Hi,

Not sure if this has been addressed. But I could not find any topic on this (could be in the individual programs). Anyway, just came off a flight with Delta and I can tell you I am really shocked beyond means to how non-Medallion members but ST E/E+ are treated (the last time I flew them was April this year). Main complains:

1) No Priority Luggage tag for E+ member flying international
Reason: This is ONLY for Business Elite passengers. IF your luggage tag is not automatically printed with Priority on it, you don't get a tag. Not sure when did ST E+ benefit changed

2) If you fly domestic with no international connection, you pay the checked in baggage fees.
Reason: Only Medallion members gets the exception

3) If you fly international, only 1 checked in bag is free, 2nd bag please pay 50 USD!
Reason: Only Medallion and BE passenger get 2nd bag for free.

4) At airports with Priority lane, ST E/E+ members are not allowed to use them.
Reason: Again only medallion and First class passengers have access.

5) Greetings in the plane, not even any general recognition of ST E/E+ members. Only the business of Medallions are appreciated.

These are some the main items which makes me as a current double E+ member with 2 different ST carrier feel like a 2nd class citizen. I can already see one or 2 rules for general benefit systemwide for ST not being honored.

This is such a sad situation and I am sorry to say that Delta has totally lost my business. I can understand the whole economic excuse situation, but I do not see AA nor UA treating their partner's Elite members with such degradation. This is such a poor way to go.

I will certainly be giving more of my business to the other alliances. Will also certainly write to both AF/KLM and Czech to voice my dissatisfaction, though I know little will happen.

Such a pity that Delta has lowered itself to such a level.

Cheers!

If there is any SkyTeam benefit based on status not delivered by Delta, please note it. Delta is free to give its own program members certain benefits (expanded luggage allowance for one, just as does Flying Blue) that are not SkyTeam benefits. Delta is also free to give class of service benefits not available to SkyTeam elites nor its own elites who not traveling in the favored cabin.

Hi nldogbert,

Experiences may vary. While I do regret the lack of Skyteam wide benefits, here are some comments:

Never had a problem getting a priority tag so far. Even managed to get priority access for check-in in YUL, flying NW, while there was no Elite desk for NW, but there was one for DL. And yes, purely using my FB Plat.

Yes, just as a DL medallion member will get hit by extra luggage fees if he is over his 20 kg limit in Europe. It's not a DL problem, it's a Skyteam problem. (I've had the case on a domestic flight, part of an international itinerary. OLCI wanted me to pay even for my first bag, Check-in kiosk wanted money too, so I had to line up for an agent to recognize the fact that I had an international itinerary and was thus allowed a first bag for free. A pain, yes, but until Skyteam changes the rules, those are the breaks)

New ticket rules as per November 1 for AF/KL will apply the same rule to DL medallions on their TATL flights.

Again, never was turned away from the Elite lines, even in ATL.

How often have I not been greeted as an FB Plat by AF/KL? I won't even try to count. This is patchy for all FF programs.

I've also received good treatment from DL:
- Allowed entrance to the MCO Skyclub even though I had no international connection that day, as an FB Plat, although it was stated they were making an exception.

- Added to the upgrade list for an ATL-MCO flight as an FB Plat. (Ok, somehow the system then would not upgrade me, and it worked out for the GA since the flight was solidly oversold.)

Yes, DL has its issues, but overall, it's a Skyteam problem in my view. They did not define many alliance wide benefits, and thus, you get treated differently by each airline.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Only #1 is a defined benefit in SkyTeam. The others are not and there is no reason to expect to receive them.

I am PM on Delta and Platinum of AF/KL at times I have cross flown, so I am in a pretty good position to judge these benefits.

1. Your bad luck. I have always gotten priority tags on long haul int'l flights irrespectve of which program I was using. I also geneally get it no matter what other ST partner I use.

2. As alluded to above, as goes it when DL Medallions fly other carriers. I should add that traditionally DL has been the best of all the members in overlooking too much baggage. As I alluded to on another thread, recently I had to fight tooth and nail with AF NOT to be charged when I had 3 bags combined with a weight of less than 50kg JFK-IST on a Delta coded full whack Biz ticket, and I am top tier in both programmes. Again, there s no such ST benefit, the only alliance which has such benefit is *.

3. Same as above

4. Again your bad luck, I have never had, nor heard of this problem.

5. Not an issue.

Hi all,

Nice to see some feedback. I guess it must have been my bad luck for both my inbound and outbound.

1) I thought that since they used an external ground handling at BRU, I could ignore that, but when checking in at ATL, I had the same response from 2 check-in agents and even from an agent in the SkyClub (though she did confirm that this should have been a benefit). As long as the computer does not print on the luggage tag the Priority label, they will not put the priority label. To me this is had not happened to me on any other ST carriers. I know that on AF/KL, this is normally printed as long as you are E+ or in Business. I know this is just to boost the ego tag, but still..

2+3) I know this is a general ST issue. (most probably the 2nd bag charge from KLM is a response to the one by DL). However, in general I do find it ridiculous that Elite members are requested to pay for a second bag or even the first bag (if on a purely domestic route). OW and *A does not have such rules for their elite members regardless which program they are in.

4) I knew it was ok the last time I used it, but was just a bit pissed off this time when told that I was not allowed to use it. But maybe it could be again my bad luck..

5) What I meant here is more of the greetings during general announcement (not personal greetings). I did not hear (except on one of my Delta Connection flight) any ref. to ST E/E+ members in general. It was always Medallion members. If I remember well, most other ST airliners will have a general greeting including other ST members. I can understand if it was a domestic flight, but for the international flight, it seems a bit inappropriate.

Anyway, after these recent experience with DL, it really did leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It also seems to me that ST is becoming worst compared to the rest.

I recently found out the *A global benefits include free/ additional baggage. As long as I have sufficient level miles this year I will fly *A in my second trip to US (got LH gold via the status match offer and did not think it could ever be used to SAVE REAL MONEY).

As for the benefits on DL flights I completely agree (my last year experience in travelling within US).

NW was BETTER - allowed to select priority seats online at least. And this is in fact ST global benefit.


Bad luck SkyTeam

3,000 status miles credited to Aegean's program gives Star Alliance Silver status which results in free bags domestically in the US on Star Alliance carriers. 20,000 miles in a year credited to them, and that's more than enough for Star Gold status which comes with three free bags domestically on US carriers even if they way up to 70 lbs each.

To say that DL and SkyTeam are not my favorites is to make a huge understatement. And I say that as a SkyTeam Elite+ too.