors [and you get Gold automatically after 30 individual sectors] - with only sectors that earn level miles being counted.

And, as the previous poster pointed out, this can be achieved after 15 simple, short, 4-sector returns (eg AMS-CDG-LHR and back) which can be had for around €140 each

15 times 4-Segment runs 140€ each = 2100€

In this example (the shortest possible flights, i.e. each below 750 miles, and earning only the absolute minimum possible, of 187 level miles, per sector) FB allows you to claim Platinum after accruing only 11,220 Level Miles. (60 * 187 level miles = 11,220 Level miles)

rfrn

Right back to travel patterns then. If you don't do a lot of segments, you need J or F in FB to qualify for high status with only a few intercontinental flights. With skymiles you could more realistically achieve high status with not-as-frequent economy intercontinental flights.

FBplatinum

All cards from airline are similar for the # of segment.

With many of them you can reach a status with the # of segments, yes.

But the big difference between FB and SM are in the possibility to be Platinum or Diamond with the distance flight.

If you travel in Y, is very hard (almost impossible) to reach a platinum level with FB.
This can be done not very hard by distance for a FF how do some long flight.

I need 4 round trips to Shanghai/Guangzhou (From Montreal, with a stop in CDG) in Y to reach a Platinum with SM, and 6 to have a Diamond, the same in FB will NOT give me a Silver with FB with 4, or even a Gold with 6.

This is why I move to SM in 2017.

Have you see the "benefits" with SM ?
Check this: https://www.delta.com/choicebenefits/

FB are not even close to this..............

Just the "deal" between AF/KLM and Delta are a joke (in favor of Delta), I think AF/KLM must kick out their negotiator to have made a so "poor" deal.

If you go by segments, you can have a SM account and do your segment with AF/KLM.
With both of them you will reach Platinum (I agree, with FB you need 60 segments, and 75 with SM. BUT !!! you must compare the additional benefit you have with SM, FB did not offer ANY advantage similar...). And with SM if you flight more, you can have a Diamond level, and nothing is like this in FB...

Mirk

I agree with you. It does makes more sense to switch to SM when flying mostly long flights.
Although, when based in Europe and if more than half of the flights are on AF/KL there might be some drawbacks. For example in VIP customer support lines, free op-up where they will favour their own FF etc.

It's just a matter of finding what suits you, your needs and your flying pattern. It's a free world after all !