exwannabe

Quasi OT, but as they are an AA partner, why would you not just use your AA Gold status with them? Typically partners are better than alliances wrt issues such as this.

salfcl

I use common understanding of the English language to interpret the rules. "Priority" is defined as "the right to take precedence or to proceed before others". So, "Priority Seating" is correctly interpreted as advance seat selection. That's how it is practised in Oneworld; I enjoy that benefit in Onewworld when traveling on CX and JAL even though my ff is with AA. Let me reiterate, I am not seeking free access to special seats but just to select my seat in advance.

If what is put on ST website is not official, then what is? If the bragging of ST on their website of the benefits of elite pax is not true, then it isn't really an alliance. And this thread would help to enlighten those frequent flyers who are contemplating on flying with ST airlines to think twice. For me, this experience is sufficient for me to ditch ST for another alliance the next year. I am not going to spend my travel dollars on an alliance that lacks consistency in treatment of their elite pax.

salfcl

Thanks for the info; I was not aware that CZ was an AA partner. Anyway, I had booked the flight on CZ stock as I intended to earn my miles on my AZ account.

This treatment by CZ is an eye opener and I will channel my spent accordingly.

I am glad to raise this thread because I think those who are considering to fly with ST airlines should take this into consideration.

Kiwi Flyer

While priority seating might include reserving seats in advance of check-in this isn't necessary. For example, elite passengers may be offered the best available seats as priority seating at check-in.

OP referred to elite benefits being common across the alliance. This is also not quite right. The alliance sets minimum benefits which apply for elite status. Airlines can and do offer additional benefits in some circumstances.

BTW all alliances, Sky Team, One World and Star Alliance, have various quirks in their status benefits which reduces their value to some.

salfcl

I hear you. Please pardon my ignorance ...what is ST benefit definition of 'priority seating'. When I was in OW, I had no problem with free advance seat selection ; I was AA Plat and I could select seats on CX and JAL. Have not tried it as a lowly Gold. And when I was flying DL and AF, I had no problem either. So, I assume, wrongly as I discovered, that CZ would provide me this most basic benefit. I was not selecting any special seats.

Lesson learnt. Will not seek to renew my ST status as I think OW is much better. Thanks for the clarification.

salfcl

If priority seating is not advanced seat reservation, then ST should footnote that on its website. I don't think my interpretation was out of the norm.

The minimum benefits are set out on the ST website. I was naive to believe that.

More than a decade with OW had led me to think that other alliance operated as seamlessly. Guess, I was wrong. Back to OW the next year. I will rather put up with some scheduling inconvenience for better service.

salfcl

Where is it mentioned that 'priority seating' is seat reserved for elites? I didn't see any such seats on the flight seat map.
Pardon my ignorance ...what kinds of seats are reserved for elites in CZ? In AA world, there are a few (called Main Cabin Extra) and they are available to be selected on or after reservation for free for elites (that's called "access to preferred or pre-reserved seating" in OW jargon. I thought "priority seating" would be along the same idea). But I could get them during reservation or after WITHOUT paying a dime, not only at check-in. I can't access special seats on JAL or CX but I could make free advanced seat selection on that two OW airlines because of my status on AA.

Let's just agree disagree on the definition of "priority" ..."priority" to me, which is not different from that of common understanding, means being given access earlier than the other groups. I will accept that in the world of ST and CZ, that term means something else which is nebulous.

salfcl

I called CZ agent to remove the zeros and their system recognized my ST+ status which was not the case before. However, I was still unable to do any seat selection online.

coolfish1103

All of you should give references before calling others incorrect. For Skyteam, priority/preferred seating should be translated as advanced seat selection. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be cause priority boarding is listed separately. It's actually listed as preferred seating on the Skyteam FAQ, which simply should be giving you preferred seats up front. How would you be getting preferred seats if you cannot do seat selections in advance? The argument of giving you preferred seats "at the airport" is just as ridiculous.

This benefit is not part of SkyPriority so it should not be mixed together. It's a benefit available as long as you are a Skyteam Elite (there may be restrictions though). I am certain that being an Elite member of any given airline when you fly them will give you even more available seats to select, but not none or all being chargeable. I won't be using the American and Europe airlines to reference cause there are usually no arguments needed.

1. According to China Airlines' website (I know it's not China Southern but they do and should translate since they are in the same alliance), they list it as advanced seat selection but is only applicable to flights 6 hours or longer.
2. Korean Air also lists it as preferred seating on their website. This service is available to passengers with purchased economy class tickets or First/Prestige class reservations within 361 days of the departure date. That basically means you can select seats when you make a purchase within the allotted time.
3. This is also a listed benefit for China Eastern on their website, which is correctly named as preferred seats as well.
4. Xiamen Air also listed as preferred seating with the restriction listed by China Airlines on their website.

If China Southern fails to deliver what's advertised, e-mail Skyteam and make them get it right.

Kiwi Flyer

Regardless of what we want the benefit to be, priority seating selected by the airline or passenger at the airport still meets the skyteam elite benefit of preferred seating. Nowhere does it specify seats must be able to be selected in advance by skyteam elite status passengers. Even though in practice a lot of airlines do provide that, it doesn't seem to be a skyteam requirement.

Mama

Another issue that OP brought up is that his status was not recognized when he gave them the FF number of anther Skyteam airline. Padding zeros, removing zeros or not adding/removing...etc. Are they alliance or not? Do they ever try to interface or even talk to each other? I am an AeroMexico Plat (ST EP), when I booked a flight with Delta last year, Delta had no way of checking my ST status after I gave them my AeroMexico FF number.
In my opinion, Skyteam is a loosely managed and quite low tech alliance. I was StarAlliance Gold by United. When I flew SQ, Emirates, ANA, Thai, Asiana, all of them knew my Gold status as soon as I gave them my UA FF number and the status was printed on the boarding pass. That was 4 years ago!!

brunos

Skyteam is low tech indeed.

alphaod

I can never select preferred seats on Delta with ST Elite Plus. I can't even get lounge access.