I used to be with KLM from before the AF merger and loved it but as I hated the merger and the dilution of the FB product I switched in 2008 to Aeroplan, although living in Sweden, and have no status there. I haven't flown as much as intended but that may change - soon.
Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
Since you're located in EU, Skymiles won't do much if any good for you as you won't be eligible for what is the best and arguably only high point of their program... complimentary domestic upgrades.
If you tr to use miles for award tickets originating from Europe, you'll be hit with massive origination surcharges and find extreme difficulty getting low redemption rates.
If you tr to use miles for award tickets originating from Europe, you'll be hit with massive origination surcharges and find extreme difficulty getting low redemption rates.
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Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
I totally agree with rylan. The best part of the DL program is US domestic upgrades. There is not much for you in Europe with this program.Originally Posted by Emma65
I used to be with KLM from before the AF merger and loved it but as I hated the merger and the dilution of the FB product I switched in 2008 to Aeroplan, although living in Sweden, and have no status there. I haven't flown as much as intended but that may change - soon.Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
The appealing parts of SkyMiles are targeted towards the domestic/US based flyer. Things like upgrades, priority security etc. Delta's award redemptions can be tough. And redeeming from abroad is expensive with Delta's international origination surcharge. One of the few pluses plus I could see would be access to Economy Comfort if you make it to PM or DM. Another is lounge access at GM.
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Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
All legacy airlines are, or will soon be, the same. So, stick with the airline you like that serves your home hub the best.Originally Posted by Emma65
I used to be with KLM from before the AF merger and loved it but as I hated the merger and the dilution of the FB product I switched in 2008 to Aeroplan, although living in Sweden, and have no status there. I haven't flown as much as intended but that may change - soon.Air Canada have increased their ticket costs. KLM still have great deals and Delta SkyMiles earns 100% even on the deeply discounted tickets. So I'm thinking of returning to flying KLM. The little hops I do around europe and the few flights across the continent would get me in to status.
But seriously, what is appealing to you guys about the Delta SkyMiles program? I have a skymiles membership and card so I'm thinking why not use it?
Run in the other direction as fast as you can... it's too late for me, but you can still save yourself. 
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You had me laugh so hard I just woke up my cat.Originally Posted by StayingHomeIsBetter
Run in the other direction as fast as you can... it's too late for me, but you can still save yourself.
Well, my home hub-airline would be SAS and I'm not going with eurbonus. :-)
I thank you all for your input. You've given me food for thought.
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The IOS is the YQ, which is the same as charged by FB, so there's no disadvantage there. In fact, since the IOS is charged almost exclusively on European originations (plus ex-TLV on AF/KL metal, apparently) and tickets where DL collects the partner's YQ (in which case origin doesn't matter), if OP would be booking award tickets originating outside of Europe, DL is the better program since FB collects YQ on all redemptions.Originally Posted by TTT
The appealing parts of SkyMiles are targeted towards the domestic/US based flyer. Things like upgrades, priority security etc. Delta's award redemptions can be tough. And redeeming from abroad is expensive with Delta's international origination surcharge. One of the few pluses plus I could see would be access to Economy Comfort if you make it to PM or DM. Another is lounge access at GM.
If I recall correctly, FB Plats get EC for free, and Gold and Plat with FB are ST E+, so no real difference there.
I'd probably analyze the paths to status (including segment-based) in the two programs and see which one provides the easier path to obtaining the status level you desire.
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Good point! You can qualify for FB elite status fairly easy on segments. Elite status, whether FB or SM, gives you about the same benefits when it comes to intra-EU flights.Originally Posted by mtkeller
I'd probably analyze the paths to status (including segment-based) in the two programs and see which one provides the easier path to obtaining the status level you desire.
SM is very much geared towards US residents. Fare specials, various promos, credit card offers - they are all limited to US-based SM members.
There are some AmEx cards in Europe that earn FB miles. You may want to look into that as well.
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SM is very much geared towards US residents. Fare specials, various promos, credit card offers - they are all limited to US-based SM members.
There are some AmEx cards in Europe that earn FB miles. You may want to look into that as well.
AF-KL elite status is a joke to attain/retain. 30 segments for SkyTeam ElitePlus status? And they rather routinely do soft-landings (at least for those in the Swedish market) who don't re-qualify for a given elite status level.Originally Posted by florin
Good point! You can qualify for FB elite status fairly easy on segments. Elite status, whether FB or SM, gives you about the same benefits when it comes to intra-EU flights.SM is very much geared towards US residents. Fare specials, various promos, credit card offers - they are all limited to US-based SM members.
There are some AmEx cards in Europe that earn FB miles. You may want to look into that as well.
AF-KL's program is a joke in terms of earning miles from economy class flights -- the miles earned are so puny and the redemption costs of flights so expensive that the program may be good for earning/retaining elite status but using the program for flights to get flights makes it a pretty lousy program.