Delta Tie-In Confirmed

I wonder if at some point they will need to revised the TP earning on DL as it is far easier and cheaper to earn TP on DL than on VS.
It seems any length of flight in F on DL earns 3TP. I am paying less than $300 each for a couple of short (2h) DL flights that will earn 6TP.
That is also better than on VX.

A good way to get VS FFs onto DL metal though... a nice little tier point run every now and again. If you recall back in the day the SIN - KUL route was similar for business class pax.

I get the feeling that VS will either add a new benefit tier or two above AU, or rehash the TP earning structure taking into account distance travelled as well as class travelled - that will no doubt lead to changing TP boundaries (again ): )

I am a KLM/Air France Flying Blue Platinum member which equates to a Skyteam Elite Plus member & a Delta Skymiles Diamond member. I am a Flying Club Red member & am flying PE in September to MBJ (after which I will be Flying Club Silver!)

I have 2 questions:

1) Will Flying Club match my current Skyteam Elite status & therefore I'll jump to Gold?
2) As a Skyteam Elite Plus member will I be able to use the Clubhouse at LGW when I fly PE in September?

thanks

1) Will Flying Club match my current Skyteam Elite status & therefore I'll jump to Gold?
2) As a Skyteam Elite Plus member will I be able to use the Clubhouse at LGW when I fly PE in September?

thanks

1. Unlikely
2. As VS is not a member of Skyteam (yet ) I would say no. Just because your status equates to Diamond membership with DL, unless you physically hold a Diamond card with DL, I would say that it won't entitle you to the shared FF benefits of the VS/DL JV.

Sorry for being the naysayer

Joey is right - the deal is between DL and VS and as a Skyteam elite unfortunately you won't be recognised unless you are Skymiles Diamond or Platinum in that situation.

This may change if VS joins Skyteam, but I'm sensing that isn't going to happen.

This may change if VS joins Skyteam, but I'm sensing that isn't going to happen.

Me too, but judging by the Craig Kreeger interview linked up thread, in time I can see VS adding their code on to Skyteam carriers such as KL/AF/AZ flights to/from LHR to provide additional feed for long haul.

Likewise Skyteam carriers may do the same with Little Red for UK domestic feed, Korean, DL and Aeroflot being an example or three.

I've never flown with Delta, in any cabin. Can't find any info on their site about seats/cabins either. Those of you who've flown with them, what did you think?

?| ?| Plenty of info re seats etc

I thought they were great - here are my TRs DL149 and DL148

Thanks tonty -
I just couldn't find the info. D'oh.

I've never flown with Delta, in any cabin. Can't find any info on their site about seats/cabins either. Those of you who've flown with them, what did you think?

I've flown with them domestically in the US and the experience is (frankly) not great. They are probably the best of the big legacy carriers -- faint praise. ii)

However, it seems their international standards are higher -- tonty's great report is evidence of that. y)

I've never flown with Delta, in any cabin. Can't find any info on their site about seats/cabins either. Those of you who've flown with them, what did you think?

I've flown with them domestically in the US and the experience is (frankly) not great. They are probably the best of the big legacy carriers -- faint praise. ii)

However, it seems their international standards are higher -- tonty's great report is evidence of that. y)

I barely fly with them, but I did fly with them from LGA to MCO last year. Upgraded to first for a very very reasonable sum and I've got to say they were brilliant. Great crew, yummy food!

Delta fined again

http://www.northjersey.com/news/2131970 ... ngers.html

Aw... nice pic.


http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/content/dam/VAA/Travelinformation/Deltapages/VADeltaCrew.jpg

Like it

Interesting development this - however long in the making.

A little late for me, but you never know in the future.

The day VS and Delta are totally integrated in terms of tier points, loyalty programme equivalency, reward flight interchange etc, I might re-evaluate.

Having reached BA AG, and with the fully integrated BA/AA etc tier point and Avios earning, I'd be looking for VS/Delta to achieve the same; add in little red and route networks start to reach the same universe.

Then, if BA really hack me off, I might switch back.

To be honest, this all took far too long to happen (not that it's easy, of course).

Just my oppinion, of course.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/fr ... rlines.jsp

I'm not sure if anyone has linked to the above so far, but I thought it made quite interesting reading.

It appears to imply that 90k is the flat rate for booking DL Business from the UK regardless of US destination. This makes it 10k more miles than VS UC for a trip to New York/Boston, but reasonably good for a flight into Atlanta.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/frequentflyer/fcpartners/airlines/deltaairlines.jsp

I'm not sure if anyone has linked to the above so far, but I thought it made quite interesting reading.

It appears to imply that 90k is the flat rate for booking DL Business from the UK regardless of US destination. This makes it 10k more miles than VS UC for a trip to New York/Boston, but reasonably good for a flight into Atlanta.

That says US/UK rewards are 100k miles not 90k miles.

Wonder what the rate is for West Coast.

Well spotted, that link was from the US site. Looks like they're charging more miles for ex-USA award fares.

UK site link:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... bmit1.x=32

DL don't fly non-stop to the west coast at this stage.

I'll certainly be looking at DL rewards. Sure its 10k more to get to the east coast but if the surcharges etc are lower than VS then that just might swing it for some people.

It seems a bit antiquated to insist on round trip bookings for miles seats these days. Most carriers used to do that but many now allow one way upgrade/reward bookings which makes a lot more sense.

Speaking of upgrades - I cannot see any details of using VS miles to upgrade in DL ?

You can book one-way reward seats on VS can't you?

Of more interest is the following


Flying Club members will be required to pay taxes and carrier-imposed fees starting from $5.00 per person (correct as of 24th June 2013). Taxes and fees may fluctuate depending on cabin and route travelled

I know it says starting from ............but ............

David

VS allow one way upgrades and reward bookings but I think DL only allow round trips ?

For those keeping score..... DL flights are popping up on the VS booking matrix y) y) Spoilt for choice now with 9 flights a day to NYC to chose from.

That being said, reward flights still just showing VS metal - can't win them all ):

Might just be a glitch (ot I'm just unlucky) but it doesn't appear to allow a mixed airline booking.

For those keeping score..... DL flights are popping up on the VS booking matrix y) y) Spoilt for choice now with 9 flights a day to NYC to chose from.

That being said, reward flights still just showing VS metal - can't win them all ):

Blimey, just did a dummy booking from SFO-LHR and there's 44 flights options, that said, a few of those take 2 days! :0

Blimey, just did a dummy booking from SFO-LHR and there's 44 flights options, that said, a few of those take 2 days! :0

Ha ha ha, they are going to need to introduce a 'via' or 'direct flight only' option on the booking forms.

Shall we take bets on how long it takes VS IT to cotton on to this?? I say 6-8 months

:0 :0 :0
I see what you mean -- I was just trying to book tickets to LAX and I was confronted by the most ludicrous number of DL connections..... This is silly....

:0 :0 :0
I see what you mean -- I was just trying to book tickets to LAX and I was confronted by the most ludicrous number of DL connections..... This is silly....

Obviously adopted our outsourced travel agency's booking engine. Known to offer UK domestic routes via Amsterdam with 12 hour layovers. Well, it's the cheapest flight is the argument..