Should I join Flying Blue?
Sep 7, 2019, 5:04 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
If you travel with AFKL, it can give you much more miles with DL depending the fares and your travel pattern. (for AF flight (and some KL flight), miles are still base on distance!).
It is better to do the calculation...
If the PAX flights a lots and can have Diamond with DL, it is the logical choice . Other level will depend.
But I prefer 100% DL diamond to ANY AF level... (include Ultimate).
Sep 7, 2019, 5:07 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,697
And the FFP is more than which one earns your the largest number of miles, with no consideration of how you can spend those miles.
Sep 7, 2019, 5:09 pm
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
FF program elite perks can matter more than award redemptions. Going with DL gives some chance of domestic free elite upgrades, for instance. (Technically, FB elites are eligible too, but all DL elites have higher priority.)
Sep 7, 2019, 5:44 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
PAX say he use DL sometime, he can use his miles with DL (or with other Airline).
And Platinum with DL is superior ( ex: choice benefice) than Platinum with AF, AND as I write...
IF PAX can have Diamond with DL, AF have NOTHING comparable ...
Last edited by FBplatinum; Sep 7, 2019 at 5:54 pm
Sep 7, 2019, 5:50 pm
#35
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Well, there seems to be a special reserved Ultimate area in a few AF lounges and I've witnessed some Concorde 2000 (?) special handling, with passengers being driven to the aircraft (AF Schengen departures from CDG), escorted onto the aircraft, and introduced to the pilots while staff stow their hand luggage. DL doesn't do this, although there's a chance that a DM will get the Porsche ride at certain USA airports.
Sep 7, 2019, 5:57 pm
#36
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
Well, there seems to be a special reserved Ultimate area in a few AF lounges and I've witnessed some Concorde 2000 (?) special handling, with passengers being driven to the aircraft (AF Schengen departures from CDG), escorted onto the aircraft, and introduced to the pilots while staff stow their hand luggage. DL doesn't do this, although there's a chance that a DM will get the Porsche ride at certain USA airports.
Yes, BUT !
I prefer the advantage of Diamond (just the 4 GUC value much more than all other advantage Ultimate or Concorde 2000 receive (even only ONE GUC value more than this...) ).
And is other "advantage" ...
Sep 7, 2019, 6:05 pm
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
OTOH, I would love to be able to spend some of my DL RDMs for an AF IFC ticket just once. Yes, I know there's the chance that someday I might be able to purchase IFC lounge access and IFC ground handling at CDG for my departing flight, but the reported prices that are offered seem exorbitant and one still wouldn't have the full IFC experience.
Sep 7, 2019, 6:49 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
OTOH, I would love to be able to spend some of my DL RDMs for an AF IFC ticket just once. Yes, I know there's the chance that someday I might be able to purchase IFC lounge access and IFC ground handling at CDG for my departing flight, but the reported prices that are offered seem exorbitant and one still wouldn't have the full IFC experience.
I have take the Platinum suite with my daughter on the China southern A380 (using my miles), to be honest I will not paid (with $ or miles) more (compare to J) for this. (I am lucky on this trip the # of miles need for first class are the same than business), but I must admit the service is very high.
Sep 9, 2019, 4:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Somewhere...
Programs: AA PLT/3MM, UA GM/1MM, DL DM/1MM, FB Plat, AS MVP Gold, WN AList+
Posts: 1,588
Once upon a time, to join the KLM FF program, one needed an address in Europe (or at least not the USA), while USA residents (and perhaps those in Japan etc.) were required to join the PMNW FF program. I used a temporary European address to sign up with KLM just in order to get their (printed and mailed) rulebook and see how the program worked compared to WorldPerks.
Sep 10, 2019, 6:21 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,609
Air France sent me a survey about Flying Blue yesterday and I told them it was a shame that they had completely ruined the programme. I asked them who in Hades would consider paying 160,000 miles for a one way award ticket in Europe? Get rid of this stupid dynamic pricing system, I added.
Just mentioned it, because if you're new to FB there is no value left any more in booking award tix on AFKL. Perhaps there is still value in the promo awards, but I rarely use them.
Just mentioned it, because if you're new to FB there is no value left any more in booking award tix on AFKL. Perhaps there is still value in the promo awards, but I rarely use them.
Sep 10, 2019, 5:27 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 120
I would say one of the useful things for miles, within Europe, is last-minute one way tickets. Usually much cheaper with miles + taxes compared with buying a one way ticket.
Last edited by Erwin10; Sep 10, 2019 at 5:40 pm
Sep 10, 2019, 8:14 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Somewhere...
Programs: AA PLT/3MM, UA GM/1MM, DL DM/1MM, FB Plat, AS MVP Gold, WN AList+
Posts: 1,588
Air France sent me a survey about Flying Blue yesterday and I told them it was a shame that they had completely ruined the programme. I asked them who in Hades would consider paying 160,000 miles for a one way award ticket in Europe? Get rid of this stupid dynamic pricing system, I added.
Just mentioned it, because if you're new to FB there is no value left any more in booking award tix on AFKL. Perhaps there is still value in the promo awards, but I rarely use them.
Just mentioned it, because if you're new to FB there is no value left any more in booking award tix on AFKL. Perhaps there is still value in the promo awards, but I rarely use them.
When there is the next downturn (and more J seats are flying empty) it will interesting to see how this 'dynamic' pricing holds up.
Sep 11, 2019, 10:18 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: FB Platinum, SM Diamond
Posts: 645
DL frequently wants a lot more SM than that for a r/t to Europe in J...500-600K r/t to Europe are not uncommon at all. In theory, someone might be buying at this price, which is a huge windfall to DL if someone takes this 'deal'. My guess is that they think they can sell make real revenue in some form on the seat before departure in some way, which means FF pricing at a level only someone desperate, dense or miles heavy. This level makes that 320K look, well, not as bad.
When there is the next downturn (and more J seats are flying empty) it will interesting to see how this 'dynamic' pricing holds up.
When there is the next downturn (and more J seats are flying empty) it will interesting to see how this 'dynamic' pricing holds up.
But you can also buy a Y and use a GUC,
In this case your GUC value 200K to 250K (2)
A FB can not do this.