May 14, 2011
The current boss of China Eastern is the former boss of China Southern, who brought China Southern into Skyteam. I guess he was too lazy to look for new connections, so he did the same for China Eastern.
You can earn and redeem Delta Skymiles on China Eastern long time ago, but Delta charges fuel for redemption on China Eastern.
China Eastern has the oldest fleet among all Chinese airlines, they still have Airbus 300 currently in service. None of their Aircraft have personal AVOD system in economy.
The good thing is, they do have pretty good award spaces on transpacfic route.
Don’t know whether Delta will give Elite bonus on MU flight or not. and one more thing, If you are Delta Skyteam Elite Plus, you can not access to China Southern lounge for China domestic flight unless you have international connections within 6 hours, so I guess MU will probably do the same once they join.
Posted by Troy under Skyteam |
April 12, 2011
Flying Blue(Air France/KLM/Kenya Airways) Program has launched a new offer with Avis car rental, up 50000 bonus miles
Rent with Avis between 1 April and 30 September 2011 and you could earn over 50,000 Award Miles. As a loyal customer, you’ll receive Bonus Miles in increasing amounts starting with your second rental, must be 3 day or longer
To qualify, reservations must be made using a Flying Blue/Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: Ivory members F982700; Silver members F982800; Gold members F982900; Platinum members F983000 or with a KLM Flying Blue AWD number: Ivory members Z266200; Silver members Z266100; Gold members Z190300; Platinum members K885100. Reservations made on www.avis-flyingblue.com and klm.com (with Flying Blue membership level selected) will automatically have the correct AWD embedded in the rental.
The bonus will be awarded as follows
2nd qualifying rental = 2000 bonus Flying Blue Miles;
3rd qualifying rental = 5000 bonus Flying Blue Miles;
4th qualifying rental = 7500 bonus Flying Blue Miles;
5th qualifying rental = 14000 bonus Flying Blue Miles;
6th qualifying rental = 20000 bonus Flying Blue Miles.
These Accumulator bonuses in addition to the minimum standard Flying Blue Miles award of 500 Flying Blue Miles will equal a total award of at least 51,500 Flying Blue Miles for the 6 rentals.
Flying Blue program has discounted redemption offer year round, 50K can get you a free business class ticket to Europe from US during discount period.
Has anyone matched flying blue Elite status few weeks ago, I know I should!!
Update: Here is the offer link and T&C link, part 4 mentioned 3 days or more
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, Skyteam |
March 17, 2011
Lucky mentioned this offer, which you can get status match to up AF top status Platinum tier. you must include proof of membership in another customer loyalty program that includes the status name and validity period.
It can be any program on earth except SKYTEAM members
offer valid until March 31st, 2011
Air France have discounted redemption offer worldwide year round and award can be used for one way too, but they also charge high fuel taxes
They are also partner of membership rewards
Posted by Troy under Other Airline Reward Programs, Skyteam |
February 15, 2011
I think Delta just try to in lane with UA and AA, mid tier Elite member have access to lounge when traveling international.
Certainly a good change for Gold member, but for people live in China, this is a useless change because China Southern doesn’t give lounge access to Skyteam Elite plus member for China domestic travel and Delta Asia Gold already have free sky club membership.
Posted by Troy under Delta, Skyteam |
February 7, 2011
We all heard about *net blocking when using UA miles for some of their partners, Delta does a similar thing to Korean Airline, but unlike *Net, which will have less blocking toward the end of each month, Delta just never releases more than one KE business class seat per each trans Pacific flight. In very rare occasion, you may get lucky finding the second seat( after you grab the first one long time ago)when getting very very very close to departure date, but this should never be counted for.
The reason is simple, KE is too generous on premium cabin award seat, it’s not Delta doesn’t want to pay KE, it’s delta doesn’t want too many people using low award business class to Asia. Korean airline flies to LAX(4), SFO, SEA,YVR, DFW,JFK(2),ATL(2), IAD, ORD and YYZ, the networks are too strong and more than enough for anyone in USA to connect via one of above gateway to Asia with low award miles.
Now, let me explain Blackout date.see below for real KE/CI/MU blackout by region , but Delta just blackout all. recently, they “enhanced” their system again, before you can still issue the ticket as long as it’s not real blackout to the region and agent forget to check, but now, their system is programed not able to issue the ticket as long as there is blackout date.(I just tried TODAY)
You may wonder AF and KLM has decent award space on trans Atlantic, why didn’t Delta just block them? The reason is simple, they can not because they are join venture.
Blackout date for Korean Air
| Routes |
Origin |
Destination |
Year 2011 |
Year 2012 |
|
Korea Domestic
|
Korea Domestic |
1.1 ~ 1.2
2.1 ~ 2.7
2.26 ~ 3.1
5.5 ~ 5.10
6.4 ~ 6.6
7.16 ~ 8.28
9.10 ~ 9.14
10.1 ~ 10.3
12.30 ~ 12.31 |
1.1 ~ 1.2
1.20 ~ 1.25
3.1 ~ 3.4
5.4 ~ 5.6
5.26 ~ 5.28
7.20 ~ 8.26
9.28 ~ 10.3
12.22 ~ 12.25
12.29 ~ 12.31 |
|
Int’l Except Americas
|
Korea, Asia, Europe, Middleeast, Oceania
|
Korea, Asia, Europe, Middleeast, Oceania
|
1.1 ~ 1.9
2.1 ~ 2.7
7.16 ~ 8.15
9.10 ~ 9.14
12.24 ~ 12.31 |
1.1 ~ 1.8
1.20 ~ 1.25
7.14 ~ 8.15
9.28 ~ 10.3
12.22 ~ 12.31 |
| Americas |
Korea, Asia, Europe, Middleeast, Oceania (Note 1)
|
North America, South America (Note 1)
|
|
North America, South America (Note 2)
|
Korea, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America (Note 2)
|
5.20 ~ 7.3
12.9 ~ 12.25 |
5.18 ~ 7.1
12.7 ~ 12.28 |
|
Blackout for China Eastern
|
BLACKOUT DATES FOR CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES FLIGHTS
|
|
Routes
|
the Year of 2010
|
the Year of 2011
|
Wholly Within
China Mainland |
06FEB~13FEB,19FEB~28FEB,
26SEP~02OCT,06OCT~08OCT |
25JAN～2FEB，7FEB～16FEB，26SEP～2OCT，6OCT～8OCT |
| Hong Kong/Macao |
From China |
—
|
—
|
| To China |
—
|
—
|
| Tai Wan |
From China |
03FEB~13FEB,27APR~01MAY,
17SEP~19SEP,28SEP~01OCT |
—
|
| To China |
16FEB~26FEB, 04MAY~08MAY, 23SEP~25SEP,04OCT~06OCT |
—
|
| Japan |
From China |
—
|
1FEB～3FEB，1OCT～3OCT |
| To China |
—
|
1JAN～2JAN，29APR～3MAY |
| Korea |
From China |
—
|
1FEB～2FEB，13SEP～15SEP，29SEP～30SEP |
| To China |
—
|
3FEB～10FEB，10SEP～11SEP，7OCT～8OCT |
| Southeast Asia |
From China |
—
|
1FEB～4FEB，29SEP～2OCT |
| To China |
—
|
6FEB～10FEB，4OCT～7OCT |
Blackout for China Air
| Area |
Period |
 |
From Asia
to North America |
JUN. 25 to AUG. 31 |
a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year to the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. |
|
| DEC. 20 to JAN. 4 |
|
From North America
to Asia |
JUN. 1 to JUL. 31 |
a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year to the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. |
|
| DEC. 10 to JAN. 4 |
|
| Between Asia and Europe |
JUL. 1 to AUG. 20 |
a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year to the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. |
|
DEC. 11 to DEC. 27
(Depart from AMS only) |
|
Between Asia
and Australia /New Zealand |
JUN. 25 to AUG. 15 |
a week before the Chinese Lunar New Year to the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. |
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Delta, Skyteam |
February 5, 2011
Gary mentioned handbook for using Us airways miles to book Staralliance awards, in which he talked about pretty much everything you need to know about booking an award. I am going to talk about Delta miles. I think I have booked Delta miles more than anyone including family of 4 in business to Italy in summer, so I can say I am quite familiar with their partners and system. I have to say, it’s indeed the most complicated system ever built, they have so many partners with so many booking codes and procedures, some need “long sell”, some can be booked instantly,
Some Partners can be search using Delta.com DL, AS,AF, KLM, HA
some partners can be searched using KVS tool: All except Air Tahiti and Korean Airline or expert flyers for Air Tahiti
Some partners have to use long sell by agent to do the search, MH Business, China Airline, Kingfisher.
V Australia can be seen by Delta booking agent or you have V OZ acct
Jet Airways can be checked by calling American Airline.
Stopovers/open jaw: you can have one stopover AND one open jaw, the stopovers can be anywhere, you can even have one stopover+one open jaw for travel within a single region. Some routing I have done, PVG-ICN-KIX-ICN//(stopover, co terminal)GIM-SHA-WNZ(open jaw), all within Asia. NRT-PPT(stopover)-AKL(destination)-ICN(layover)-KIX, can you tell me PPT or AKL, where one is stopover which one is Destination? Since everything is auto priced by computer, so the agent won’t argue with you on routing
Routing restrictions: Some routing have restrictions than another, but Delta permits US-Oceania via Asia. You can also do “mini around the world” US-India via Atlantic, return from Singapore to US via Pacific. As I said, everything are computerized, so it doesn’t matter how you route. Delta does enforce MPM rule on some routes, this primarily for travel within Asia, especially from China to south east Asia city via NRT, some destinations will be priced as 2 awards if route via NRT for intra Asia
Segments:Max is 8, strictly enforced. Also you can not have more than 2 domestic connections within US for intercontinental travel.
Fee:Delta charges you $20 ticketing fee per person unless you are Gold or above, but I have talked about how to get away with is. Delta also charges International Origination fee for travel from certain regions and fuel surcharge for certain carriers, I have mentioned here and here
Hold: There are two primarily ways to hold the award, one is book whatever segments is available online, then call to add other partners. sometimes, agent will tell you they can not hold the reservation anymore once they add segments, “hang up and call again” and tell them don’t touch the reservation. You will find an agent is willing to hold the ticket for you even after the modification, but they may shorten the holding period. As long as they are willing to hold, you can issue the ticket online to avoid the fee.
Another way to hold ticket is you don’t have enough miles, even if you are 1 miles short. This way, you can still hold the ticket online, then after modification by the agent, they will leave the reservation on hold because obviously you don’t have enough miles.
The hold is 2 to 7 days depends on where you are traveling FROM, award from Asia or India are 7 days.
Change or Cancel: Unless you are Platinum or Diamond, any change after ticketing will result in $150 change fee unless there is significant schedule change(miss connected, illegal connection, change more than 1 hour).
How many miles will my award cost? change Delta doesn’t publish the award charge for travel btw regions other than North America, so I can only tell you some of them based on my knowledge
Intra Asia, 20000 Econ/40K business
From Asia to Oceania via ICN or NRT, 150K business, otherwise, 120K business
From Asia to Europe 80K econ, 120K business
Asia to Africa, 120K econ, 180K business
Europe to Africa, 100K Business
Europe to Central Asia/India, 80K business
Within Africa, 80K business
Award blocking and IT glitch: Delta has award blocking for KE cross Pacific flight in business class, regardless how many actual award seats released by KE, delta only sees 1. Delta also use uniform blackout date for MU, CI and KE. what that means is, these carriers blackout dates are by region or route, but delta just blackout all redemption on these partners whenever there is a blackout date. For more about blackout date, please see here
There are also many IT glitch, the biggest one for US travel is, JFK-LAX via PHX, the award will be counted 2 separate one, even if both segments are low inventory and you don’t stay over 4 hours?
How long will my call take? Not too long, because I know what to look for when I called, in experienced agent can finish whatever my request is in 10 minutes.
Got questions? Ask!
Posted by Troy under Delta, Skyteam |
September 27, 2010
United was my first mileage program that gave me Elite status on any airline, also the first program I got top elite status(excluding GS) on any airline, it was hard to say good bye to them, but after I re evaluate everything, I decided to give up.
1 Mileage Program- United has one of the most expensive award chart AND the least flexible program on routing, carrier, change, and availability among all Major North America Programs. You can only route via one direct, no mixed of *A and Non *A, no change on *A award, no one way except UA only, open jaw or stopover and MOST IMPORTANTLY STARNET Blocking.
2 In flight product- United has the most uncomfortable first class seat, agree? No in flight power(exclude PS and some 767 first class), no internet except PS, no PTV like Delta or Continental. I agree they have flat bed cross ocean, but others too such as US air, CO, DL, AC
3 Systemwide Upgrade certificate for 1K, Lucky mentioned today on their W fare, which is the lowest booking code you can use SWU, they are just getting more and more and more expensive.
I like Continental airline a lot, they have very good program, new FLAT bed seat and In flight entertainment program just amazing, but next year, or maybe 2, CO will merge with UA, I have no idea how the program will turn out. due to my limited presence in the States for next few years or may be forever, I decided to quite both together.
As for Delta, I have to agree they have done many little things better than others, they have upgrade list under my trip section, so you know where you stand before departure. they have better domestic in flight product. In general Skymiles program is rip off, but did you notice they have the generous offer for bonus miles everywhere? Also, Their miles are not as bad as you though, it can get very creative.
For people who’s living in the hub cities, you don’t have choice, but for those don’t live around hubs, maybe you should think again such as AA, US, DL or AC.
To Clarify : I was not trying to compare UA with Delta only, I was trying to compare UA with all North America carriers.
Posted by Troy under American Airlines, Continental Airline, Delta, General Frequent Flyer Advice, Skyteam, Star Alliance, United Airlines, US airways |
September 19, 2010
Soon, China eastern airline will join Skyteam and merge with Shanghai airline, which will build an extremely strong base for Skyteam in Shanghai and China.you can redeem Delta miles for all China Eastern flight, even now and availabilities are very good.
Just like most Asia FFP, China Eastern has massive blackout dates throughout year to various regions. Delta makes thing even easier for themselves, just blackout all MU flights as long as there is a blackout date to any region.
But this will be improved next year, China Eastern only has very few blackout date for upcoming year, only around Chinese New year(1.29-2.16), Labor day(4.28-5.3) and Most September-10.7.
I hope their availabilities still good after they join Skyteam.
Posted by Troy under Award redemption, Delta, Skyteam |
September 11, 2010
Now People will have more choices when redeeming award within Asia or to Europe, but there is a problem, they need to get rid of their blackout dates, at least some of them, too many dates are blackout.
Posted by Troy under Skyteam |
June 25, 2010
I am sure many people will ask who the TAROM is .According to the news,
“Romania’s flag carrier, With TAROM’s entrance, Delta customers immediately gain the ability to earn and redeem SkyMiles on TAROM flights, as well as access to 11 additional destinations not offered by other SkyTeam airlines including: Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta and Timisoara, Romania and Chisinau, Moldova.”
It looks to me that SKYTEAM just want to add as many carriers as possible, anyone can join.
Posted by Troy under Delta, Skyteam |
April 16, 2010
As I said here and here few months ago, MU announced today that they will join by mid-2011
This is not a news to me as we know the management of MU has closer “relationship” with skyteam for pretty long time.
A big loss for Oneworld, but no surprise. I don’t want to MU, a badly managed airline to join oneworld anyway.
Oneworld’s only choice is HU(hainan airlines), but it will be a good choice as I and most others consider HU is THE best airline in China in term of customer service and management.
BTW, as I mentioned earlier, shanghai airline will be gone and merge with MU, so a big loss to *A for Shanghai Hub.
Posted by Troy under Oneworld, Skyteam |
