No award travel on AF/KL from 01JUN-31AUG 2005
May 10, 2005, 5:29 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
The blackout makes DL a joke to Europe!
This appears to be a DL only problem. DL is rapidly becoming a joke for flying to Europe. There are many European cities that I have flown to in the past on DL metal than DL does not serve any more except by connections with partners. When a blackout elimniates this partner availibility, it really shrinks the DL network in Europe when you fly award tickets. Faced with that, what idiot who flies a lot to Europe would want to buy a paid ticket from them?
With this idiocy, bring on Aeroflot, and while they are at it, Malev and Tarom and whatever other unattached European carriers are out there. At least, maybe they can provide summer award availibility to Europe.
With this idiocy, bring on Aeroflot, and while they are at it, Malev and Tarom and whatever other unattached European carriers are out there. At least, maybe they can provide summer award availibility to Europe.
May 10, 2005, 9:24 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2003
Programs: BA GGL; AA LT Gold; AS 100K; DL MM GM; Hyatt G*list, Hilton Diamond; SQ silver
Posts: 3,806
Another push from DL to make me leave to fly some other carrier. What a sorry state of affairs. I will make PM one more time (to get the CRC membership I can use when flying NW!) and then good bye Delta. Maybe I will go NW. Does anyone know if NW has the same blackout?
May 10, 2005, 9:41 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Under an ORD approach path
Programs: DL PM, MM. Coffee isn't a drug, it's a vitamin.
Posts: 12,935
Originally Posted by mizzou miles
My bet is that because DL's systems are so arcane that they dont want the agents to have to spend 60 minutes per call trying to find award seats on these carriers.
May 10, 2005, 10:07 pm
#34
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1k, SPG/Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,020
This is such a shocker. I'm sitting on hold right now with an agent who is trying to get my wife from CDG to Bilbao not on AF....so she is going via Milan when AF (Brit) flies 3 x daily. What a joke. I had booked and held AF SFO-CDG last week. Funnily enough the agent told me that AF availability opened up big time last week and not of course nada.
If it is any consolation try calling UA for a Lufthansa seat across the atlantic - they have imposed the same policy on UA flyers with UA agents says Lufthansa will not release any seats for the summer.
If it is any consolation try calling UA for a Lufthansa seat across the atlantic - they have imposed the same policy on UA flyers with UA agents says Lufthansa will not release any seats for the summer.
May 11, 2005, 2:58 pm
#35
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Tri-State
Posts: 1,888
I was under the impression that folks kept awake till midnight 330 days in advance to snag an award tix no ? This late (May 1st week) for a month or so in advance is always been difficult. Or am I missing something ? 
May 11, 2005, 4:43 pm
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
Air France is one of the few carriers that actually has pretty decent award availability in all classes.
May 11, 2005, 10:13 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
Media
We need to get this out to the media ASAP - Anybody have good contacts ???? This is nonsense. I encourage every member to call and request AF tickets for the "blackout" period and see if they ar eread the script !!!!
May 12, 2005, 8:16 am
#38
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: New Orleans, AA EXP, DL PM, SPG PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,750
This is definitely a devaluation of DL miles. It is rediculous to not be able to use KLM and AF in the summer. I'm glad I have almost used my DL miles up. The handwriting is on the wall. Of course its been on the wall.
May 12, 2005, 9:37 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Berlin
Programs: IHG SE, Bonvoy Plat, DL Plat, UA PPlat, EK Gold
Posts: 231
[QUOTE=rcs85551]Effective yesterday, Delta is no longer accepting reservation requests for travel on Air France and KLM during the peak summer period.
According to customer care Delta was not informed of this change. They only discovered this Monday after all their inquiries came back unconfirmed. Delta emphatically states this is an AF/KLM restriction. I'm very troubled that it is only directed at Delta.
I guess this press release wasn't worth the paper it was printed on:
http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyte...r/pr042805.jsp
I'll keep digging...
According to customer care Delta was not informed of this change. They only discovered this Monday after all their inquiries came back unconfirmed. Delta emphatically states this is an AF/KLM restriction. I'm very troubled that it is only directed at Delta.
I guess this press release wasn't worth the paper it was printed on:
http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyte...r/pr042805.jsp
I'll keep digging...
May 12, 2005, 10:48 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Berlin
Programs: IHG SE, Bonvoy Plat, DL Plat, UA PPlat, EK Gold
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by DCFFlyer
I'll keep digging...
Could this be a bizarre cost cutting scheme?
For the previous poster wanting a media contact, try Keith Alexander, the Business Class columnist at the Washington Post.
His articles and contact info. can be found at:
www.washingtonpost.com
Registration is free.
Last edited by DCFFlyer; May 12, 2005 at 10:56 am
May 12, 2005, 11:15 am
#41
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: DC metro
Programs: PC Platinum Ambassador, Marriott Gold Elite, UA 2P, Starwood Gold, Avis First, Bolt Bus $1 Rider
Posts: 1,175
[QUOTE=DCFFlyer]
Back in October/November
i tried to book a 50k reward, on Delta, to France, for next week
I was told there was no availibility, BUT, there may be additional capacity when Air France formally joined the Skyteam
i ended up finding an air france flight for a total of $601.75, approx $525 in fare + $77 in taxes
but i will be burning off my last 70k delta FF miles in the near future
Originally Posted by rcs85551
Effective yesterday, Delta is no longer accepting reservation requests for travel on Air France and KLM during the peak summer period.
According to customer care Delta was not informed of this change. They only discovered this Monday after all their inquiries came back unconfirmed. Delta emphatically states this is an AF/KLM restriction. I'm very troubled that it is only directed at Delta.
I guess this press release wasn't worth the paper it was printed on:
http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyte...r/pr042805.jsp
I'll keep digging...
According to customer care Delta was not informed of this change. They only discovered this Monday after all their inquiries came back unconfirmed. Delta emphatically states this is an AF/KLM restriction. I'm very troubled that it is only directed at Delta.
I guess this press release wasn't worth the paper it was printed on:
http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyte...r/pr042805.jsp
I'll keep digging...
i tried to book a 50k reward, on Delta, to France, for next week
I was told there was no availibility, BUT, there may be additional capacity when Air France formally joined the Skyteam
i ended up finding an air france flight for a total of $601.75, approx $525 in fare + $77 in taxes
but i will be burning off my last 70k delta FF miles in the near future
May 12, 2005, 11:31 am
#42
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MCO
Posts: 3,030
Deleted
Last edited by vinnmann; Aug 9, 2007 at 12:37 pm
May 12, 2005, 12:03 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Naples, Florida, USA
Programs: DL Diamond, 2MM; Hilton Diamond; IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 791
Originally Posted by vinnmann
When award tickets are issued by DL for travel on AF/KL, at what point does DL "pay" AF/KL for the seat, and how does DL pay for it. Would AF/KL be required to transport pax with a paper award ticket issued by DL if DL goes under? If DL doesn't pay for the seat until the flight occurs, and AF/KL would be required to transport the pax with a paper ticket, maybe AF/KL is concerned that DL may go under and not pay for the seats it has issued.
I am just theorizing, and have no idea how it really works. Can anyone share?
I am just theorizing, and have no idea how it really works. Can anyone share?
May 12, 2005, 2:55 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Wayne, PA USA
Programs: DL MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Gold
Posts: 7,242
Deleted.
Last edited by jimrpa; May 12, 2005 at 2:59 pm
May 12, 2005, 7:00 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Soon to be LEGT
Posts: 10,928
[QUOTE=jessej]
...
Originally Posted by DCFFlyer
Back in October/November
i tried to book a 50k reward, on Delta, to France, for next week
I was told there was no availibility, BUT, there may be additional capacity when Air France formally joined the Skyteam
i tried to book a 50k reward, on Delta, to France, for next week
I was told there was no availibility, BUT, there may be additional capacity when Air France formally joined the Skyteam