The Trashing of Skymiles continues today: Fuel Surcharges for VS!
May 28, 2017, 7:24 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,920
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am rather pleased with AF/KLM when I compare them to the *A carriers who do the route from YYZ & YUL. When the price is competitive I prefer AF/KLM to AC. In respect to the scam charges, you aint seen nothing until you do a redemption with Aeroplan and get dinged for US $1000+
May 28, 2017, 7:35 pm
#32
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
^ Agreed. Delta offers VS a huge domestic and international network. I doubt there are too many connections from Delta to VS at LHR. VS has no domestic network and nothing international that AF or KLM can't offer at CDG and AMS.
May 28, 2017, 7:35 pm
#33
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: 27,042
May 28, 2017, 7:38 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am rather pleased with AF/KLM when I compare them to the *A carriers who do the route from YYZ & YUL. When the price is competitive I prefer AF/KLM to AC. In respect to the scam charges, you aint seen nothing until you do a redemption with Aeroplan and get dinged for US $1000+
The commonly flung criticism of AF being subject to strike isn't really relevant when you're comparing with LH; German staff in every branch of aviation are almost as subject to deciding they don't feel like working.
You can avoid the strike problem largely by flying KL, but their product holds up far less well. Delfta is objectively the worst of their three partners in all classes, I think - although the difference is mostly in catering and hard seating product, and the actual cabin crew do a fine job.
Anyway, I don't think it's a slam dunk at all that AFKL are undesirable partners. Even with me wanting to accumulate Alaska miles and take advantage of favorable airfares, I don't fly BA - no advance seat assignments in business? No thanks. And LH is fine, but I think they are broadly equivalent to AF...
May 28, 2017, 7:44 pm
#35
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
I actually think Air France is quite competitive, especially if you catch them with a BEST-equipped plane and are in business. The food is tasty, creative and French, the wines are thoughtfully selected and the onboard staff are quite attentive.
The commonly flung criticism of AF being subject to strike isn't really relevant when you're comparing with LH; German staff in every branch of aviation are almost as subject to deciding they don't feel like working.
You can avoid the strike problem largely by flying KL, but their product holds up far less well. Delfta is objectively the worst of their three partners in all classes, I think - although the difference is mostly in catering and hard seating product, and the actual cabin crew do a fine job.
Anyway, I don't think it's a slam dunk at all that AFKL are undesirable partners. Even with me wanting to accumulate Alaska miles and take advantage of favorable airfares, I don't fly BA - no advance seat assignments in business? No thanks. And LH is fine, but I think they are broadly equivalent to AF...
The commonly flung criticism of AF being subject to strike isn't really relevant when you're comparing with LH; German staff in every branch of aviation are almost as subject to deciding they don't feel like working.
You can avoid the strike problem largely by flying KL, but their product holds up far less well. Delfta is objectively the worst of their three partners in all classes, I think - although the difference is mostly in catering and hard seating product, and the actual cabin crew do a fine job.
Anyway, I don't think it's a slam dunk at all that AFKL are undesirable partners. Even with me wanting to accumulate Alaska miles and take advantage of favorable airfares, I don't fly BA - no advance seat assignments in business? No thanks. And LH is fine, but I think they are broadly equivalent to AF...
May 28, 2017, 7:45 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
Sorry, I was too busy laughing at the notion that the reason DL has to charge 80% more miles is because of complaint compensation.
May 28, 2017, 9:22 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Programs: DL Gold / AA Gold
Posts: 609
If you're not too nitpicky of the dash sub-type, Southwest managed to crash 100% of their fleet type. I guess there is no LUV for you.
May 28, 2017, 9:24 pm
#39
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
May 28, 2017, 9:52 pm
#40
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 351
For two years in a row (2015, 2016) we were fortunate to get award tickets LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR-LAX to visit Kruger National Park in May/June for 80,000 + $100 pp each way. That's the only reason I saved DL miles but those good days are now over...between the 95,000 miles pp each way and the now $500+ pp each way...it no longer makes sense for us.
May 28, 2017, 10:10 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
May 28, 2017, 10:12 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
VS miles are by far the easiest to earn, and are at least worth more (it's all relative, of course) than much harder to earn/get DL SlyMiles.
May 28, 2017, 10:41 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
May 28, 2017, 11:06 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
(1) When an airline owns 49% of another airline, you'd think that would give them room to push back on something like this.
(2) Setting aside (1), as noted the case for quite a while was that SkyPesos didn't charge the fees that Flying Club did, so you had a miles-for-surcharge tradeoff. Pulling that rather erodes the value of opting to use SkyPesos.
(2) Setting aside (1), as noted the case for quite a while was that SkyPesos didn't charge the fees that Flying Club did, so you had a miles-for-surcharge tradeoff. Pulling that rather erodes the value of opting to use SkyPesos.
May 28, 2017, 11:09 pm
#45
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 1,089
For two years in a row (2015, 2016) we were fortunate to get award tickets LAX-LHR-JNB-LHR-LAX to visit Kruger National Park in May/June for 80,000 + $100 pp each way. That's the only reason I saved DL miles but those good days are now over...between the 95,000 miles pp each way and the now $500+ pp each way...it no longer makes sense for us.