Skyteam FF program harmonisation
 

Does anyone know if there are plans to implement any further harmonisation of the Skyteam frequent flyer programs?

"Harmonisation of Skyteam FF programs" is like "jumbo shrimp" and "military intelligence." I see it occur in the case of sponsored associate members adopting their sponsors' programs, but most of the new full members are imposing all kinds of fare class requirements, AF has imposed 25% mileage fares and such, and though DL doesn't change their rules about getting miles, they seem to keep making them more and more worthless once you do have them.

I'd really like there to be more harmonisation and more importantly simplification, but not at a "lowest common denominator" level. Get rid of the 25/50% EQM nonsense. Standardize lounge access policies. And so on.

Different earning rates on different carriers is not unique to SkyTeam at all. Both OW and *A have similar schemes depending on the carrier.

As for harmonization, what were you expecting to see? The only thing I can think of is baggage benefits, and I'm not sure that will happen.

Well, I think the luggage issue is a very valid point. Anyone who is on extended business in a region outside of his home airline (program) can suffer some big luggage charges.

I was thinking that as the alliance operating as a unit becomes more important in the market, that it makes sense the elite benefits be better aligned. I am of two minds on this, as for booking awards I am glad that only Flying Blue members are competing for P seats and getting extra Platinum availability, but on the other hand, it would be helpful to know that across airlines in the alliance I can count on really seeing concrete benefits in the travel experience from being E+.

At the same time, as there are more JV's and other sharing constructions established within Skyteam, it would seem that having greatly differing FF incentives could disrupt some of the JV profit sharing goals. The rather transparent and jerky attempts from Delta to turn Skymiles award redemption into a FB-style cash+miles system would seem to confirm that the programs are growing towards each other.