Greetings folks

It seems that over the next year, I will be making more use of Skyteam carriers in my travels. To date I hold a FF card on AeroMexico, Delta and recently I applied for a OnePass.

Normally I fly on *A because I am based in YYZ and AC is the dominant carrier so I accumulate most of my points into Aeroplan, and it is with Aeroplan that I hold SE the highest status available. On the flights where I am on a Oneworld carrier, I accumulate my points in AA and I think I will qualify as Elite this year.

I need help deciding which Skyteam program to park my points in. My concern is not so much in the reward redemption area as it is in priority boarding, waitlisting, lounge access etc.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

DF

AF elite status is quite easy for north americans.

As CO and NW are new to this, will AF elite status mean much there? I too am considering one Skyteam airlines for status. My interest is mostlyNorth America and some intnl routes.

It will mean everything apart from unlimited free upgrades within north america.

If you are likely to fly around the 25K-30K mark, there is not much to distinguish between the programmes. I'd go for one of the North American ones for domestic upgrades (NW is probably the best of the bunch for MQM rules). One thing to note is that AZ and OK will give you access to their own lounges at the first rung of the ladder (for OK, this means PRG only. AZ has its own lounges in more locations, though).
At 40K, AF would probably be best as it would give you elite + status, and therefore lounge access under the Skyteam rules + lounge access to AF and KL lounges.
At 50K, KL would probably be better, as it would give you, in addition to Elite Plus benefits, access to NW Worldclub lounges in the states when flying domestically.
Around this mark, European programmes (other than AZ) are better as they give you ST elite plus status, whereas you would only get ST elite status on North American programmes.
At 75K, you'd get KL PE, with complimentary domestic upgrades on NW and access to KL/NW lounges regardless of airline flown.
(Note: you need to have an address outside North America to enroll in KL's FFP)
CO and NW will also give you ST Elite Plus and top status in their respective programmes. You would need 100K on DL for this.

All in all, if most of your Skyteam flying is going to be in North America, I'd go for one of the US programmes and buy a lounge access membership with the relevant airline if needed.
If a substantial chunk is going to be in Europe, I'd go for one of the European ones.

OK offers its silvers systemwide free (for long-haul they charge 2k miles each way) upgrades. However I wouldn't really expect them to actually offer priority boarding, even on their northamerican routes.

That's what is stated officially, but I've been able to access other lounges with my silver card (the first time it happened to me I thought it was the agent's mistake, but it wasn't) ^

Word of warning re KL's FFP: it will be merged into F+ sometime sooner or later and PE status is threatened with extinction.

I have a similar dilemma. I am *G with AC but will be doing a fair bit of LHR-PRG with OK. Any help deciding which FFP to use within this alliance is quite helplful. I'm most concerned with lounge use and priority check-in. I don't care a great deal about upgrades as I will likely use only short-haul routes. I'm tempted to think that the OK programme is probably best, but are there some clever ideas out there?

Thanks

hmm.. at which airports did you do this? I was in fact yesterday in BCN and also MXP airport. The whole place was a mess.. packed with passengers. I was so tempted to go to either the AF lounge(in BCN) or the Monteverdi Lounge( MXP) to escape from the mess, but decided not too.. embarassed to be turned away with my Elite card. So, what you did was just flash your Elite card and boarding pass?

This is regularly done at BHX (from where I fly fairly often), and I'm sure it's happened to me somewhere else but can't remember where. But you do have to be flying OK. Also, for OK+ Silvers on OK flights , there is a relatively simple way of circumventing the "no access for silvers" rule in many airports, however it is a bit naughty and I'd never approve of this in public . Think about it and if you can't work it out PM me!

Apologies for jumping on the bandwagon...

I have *G and OW Emerald (already secured through 2006). At present I put all of my Transatlantic miles onto AA as they allow me to pre-book exit row seats (with UA second choice for E+)

With the expansion of SkyTeam I would consider switching my allegiance, dusting down my Frequence Plus card and starting to clock up the miles..

I have an EU and US address, so can register to my advantage.

Do any of the Skyteam airlines allow their (status) passengers to pre-book exit seats ?

and..

Based on the above question are they likely to Comp or Challenge me status. I can show >150K Butt in seat miles on * and OW this year. (and about 12K on DL!!)

Thanks for any advice

NW appears to only allow it for their own elites.

All,

Looks like I also will be using Skyteam mor ethan my usual OneWorld for the forseeable future ...

Living in Ireland
Main trips with Skyteam will likely be domestic US and some transatlantic, likely with Continental, Delta, KLM.
Main priority would be lounge access
I have 20k KLM points at the moment, a few AF, and 1k Delta. Should I go with AF as all above seem to recommend, given my mainly NA and T-Atlantic travel ?
My trips will be in Economy, unless a miracle happens

Thanks,

John P.

AF and KL programs will merge some time in 2005 or the 1st quarter of 2006 and you'll most likely be able to combine your miles. So you could probably go along with both

DL also allows pre-booking of exit row seats for their elites.

I'm in a similar position. I am AA Plat (dropping to Gold for 2005) and BD *Gold (through status match only, though may requaliify for *Silver for 2005). The combination of the decline of MRTC and a forthcoming move to a MOW makes loyalty to OneWorld less practical and beneficial. Moreover, SkyTeam offers good service to Moscow and beyond, with OK, DL, CO (from 2005), AF, AZ and KL, as well as SU in the future. SkyTeam also offers more connections options to final destinations in the US (AA's domestic network ex-JFK is somewhat more limited, and LGW-DFW/RDU ex-MOW require an overnight in London; AY is the only other option).

Any suggestions as to what SkyTeam program would make the most sense, and would I be able to match my AA Plat status?

Primary destinations in the US would be NYC and PIT, with most transatlantic travel in Y. DL offers 2x daily JFK-PIT, and CO also EWR-PIT.

1. How are any of the European partners for reciprocal treatment of elites? For example, my AA Plat status is essentially worthless on BA except lounge access, but I understand that BD *Gold has some value on UA (E+ seats, etc.).

2. If long-haul flights are likely to be CO/DL (and I find DL transatlantic service to be miserable and uncomfortable), would either be preferable, or is NW or KL worth considering?

I currently have ~75K miles in NW, 3K in CO and 50K in DL, but no 2004 flights and no status in any (probably should have credited a recent VSUC flight to CO or DL, but 200% class-of-service + 20,000 bonus miles for VS FC were too tempting). UK Amex MR also only permits transfers to CO and DL (as well as VS and BD), making NW, KL and AF somewhat less appealing.