Warning about Medallion benefits on partner airlines
Aug 9, 2015, 3:34 pm
#46
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: 100,369
I ended up paying for an EC seat from IST to AMS figuring I could just get it back later. Easier said than done. If anyone has been successful with such please let me know.
The amount was much less than Delta charges, but you get a lot less too. KLM upgraded me to biz on the flight which gets you the same crappy seats, but with no one in the center and a decent breakfast. I've had very few gate upgrades on KLM intra-europe in the past so I'm not too worried about getting my $28.00 back.
Note that KLM recognized me as a "base" member on my boarding pass, and charged me a base price for the EC seat. But still recognized me as an Elite+ for the gate upgrade.
Go Figure.
The amount was much less than Delta charges, but you get a lot less too. KLM upgraded me to biz on the flight which gets you the same crappy seats, but with no one in the center and a decent breakfast. I've had very few gate upgrades on KLM intra-europe in the past so I'm not too worried about getting my $28.00 back.
Note that KLM recognized me as a "base" member on my boarding pass, and charged me a base price for the EC seat. But still recognized me as an Elite+ for the gate upgrade.
Go Figure.
Aug 10, 2015, 1:29 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,065
That might be the problem.
No account...then sometimes KLM doesn't recognize your correct status. Seen it in the past...and sometimes it's just snafu.
Setup a KLM online account way in advance; list your SkyMiles # as part of this account. Under no circumstances, list your KLM FB number (perhaps, you have one from AMEX Membership Award transfer, etc.). Use the KLM/Delta confirmation # to add the flights to your open itineraries on KLM.
No account...then sometimes KLM doesn't recognize your correct status. Seen it in the past...and sometimes it's just snafu.
Setup a KLM online account way in advance; list your SkyMiles # as part of this account. Under no circumstances, list your KLM FB number (perhaps, you have one from AMEX Membership Award transfer, etc.). Use the KLM/Delta confirmation # to add the flights to your open itineraries on KLM.
Aug 10, 2015, 5:23 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA | CLT, formerly LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, (soon former) Caesars7*, (former) Wynn Black, HR "Icon"
Posts: 8,172
Delta Diamond (with AF/KLM) is either :
- base
- Platinum
- Club 2000 (or whatever the term is)
On the manifests, I have asked (on KLM and Air France). KLM says we appear as Platinum. Last time, Air France said I appeared as Elite. Of course, this is a bit YMMV since sometimes the flight attendants seem to interpret the manifests incorrectly.
Just wish they (AF/KLM) would CONSISTENTLY list Delta Diamonds as FlyingBlue Platinum, and be done with it.
Aug 10, 2015, 8:57 pm
#51
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
Delta FO, Gold and Platinum seem to correlate properly to FlyingBlue Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Delta Diamond (with AF/KLM) is either :
- base
- Platinum
- Club 2000 (or whatever the term is)
On the manifests, I have asked (on KLM and Air France). KLM says we appear as Platinum. Last time, Air France said I appeared as Elite. Of course, this is a bit YMMV since sometimes the flight attendants seem to interpret the manifests incorrectly.
Just wish they (AF/KLM) would CONSISTENTLY list Delta Diamonds as FlyingBlue Platinum, and be done with it.
Delta Diamond (with AF/KLM) is either :
- base
- Platinum
- Club 2000 (or whatever the term is)
On the manifests, I have asked (on KLM and Air France). KLM says we appear as Platinum. Last time, Air France said I appeared as Elite. Of course, this is a bit YMMV since sometimes the flight attendants seem to interpret the manifests incorrectly.
Just wish they (AF/KLM) would CONSISTENTLY list Delta Diamonds as FlyingBlue Platinum, and be done with it.
Aug 10, 2015, 9:05 pm
#52
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 394
You really have to contact Air France (their twitter support) for seating on Air France metal. I tend to forget (since I almost always fly business class on Air France) but they do not have Economy Comfort on a number of flights. They have "seat plus" on some, but Delta Medallions have to pay for "seat plus." I would definitely reach out to Air France. I do believe there are some premium seats Medallions can "grab," such as exit rows and bulkheads. I have communicated with Air France recently regarding BKK-CDG-FCO and AMS-CDG-BOS-CDG-AMS with no issues. Even when they have not been able to assign my preferred seat, they have made a note and done it approximately 24 hours prior to departure. But, this was business class.
The most I have been able to get was calling the Medallion line and they worked with someone to get me some premium seats on the AF leg but they couldn't get me EC seats (I offered to pay). They also said they got me premium seats on the KLM leg but the system is showing that I am the only one (i.e., my companion's seat is unassigned) who received a premium seat. I am also unable to move my seats. Lastly, the seats they got me initially showed up as "requested" and now show up as "confirmed". Should I ping KLM again during their normal business hours? When I contacted both AF and KLM via Twitter, I did so in the middle of the night their time.
Oct 30, 2017, 12:45 pm
#53
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 352
Interesting. I cannot see any status on KLM, although it does show my correct DL SM #. On airfrance.us, when I log in with the account I setup on KLM, I can see my DL SM # and that I am FlyingBlue Gold despite being DL Platinum. Is that a problem? I do not have a FlyingBlue number as far as I know. I never set one up when I just setup this KLM account.
Nov 24, 2017, 8:32 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Delta PM, CSR
Posts: 17
Currently battling this. I have emailed AF, trying live chatting FlyingBlue (who were quite rude), and have now emailed Delta...
Nov 24, 2017, 3:50 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: DL Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 171
Call Delta and have them re-submit your status, That's what fixed the issue for me. I believe they did it through the KLM/Airfrance team but call Delta directly. And be prepared to HUCA till someone understands the problem.
Nov 24, 2017, 10:52 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Delta PM, CSR
Posts: 17
Interestingly I just got this reply from Air France... "Please be aware that our system shows Flying Blue Gold which is the equivalent of your Platinum Medallion in our Flying Blue program. We confirm that you will be benefiting of the same benefits of Sky Team Elite Plus members. Please confirm if you need further clarification.".
Followed up to ask if DM Diamond is now the equivalent of FB Platinum...
Followed up to ask if DM Diamond is now the equivalent of FB Platinum...
Nov 24, 2017, 11:39 pm
#57
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: DL Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 171
Interestingly I just got this reply from Air France... "Please be aware that our system shows Flying Blue Gold which is the equivalent of your Platinum Medallion in our Flying Blue program. We confirm that you will be benefiting of the same benefits of Sky Team Elite Plus members. Please confirm if you need further clarification.".
Followed up to ask if DM Diamond is now the equivalent of FB Platinum...
Followed up to ask if DM Diamond is now the equivalent of FB Platinum...
Nov 25, 2017, 3:33 am
#58
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Earth (non-US)
Programs: NW Gold->CO->UA->DL PM
Posts: 1,335
Interestingly, submitting a complaint to KLM recently via website, went directly to Delta's help system (no reason for them to link me to Delta, so they must be partnering with Delta IT on the back side). We'll see how long it takes for them to reply: the auto-responder promised *thirty days*.
Nov 25, 2017, 6:27 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,041
KLM or AF side? I have to say, I've recently found the KLM side similar, and despite the 1-hour expectation they set in social media, they seem to reply in more like 8-12 hours, sometimes with no more than a formulaic cut & paste.
Interestingly, submitting a complaint to KLM recently via website, went directly to Delta's help system (no reason for them to link me to Delta, so they must be partnering with Delta IT on the back side). We'll see how long it takes for them to reply: the auto-responder promised *thirty days*.
Interestingly, submitting a complaint to KLM recently via website, went directly to Delta's help system (no reason for them to link me to Delta, so they must be partnering with Delta IT on the back side). We'll see how long it takes for them to reply: the auto-responder promised *thirty days*.
Nov 25, 2017, 7:04 am
#60
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Delta PM, CSR
Posts: 17
KLM or AF side? I have to say, I've recently found the KLM side similar, and despite the 1-hour expectation they set in social media, they seem to reply in more like 8-12 hours, sometimes with no more than a formulaic cut & paste.
Interestingly, submitting a complaint to KLM recently via website, went directly to Delta's help system (no reason for them to link me to Delta, so they must be partnering with Delta IT on the back side). We'll see how long it takes for them to reply: the auto-responder promised *thirty days*.
Interestingly, submitting a complaint to KLM recently via website, went directly to Delta's help system (no reason for them to link me to Delta, so they must be partnering with Delta IT on the back side). We'll see how long it takes for them to reply: the auto-responder promised *thirty days*.
"We can see that your Elite Plus status was updated in our system and its now showing correctly in your booking file. You can see the status benefits here: http://bit.ly/2zD9SKA and SkyTeam benefits on this link: http://klmf.ly/1DMcUqJ ."
It's all sorted and showing as Platinum now. Figured it was worth the effort as I've had an op up on this route before!