SkyTeam Question
 

I have been collecting points using my Delta number when taking flights on Continental.

I only fly once a month and it is about 10,000 miles.

The problem I am having is that Delta gives me half of the miles that Continental would, and my Elite status is not recognized by Continental and therefore no upgrades.

Should I start using a Continental number (0 miles) for my flights so that I can get into their elite status and get all my miles or just stick with the Delta number and get half the miles and no elite upgrades since Continental won't recognize Delta's status?

Any suggestions are appreciated. Unfortunately I don't have any say on my flights and it seems that Continental has been cheaper for the last few times and thats who I have to fly with.

Thanks.

I guess it depends where you live and what airline you fly most. If - as you say - you fly once a month (10,000 miles) it makes sense to accrue all miles in one account.
If I remember correctly, NW elites have the benefit of being recognized by DL as well as CO? Therefore, a NW account would make sense the most if I'm correct.

If most of your flying is on CO, it might make sense to get a CO account. With the likely approval of the DL-NW merger and possible affiliations between CO and (?)AA, you may not be able to credit CO flights to DL or NW much longer.

Likewise, DL doesn't give some elite privileges like domestic upgrades to CO or NW elites. I think you may be able to get elite seating (like exit rows) in coach, but if you're a CO elite and fly on CO, you might find yourself in F.

Finally, my understanding is that you can often get around the CO 50% EQM thing if you're a OnePass member and actually flying on CO, but this doesn't work with a NW or DL account. You need to book your flights through their website, so it may not work for business trips either, but you still get the opportunity for more EQMs if you're flying for pleasure.

You can get 100% EQM/MQM on DL when flying CO, but you can't purchase the "discount economy class" fares. If you purchase regular "economy class" you will get 1:1 EQM/MQM.

Discount Economy Fare classes:
Q, I, S, W, T, X, L

Economy Fare Classes:
K, M, N, B, O, V, U

I actually just flew CO from LAX-IAH-BRO-IAH-LAX and used my DL #. I was on a Y fare and got 150% MQM and was upgraded to F on my LAX-IAH leg.

You were upgraded based on Y fare, and not because you are a DL elite (medallion).

If you book online at continental.com and use the discount fares you get a 50% online booking bonus so that gets you 100% EQM with CO. If you are flying CO and booking online there then OnePass is probably your best bet. You would retain SkyTeam elite perks if you fly DL, most noticeable of which is choosing exit row seating and any elite security lines and elite boarding priority. I have seen threads where DL has upgraded NW or CO elites but it is up to the GA, nothing guaranteed. CO and NW fill the front of the plane with elites; DL doesn't follow suit.

The next suggestion I have for you is to ask them to match your DL status, explaining that you plan to move your business to DL. You would also have seamless 'status' on NW, including upgrades. I agree that CO fares in several markets have been lower lately. I have used them twice recently for trips to PHX and bit the 50% bullet with my WP account, but for +$200 difference the miles are not worth it.

There is a primer on CO status matches but I think it is at the CO forum.