Not that big of an issue in my opinion. I do like the DL almost instant posting on their accounts after the flight closes. Even LH flight post quicker on OnePass than CO flights.

At least you can get an instant refund on CO.com without having to call at least twice, providing full CC billing info, and then waiting two weeks... SOP for DL.

AA is not immediate, taking anywhere from two to six hours.

It's a concern for me, because I've had instances where CO stuff either just doesn't ticket, or when a cert is applied, it doesn't ticket correctly. "Oh, I don't see the cert in there."


While that was cool, it's no longer the case. They switched systems, and there are now posting delays at DL, though flights usually post by the next day or so, which is still pretty fast.


Hmm, haven't had that problem. What I like about DL is that if you use a cert and then do a refund, your cert value is recredited immediately and available for use.

CO reissues the cert which takes time, so if you want to use it again right away, you can't. Though there are other benefits to that process.

As a Platinum on DL and CO, I'd have to say both carriers are at parity now. There's some subtle +'s and -'s here and there, but overall, I think each carrier provides a comparable product in the air and on the ground.

So much so that when it comes to booking tickets now, I now choose the less expensive of the two. Two-three years ago, I would have selected CO exclusively because I felt at that time being a Platinum actually mattered and made a difference, and felt that the in-flight product was far better than DL's.

Interesting point. I too was always willing to pay a bit more to fly CO, but the in-flight product has become equal. Not sure about the upgrades but they are becoming less and less on CO. Funny how CO is driving us to price shop.

Usually I fly into Spain and sometimes it is AF on L/N classes, and how I got around that in the past was booking the code-share DL ticket on T class. I also remember there was a high fuel surcharge on award AF flights. I guess those were the reasons to accumulate on DL instead of AF/KL. Has this changed?

I could not find in AF.com the earning miles table for different ticket classes. I just noted that Gold in AF gives you skyteam lounge access on international itineraries (except in the US, where access in only to AF/KL lounges).

Here is an earnings chart for Flying Blue:

http://www.klm.com/travel/dk_en/flyi...iles/index.htm

In general, their earnings rates stink and you are better off earning with DL. So, no, nothing has changed to make Flying Blue a better option for the coach traveler. When I said that the earnings rates are the same, I meant that a DL FFer would earn the same amount for an AF flight as they would for a DL flight, assuming that you didn't book into a non-earning fare class.

Thanks, I think if I make the change I will accumulate in DL. Although being in Houston means CO offers better/no connections, it is getting old flying the Embraers. Then for TATL, I can enjoy AF again.

I dont think there's a stated policy.

But if you go to the DElta forum, look up the thread on "skypriority".

Part of SkyPriority is that First Class/Delta Diamond/Platinum/Gold Medallions get better IRROPS handling including hotels/meals for weather delays/cancellations.

Probably fewer UG on CO than DL, although my CO global rate last year was 86% on the eligible segments.

The Y cabin on CO isn't very comfortable, but I don't find DL's comfortable either. Irops, I've had good luck recently with CO and so have family members but I know this has been an issue for others, and it has been in the past for me too. No doubt I will revisit it at some time.

But as far as the Total Value Proposition, TVP, is concerned, CO and OP whips DL and SM. The key for me is the utter lack of value in the SM and the absurd difficulties in DL redemption - many of which appear to be knowingly and disingenously imposed by DL management.

UA have exceeded my expectations of late. Here's the account of my 62000 BIS this last month.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...n-dl-note.html

The Hobby option was another reason I switched to DL... and they fly CRJ900's into there, so it's an upgradeable flight to boot.

Perhaps OP should have specifically called out the continental.com web interface. The ticketing infrastructure could go in a different category if it mattered to you (it doesn't to me), and I certainly agree that co.com has the best interface.

Well, if this was a conscious decision to make it easier for customers to book again in the future, then you could easily argue that this is a better feature. I think I'd take that viewpoint, so I guess we can agree to disagree; I can understand how the lack of choice (to set up a profile) would be a negative to you.

Numerical placement on the upgrade list is fine for flights I'm on, but it doesn't let me (1) tell my elderly parents or luddite boss where they are on the upgrade list (without logging in as them), and (2) gauge upgrade likelihood of a flight I will be flying in the future. So while you may not care to look at upgrade information for flights you're not on (I assume that's what you meant), plenty of people do. I'm of the general view that more information is better than less, as long as it's presented in a clear manner.