Delta will waive the $50 per ticket reissue fee if adding a return to an itinerary which was originally ticketed as a one way.

Linda,
Checking online will only show Delta operated flights (CO & NW availability will be added in the future). If you call, they can check all partners. Good luck!

Another stupid question. I have FF miles with Delta through my AmEX card and then I have FF miles through Alaska, which includes NWA. So, if I fly NWA, can those miles apply towards my Delta FF? Or, visa versa. Can I combine both those FF miles into one FF Plan? Sorry to be so dense. I have around 100,000 miles with Delta and about 50,000 with Alaska.

Of course you can't earn miles on any award ticket.

As for combining two FF plans for one award, nope. However you may be able to book one person on one FF plan, another on the other, and still end up on the same flights, if the airlines are partners and if there's room.

Barb,
Do you mean if you purchase a NW ticket? If so, you can earn Delta Skymiles for your NW flights.

No, you can't combine the miles from two programs into one.

So, if I fly NW I can use those miles towards my Delta Skymiles? Geesh, wish I had known that last year. I applied NW miles to my Alaska FF, which does not have nearly as many miles as Delta. From now on, I guess I will apply NW miles to Delta FF. Thanks!!

Patty, while you're hanging around here, I have a really dumb dumb question to ask. I don't have any miles to speak of, but did sign up for Flying Blue before my last Africa trip. Should I have done Delta or NWA instead? My only goal with this would be someday (someday) to maybe get an upgrade on one of the interminable legs to or from E. Africa.

Going to France next week on AF/KLM as part of this pipe dream.

Leely,
Hmmm... I know very little about the Flying Blue program, but if your goal is to upgrade a paid economy ticket (as opposed to a business class award) to East Africa, then I think you made the right decision as you can't use DL miles to upgrade KL or KQ (Kenya Airways) flights or NW miles to upgrade KQ flights (but you can KL).

I think Flying Blue is the only current option for upgrading on both carriers. However, check what fare classes are eligible for mileage upgrades as in general, you cannot upgrade from the lowest economy fares. And of course, there has to be availability.

If you're thinking about an award outright, business class from US to Africa through DL costs 120K miles. Currently with DL miles, you're limited to KL into East Africa but that may change when KQ finally joins Skyteam sometime in the (hopefully near) future. Looks like the same amount of miles would be required if redeeming through NW or FB, so no difference there except that you're able to redeem KL or KQ flights now through either program so that's a current advantage over DL.

Finally, there's the area of fuel surcharges. With FB, you need to pay both the fuel surcharge and taxes when redeeming an award ticket. DL passes on only the actual taxes as I believe is the case with NW as well (but not positive), so a "free" award ticket is a little less free when redeemed through FB.

Confused?

Is France next week vacation or work?

Thanks, Patty. I think Flying Blue makes the most sense for me because I doubt I'll be racking up enough miles for an awards ticket but I can hopefully get an upgrade at some point. The SFO-Europe leg is actually more of a pain for me in coach than down to Nairobi or Kilimanjaro.

Has KQ started flying into NBO out of CDG yet? You can see where this is headed. That's a pretty convenient connection.

France = not work related. Yay.

Sorry to hijack your thread, ekscrunchy.

Leely, the whole thread has gotten as confusing to me as the original subject....this is one I would be happy for someone else to carry on with!!!!

The only thing I see is that I have to call and talk to an agent and have my options listed...

Oh..one more question before I go: I am traveling to Asia next week. I have my major flights booked, but have not done my Korea-China fights yet.

I have a choice of taking a flight from Seoul to China on Asiana, which is not a member of my "club" but which would be about $200 cheaper than flying on KoreanAir, which IS a member. To me the answer is simple..take the cheaper flight. But since I am a total moron about these things, tell me..is that the right decision? (Yes, I realize that this is totally unrelated to Europe so ignore if necessary...!!)

ekscrunchy - Most likely yes. Where are you flying to?

ICN-PEK is only 562 miles. Even if you earn 100% for roundtrip, you get just 1,000 miles. Bucket change compared to $200.

ICN-PVG is even less. 510 miles.

Leely,
I think the flight started in Oct or Nov. Currently operates 3x weekly.

Rkkwan, thank you ever so much. I will fly ICN-PEK and then PVG-ICN. (And I want you to know that I just had to look up PVG to see what it meant....)

I am going to follow your advice and book on Asiana; I have those reserved already...I am getting the big miles from the JFK-ICN roundtrip so that will help....

Thanks again..I really am not as dumb as I appear to be on this thread...!