I am currently a Gold *Alliance member travelling from Boston to Italy very frequently, usually on discounted Biz class fares. I was traveling on LH but their winter schedules are a pain (1 flight per day with old Biz seats vs 3 from Apr to Oct).

I don't travel much within the US. But I do want to have decent award availability (CO Nonepass is out for that reason).

If I were to switch to Skyteam, which program would you go for? AF and NW seem to have lower threshold requirements for Plat membership but is it worth it overall in terms of award availability and better treatment?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

No big difference if you fly C-class IMO. NW will give you more miles, AF lower Elite thresholds. Both will give you free domestic upgrades on NW. AZ has a direct flight from BOS to MXP, but C-class is no good on Alitalia. Connecting via AMS, DTW, or CDG gives you decent connections to Italy. Given that you travel C-class a lot, I would go with NW if you can make 75k EQMs per year. If it is 40k ish, I would go with AF.
Award availability in Y is very good for AF Elites, in C-class there shouldn't be any difference between NW and AF; reportedly AF Plats sometimes get additional availability. Keep in mind that AF has a 747 on the BOS-CDG route until May, so O-class (C-class award) availability will be low until they switch back to the 2xA340.

The biggest negative on AF is that you have to connect through CDG. AMS is a much easier connection point in Europe.

I'd also consider the nonstop on AZ (assuming you're going to MXP; if not, never mind), even though the J isn't quite as nice. I don't know how bad it would have to be (maybe OK-style) before I'd think it rated an extra connection and the shorter TATL segment (less sleep). Of course, you could also fly backwards and conenct via DTW, though that would mean an earlier start to your trip, but a longer flight TATL than BOS-Italy.

thanks for the input... Yes, I do fly into MXP. AZ is so iffy these days that I'm afraid to buy a 50-day advance purchase ticket and end up at the airport as I did with Pan Am in '91... even though non-stop is quite convenient. I had DL Platinum for some time and found that to be close to useless (no expanded availability, upgrades never available to Europe...)
The question I guess would be, does AF treat its Platinum members well? Is there a benefit to AF vs NW Plat as a US resident only traveling to Europe?

oh, so you are ONLY flying to Europe. AF treats their Plats soso, there are no automatic upgrades, but on BOS-CDG you have a chance for an OPUP, since flights tend to be very full. You get lounge access with any ST Plat program, so you might want to focus on miles and bonus, which is better with NW. IMO AF will prefer own Elites when it comes to OPUPs, but there are reports that NW and others have been upgraded as well.
I personally find award availability decent on AF during normal season and actually quite good in Y during peak.

I can't speak to AF redemptions on miles, but I can tell you that if you are thinking NW is going to be better than CO, I think I'd disagree. If anything, CO's certainly been at least willing to sit down with people multiple times, and the EWR-Europe routes would give you great flexibility. Not that you couldn't accrue those miles on other carriers, of course.

If you can get a UK address you might want to consider it because I believe CO gives you a larger mileage bonus for business class flights if you are based in the UK.

Steve

I agree with Sllevin: choose the program, which still gives you 200% on C-class plus a 125% Plat bonus. So this would argue against AF, since they only give you 150%(200%)/100% (still much better than LH).

well, it sounds like AF is out... now between CO and NW? I'm surprised to hear CO availability out of EWR to Europe on awards is good...then again I've never been an elite member with them...
I had pretty much ruled them out because of the lack of availability on any of their routes at least on Continental.com...
I did check out the European resident CO program and it is indeed much more generous...

Can't find the european resident link - anyone have any comments on NW vs DL for 2007 (FFP wise)...

You can use your CO miles on every Skyteam partner and they offer a pretty good and consistent product.

But aren't award seats to/from Europe harder to come by on CO? I particularly like to redeem for business class awards but I've heard the horrors of "NONEPASS".. maybe that changes if you're Platinum or there is availability on AZ or AF?

How about DL?

And if I am to fly regularly on AF/KL in coach.. which gives a Skyteam loyalty bonus for elite members?

Can be UK/Canada or Asia based-address.

I dont' care about domestic US upgrades. As I dont' fly much to the US. (try to avoid it really)...

Thx

all depends on the booking classes you normally purchase. I would wait and see until the 2007 program updates are final (see which other Skyteam programs exlude low fare classes). AF/KL in coach is pretty good if you avoid V-class on KL and L-class on AF (only 25%). Gold starts at 40k miles and gives you lounge access and 75% bonus miles. If you only fly KL you might want to look into NW and if you fly only AF then DL might be an option. The combination of both really points towards the FB program.

AF/KLM allows AF F, and also has partners like VS, MH and Jet. (earn/redeem)

I believe that if you make enough miles you should be in two alliance, I been on skyteam for many years, today I will start to joint staralliance
happy holiday!