RobertS975

I realize that DL has had its hands full with the restructuring, but the alleged Sept 15th date for CO, NW and KL to join SkyTeam is less than a week away.
Has anybody seen anything on any of the web sites to indicate that this will indeed happen by next week?

One would think that poilicies and procedures would be publicized by now if this was actually going to happen by Sept. 15.

CelticFlyer

KLM's site is saying that their Gold and Elites will gain access to lots of new lounges. If that means that their Golds will be SkyTeam Elite then DL pax are getting short changed!

UnofficialDLHelper

Other than what the KLM site says, there isn't much more info to share. There is news about Alitalia though.

I am not a sanctioned representative of Delta on these boards, just an interested participant. I'm only here trying to shed light on DL issues brought up on this board and to provide my opinion and/or to try to answer Qs. I do work for Delta, but I don't represent DL's final word when answering a question (in any capacity). Please e-mail Customer Care with your questions to get a corporately-supported reply. www.delta.com/email

USCGamecock

I called DL SM desk, AF FF program here in the US and in France as well as KL in the Netherlands and, as the unofficial dl helper stated, there is no news yet.

CelticFlyer

That might mess up Dovster's plans!

CelticFlyer

The online timetable at:

www.skyteam.com

is now showing CO, NW and KL flights. Looks like the train is on time.

Canarsie

Yes, but there are still only six airline logos at the top of the page.

Perhaps this will be updated next week.

Dovster

I'm not sure which plans you are referring to. If you mean my plans for my November trip, on which four segments are Alitalia, their leaving SkyTeam would not effect it -- it has already been ticketed.

(Of course, their going out of business would definitely put a crimp in those plans.)

If you are referring to my switching FF clubs to Alitalia, a move out of SkyTeam would be problematic but I am not certain that I won't still do it.

I am GM until February. I will be SM until February 06, but I will not qualify again on Delta unless it gets rid of the 1/2 MQM's for LUT flights. I probably would qualify with Alitalia.

Most of my itineraries are either TLV-MXP or TLV-MXP-Florida. I can only do the first on AZ or LY and I can do the second only on AZ or DL. If Alitalia leaves SkyTeam, I will not be able to do it on a DL itinerary.

I won't be able to fly into FLL or PBI on AZ, but I can fly into MIA. Not quite as convenient, but workable.

I don't think, however, that AZ has thought this out completely. I think it would be making a major mistake if it leaves SkyTeam. If I recall correctly, it only flies its own metal into 5 American cities. Right now, somebody wanting to fly from MXP to LAS, for example, can take an AZ itinerary and switch to Delta metal after arriving in the States. If it leaves SkyTeam it will either have to start adding on a lot of flights or else lose much of its trans-Atlantic business.

Not only will Italians not be able to fly tp Philadelphia or San Francisco, but Americans outside of the 5 cities will not be able to fly AZ to Italy.

More than that, AZ has been selling a lot of seats in third countries, like Israel. Because it offers especially good prices, Israelis have been able to get on AZ metal here, fly either AZ or DL to any hub, and continue on a DL flight (AZ codeshare) to most American destinations.

If this becomes impossible, Israelis -- and presumably people from other countries as well -- will start looking closer at AF.

DLfan

The long awaited "official" announcement has finally been made.


http://news.delta.com/article_displa...rticle_id=9422

Cholula

IMO, this can only be viewed as good news.
Question....can DL Medallions now upgrade any easier on NW/CO domestic flights or will it be the same old hassle?

DLfan

I agree that this news is good and look forward to connecting in AMS vs. CDG on future European itineraries!

I'm also awaiting more details. For example, I want to see MQM earnings on CO and NW returned to the 750-mile baseline. The CO and NW MQM earnings charts at Delta.com have not been updated yet and a chart for KLM has not yet been added.

CelticFlyer

Good news in general, but I suspect we will see more "alignment" in the FF programs. NW are actually *dropping* to 50% the miles their FF members will get from Delta ticketed/operated LUT fares from 15 Sep (date not a coincidence I suspect). The 50% rate will also apply to DL operated flights that are Northwest-coded L, T, K and DL operated flights that are CO coded I, S, W, T, X, L .

A pattern is emerging.

lazomiller

Post Deleted

AeroDD

Yes you can enter your Skymiles number on both CO and NW's websites. You should have been able to earn on both carriers for at least the majority of 2004. I'm on a CO ticket right now, and I flew NW back in April and have earned SMs on both trips.

lazomiller

Thanks. Right before you answered I deleted my question because I found the answer. Glad to have it confirmed.