Why can’t business class award seats be booked on Delta.com for Air France flights?
Mar 20, 2012, 11:36 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 197
I don't know that it's fair to say that the ones in IT don't care. I think most IT professionals want their systems to work reliably, and when they fail, they're not happy. By all accounts, it sounds like this is something that was caused by changes AF made in their systems without consideration for how it would impact partners. Anyone know if there's an IT worker strike on in Paris right now? 
Mar 20, 2012, 11:40 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
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NWA/Deltaflygirl thank you for your help and confirmation about this that it is indeed an IT issue and being looked at. I and I'm sure the rest of us don't mean to target you in any way as to being responsible for causing or fixing the issue. Greatly appreciated that you checked what you could. 
Mar 20, 2012, 11:40 am
#93
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Displaying inventory and being able to book the seats are different beasts entirely. IT management has probably devoted most programmer hours to the impending Evolution of SkyMiles requirements, and so the few who are working on fixing the AF integration (Ha! As if we've ever seen actual integration with AF.) bug are feeling understaffed.
Mar 20, 2012, 11:47 am
#94
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 197
Displaying inventory and being able to book the seats are different beasts entirely. IT management has probably devoted most programmer hours to the impending Evolution of SkyMiles requirements, and so the few who are working on fixing the AF integration (Ha! As if we've ever seen actual integration with AF.) bug are feeling understaffed.
The fact is, Delta is currently the only airline prohibiting you from booking available Business awards with one of its biggest partners.
Last edited by Ringside; Mar 20, 2012 at 11:54 am
Mar 20, 2012, 11:57 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 27
Within this very string of posts, you can see why an airline, DL or otherwise, might not want to acknowledge such a problem. A couple posts herein are newsworthy and contain important facts. Many of the rest are reasoned and calm discussions of things. But a few are filled with wild speculation lacking any useful sourcing or credibility. There are even a small few filled with random expressions of outrage and anger, which, though everyone's right, America puts businesses on edge.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
Mar 20, 2012, 12:03 pm
#96
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 197
Within this very string of posts, you can see why an airline, DL or otherwise, might not want to acknowledge such a problem. A couple posts herein are newsworthy and contain important facts. Many of the rest are reasoned and calm discussions of things. But a few are filled with wild speculation lacking any useful sourcing or credibility. There are even a small few filled with random expressions of outrage and anger, which, though everyone's right, America puts businesses on edge.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
My vote is incompetence and poor handling of urgent situations affecting customers.
Mar 20, 2012, 2:28 pm
#97
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL DM/1MM, Natl Exec Elite, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diam
Posts: 382
Displaying inventory and being able to book the seats are different beasts entirely. IT management has probably devoted most programmer hours to the impending Evolution of SkyMiles requirements, and so the few who are working on fixing the AF integration (Ha! As if we've ever seen actual integration with AF.) bug are feeling understaffed.
When contacting DL, they're totally oblivious to the technological problem we can plainly see, and are reading off the "There's no availability, ever" script-- what if that's true? The SM program is changing so fundamentally that there's no 1:1 comparison to Miles for *whatever* on SkyTeam partners right now and this is their way of limiting that future exposure and liability once this EOS thing launches.
I just hope this gets sorted out soon enough for me to use a SWU on an M class fare on KL on a CPT-AMS return leg when O finally does open for it, or I'm not going to be a happy camper at all.
Mar 20, 2012, 2:55 pm
#98
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
I tweeted them asking for an update, and got this response:
"We've sent over an inquiry to IT & we're awaiting response while they're investigating. NG"
"We've sent over an inquiry to IT & we're awaiting response while they're investigating. NG"
Mar 20, 2012, 4:10 pm
#100
Formerly known as fsa_ea
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Up in the Air
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Posts: 2,229
I just hope this gets sorted out soon enough for me to burn 3 million miles on AF business class redemptions before the implementation of EOS. Unfortunately, I suspect that this "IT problem" is indeed part of EOS.
Mar 20, 2012, 4:22 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL DM/1MM, Natl Exec Elite, Bonvoy Plat, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diam
Posts: 382
Mar 20, 2012, 5:52 pm
#102
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: Delta Ballast Medallion, Card Carrying Honorary KM
Posts: 553
Still no BC Award seats on either KLM or AF today, and no ETA for the fix - I reported it to the folks who are sending it on to ATL that people are unhappy - VERY unhappy about this, so hopefully we might hear something SOON...
Mar 20, 2012, 6:30 pm
#103
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: DL Platinum
Posts: 27
I have to wonder if O availability on AF/KL is *part* of EOS's upcoming launch. It looked systematic-- O disappeared from the normal fare availability on EF, and now only shows up on Awards/Upgrades.
When contacting DL, they're totally oblivious to the technological problem we can plainly see, and are reading off the "There's no availability, ever" script-- what if that's true? The SM program is changing so fundamentally that there's no 1:1 comparison to Miles for *whatever* on SkyTeam partners right now and this is their way of limiting that future exposure and liability once this EOS thing launches.
When contacting DL, they're totally oblivious to the technological problem we can plainly see, and are reading off the "There's no availability, ever" script-- what if that's true? The SM program is changing so fundamentally that there's no 1:1 comparison to Miles for *whatever* on SkyTeam partners right now and this is their way of limiting that future exposure and liability once this EOS thing launches.
^^
Mar 20, 2012, 6:34 pm
#104
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 1,155
Within this very string of posts, you can see why an airline, DL or otherwise, might not want to acknowledge such a problem. A couple posts herein are newsworthy and contain important facts. Many of the rest are reasoned and calm discussions of things. But a few are filled with wild speculation lacking any useful sourcing or credibility. There are even a small few filled with random expressions of outrage and anger, which, though everyone's right, America puts businesses on edge.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
The business thinks: "If we admit to this problem, then some subset of our customer base with nothing better to do will decide to sue us. It will cost us time and money. Also, admitting to the problem will damage our prestige within the industry. It will place us at a disadvantage to our competitors, etc."
I'm not defending corporate secrecy, but a subset of cranks and idiots in any large group of customers/members/affinity groups often makes things difficult for the rest.
Mar 20, 2012, 6:50 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AF Plat a vie, EK Gold, SQ PPS
Posts: 758
I just wanted to add that I dont know if it is just an IT thing because I can't even book that flight myself for a regular award using my AF miles and I am Platinum so I have better availability. The only flt I see available is vis AMS. School starts here in France on the 4th and I would be surprised if those seats opened up especially this far out especially because it on a very popular return route for the French. Last year I had lots of trouble getting back and I had nothing confirmed until the day before travel and I had to be flexible with dates.