Except for possibly using miles for a BE ticket, this alliance is essentially garbage. I was in SAN today and, like a good little flyer, arrived at the airport early. Lo and behold, I was not allowed to use the Delta Crown Room because I was not flying Delta. It appears the only time a PC member can use the the Crown Room is when he or she is flying DL. <insert sweat words here>.

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The toes you step on while on your way up are attached to the same butts you will have to kiss on your way back down.

It is not the car you drive that is important, it is the size of the arm hanging out the window!

I agree that the term "alliance" as used in the airline world is a little strong. In airline-speak, it's certainly much more of a "partnership." Yes, it's useful for edge cases where you need to go where only Delta flies, but I'd never think to fly Delta FLL-LAX, whereas I will fly either CO or NW (depending on schedcule and price).

But every once in a while I end up needing to do CVG-MCI, for example, and I typically can't convince the others (a client) to fly through DTW or CLE when Delta has a nonstop (nevermind that this is about the only route where I end up paying more than a dollar a mile).

So now, I can avoid accruing a whopping 1500 skymiles a year and at least accrue it somewhere useful. Honestly, though, I'm okay with this limited partnership, because keeping at this level will hopefully keep CO/NW benefits from going the DL route (I shudder to think... NW/CO award availability and NO free upgrades domestically? Talk about the worst of both worlds!)

Steve

[This message has been edited by sllevin (edited 07-07-2003).]

I'd have to agree --the DL "alliance" isn't much, but of the infinite negative things adding DL to the mix could have been (i.e.: eliminating EUA), I'm glad not much has really change for CO elites other than the chance of earning some miles on a DL flight.

I agree its not the earth shattering alliance some were expecting, but as far as using DL's CR's this alliance is very similar to the US/UA one. To use an RCC (as a US Club member), I need to show a UA ticket--not a US, CO, DL etc. So while you may not be happy about it, this rule is not only used by CO/DL.

And why was this such a surprise? This is a well-documented aspect of the DL/CO alliance.

http://www.continental.com/onepass/n...0030612_01.asp

It was not a surprise. However, I was hoping it was something that would not be strictly enforced as it seems, IMHO, to be a really stupid rule.



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The toes you step on while on your way up are attached to the same butts you will have to kiss on your way back down.

It is not the car you drive that is important, it is the size of the arm hanging out the window!

The good thing about this arrangement is that when there are both Crown Room and President Club in the same airport, you won't find Delta people crowded in the President Club. IMHO, President Club provides better food/ alcohol (at least we get the muffins in the morning compared to banana and crackers on Crown Room).

why is Song excluded from the point accrual?

does delta offer biscotti, milanos, and/or doritos, by chance?

BTW, don't expect to easily redeem your CO miles for DL BE: As per my conversations with OP and WP reps., award availability on Delta will be VERY LIMITED, as NW/CO will not have full access to DL award inventory. OTOH, DL will only have limited access to CO/NW inventory, so it's a bit of a wash.

Overall, it's still a good thing. As a Worldperks member I needed to do some travel in the Northeast (including a BOS-LGA shuttle). Having the option to accrue NW miles on DL makes them obvious choice when NW and CO don't fly somewhere, or don't do it at a realistic price point. Even with the 50% EQM limitation on DL's cheaper fares, that's still more miles than I might get on United or USAir.

And that is so bad....

I was happy when KLM announced that Continental will be a new partner and I was happy when KLM announced that Sky Team is on the horizon as well...
What I hate to read, though, is the crap with rules, limited award availability, no club access when flying on that airline etc.

Being * Gold also gives me a completely different view of an alliance, actually one that works, where you can call your airline and get award availability right away, where you have systemwide lounge access and other perks..

For example, I have to request CO awards using KLM miles by fax and have to wait for an answer from CO, can easily take 6-8 days...

I am not blaming CO here in particular, but if those potential Sky Team airlines decide to found a ( competitive ) alliance, they should have a look at * and see how it works.

Milanos in DTW WC on the 6/28 and 7/6.

Given that half of Star is facing SERIOUS financial difficulties at the moment, I wouldn't exactly call it a for the industry...



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Thank you for choosing Continental Airlines, a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance.

Even that percentage is better, cause 90 % of the industry is in serious financial trouble...