lsquare

I'm trying to get a second opinion on my plan before I proceed with it. I thought DL would make the most sense for ST program due to the generous MQM crediting from MU. Which program is the easiest to get ST Elite Plus? Given I fly with MU and I have DL AMEX, I think this may be the best plan, but I just learned about the KE's program. Unless I'm mistaken, I just need 500k to get lifetime ST Elite plus with them? For a second there, I thought this was similar to OZ's program, but then I also need to fly KE metal in order to obtain status? When I do fly within the US, I do prefer DL so from that stand point, I thought I nailed down on the program of choice, but I do fly across the Pacific more than I do within the US. What do you guys think?

mikesaidyes

KE SkyTeam Elite Plus is VERRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY hard to get. It's just ABSURDLY ABSURDLY high the mileage needed. But it is forever.

The exact terms from their website:

Morning Calm Premium Club Qualification

• 500,000 or more miles on Korean Air and/or other SkyTeam Alliance airlines

Note: The following are excluded from qualifying for the Morning Calm Premium Club — miles earned with non-SkyTeam partner airlines and other partner companies such as credit cards, miles earned from promotions and events.

The difference is that - for regular Morning Calm Club (Sky Team Elite) - you need 30k Korean Air (that means you fly on a KE number and a KE plane), then 20k cards/partners. So even if you fly a DL flight number that is a KE plane - you get partner credit. Same to renew it (20k Korean, 10k partner/card). For lifetime collection, that distinction doesn't matter.

lsquare

Can you please elaborate? Other carriers have million miles plus so how is this very hard?

mikesaidyes

It's hard because most people that post here in the KE forum are not hardcore road warriors.....like say those on DL forum. I know what you mean, but most people post here "in passing" so for most it's "verrrrrry hard" :-)

Unionruler

If you are based in a non-MU hub, or better still, outside of PRC, then Flying Blue status should be the easiest to earn. If not, then go ahead and accrue with Skypass. Skypass status is a bit paradoxical though, like if you're flying J all the time, you don't need the status, and if you're flying Y, you won't get any status until the 500k mark which is tough, to say the least.

lsquare

Unionruler

Have you seen how easy FB XP are to earn with proper planning? Lifetime FB Plat is only 10 years of straight Platinum, and they roll over XPs so you don't waste a single XP. That means you enjoy status most of the way, and once you're at 3,280 lifetime XPs you have status for life.

lsquare