should I move to KLM FB?
 

I am in the process of moving to Europe and I have the option of either keeping the membership in WP that will become Delta pretty soon or contact the KLM and let them know about my move and I will get (I assume) transferred to the KLM-Airfrance program.

My issue is that KLM/Airfrance really downgraded their program in the last year (they now award some percentage of the miles flown according to the type of the ticket, etc.) so it seems to be that both Delta and KLM are similar choices.

If somebody has any insight about the differences between the KLM and Delta programs I would appreciate it spelled out so that I can make a choice.

Some background details about me: WP platinum for the past 3 years, I will be also next year (now just reached 65k miles flown and have at least 2 more trans-Atlantic trips planned/purchased). I usually fly trans-Atlantic to Europe and reach 80-90k miles per year in these flights.

Thanks for your time.
Little

Kind of answering my own question:
This thread is full of people that try very hard to "escape" FB and get into WP.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/flyin...-possible.html

It seems that FB changed dramatically (in worse) on April 1, 2009 and many FB holders try to get on WP program while it is alive to burn their miles.

Still my original question remains: should I try to move to FB or the merger to Delta would make the WP/Delta program slightly better?

I will need to change anyway to KLM or other airline in a year or so when I will no longer have an US address to receive the new cards.


Thanks for your insight.

DO NOT MOVE TO FB

Since 4/1/09 this is the worst program in the airline industry.

Not necessarily, next year WP will be part of Skymiles and AFAIK DL permit international members.
As an escapee from FB, I can confirm it really is as bad as it sounds.

I agree with cfischer and soy. Do NOT move to FB if you don't have to. We used to be very happy with KLM's program before their merger with Air France. After April 1, though, the program really deteriorated. Unless you travel on full fare tickets, it is really difficult to earn EQM.

One thing to keep in mind if you stay with Delta -- they have a large ($300+ IIRC) surcharge for award tickets originating in Europe (and elsewhere).

Thanks for the information.
Another tidbit that I found "pro-KLM FB" is that they do some sort of "soft landing" for the elites:

If you were the last year platinum and you fly at least once KLM this year but not qualify for even silver, they downgrade you to gold for the next year.

I hope this helps, I decided to wait and be integrated to Delta, and in the end I will probably try to match my status to Lufthansa or othet European airlines.

Cheers,
Little

FWIW, Delta has had this as an unpublished benefit for several years now. If you're Plat and don't fly the next year, you only drop to Gold.

That settles it. I see no reason to move to FB.
Thanks to all for your input.

Little

Well most cheap inner european or transatlantic flights with AF or KL don't earn anything on DL!! Whilst transatlantic you can usually avoid AF N or KL V fares by booking the DL (or NW) codeshare for the same price, within Europe there is no way but to fly Alitalia or CSA in order to get miles... But segments count and the threshold for silver/gold/plat are 15/30/60 compared to 25/50/75. So you might only have 4500 banked miles but made it to gold... (at 125 miles per inenr european segment in AF N/L or KL V class.

Anyway, how long will we be able to earn miles on KL V fare this year? I am 4000 miles short on DL for status renewal and might want to do that via 8 segments of KL inner european short hauls and then have the NW status miles transferred into DL skymiles.

Thanks for the information. I was looking at CSA and Alitalia myself...
About the status segments: I did not realize that the required segment numbers are so small compared to NW, but I still do not travel so many short segments. So in the end for me is probably best to keep the Delta program.

Thanks to all for your insight.

Cheers,
Little

If I could not avoid minimizing flights on SkyTeam carriers, then at least I would minimize crediting of SkyTeam flights to AF-KL-DL-NW accounts.

Just say no to crediting flight activity to the SleazyTeam carriers' accounts.