How will SkyAlliance work?
 

This is a naive question but after all the KLM/AF and SkyAlliance stuff goes into effect (which is supposed to be mid-September), does that mean I can use NW miles to upgrade on, say, AF flights? I travel alot BOS-CDG connecting through AMS, using a B fare which I upgrade with miles. But there is a direct AF BOS-CDG and it would be great if I could do the same thing on that flight. Also, would the miles I get on AF flights then be useable on NW, etc.

Thanks in advance.

PS Is there a link which discusses the implications of all this for WorldPerks?

the best place is probably the Official SkyTeam Site

I am sure that only NW/CO/DL/AF/KL have the answers to your question. I am sure they are not telling anyone yet as they still are probably working on the details. I hope that we get the same upgrade rights as we do on NW/CO on DL. Plus, I look forward to traveling to CDG and France from BOS without having to change in AMS.

How will it work? Not very well, based on past experience. We've been really spoiled by the seamlessness with KL and CO.

"SkyAlliance" will likely not work very well if its publicity does not even cause customers to remember its name.

Also check out the SkyTeam forum. There is a post on Upgrades there that says the answer is "NO" upgrades only full award tickets.

No kidding.

It took a little bit for Delta benifits to go into effect, so everything should be in place by the very end of the year, while NW actually joins in September.

The one thing that I've been pondering about the alliance is if NW will expand further into Mexico to connect to AeroMexico flights. Or AeroMexico connecting to NW. Whichever way it is, I think that it should be the first place that NW starts/codeshares on flights to partner hubs. Not CDG.

Is that September start date a "go"? I found this thread when I did a search for "Skyteam" on the NWA board.
I also just looked on nwa.com's NW News Center for all of 2004 for news releases, and couldn't find anything "official" about NWA joining Skyteam on a certain date. I am considering flying AF, but am wondering about EQMs, since many airlines offer only 50% EQMs on discount Y fares.
Anyone know more than me?
Thanks!

I'm somewhat disappointed that such as significant move has had so little communication. The last we heard was mid-september, yet we don't any of the details for mileage accrual, redemption, etc.

Of course, I'm most interested because I've got another RTW coming shortly and could always benefit by the options of KE (SFO-SIN) and AF (FRA-SFO) in addition to the options I have now. :)

Steve

Looks like the effective date of SkyTeam is Sept. 15th
 

If you look at the EQM rules for Delta on the NW website (http://www.nwa.com/freqfly/earn/airfl.shtml), Delta shifts to 50% EQM on deeply discounted fares beginning 9/15/2004. A good assumption would be that this is because 9/15/2004 is the effective date of NW joining SkyTeam.

Does this suggest that flights on AF, KE and the rest will also be 50% EQM for deeply discounted fares? What about KLM? Does NW have a special relationship with KLM that will keep it at 100% EQM for all fares or does AF's ownership of KLM trump this?