SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program Evaluation - Highlights, Lowlights, and Controversies
The SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program: A Comprehensive Look at Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles
The SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program, with its key members Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Delta SkyMiles, offers a range of benefits and drawbacks for frequent flyers.
Advantages
One of the program's main strengths lies in its extensive partner network, encompassing over 1,000 destinations worldwide through 19 member airlines. This provides travellers with ample opportunities to earn and spend miles.
Flying Blue stands out with its monthly Promo Rewards, offering significant discounts (up to 50%) on premium cabin redemptions, making business class awards to Europe as low as 55,000 miles one-way. The program also partners with all major transferable currency programs, enabling miles to be earned from everyday spending via credit cards.
Delta SkyMiles benefits from unlimited mile validity and is free to join, making it suitable for infrequent travellers within SkyTeam.
Disadvantages
However, the program's dynamic award pricing, which causes mile requirements to fluctuate, can lead to higher mileage costs for some routes. Additionally, limited non-stop award availability, particularly during peak travel seasons, may force connections or less convenient itineraries.
Flying Blue's complex XP system for status upgrades and renewals can be challenging for some users to track or maximize. Furthermore, Delta SkyMiles redemptions for international premium cabins can be costly compared to some competitors.
A Comparison
A summary table provides a clear comparison of the two programs:
| Feature | SkyTeam/Flying Blue | Delta SkyMiles | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Partner Network | Extensive (global SkyTeam members + partners) | Extensive within SkyTeam | | Award Pricing | Dynamic with Promo Rewards discount offers | Can be expensive for premium cabins| | Mile Earning Methods | Multiple credit card partners, family pooling | Mileage accrual on flights + partners| | Status System | XP-based, gradual downgrade, easier renewals | Requires spend + flight activity | | Mileage Expiration | No expiration with status | Never expires | | Award Availability | Better premium availability on Flying Blue flights| Varies; good for hubs | | Redemption Flexibility | Good, but limited nonstop routes sometimes | Wide, but premium awards costly | | Enrollment Cost | Free | Free |
In Conclusion
For frequent international travellers who value flexibility in earning and redeeming miles, access to a wide partner network, and discounted award offers, the SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program, particularly Flying Blue, is generally advantageous. However, some complexities in the status system and dynamic award pricing may be downsides. Delta SkyMiles is suitable for those in cities with strong Delta presence but can be costly for premium redemptions.
This balanced view reflects recent insights from specialized blogs and airline loyalty program guides.
In the context of the SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program and their flagship miles programs Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Delta SkyMiles, frequent travelers looking to earn and redeem miles from their lifestyle choices could consider credit card partners linked with Flying Blue, offering miles from everyday spending via credit cards. When planning a travel itinerary, the extensive partner network of the SkyTeam Frequent Flyer Program provides numerous destinations worldwide, presenting opportunities for mile accrual and redemption.
