> KLM has made the decision to join the SkyTeam alliance, according to
senior European sources close to the negotiations.
> An announcement is set to occur within the next 2-6 weeks. Entry into
SkyTeam means that KLM's US partners, Northwest Airlines and Continental
Airlines, will be joining the group as well. Continental and NWA already are
closely aligned with SkyTeam founding partner Delta Air Lines in a three-way
domestic US codesharing alliance.
> The decision also means that KLM will be aligned again with Alitalia, its
former partner, as well as Air France. European sources say that with the
new additions, SkyTeam will be on a par with Star Alliance in terms of size
and antitrust immunity, at least over the Atlantic.--
>

I hope this does not mean that KLM and NWA will cut back to Delta FF standards.

Beginning of the end for KLM, although, they have been decreasing in quality for the last few years getting ready to meet DL's standard. Very Very Very sad!

Delta probably has the least appealing program for Skyteam FT's. Thankfully, it hasn't devaluated FF programs of its Skyteam partners. Air France awards highest credentials for ~half the amount of miles, CSA continues to provide free int'l upgrades for their elites - and also has much lower qualification thresholds, etc. I hope KLM retains its much more competitive program despite the partnership !

As reported by ATWonline, KLM has finally accepted the nigh-inevitable... and decided to cast its lot for SkyTeam.

Seems NW/CO are now a shoo-in as well

------------------
A340s don't fly... they're repelled from Earth by their ugliness!

That should take care of that pesky Australia problem, thanks to KLM's codeshare partner, Malaysia.

"Sorry you cannot upgrade on a codeshare partner of a Sk***am Alliance member."

"Sorry, no awards on a codeshare partner of a Sk***am Alliance member."

"Mileage credit?!? Ahahahaha!!!"

<the above are hypothetical and not actual Sk****am Alliance rules>

Unfortunately I don't remember the rules so readily recalled by members of this board, but I meeting with a group in SJU that wants to go to JNB next year. Would this KLM agreement help me get an upgrade via AMS?

Excellent. I hope that KLM will honour DL PM status, and that it will become possible to book award travel with DL points on KL and the other way around :-)

Great! This should create more options for my RTW next year!

JP

For those that plan to stay on with DL, the admission of KLM to ST is very good news. AMS is a wonderful airport and efficient hub. From what I hear, it is far more friendly and efficient that CDG.

KLM also has very close ties with Malaysian, and it would not be surprising to me if MH eventually joined ST as well. And maybe even Emirates as well!

AMS is a very nice airport, much better than CDG. I have neen connecting through AMS for several years now.It's all one building, albeit enormous. It usually take 45 minutes to walk from KLM's European (Schengen) gates to Delta's, with a passport control in-between. If you have time there are lot's of things to see and do. And frequent trains to downtown AMS underneath. And lots of transfer desks.
And there are 4 lounges I can get into through PriorityPass. One even has showers.
CDG has no lounges (unless you fly C) and uses big smelly slow buses to move the self-loading cargo.
And KL's service in Y is quite good.

AMS is a great airport. I actually think if KLM joins SkyTeam, that AF will loose quite a bit of business. Good for AF.

So SkyTeam is on its way to becoming the leading (as in largest ) alliance.

Eff Oct 1 flight 38 from ATL to AMS becomes a B777.

Still bottom of the barrel looser alliance.