Which Skyteam program to choose?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN, HH Silver VIP
Posts: 83
Which Skyteam program to choose?
Dear all!
I'm a *A gold but have been bought an AZ ticket in C by a client to fly from VIE via MXP to CCS. As I'm not a member of any Skyteam program, which should I choose? Alitalia's ffp or klm's?
Any member out there to reference me (so we both get the best deal)
I will do pretty much everything that gets me the best deal in miles and whatever I can do with it lateron.
Regards,
Rob_VIE
I'm a *A gold but have been bought an AZ ticket in C by a client to fly from VIE via MXP to CCS. As I'm not a member of any Skyteam program, which should I choose? Alitalia's ffp or klm's?
Any member out there to reference me (so we both get the best deal)
I will do pretty much everything that gets me the best deal in miles and whatever I can do with it lateron.
Regards,
Rob_VIE
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 159
I bought in these days my first ticket with KLM. As I am not yet a member of SkyTeam I am thinking about switching from *Gold to SkyTeam. I am currently Swiss Gold and therefore I will be *Gold from April 1st. Since I do not want to fly LH, SkyTeam might be my answer to the Swiss deal.
Which Sky program shall I chose? I need basically very cheap European awards, possibly with free routing and stopover.
The miles from bought tickets shall be credited to a reasonable minimum (e.g. 1'000 for each segment)...
Which Sky program shall I chose? I need basically very cheap European awards, possibly with free routing and stopover.
The miles from bought tickets shall be credited to a reasonable minimum (e.g. 1'000 for each segment)...
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,043
Originally Posted by Michael Tantini
I bought in these days my first ticket with KLM. As I am not yet a member of SkyTeam I am thinking about switching from *Gold to SkyTeam. I am currently Swiss Gold and therefore I will be *Gold from April 1st. Since I do not want to fly LH, SkyTeam might be my answer to the Swiss deal.
Which Sky program shall I chose? I need basically very cheap European awards, possibly with free routing and stopover.
The miles from bought tickets shall be credited to a reasonable minimum (e.g. 1'000 for each segment)...
Which Sky program shall I chose? I need basically very cheap European awards, possibly with free routing and stopover.
The miles from bought tickets shall be credited to a reasonable minimum (e.g. 1'000 for each segment)...
Last edited by cfischer; Dec 6, 2005 at 6:44 am Reason: error
#5
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,404
Originally Posted by cfischer
Some people recommend CZ.
#7
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, ex-BD Gold, SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,040
I have a similar dilemma. The considerations:
- Current AA Gold and BD Silver, but not requalifying on either for 2006 due to excessive travel on SU (but not enough for SU status).
- MOW based, with most business travel to LON and long-haul travel to USA.
- Planned traveling to and within the US on DL and NW in the next 2 months.
- Historical accumulation of approximately 70,000+ miles on NW, 60,000+ on DL, 3,000 on CO (all either orphaned miles or non-flight earning, and pre-date SkyTeam and other reciprocity).
- Also have a significant number of UK-based Amex MR points, which can go to DL, CO, VS, BD (also AF, but at a poor rate).
- Short-haul traffic in Europe focuses on non-stops, meaning most frequently SU.
- I expect that I should be able to match to bottom-tier Elite status in the chosen program. DL only gives +25%, but NW and CO are +50%. All three give +100% for mid-tier.
- DL is currently the only one of the three serving MOW, though CO is expected to start EWR-DME next year. DL alone generally has better pricing to my key US destinations than connections on AF, etc.
- SU is reportedly to join SkyTeam in early 2006, which may necessitate a further re-assessment--either earn on DL/CO/NW for travel on SU, or switch all earnings to SU (likely to depend on various mileage-earning and redemption rules and other benefits that are specific to my travel patterns).
- AZ, AF and OK are of little appeal, as I see myself as unlikely to make significant numbers of flights on their respective metal.
Considering the above, NW and DL seem to be the best options, as I already have significant balances in both (I would prefer not to start accumulating in yet another program). From postings on FT I gather that CO is in many respects favorable to either, and the lack of transferability from Amex MR argues against NW. Does this mean that DL, which in general does not receive raving reviews on FT (and whose transatlantic product I abhor) is the best option?
What other recommendations does the general FT membership have?
- Current AA Gold and BD Silver, but not requalifying on either for 2006 due to excessive travel on SU (but not enough for SU status).
- MOW based, with most business travel to LON and long-haul travel to USA.
- Planned traveling to and within the US on DL and NW in the next 2 months.
- Historical accumulation of approximately 70,000+ miles on NW, 60,000+ on DL, 3,000 on CO (all either orphaned miles or non-flight earning, and pre-date SkyTeam and other reciprocity).
- Also have a significant number of UK-based Amex MR points, which can go to DL, CO, VS, BD (also AF, but at a poor rate).
- Short-haul traffic in Europe focuses on non-stops, meaning most frequently SU.
- I expect that I should be able to match to bottom-tier Elite status in the chosen program. DL only gives +25%, but NW and CO are +50%. All three give +100% for mid-tier.
- DL is currently the only one of the three serving MOW, though CO is expected to start EWR-DME next year. DL alone generally has better pricing to my key US destinations than connections on AF, etc.
- SU is reportedly to join SkyTeam in early 2006, which may necessitate a further re-assessment--either earn on DL/CO/NW for travel on SU, or switch all earnings to SU (likely to depend on various mileage-earning and redemption rules and other benefits that are specific to my travel patterns).
- AZ, AF and OK are of little appeal, as I see myself as unlikely to make significant numbers of flights on their respective metal.
Considering the above, NW and DL seem to be the best options, as I already have significant balances in both (I would prefer not to start accumulating in yet another program). From postings on FT I gather that CO is in many respects favorable to either, and the lack of transferability from Amex MR argues against NW. Does this mean that DL, which in general does not receive raving reviews on FT (and whose transatlantic product I abhor) is the best option?
What other recommendations does the general FT membership have?
Last edited by chalf; Dec 7, 2005 at 5:22 am Reason: Clarifying question
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: NW Plat, CO Plat
Posts: 353
Originally Posted by chalf
I have a similar dilemma.
...
Considering the above, NW and DL seem to be the best options, as I already have significant balances in both (I would prefer not to start accumulating in yet another program). From postings on FT I gather that CO is in many respects favorable to either, and the lack of transferability from Amex MR argues against NW. Does this mean that DL, which in general does not receive raving reviews on FT (and whose transatlantic product I abhor) is the best option?
What other recommendations does the general FT membership have?
...
Considering the above, NW and DL seem to be the best options, as I already have significant balances in both (I would prefer not to start accumulating in yet another program). From postings on FT I gather that CO is in many respects favorable to either, and the lack of transferability from Amex MR argues against NW. Does this mean that DL, which in general does not receive raving reviews on FT (and whose transatlantic product I abhor) is the best option?
What other recommendations does the general FT membership have?
Pfeww... that's quite a lot of factors to take into account!
I think you nailed down to the 2 programs that would fit your travel patterns the best, i.e NW/ DL
My preference would go to NW because
1. If you plan to reach Silver level, the Elite bonus is better on NW - as you mentioned already. If you fly approx 25000 miles a year, difference would amount to 6250 bonus miles a year.
2. As a NW Plat, I have always been very well treated on DL flights and had no problem getting the perks attached to Elite status (priority check-in, boarding, luggage handling etc.) with the exception of getting preferred seats in advance (DL computers have problem recognizing partners airlines Elite status) => even if you're "stuck" with flying on DL out of MOW, I wouldn't worry being a NW elite.
3. Not sure about European customer service, but I had better experience with the US based NW call center than DL's one (but I am not an elite on DL).
DL has outsourced part of its call centers to India and quality can be sometimes poor and very frustrating (e.g. I had to spend 25 minutes to explain the concept of Elite status/ preferred seating, and another 5 minutes to explain that KLM is a dutch airlines, not the city of Kuala Lumpur )
4. YMMV but I find that NW has good rewards availability (much better than CO), including on its partners like KLM that has a very good network out of Europe. NW has a good online award search tool (you can search on most of the partners too). Again, I am not a DL FFP program member so I can't comment on them, but if you have a llok at DL forum, it looks like awards availability are sometimes hard/ frustrating to get (blackout, etc.)
The only element that would make me consider DL is the US domestic flights upgrade:
DL and NW offer free domestic upgrades (when inventory is made available) to their Elites. However DL Elite can only have them on DL operated flights while NW elites can get it on NW and CO operated flights, not on DL
=> if domestic upgrade is more important to you and if you plan to use DL more than NW (on routes that operate with a FC cabin), you might switch to DL program.
Just my 2 cents!
Last edited by BBT in NY; Dec 8, 2005 at 9:56 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bern,Switzerland
Programs: HH Gold
Posts: 37
Happy New Year to everyone!
It`s my first post here, please bear with me. I`m currently AZ Ulisse member and expect to make 50 k miles in 2006 to qualify for Freccia Alata but I`m not sure whether Millemiglia is the best program for me as I normally fly with CO or Delta. Which program should I choose?
It`s my first post here, please bear with me. I`m currently AZ Ulisse member and expect to make 50 k miles in 2006 to qualify for Freccia Alata but I`m not sure whether Millemiglia is the best program for me as I normally fly with CO or Delta. Which program should I choose?
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,043
Originally Posted by flushy
Happy New Year to everyone!
It`s my first post here, please bear with me. I`m currently AZ Ulisse member and expect to make 50 k miles in 2006 to qualify for Freccia Alata but I`m not sure whether Millemiglia is the best program for me as I normally fly with CO or Delta. Which program should I choose?
It`s my first post here, please bear with me. I`m currently AZ Ulisse member and expect to make 50 k miles in 2006 to qualify for Freccia Alata but I`m not sure whether Millemiglia is the best program for me as I normally fly with CO or Delta. Which program should I choose?
I would think about what is important for you (lounge access, F-class upgrades, elite bonus) and check the various programs regarding mileage accrual with your std travel pattern. Hope that helps.
Christian
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bern,Switzerland
Programs: HH Gold
Posts: 37
Thank you, cfischer. I`m mostly interested in lounge access and free F-class upgrades. Besides I rarely take intra-Europe flights so 1,2k miles from AZ aren`t very useful to me. From what I saw Alata Club as well as FB Plat. don`t allow free F-class upgrades.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,043
Originally Posted by flushy
Thank you, cfischer. I`m mostly interested in lounge access and free F-class upgrades. Besides I rarely take intra-Europe flights so 1,2k miles from AZ aren`t very useful to me. From what I saw Alata Club as well as FB Plat. don`t allow free F-class upgrades.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
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Originally Posted by Michael Tantini
Pfuig. It is getting too complicated. Maybe I have to chose my skyteam program by random?
ps: lounge acces if flying >40k/year. is this acces only when flying skyteam or with just any airline?
ps: lounge acces if flying >40k/year. is this acces only when flying skyteam or with just any airline?
#15
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: DL Plat, NW Plat(x2), BMI Gold, IC Ambassador, etc
Posts: 1,685
Sooo....
Anyone have any consistent opinion of which is better, WP or SM for someone based out of the states flying europe/asia several times a year...
Any comments on award availability between NW vs DL (or are both headed the same way as nonepass ) - I've been able to get skysaver this past year as a FO.
Anyone have any consistent opinion of which is better, WP or SM for someone based out of the states flying europe/asia several times a year...
Any comments on award availability between NW vs DL (or are both headed the same way as nonepass ) - I've been able to get skysaver this past year as a FO.