It has been a good time to burn down miles balances on various frequent flier accounts, and it baffles me how different award availability sometimes is between Delta and Air France-KLM.
It is not unusual that the operating airline, either Air France or KLM, has better availability for redemption from its own loyalty program, Flying Blue, than from partners, such as Delta.
Here are a couple of recent examples:
KLM Toronto – Amsterdam
Flying Blue
SkyMiles
The direct Toronto KLM flight is wide open using Flying Blue miles in business. At the same time, there is no availability using SkyMiles other than in economy for only 5,500 miles less than in business if using Air France-KLM’s program.
Air France Helsinki – Paris
There where it gets fascinating.
SkyMiles
Flying Blue
The direct Air France flight is available for 25,000 SkyMiles or 139,000 Flying Blue miles? Makes absolutely no sense.
Conclusion
You should have miles in several programs because there are similar differences within Oneworld and Star Alliance airlines, with which I am more familiar with.
Delta and Air France-KLM are the only two SkyTeam member airlines with whom I have had or currently have status and have miles sitting on relative accounts.
However, you don’t usually see these levels of differences with other programs I have participated with as SkyMiles and Flying Blue.
