Skyteam Y Mileage Upgrade Denied...by DL
Nov 10, 2011, 12:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seoul (GMP/RKSS) HNL/PHNL
Programs: A3 *G, fmr DL PM
Posts: 404
Skyteam Y Mileage Upgrade Denied...by DL
I am booked in Y on an upcoming flight from ICN to ATL. The flight is a DL codeshare operated by KE, a Skyteam member. I was so excited to learn that the option existed, however, it is evidently only valid for a flight that is both marketed and operated by that carrier. DL upgrade policy does not apply as well.
I look at it this way: If the flight was booked with a KE flight number, then I could get an upgrade through the Skyteam upgrade program. If the flight was on DL metal with a DL flight number, then I could use the SkyMiles upgrade program. I guess this is what grey area is called.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...-Redeem-Miles/
I look at it this way: If the flight was booked with a KE flight number, then I could get an upgrade through the Skyteam upgrade program. If the flight was on DL metal with a DL flight number, then I could use the SkyMiles upgrade program. I guess this is what grey area is called.
http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...-Redeem-Miles/
Nov 10, 2011, 1:22 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Have you asked if they're willing to change the ticket to the KE flight number? I know that agents have been known to change the flight number between DL and AF when needed to get a Premium Voyageur->Affaires upgrade go through.
Nov 10, 2011, 10:26 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Actually, the rules for the SkyTeam Mileage Upgrade Program are very clear (http://www.SkyTeam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...-Redeem-Miles/):
1. Purchase an international, published, full-fare Economy Class reservation on one of the participating SkyTeam Member airlines. The flight must be marketed and operated by the same SkyTeam carrier, as code-share flights are not permitted.
As mtkeller had already mentioned, you do have an option of [re-]booking using a non-codeshared flight number.
Nov 10, 2011, 10:28 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seoul (GMP/RKSS) HNL/PHNL
Programs: A3 *G, fmr DL PM
Posts: 404
Nov 10, 2011, 8:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,954
Sorry about that... I did not know that some companies would put so dum... ugh sorry... patriotic rules in their travel policies!
Nov 10, 2011, 11:14 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 12,949
Nov 11, 2011, 1:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, DL PM/1MM, Marriott Amb/LT Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Priority Club Platinum, Hyatt Disc
Posts: 522
These rules likely flow-through from http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_America_Act
Nov 11, 2011, 3:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
So now that it's ticketed and paid, have you tried persuading DL to change the flight number you're booked under? (Or do you have to turn in boarding passes in the end that will need to reflect the DL flight number?)
Nov 12, 2011, 12:25 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Planet Earth
Programs: | *G | STE | HGP ♦ | SPG Au | MR Au
Posts: 3,772
Nov 22, 2011, 8:03 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: now ZRH, previously DTW
Programs: DL-Diamond & 1MM; HH-Diamond; Marriott-Gold
Posts: 159
to make the matter even worse, the ticket was bought and issued in Y booking class which means that a lot more money was paid for no difference than a heavily discounted economy seat...
Nov 29, 2011, 12:24 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Newport, Or, USA
Programs: DL PM, 2 Million Miller
Posts: 267
With a full fare Y ticket you have the option to change flights.
Instead of a non stop ICN to ATL, why not take a DL metal flight (DL 646) to NRT or a DL code share on KE metal (DL 7877) and then to the trans pac to ATL on Delta metal, DL 280, and grab your upgrade, or take the DL metal (DL 158) from ICN to DTW and a domestic DL flight into Atlanta. The comfort of business class on the trans pac is, IMHO, well worth the connection vs non stop flight.
Instead of a non stop ICN to ATL, why not take a DL metal flight (DL 646) to NRT or a DL code share on KE metal (DL 7877) and then to the trans pac to ATL on Delta metal, DL 280, and grab your upgrade, or take the DL metal (DL 158) from ICN to DTW and a domestic DL flight into Atlanta. The comfort of business class on the trans pac is, IMHO, well worth the connection vs non stop flight.
Dec 4, 2011, 6:37 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Seoul (GMP/RKSS) HNL/PHNL
Programs: A3 *G, fmr DL PM
Posts: 404
With a full fare Y ticket you have the option to change flights.
Instead of a non stop ICN to ATL, why not take a DL metal flight (DL 646) to NRT or a DL code share on KE metal (DL 7877) and then to the trans pac to ATL on Delta metal, DL 280, and grab your upgrade, or take the DL metal (DL 158) from ICN to DTW and a domestic DL flight into Atlanta. The comfort of business class on the trans pac is, IMHO, well worth the connection vs non stop flight.
Instead of a non stop ICN to ATL, why not take a DL metal flight (DL 646) to NRT or a DL code share on KE metal (DL 7877) and then to the trans pac to ATL on Delta metal, DL 280, and grab your upgrade, or take the DL metal (DL 158) from ICN to DTW and a domestic DL flight into Atlanta. The comfort of business class on the trans pac is, IMHO, well worth the connection vs non stop flight.
I ended up sucking it up on the inbound sector, flying in KE Y. It was very uncomfortable.