Any advantage to book via AirFrance.com?
Nov 22, 2018, 8:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: DL DM, 3MM, Marriott Ambassador, DL Amex Reserve Hilton Diamond AS 75K
Posts: 45
Any advantage to book via AirFrance.com?
Looking to buy a codeshare flight from SFO to CDG on Air France metal for my son. Its priced the same on both websites, however, it appears as tho you can pay for seats on Airfrance.com and not on Delta since its showing basic economy on Delta.com.....................
Am I missing anything here? What's the advantage of buying via Delta?
Thanks
Am I missing anything here? What's the advantage of buying via Delta?
Thanks
Nov 22, 2018, 8:35 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: SkyMiles 2018 PM, 2019 PM, 2020 PM, 2021 PM, 2022 PM, 2023 PM...
Posts: 314
What I have just discovered is that I will earn more MQDs for my flight having booked on the KLM site.
Additionally I can tell you for planning waaaaay in advance, that Delta only opens up flights 331 days in advance (I believe of the return flight). While I was monitoring prices they were going up before they were available on Delta at all.
I can confirm Medalllion line is much better than any KLM/AF customer service I've dealt with.
Additionally I can tell you for planning waaaaay in advance, that Delta only opens up flights 331 days in advance (I believe of the return flight). While I was monitoring prices they were going up before they were available on Delta at all.
I can confirm Medalllion line is much better than any KLM/AF customer service I've dealt with.
Nov 22, 2018, 11:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,509
I had to use the AF site to book so we could use a couple of AF-issued vouchers (in Euros, of course) toward the purchase. As soon as I booked, I called DL and they “took” control of the itinerary, so it showed up in our DL apps, we received full credit, and we could deal directly with DL on all future correspondence.
It it was quick and painless, and I felt better about dealing with a familiar system than with AF CS agents.
It it was quick and painless, and I felt better about dealing with a familiar system than with AF CS agents.
Nov 23, 2018, 8:07 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta 2M DM, Southwest A List and CP
Posts: 1,102
I don't know whether there is any potential for complimentary domestic upgrades on DL (Medallion member), but if there are, then book via DL; with an AF codeshare number you are on the bottom of the upgrade list. However, calculate MQD earnings with an AF ticket and compare it with DL earnings: in some cases MQDs are much better on Air France, particularly if it is a relatively inexpensive J ticket.
Nov 23, 2018, 9:22 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Accor Gold
Posts: 392
One exception is the website technical support, which is AF/KL's own team based in the US.
Nov 23, 2018, 1:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
You two are speaking of post-travel Customer Service, where you call either the Atlanta number or write in via the website. In that case, for US customers, yes DL handles for AFKLM - but this is completely different from the folks you speak to before/during travel at a Reservations desk.
Nov 23, 2018, 2:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
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As Wimsta pointed out, if you book KL/AF coded and operated flights via the AF or KL www sites you will earn MQDs based on distance rather than $s. Sometimes, especially on a low business class fare you come out ahead that way, but MQDs might be less.
If you put your SM number into the KL/AF reservation, US domestic and trans-Atl flights generally show up on delta.com My Trips. Sometimes the European connecting legs show up on My Trips, sometimes not. For the last few years, the AF/KL PNRs have worked for me on delta.com in pulling up itins, likewise DL PNRs have worked on the AF/KL sites.
Of course all of these things sometimes don't work that way.
If you put your SM number into the KL/AF reservation, US domestic and trans-Atl flights generally show up on delta.com My Trips. Sometimes the European connecting legs show up on My Trips, sometimes not. For the last few years, the AF/KL PNRs have worked for me on delta.com in pulling up itins, likewise DL PNRs have worked on the AF/KL sites.
Of course all of these things sometimes don't work that way.
Nov 25, 2018, 6:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
Looking to buy a codeshare flight from SFO to CDG on Air France metal for my son. Its priced the same on both websites, however, it appears as tho you can pay for seats on Airfrance.com and not on Delta since its showing basic economy on Delta.com.....................
Am I missing anything here? What's the advantage of buying via Delta?
Thanks
Am I missing anything here? What's the advantage of buying via Delta?
Thanks
Nov 25, 2018, 10:08 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Nov 26, 2018, 5:45 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,211
Nov 26, 2018, 6:58 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
Programs: DL FO 1MM
Posts: 1,761
Where you book doesn't matter, what matters is the flight numbers. If you book KL/AF flight numbers, RDM and MQD are calculated as a % of distance flown. If you book DL flight numbers it is per usual DL rules.
Nov 27, 2018, 6:48 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 262
Yesterday I cancelled an AF marketed and operated flight/MQD run booked in PE (fare class A), and was able to take a refund to OFP with $290 penalty or a voucher with $230 change fee. I took the refund. A question for those with more experience, do the change/cancellation fee rules vary between DL marketed and AF or KL marketed fights? Or would I have been able to get the safe refund terms with a DL marketed, AF fight?
Nov 27, 2018, 6:58 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Yesterday I cancelled an AF marketed and operated flight/MQD run booked in PE (fare class A), and was able to take a refund to OFP with $290 penalty or a voucher with $230 change fee. I took the refund. A question for those with more experience, do the change/cancellation fee rules vary between DL marketed and AF or KL marketed fights? Or would I have been able to get the safe refund terms with a DL marketed, AF fight?
About a year ago, I had to cancel a flight booked on the AF www site. I called the US AF phone and the DL agent cancelled the booking and issued a credit for the fare to my DL account. I then used the credit to purchase flights booked through DL. I was expecting AF credit. Not sure why I got what I see as excellent service. Maybe DL DM status, but I wasn’t talking to the DM folks; the phone was answered ‘DL, KL, AF’ or something like that.