Apologies for the self-centred nature of the thread - but search wasn't that helpful.

My home alliance is OW, my second is *A - but now I'm going to be taking a few flights with Skyteam - AZ and CO (both across the Atlantic).

I've got no hope of getting SkyTeam status - but I take the odd SkyTeam flights and I wouldn't be a proper FTer if I didn't put the miles somewhere.

My question is simply what is the best SkyTeam programme for me. Basically it's going to be a case of balancing the earning rate based on cabin (rather than status) with redemption levels.

The usual thanks in anticipation of your assistance is offered!

Are you aware that Continental is the process of leaving Sky Team, and joining Star Alliance?

This is expected to happen in the second half of this year - so it may not be of much use to you right now. However, this may impact on your decision...

Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of CO moving to *A, so that probably isn't the best option.

What I'm really looking for is the bmi Diamond Club of SkyTeam - good earning and cheap redemptions. It's going to be a reasonably crude choice as I have no idea about what my flying patterns with SkyTeam will be other than fairly infrequent.

OK, I though joining OnePass might have been the best solution - though I guess there may be no mechanism to consolidate any miles in that account with your existing *A miles when Continental leaves SkyTeam.

I would be loathe to recommend any programme to you, so I would recommend having a look in, or posting, in some of the airline-specific fora. However, there appears to be a general flight from Flying Blue (AF/KL) which is my primary FFP - you won't find too many people recommending you to join that program - but the majority of those appear to be abandoning SkyTeam altogether. I suspect, though, that Czech Airlines' OK Plus might currently be the most attractive FFP in SkyTeam, and it certainly has its fans on this board - so check that one out.

IMHO, ST programs by and large suck compared to the other programs/alliances available. I am with DL, but their program has gone seriously downhill. You could try the Kenya Airlines program just for adventure..

Flying Blue?

and I can access SKY TEAM lounges when traveling internatinally. I will fly from MKE to Mexico on a Sky Team member airlines. Is Mexico considered "an international" flight? Thanks for any and all help.

Maybe AZ could be one for you, since their overall rate for status is lower, but the bad points are that the bonus miles that you earn with your elite status do not count towards future status level...and their service is just
Delta could be one..just as AKLDUBFlyer said..it went downhill.

if you are flying on a US-based carrier, most of them would not consider them as international...except for Mexico city for one carrier, forgot which one.

I would guess AF

I am ST+ under NW but I cannot say they are the ideal program in ST