MSPeconomist

You're still paying twice for the upgrades unless you decide to roll the dice and hope for free domestic upgrades from DL.

Dieuwer

I ain't wasting miles to upgrade to domestic "fake" F.

mnredfox

Well do you have pain booking on DL metal with FB miles?

krpjr

This all seems to fall back on Delta. This is ALL OF DELTA'S FAULT. PERIOD.

As a member of the Delta FFP and with Diamond status, the sight of low award tickets is very difficult, even more so when booking online...I can see why KL/AF/CI are blocking Delta FFP members from getting Biz Class awards.

If we cannot get low award buckets in the Delta FFP, how could other members of CI/AF/KL get low award seats on Delta...? Delta just needs to fix its crappy system already and start releasing low awards seats appropriately.

Mean while I just booked another ticket last night on AA .

As EXP, I sat in coach on one flight, was given food from up front, was thanked for my business, which was then followed by snacks later on during the flight. It nudged me the right way, to get me to fly AA even more.

The only reason I'll be flying Delta for the rest of this year is, A. Booked tickets already. B. I have a few vouchers I will gladly burn for a weekend getaway.

DaKrisht

Agreed. Delta's FFP is just complete useless crap at this point. They offered me a ticket from CDG-LAX via ATL for 350k miles - I laughed and hung up the phone.

There is zero availability on any AF/KLM flights from Europe while FB shows dozens of seats on multiple days. AF isn't releasing them because DL isn't releasing seats to AF/KLM FB members. It's a lose-lose and we are the ones losing.

I just realized I can transfer AMEX MR to AF FB and book 50k O rewards that way. Easy, always availability, screw Delta.

luv2ctheworld

This is utterly sad and hopeless. The one good use of Skypesos for partner international travel is being taken out, not because there aren't any seats left, but because retaliation by partners due to DL's poor redemption for everyone.

DL should just come out and say it: They just want to collect the money, and charge a ridiculous rate of exchange for those award tickets.

akonradi

I have been warning others of this outcome for well over a year. Redeeming partner miles on Delta is nearly impossible, especially if the city pair requires a connection. Every Flying Blue redemption that I have made since since 2010 has forced me to fly to a gateway city on a revenue ticket to connect to a SkyTeam partner (not Delta). One can occasionally see 1-2 seats available for off-peak transatlantic flights on Delta, but if a domestic flight is desired, forget about it.

I've actually noticed better award availability on Flying Blue in the last few months, possibly due to this spat with DL. Although I do hope that this gets resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, I am glad that SkyMiles members are not eating such a large chunk of AF/KL inventory. While I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the service that I receive on a frequent basis from Delta, I have no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision in giving up on SkyMiles in favor of AS/AF.

hazelrah

So Sky team is . in reality, no team.

rylan

Except there is a big difference... we don't get any better award availability as members in Delta's system. Its crap for us, crap for others, and now we can't redeem on partners either. Sounds to me like the so-called ST alliance is falling apart.

Dieuwer

Skyteam RTW awards are out-the-door as well if you cannot redeem Skymiles on partners.

I see the DL webpage still has not been updated. I think it is bordering on fraud to claim something that isn't true. Maybe a lawyer can chime in.

dcline414

That's pretty much true of everything about the marketing of the SkyMiles program these days. Advertising increased upgrades when anyone on FT could tell you that they are actually decreasing, marketing free flights at 25k when those are never available, saying that they will make "common sense" exceptions to the rules in favor of customers, when that actually never happens...

Most on this forum are loyal to DL and want to see them do well... Just not at our expense while we are being lied to by the marketing department.

jetta2.0t

Taking a quick look at two of DL's busiest routes with partners KL/AF and one of UAs busiest routes with LH, using one way examples and wanting to fly today.

IAD-FRA: Y at 30k on all N/S UA or LH
C at 50k on 3 of 5 N/S flights UA or LH
F at 67.5k on 4 of 5 N/S flights UA or LH

JFK-CDG: Y on DL N/S at 95k or 60k thru AMS, nothing on AF
C on DL N/S at 325k or 245k thru AMS, nothing on AF

JFK-AMS: Y on DL or KL N/S at 60k
C on DL N/S at 200k, nothing on KL


Not even a close comparison.

krpjr

The worst part is that there are 5 non stops on AF

Dieuwer

AF681 ATL-CDG and AF345 YUL-CDG are available today.

jetta2.0t

Unless someone just grabbed them in the last few minutes, no, they are not.