P_M

First of all I'm already a member of AAdvantage and Continental One Pass. I usually fly within one of these alliances to earn mileage points. But on my most recent booking I have my reasons for using Air France and I would like to earn points. I might never use these points but it's free to join so why not just do it. So my question to you is which of these FF clubs is best? I know Delta and NW have merged but have they merged their FF clubs?

If anyone has any info to share I will be most grateful.

esm

P_M, I'm sure you'll get replies from more experienced Fodorites here. The one time I tried to use my husband's miles on AF for a ticket, the taxes were around $450! I'd go for earning miles from a Sky Team partner like Delta/NWA. As for the merger, Delta sent out new FF numbers to NWA customers.

andrews98682

Can you get the miles credited to your Continental account?

P_M

Thanks for both replies.

andrews98682, CO changed it's affiliation in October so they are no longer in the same alliance as AF.

esm, good info, it sounds like Delta is best.

Patty

AF levies fuel surcharges on award redemptions. DL doesn't levy fuel surcharges for ex-US award redemptions but does for ex-Europe (and possibly other originations).

Be aware that L/N/G fare classes (X/O are award classes) on AF (if booked as AF coded flights) don't earn any Skymiles http://skymilesoffers.delta.com/airl....php#airfrance

Those same fare classes earn 25-50% mileage depending on the route in Flying Blue http://www.airfrance.us/X02/en/local...neID=140ufnihp

If you book DL coded flights, you'll earn 100% mileage (at least) on all fare classes in Skymiles. For Flying Blue, it again depends on the fare class (starts at 25% for T fares).

Worldperks is no more.

P_M

Thanks Patty, I will take all of that into consideration.

Gardyloo

Or consider Alaska, which allows flights on DL, KL, AF <b>and</b> AA to count for elite status as well as base and bonus miles. AS' own redemption program is very good, using all those airlines and several more.

kybourbon

Does Alaska have a good ff search function? Delta's stinks. I used to be able to search on NWA Asia website, but that no longer works well. I'm looking to join one of Sky Team's ff programs that will search KLM, AF, etc. Any suggestions?

Gardyloo

Alaska's is pretty good - you can search for redemption seats on AS metal, of course, but also on AA and DL; I believe they intend to have KL/AF available soon. Their partner desk is <i>very</i> good at finding availability.

rkkwan

AS' program is great for collecting miles from various airlines, but it won't provide you with much elite status benefit when flying partner airlines. So, if you're going to achieve elite status, you may want to stick with DL.

DerViking

Delta and NW are merged and at the airports I've been through this fall, it's the Delta Sky Club where the NW Clubs used to be. The yearly cost is a bit higher than it was, I think $450, but I have a lot of flying spring and fall of 2010 and with the new restrictions, longer lines and likely delays, I'm buying a membership again (it's tax deductible anyway). Here's the Delta link and I'm sure you can easily compare the benefits on-line:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...club/index.jsp

P_M

I didn't think of Alaska, I'll look into that idea. I will probably never get elite status in this club, I just want to collect miles in case I will ever use them.

A mile is a terrible thing to waste.

Thanks for all responses.