Confused about Skyteam...
Nov 10, 2011 | 1:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
Confused about Skyteam...
Hello,
I have some miles with Delta. I recently flew with Czech Airlines.
I saw both are members of SkyTeam but according to the SkyTeam FAQ as well as other airlines I sometimes fly with (Air France, AlItalia and so on).
Yet I don't really get how the miles from each airline mold together.
I can collect my miles on each of the airlines itself but how exactly do I combined the miles from all the members of the SkyTeam?
From what I understood with the FAQ it's not possible.
If I understood correct...then what the hell is the point in having such programs with these airlines?
If I didn't understand correctly..how do I group them together to have more miles?
Thanks in advance!
JW
I have some miles with Delta. I recently flew with Czech Airlines.
I saw both are members of SkyTeam but according to the SkyTeam FAQ as well as other airlines I sometimes fly with (Air France, AlItalia and so on).
Yet I don't really get how the miles from each airline mold together.
I can collect my miles on each of the airlines itself but how exactly do I combined the miles from all the members of the SkyTeam?
From what I understood with the FAQ it's not possible.
If I understood correct...then what the hell is the point in having such programs with these airlines?
If I didn't understand correctly..how do I group them together to have more miles?
Thanks in advance!
JW
Nov 10, 2011 | 1:53 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,080
Great question. The idea is to stick with one (or maybe 2 depending on your goals/travel patterns) frequent flyer programs. You then can earn miles on that one program when you fly other partners. Eg: if you're a Delta Skymiles member but fly Air France, the miles you earn can be credited to your delta account rather than your air France acct, including status miles. You then get to a status tier faster than if you split earning across carriers. When you reach status, the benefits carry over accross skyteam (eg lounge access, priority boarding, etc).
Hope this helps...best explanation I can come up with typing on my iPhone...
Hope this helps...best explanation I can come up with typing on my iPhone...
Nov 10, 2011 | 1:59 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: ROM
Programs: BA Silver, UA, DL Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 321
When you fly any of these airlines you have to use your Delta's Skymiles number, or whatever program you are planning on using as your main one. Don't sign up for the FF program that each airline has, or you will end up with lots of miles in different programs, with no way to combine them.
Also, remember that not all rates give you miles. I just flew Czech Airlines, and although my flights appear on my Skymiles account, I earned 0 miles because they were deeply discounted fares.
Also, remember that not all rates give you miles. I just flew Czech Airlines, and although my flights appear on my Skymiles account, I earned 0 miles because they were deeply discounted fares.
Nov 10, 2011 | 2:04 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
Well, sounds pretty clear now.
Thanks so much for taking your time to explain this to me.
Considering it's 2011, soon to be 2012, I have no real words to express how perfectly well this system fit the days of 1972.
I mean, unless your idea is to frustrate your costumers.
But let's be practical.
I was on the Delta Skymiles website but couldn't find there where to add the Czech airlines flight to my account...
Any idea on that?
Thanks again...
Thanks so much for taking your time to explain this to me.
Considering it's 2011, soon to be 2012, I have no real words to express how perfectly well this system fit the days of 1972.
I mean, unless your idea is to frustrate your costumers.
But let's be practical.
I was on the Delta Skymiles website but couldn't find there where to add the Czech airlines flight to my account...
Any idea on that?
Thanks again...
Nov 10, 2011 | 4:04 am
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM/1MM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 967
Simple: present your Skymiles card when you check in. Or if you're asking for retroactive credit for your OK flights, go to a Delta ticketing office. Or if you live in the U.S., fax the boarding passes to them.
Nov 10, 2011 | 2:42 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,080
I don't believe with Czech you can request credit online even if you are in the USA. My advice is to call skymiles and ask them to explain the program to you so you can have a dynamic conversation.
Nov 10, 2011 | 3:05 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
Yeh, Thanks.
No problem.
I'll find who I need to call to collect these miles.
Am just shocked how nostalgic is the way that club is operated.
I'm using Delta so I'll have to use when I do travel to and around the USA. I got Miles and More for the European tours.
Thanks a bunch!
No problem.
I'll find who I need to call to collect these miles.
Am just shocked how nostalgic is the way that club is operated.
I'm using Delta so I'll have to use when I do travel to and around the USA. I got Miles and More for the European tours.
Thanks a bunch!
Nov 11, 2011 | 3:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MSN
Posts: 8,051
Yeh, Thanks.
No problem.
I'll find who I need to call to collect these miles.
Am just shocked how nostalgic is the way that club is operated.
I'm using Delta so I'll have to use when I do travel to and around the USA. I got Miles and More for the European tours.
Thanks a bunch!
No problem.
I'll find who I need to call to collect these miles.
Am just shocked how nostalgic is the way that club is operated.
I'm using Delta so I'll have to use when I do travel to and around the USA. I got Miles and More for the European tours.
Thanks a bunch!
It's sometimes possible to scan your boarding passes and email them in to claim credit for partner flights, however. Try [email protected].
Nov 12, 2011 | 5:46 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
In the Miles and More program you have a webpage where you give them the e-ticket number, dates, destination and so on and they do the confirmation themselves.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
It feels like SkyTeam is an agreement between some carriers to work together but there's not really someone running that program, and connecting the dots. At least from the customer point of view in the millage programs. Possible on other fields their relationships are more than perfect.
With Miles and More feels totally different.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
It feels like SkyTeam is an agreement between some carriers to work together but there's not really someone running that program, and connecting the dots. At least from the customer point of view in the millage programs. Possible on other fields their relationships are more than perfect.
With Miles and More feels totally different.
Nov 12, 2011 | 11:37 am
#12
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, UA, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott, HH, Fairmont, NYSC (Passport), 24hrFitness-Super Sport
Posts: 2,197
In the Miles and More program you have a webpage where you give them the e-ticket number, dates, destination and so on and they do the confirmation themselves.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
It feels like SkyTeam is an agreement between some carriers to work together but there's not really someone running that program, and connecting the dots. At least from the customer point of view in the millage programs. Possible on other fields their relationships are more than perfect.
With Miles and More feels totally different.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
It feels like SkyTeam is an agreement between some carriers to work together but there's not really someone running that program, and connecting the dots. At least from the customer point of view in the millage programs. Possible on other fields their relationships are more than perfect.
With Miles and More feels totally different.
Nov 12, 2011 | 2:05 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM/1MM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 967
In the Miles and More program you have a webpage where you give them the e-ticket number, dates, destination and so on and they do the confirmation themselves.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
In such a computerized world...with an efficient right system it really should be easy to run something like that.
Nov 12, 2011 | 4:24 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
I presume this is only for tickets booked with LH, right? If not, so you're telling me that if someone suddenly forgot to give his/her Miles and More number to the check-in agent when flying, let's say, CAI-KRT on MS or IST-AMM on TK, they can claim miles by submitting the information online if the tickets were booked on the websites of MS or TK?
All you need is the class, e-ticket number, name, dates, destinations and airline company to fill up the form.
They actually allow you to "connect" flights as well on the same form.
I don't see that as a huge service. It's pretty natural considering the technology of 2011. Still a good one, but if it didn't exist I would be surprised.
That's why the earlier discussed alliance model seems kinda nostalgic to me.