SU earning
#16
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
... Three years later ...
The only class that will now (since 1 March) earn 100% SkyMiles on SU is J.
C, D, I (discounted business), 75%.
Y, 75%.
All other economy fares (except S, the second highest), 50%.
Un<censored>believable.
And you thought this is bad?
I used to fly JFK-SVO-KBP with them fairly frequently, and was unhappy to be earning 75%; still, I ended up picking them over AF/KL more than once or twice, as the schedule+price came out "just right" for my purposes.
Now I was just preparing to be even more unhappy earning 50% ....
... until I looked for my next JFK-KBP for mid-February. OK, at least I'll grab 75% one last time, I thought.
Right.
The cheapest ticket now books into N. That would yield a whopping 25% -- except... as per delta.com, "N only eligible [for SkyMiles accrual] in Aeroflot domestic markets". Neither KBP nor JFK are in Russia just yet, IIRC...
I went ahead and looked at similar tickets for March, to KBP and to SVO. The former books into E, the latter into R. Neither class is even mentioned on delta.com. But it is of course mentioned that "If a class is not listed, no miles are earned."
Do svidaniya, SU. It was nice doing business with you for the last 5 years.
The only class that will now (since 1 March) earn 100% SkyMiles on SU is J.
C, D, I (discounted business), 75%.
Y, 75%.
All other economy fares (except S, the second highest), 50%.
Un<censored>believable.
And you thought this is bad?
I used to fly JFK-SVO-KBP with them fairly frequently, and was unhappy to be earning 75%; still, I ended up picking them over AF/KL more than once or twice, as the schedule+price came out "just right" for my purposes.
Now I was just preparing to be even more unhappy earning 50% ....
... until I looked for my next JFK-KBP for mid-February. OK, at least I'll grab 75% one last time, I thought.
Right.
The cheapest ticket now books into N. That would yield a whopping 25% -- except... as per delta.com, "N only eligible [for SkyMiles accrual] in Aeroflot domestic markets". Neither KBP nor JFK are in Russia just yet, IIRC...
I went ahead and looked at similar tickets for March, to KBP and to SVO. The former books into E, the latter into R. Neither class is even mentioned on delta.com. But it is of course mentioned that "If a class is not listed, no miles are earned."
Do svidaniya, SU. It was nice doing business with you for the last 5 years.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Alaska Gold. SU Silver.
Posts: 312
Don't blame SU. It is a new trend in SkyTeam. Individual airlines show less and less respect for each other. And <censored> Delta is setting that trend, as it is evident in the elite status changes for 2014. So let's all be happy that we earn even 50% on SU flights. After 2014, ST will be on the way to out.
#18
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
Don't blame SU. It is a new trend in SkyTeam. Individual airlines show less and less respect for each other. And <censored> Delta is setting that trend, as it is evident in the elite status changes for 2014. So let's all be happy that we earn even 50% on SU flights. After 2014, ST will be on the way to out.
#19
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
This fight was initiated by (extremely stingy?) aeroflot which recently started to deny Delta Medallions access to SU business lounges at SVO. So it's nothing more that tit for tat intended to provide similar treatment to aeroflot bonus members.
#20
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
I am not saying anything about the origins of this new policy. I am only saying that the consequences of this new policy appear to me to be a direct violation of one of the big Sky Team marketing points (I suspect it is also a violation of the Delta SkyMiles Program rules).
#21
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
It's a fight between aeroflot and Delta, which protects its own members. I can only applaud their stance over this issue.
#22
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
#23
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
... The Delta rep at the Sky Priority check in said that Delta may no longer issue invitations to the lounge for any Sky Team Elite Pluses. This seems to me to be in direct violation of one of Sky Team's big published benefits (I am pretty sure if you are Sky Team Elite Plus flying on Sky Team metal internationally, you are entitled to go to the Sky Team lounge at the airport). Please note my friend is a very experienced flyer and had his Sky Team Elite Plus card with him. There was no issue raised regarding whether he was eligible for an invitation, the Delta rep said that invitations are no longer being issued (this new policy only arose in the last 7-10 days)
#24
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Alaska Gold. SU Silver.
Posts: 312
There have been rumors and stories about SVO lounge access circulating for the past year or two. Although there is indeed enough evidence that the ST alliance is becoming increasingly fragmented, I have not encountered any problems at SVO lounges as recently as early January, when I was let into a lounge without any pass (just my KLM economy ticket and an elite plus card). From what I understand, most "bad" stories about lounge access can be explained in simple terms: misunderstanding and / or under-educated lounge attendants. It can happen anywhere. In fact, my "bad" story took place in Los Angeles, of all places, where a Korean Airlines lounge attendants tried to convince me that I was not entitled to access the lounge (I had a ticket for a SU flight and my Elite Plus card in hand). Eventually I was let in with a lame apology. The same happened at LED. But I never had problems at SVO. The moral of my story, I would not take seriously anything attendants and airport workers say. They hardly know regulations, let alone possible changes.
Last edited by a7m; Jan 27, 2013 at 8:13 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: DL GM and so on
Posts: 1,200
It seems aeroflot tries to reap rewards of SkyTeam membership giving as little as possible in return. For example, last August aeroflot was abruptly kicked out of terminal E at CDG by Air France. Apparently, their business relationship was also deteriorating.
#26
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,752
There have been rumors and stories about SVO lounge access circulating for the past year or two. Although there is indeed enough evidence that the ST alliance is becoming increasingly fragmented, I have not encountered any problems at SVO lounges as recently as early January, when I was let into a lounge without any pass (just my KLM economy ticket and an elite plus card). From what I understand, most "bad" stories about lounge access can be explained in simple terms: misunderstanding and / or under-educated lounge attendants. It can happen anywhere. In fact, my "bad" story took place in Los Angeles, of all places, where a Korean Airlines lounge attendants tried to convince me that I was not entitled to access the lounge (I had a ticket for a SU flight and my Elite Plus card in hand). Eventually I was let in with a lame apology. The same happened at LED. But I never had problems at SVO. The moral of my story, I would not take seriously anything attendants and airport workers say. They hardly know regulations, let alone possible changes.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 82
There have been rumors and stories about SVO lounge access circulating for the past year or two. Although there is indeed enough evidence that the ST alliance is becoming increasingly fragmented, I have not encountered any problems at SVO lounges as recently as early January, when I was let into a lounge without any pass (just my KLM economy ticket and an elite plus card). From what I understand, most "bad" stories about lounge access can be explained in simple terms: misunderstanding and / or under-educated lounge attendants. It can happen anywhere. In fact, my "bad" story took place in Los Angeles, of all places, where a Korean Airlines lounge attendants tried to convince me that I was not entitled to access the lounge (I had a ticket for a SU flight and my Elite Plus card in hand). Eventually I was let in with a lame apology. The same happened at LED. But I never had problems at SVO. The moral of my story, I would not take seriously anything attendants and airport workers say. They hardly know regulations, let alone possible changes.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
I was allowed into the SVO Terminal D lounge on the basis of STEP on Delta on Dec 26. No issue at all. My friend who is very knowledgeable was not allowed on Jan 20. I do not know how knowledgeable the Delta rep who spoke with him was, but she explained the lack of the usual "invitation" as a change of policy. In my experience, I always get an "invitation" when I check in and that is how I enter the lounge. I have never tried to go to an SVO lounge without one. My friend did not attempt to enter the lounge without an invitation.
Will be at SVO, flying Delta, at the end of next week. Will make a point to try and get into the lounge. We'll see what happens...
#29
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: 100,413
They fly from different terminals at JFK, so there's not much ground for friction.
It seems aeroflot tries to reap rewards of SkyTeam membership giving as little as possible in return. For example, last August aeroflot was abruptly kicked out of terminal E at CDG by Air France. Apparently, their business relationship was also deteriorating.
It seems aeroflot tries to reap rewards of SkyTeam membership giving as little as possible in return. For example, last August aeroflot was abruptly kicked out of terminal E at CDG by Air France. Apparently, their business relationship was also deteriorating.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL DM; UA; AA
Posts: 446
For sample dates this March:
JFK-SVO-KBP on SU: $645, E class, 0% MQM
JFK-CDG-KBP on AF: $747, L/R class, 100% MQM
All right -- SU doesn't need my money any longer. What can I do?..