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For a very long time, when you had a reservation with an AF or KLM included segment, booked via Delta, you had to get your AF/KLM confirmation code to see the seat map. You could ONLY see the seat map if you were in business class. So, you could ask a Delta rep for this number to use on the web site or you could go to AirFrance.com/us and put in the Delta ticket number and your name and you would then be able to see the corresponding AF/KLM confirmation number assigned to your ticket from Delta.
Well now, it would seem, that has all changed. You can simply use your Delta confirmation on both AirFrance.com and KLM.com with your last name and pull up your reservation.
However, you still should take the step of also joining Flying Blue even if you never ever plan to credit one point to them. Why? Intra Europe flights. Air France is still acting in their typical way and will not let you see coach class seats. KLM, however, wants to make money off of you. To that end, look at the below:
Bingo! Delta will tell you this is airport controlled. Wrong! With a Flying Blue number you WILL be able to pick seats and use your Delta confirmation number to pull up the booking.
As you can see, you can pay for EC seats or exit row with USD or FB points if you have some. If you are a Delta Medallion I would personally not do that. I would grab the best seats FREE in coach so you at least have a “good” seat and then once you get “over there” go to the KLM crown room or AF lounge and see about getting exit or EC for free. They will give you a snaky look, but if you remind them of your Skyteam elite status and explain how you would so much appreciate it, they will most of the time help you out.
As a final note that I find very interesting is the Skyteam issue this raises. Think about this: the idyllic partnership we fly on & that KLM has found a way to upsell you, if you want, and make money off of you from a Delta purchased ticket! Also, as another fun bit, if you add your Delta itinerary to your KLM flying blue account to track, and you also have KLM in your Award Wallet account, it is a back door way to track a Delta trip (that is as long as you have one AF or KLM segment). – René
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Thanks so much for this post! I was able to pull up a Delta award booking I did recently on KLM via the KLM website using the Delta confirmation number. I was able to see what seat i was in and change it without a KLM flying blue number. Unfortunately though, seat guru did not have the plane configuration of the 737H in their listings. I recently got Platino on Aerolineas Argentinas and was going to add that to my booking, but being able to access it via the KLM website with the Delta number is worth keeping it with Delta for now. Any advice on how to maximize the elite status with Aerolineas? Would I be able to get an Economy Comfort seat for free or take an extra bag at no charge? I am flying between countries in Europe on KLM.
Yeah, Flying Blues own Elites are stuck in the back and Medaillions should beg for free upgrades.
@Ralph – I agree the Delta is much better to it’s elites than KLM is. I was FB Platinum for a year. Just horrible. Also no free upgrades to EURO biz? What is up with that FB? BTW, not saying you can ask for free BIZ upgrades, just upgrade to say EXIT or EC seats. All free to DL medallions on DL flights!
A bit off topic – but I am having trouble booking AF operated flights on Delta.com as part of my trip… Is this new? I have one segment that would be just AF – rest are Delta, but on Delta.com, it’s showing that no flights exist between these two cities (CDG – MPL), where as on AF, they certainly do show up – and I have taken this segment multiple times in the past, so I know this exists…. Any one else experiencing this? Thx
Yes, I noticed, in doing some TATL award searching this week there DL.com was showing no AF inventory on overwater flights, only inter-European. And the KL space that was showing was phantom space, DL agents couldn’t book it. When will DL tell us what is going on with their JV partner award inventory? This nonsense has been going on too long.
I have a Virgin Australia flight next month and no way to get a seat assignment from SYD to BNE. Do you know if there’s something similar you can do. The Delta agent on the Platinum line said she can’t even see a seat map so there’s no way for her to book a seat for that segment.
@David R – hummm.. doubt it. Think it would have to be a Skyteam member not just a partner like VA. But, why not try. Join VA’s FF program, put in the Delta conf # and report back what happens (maybe even try ticket number from Delta if there is such a field on VA website). – Rene
No joy there. I’m already a Virgin America Elevate member, but that seems to be irrelevant. You can’t join Virgin Australia’s Velocity program unless you are a resident of Australia (or about 10 other conties in the area). You can’t find your itinerary on Virgin Australia based on the Delta confirmation number. You can only look up your itinerary there by conf # or Velocity # (so the ticket # won’t work either).