Switch to Delta?
Aug 18, 2011 | 5:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Near an airport
Programs: FB, EB, Delta, AC, PC, HH.
Posts: 1,991
Switch to Delta?
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?
Aug 18, 2011 | 5:58 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 17,198
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.
Aug 18, 2011 | 6:02 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
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?
Aug 18, 2011 | 6:05 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45 North
Programs: AS Gold 75K, DL GM/MM
Posts: 10,205
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.
Aug 18, 2011 | 6:07 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,621
SkyMiles
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?
Aug 18, 2011 | 8:24 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Near an airport
Programs: FB, EB, Delta, AC, PC, HH.
Posts: 1,991
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.
Aug 18, 2011 | 8:43 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MSN
Posts: 8,051
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.
Aug 18, 2011 | 8:58 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: DL, QF, QR Silver, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,317
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.
Aug 18, 2011 | 10:53 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
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.
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.