Skip to Content

KLM vs Delta: Is KLM a Good Airline?

KLM vs Delta: Is KLM a Good Airline?

Delta is an exceptional airline within the United States due to the fact their planes are among the most recent in the skies, and also because they fly about anywhere. Delta flies passengers to more than 325 locations around the globe.

However, it also formed an alliance with SkyTeam and their one hundred and fifty global locations. It equally has 19 associate airlines.

So, there’s essentially nowhere on earth that this airline wouldn’t fly to (plus it also gives you the benefit of taking 2 carry-ons to each one of those locations, and this wouldn’t matter if even if you are flying Basic Economy).

And, irrespective of where you are going, you’ll probably reach there on time. Delta is one of the promptest major airlines in America, and that’s in line with professional stats from the Department of Transportation.

KLM has equally gained a reputation as an aviation firm that offers freight handling services and passenger transportation for businesses and individuals. In this article we compare the two airlines and see how they stack against each other.

KLM Delta Bottom Line Up Front Summary

Delta (Expedia / OneTravel) offers a better premium experience with Delta One, more middle tier pricing options, and slightly lower transatlantic fares in most cases. That said, if flying from Europe or within Europe, KLM tends to have more connecting flights to regional hubs.

The Main Differences between Delta and KLM Airline

is klm a good airline

The main difference between Delta and KLM airlines are:

  • On most long-haul flights, Delta has a cabin seat structure of 2–4–2 or 2–3–2, and this means the side contains only two seats, whereas the KLM seating arrangement is 3–4–3 or 3–3–3 for long-haul flights.
  • KLM makes it possible for passengers to reserve a seat in advance for fee, whereas Delta still enables travelers to reserve their seats ahead of time in economy class, without installment, even on the least fares. It is true that there are seats set apart as “preferred” which attract an extra charge, however, there are normally a few seats accessible for no monetary commitment at all.
  • Delta’s long-haul cabin seats are slightly broader than those of KLM (as per Seatguru.com).
  • In a desperate hour, for example, crossing out because of an individual crisis, when you truly need somebody on the opposite side to tune in and help you, Delta and other American transporters offer much better customer handling care. They will, in general, show all the more understanding with regards to the demise of a family member, infection or other terrible conditions, whereas although KLM have good customer services, they are not equivalent to that of Delta at such distressing situations.
  • Delta has a top-notch economy product (Delta Premium Select), whereas its counterpart KLM doesn’t.
  • The business class cabin seat of KLM is not as improved as that of Delta, whereas Delta’s recent business class (Delta One) is greatly improved (much superior to almost every carrier) except that it is not accessible on all long haul planes as it is just turning out. If you fly an A350 on Delta airline and you will have the decision of Delta Premium or Delta One Select. Anyway, there isn’t any Delta Comfort+ seat on the A350. Nevertheless, the exist row seats come with more space for your legs.
  • The frequent flyer program of delta is known as SkyMiles, whereas the frequent flyers program of KLM is known as Flying Blue.

Delta Airline Review:

is klm a good airline

Delta Air Lines is one of the most seasoned U.S. transporters and unquestionably one of the most regarded. If you’re thinking about flying with Delta, at that point continue reading this review, because it touches most parts of Delta’s administration and tasks.

You can see down into Delta’s price charges and look at the luxuries offered in each lodge class. Also, keep away from any terrible surprises, for example, baggage expenses and other surprising charges.

Delta Air Lines, Inc., commonly alluded to as Delta, is one of the significant aircraft of the US and a heritage bearer. Its headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia.

The carrier, plus its auxiliaries and local associates, with Delta Connection, oversees more than 5,400 flights every day and serves 325 locations in 52 nations on 6 different continents of the world. Delta Airlines is also a pioneer of the SkyTeam union.

Delta operates about nine center points, with the Atlanta hub being its biggest as regards to the number of departures and passengers. It is positioned second among the World’s biggest aircraft by the number of planned travelers conveyed, income traveler kilometers flown, and fleet size. It is positioned 69th on the Fortune 500.

The organization was established on May the 30th, 1924, in Macon, Georgia, and later relocated to Monroe, Louisiana, in 1925.

Corporate affairs

Delta Air Lines headquarters in Atlanta

Basic Information:

  • Alliance: SkyTeam Alliance
  • Airline: Delta Air Lines
  • Category: International Airline and Legacy Domestic
  • Recurrent Flyer Program: Delta SkyMiles
  • Tagline: “Keep Climbing”
  • Daily Flights: 15,000 (plus associate partners)
  • Fleet size: 800
  • Major Hub: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • Destinations: 304 (plus associate partners)

Description: Delta Air Lines Route MapHeadquarters and Offices

Delta’s company headquarters is found on a company campus at the northern side of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, inside the town confines of Atlanta. This vicinity has functioned as Delta’s headquarters starting from 1941, whilst the organization repositioned its corporate sections from Monroe, Louisiana to Greater Atlanta

Delta’s Ticketing Choices

Delta provides 6 different types of fares that include dissimilar pre-departure advantages and inflight occurrences.

Basic Economy (International and Domestic Flights)

Just like a lot of other large U.S. Airways looking to contend with low-fee carriers, Delta provides a primary economy fare that affords a piece of carry-on baggage and a private item.

It’s impossible to make a choice of your seat, that would be allotted-in — that means there isn’t any assurance you’ll be seated together with your journey partners either.

Basic economy tickets are not changeable, and improvements aren’t allowed — so preserve this in your thoughts while booking. If you’re no longer satisfied with what you’ve were given, you just have to endure it.

Main (International and Domestic Flights)

Main is Delta’s well-known economy with the potential to choose your seat prior to check-in. Your bags allowance is one piece of hand luggage and you can also carry a private item and an examined luggage.

You have the capability to change your price ticket or upgrade and gain from previous boarding advantages than the basic economy.

Further Read: Delta Basic vs Main Explained.

Comfort+ (International and Domestic Flights)

Comfort+ is the choice seating in the economy class because it consists of a big legroom plus an overhead space for bags. Also, it has similar advantages as with Main.

Further Read: Delta Comfort+ Review.

Premium Select (Select long-haul International Flights)

Delta’s top rate economy is available allows passengers to get entry to Sky Priority privileges.

Their system is designed to allow passengers to carry two checked luggage and have the potential to change or improve their tickets (each subject to a charge).

Delta One (international long-haul and transcontinental flights)

Delta One is the company’s top-class cabin with passenger entry to Sky Priority Privileges and Delta Sky Club lounges.

Travelers can carry two pieces of baggage that have been checked and change or improve their tickets at a cost.

First Class (select International and Domestic Flights)

Available in domestic and short-haul flights only, first-class gives passengers’ access to Sky Priority for priority check-in, baggage handling, security, and boarding. They can also access Delta Sky Club lounges if connecting to an international flight in First or Business Class.

Passengers are allowed to bring in 2 pieces of checked luggage, and changes or upgrades are allowed for a fee.

Further Read: 

Cabin Inflight Amenities

Delta experienced an improved branding scheme in 2015. As a result, it now offers 6 different cabin service options: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One. But the precise details and availability differ by aircraft type and route.

1. Delta OneDescription: Delta Air Delta One

Delta One Suite on a Boeing 777

Delta One is the top Business Class product of the airline and it is available on extended hauls international flights such as from Los Angeles to New York-JFK and San Francisco.

Delta One includes lie-flat seating for different aircraft, and direct access from all the seats on all the different types of aircraft with the exception if Boeing 757-200.

In the aircraft, every seat is well equipped with a customized on-demand In-Flight-Entertainment System, a folding work table, a mobile reading lamp, and universal power-ports. Passengers also stand the chance of receiving pre-flight Sky Club access, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, refreshments, and complimentary chef-curated meals.

Additional Amenities include:

  • More legroom and wider seats
  • A committed flight attendant for the cabin
  • Premium bedding with Lie-flat bed feature
  • Pillow and duvet
  • Premium dining table
  • Delta One Suites having a nice full-height door to ensure privacy

 2. Premium Select

Delta Premium Select on an Airbus A350-900

Description: Delta Air Lines Premium Select

In April 2016, Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta reported that another Premium Economy cabin will be included. Since it was called Premium Select, this cabin will include additional legroom; customizable leg rests; additional seat pitch, width, and recline; and another superior service.

Delta presented it on its recent Airbus A350, first provided in 2017, and will be trailed by the Boeing 777. Delta, In October 2018 reported that they would sell First Class seats designed Boeing 757 flying transoceanic courses as the Premium Select.

Amenities include:

  • More legroom, wider seats, adjustable leg and footrest
  • A committed flight attendant for attending the cabin
  • Admittance to Delta Studio (films, TV, and games)
  • With service kit from Tumi
  • Blanket and pillow
  • Premium dining table
  • Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and Complimentary meals

 3. First Class

First class on a Delta A220-100

Mainline domestic flights offer First Class (with the exception of those offering Delta One service), Delta Connection aircraft including over 50 seats, and medium-haul and short-haul transnational flights. Seats starting from 18.5-20.75 inches wide and have somewhere in the range of 37-40 inches of pitch. Travelers in this First Class get a more extensive assortment of free snacks when contrasted with the Main Cabin that doesn’t provide this assortment, just as free liquor and beverages, plus full complete meal service on flights of around 900 miles.

Amenities include:

  • More extensive seat and an 8-inch additional legroom
  • A Committed flight attendant that oversees the cabin
  • Wi-Fi and Power outlets
  • With amenity kit
  • Blanket and pillow
  • Ergonomically-built headphones
  • Satisfactory dining
  • Complimentary soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
  • Ability access to Delta Studio (TV, games, and films) on your personal device or your seatback monitor

4. Delta Comfort+

Delta Comfort+ on an Airbus A321

Delta Comfort+ has 4-inch extra legroom than the Main Cabin and devoted stuff space over your seat.

You can board the plane faster using Sky Priority boarding and have that feeling of satisfaction with some additional like amenity kit, blanket, and pillow.

With the exception of Delta’s recent A350s, Delta Comfort+ seats are mounted on every one of their aircraft and it includes a 34-36 inches of pitch, and fifty percent more privilege to recline enjoyably.

Additional amenities include:

  • Sky Priority Boarding, complimentary premium snacks on flights 1,400 km and beyond. wine, complimentary beer, spirits, and dedicated overhead space on flights of about 400 km and beyond.
  • Delta Studio also includes complimentary premium entertainment with completely free headsets that you can use during most flights.

5. Main Cabin

Main Cabin on an Airbus A350-900

Main Cabin is accessible on all airships with seats extending from 30-33 inches of pitch and 17-18 inches wide. The fundamental cabin on Boeing777, 737, McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft and select Boeing 767-300, 757-200, have an articulating seat base where the seat base pushes ahead notwithstanding the seat back tilting in reverse when leaning back.

Main Cabin travelers get snacks and alcohol-free beverages on all flights ranging from 400 km and above. Alcoholic drinks are likewise accessible for procurement. Alcoholic beverages and complimentary meals are given on whole deal global flights just as selected cross-country local flights.

 6. Main Cabin (Economy)

The Basic Economy class is a fundamental form of Main Cabin, providing similar administrations with fewer flexibility choices at a more affordable cost. Instances of fewer flexibility options do not offer any ticket changes, no complimentary or paid overhauls irrespective of frequent-flier status, and with just a seat allotted at check-in.

Amenities include:

  • Delta Studio is accessible (TV, games, films) on your personal device or setback monitor.
  • Free headsets on cross-country flights; can be purchased on certain domestic flights.
  • Complimentary meals on cross-country flights.
  • Complimentary beverages plus Starbucks coffee.

Wi-Fi available to purchase

The Delta company has introduced a seating Economy Comfort for its mainline planes. The seat pitch is 34-inches, contrasted and a customary pitch of 31-32 inches. The seats in Economy Comfort likewise have complimentary drinks on some cross-country flights and priority boarding up on all flights.

On-board amenities

1. Wi-Fi

On the fifth of August, 2008, Delta declared it would be installing the Aircell mobile broadband network, Gogo Inflight Internet, allows flyers boarding the plane with Wi-Fi enabled devices, like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, gain access to the Internet and pay for the service.

It was originally provided on Delta’s fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft. Eventually, it got broadened to the rest of its domestic fleet, together with the Delta Connection aircraft with a first-class cabin.

According to Swart, Jon of USA Today Delta has the biggest fleet of Wi-Fi-enabled airplane globally.

2. SkyMiles

The frequent flyer program of Delta is known as SkyMiles. The miles you get don’t expire.  When you join the program you get miles award anytime you board Delta airline or its multiple subsidiary companies that are part of the SkyTeam Alliance.

You can equally earn miles for daily shopping and dining when you make expenses with specific credit cards. If you frequently fly on Delta, you can work your way up Medallion status. SkyMiles feature Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion statuses. While the diamond is the highest status, Silver is the least status. Flyers who attain the diamond status gain the most benefits like upgrades and premium boarding.

3. Delta Sky Club

A SkyClub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Delta Sky Club is the branding name Delta gives to its airport lounges. Membership is accessible through the yearly membership which you can buy with your money or pay through miles. International flyers that use Delta One class are immediately part of the SkyClub. You can equally join the SkyClub when you attain the top-level Delta status.

4. SkyBonus

On November 27, 2001, Delta Air Lines established the SkyBonus. This is a bonus or reward program design for small-to-medium businesses that spend from 5,000 USD to 500,000 USD every year on air travel. Businesses can gather points that can win them free travel or upgrade their membership status. The points can equally win for your business Sky Club memberships and SkyMiles Silver Medallion status.

You commonly win points when you pay for your travel depending on the different types of fare amount paid, booking code, and the flight origin or its destination. Although businesses that enroll in the SkyBonus program can win points they can use for free travel, the passenger that is traveling is equally qualified to win SkyMiles for the same travel.

How you can minimize extra charges and travel expenses with Delta airline

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One VentureOne traveling credit card charges no annual fee and when you sign up you get a 20,000-mile welcome bonus which equivalent to 200 USD as soon as you spend 1,000 USD three months after your initial sign-up. When you utilize this traveling credit card for traveling expenses like baggage fees, make use of your miles to pay the whole or part of your travel statement.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture travel credit card gives you a whopping 50,000 welcome bonus which is equivalent to 500 USD if you make expenses worth 3,000 dollars, three months after your sign up. You’ll earn 10X miles anytime you spend 1USD in any of its thousands of hotel partners.

Delta credit cards

There are equally many Delta credit cards that offer flyers free checked bags. You may want to consider that particularly if you are a frequent flyer of Delta airline.

The specifications of Delta Seat

Delta has twenty-five different types of aircraft with different seat specifications. Some of Deltas airplanes with their Airbus and Boeing fleet are presented in the table below:

Airbus A350
No of Seats Seat area Seat breadth
Delta One 32 seats 76 inches to 81 inches 22 inches to 24 inches
Premium Select 48 seats 38 inches 18.5 inches
Main Cabin 226 seats 31 to 32 inches 18 inches
Airbus A319 (31J)
No of seats Seat area Seat width
First Class 12 seats 36 inches 21 inches
Delta Comfort 18 seats 34 inches 18 inches
Main Cabin 102 seats 30 to 31 inches 18 inches
Boeing 737-900ER (739)
No of Seats Seat area Seat breadth
First Class 20 seats 37 inches 21 inches
Delta Comfort 21 seats 34 inches 13.3 inches
Main Cabin 139 seats 30 to 31 inches 17.3 inches
Bombardier CRJ-900
No of Seats Seat area Seat breadth
First Class 12 seats 37 inches 19.6 inches
Delta Comfort 20 seats 34 inches 17.3 inches
Main Cabin 44 seats 31 inches 17.3 inches

Luggage and extra charges/Add-Ons on Delta airlines

Description: Delta Air Lines Baggage

Delta Luggage Fees

Carry-on Allowance

Whatever cabin you are flying in, you are eligible to take on-board one personal item and one standard carry-on bag for free.

The size of the personal item permitted is not specified on the website of Delta airline. However, the carry-on bag must fall within the 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches.

Lap Infant Carry-on Policy

If you are traveling with an infant on your, the infant seat or bassinet would be taken as part of your hand luggage allowance. Your Infants don’t qualify for carry-ons except you purchase seats for them.

Stroller Check Policy

Strollers are not considered part of the regular checked baggage. They are commonly checked in for free at check-in or the gate.

Delta Checked Baggage Allowance:

  • Maximum weight allowed: You would be allowed 23kg (50lb) when you fly Basic Economy, Main, and Delta Comfort and 32 kilograms (70 pounds) when you fly Premium Select and Delta One.
  • Maximum size allowed: Linear dimensions of 157cm (62”)
  • Premium Select and Delta One flyers are allowed to travel with two free checked luggage irrespective of their route.

Economy

Route First Baggage Second Baggage Third Baggage 4th+ Baggage
Inside USA 30  USD 40 USD 150 USD 200 USD
Between United States and Canada 30 USD 50 USD 150 USD 200 USD
USA AND Canada to/from Mexico 30 USD 55 USD 180 USD 200 USD
USA and  Canada to/from the US Virgin Islands,
Central America & Caribbean, Guyana, Bermuda
30 USD 40 USD 125 USD to 150 USD 200 USD
US and Canada to/from El Salvador, Ecuador, Panama No charge 40 USD 200 USD
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico &
Central America to/from South America
(excl. Brazil, Guyana)
No Charge No Charge 200 USD
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico &
Central America to/from Europe
& Northern Africa
No Charge 100 USD 285 USD
U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Mexico &
Central America to/from Asia
No Charge No Charge 200 USD

Specific routes have specified luggage allowances. These routes are listed on Delta’s baggage policy. A passenger may be able to check-in ten bags depending on his or her routes.

 Delta Extra Fees and Add-Ons

  • Domestic flight alteration Fee: 200 USD
  • International Alteration Fee: 200 to 500 USD
  • Same Day Alteration: 75 USD
  • Reward Flight Alterations: 150 USD (You can make the changes 72 hours before the plane takes off)
  • Cancellation: When canceling a domestic flight, you must transfer your ticket to a different date and you must complete the travel within 12 months period of purchasing the original ticket. For international flights, you must start the journey within 12 months of the first ticket. You may be charged alteration fees.
  • Exclusions/Waivers: Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members are not charged for same-day alterations.

Basic economy tickets cannot be altered irrespective of your status.

  • Tickets bought from Reservations Department:  the charge is 25 USD in chosen European destinations. Flights originating from other locations are not charged.
  • Seat Selection: No charge apart from those flying with a basic economy class where passengers are not allowed to select a seat.
  • Unaccompanied Minor: 150 USD for a one-way route
  • Lap Infant: 10 percent of the cost of the adult ticket for international flights. However, for flights inside the US and Canada, it is not charged.

Traveling with your pet as carry-on:

  • To and fro U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico: 125 USD for a one-way route
  • To and fro U.S. Virgin Islands or international: 200 USD.
  • To and fro Brazil: 75 USD

Snacks, Drinks and appetizers Onboard

Delta Air Lines food and beverage

Passengers flying more than 250 miles from any flight are given free snacks, soft drinks, and Starbucks coffee. For flights where free meals and refreshments are not provided, you can buy any of the following at the associated costs:

· Sandwiches and platters: 8.99 to 10.99 dollar

  • Snacks: 3.99 dollars and above
  • Beer: 8 dollars and above
  • Wine: 9 dollars and above
  • Spirits: 9 dollars

Delta Customer Satisfaction

Delta Airlines is one of the top US airlines and an award-winning Airline Company that is well honored by customers because of the company’s expertise and timekeeping. Delta has accordingly named the best on-time mainline airline according to Flight Global and September 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report.

Delta also has the best reputation compared to other US airlines concerning the cancellation of flights. When compared to the other ten best US airlines While Delta only has 0.1 percent cancellation of its flights, with the general average lowered a bit to 0.3% with its codeshare partners.

Customers of Delta are happy with the manner Delta personnel handle their tasks during flight delays. While other airlines are not very communicative in moments like this, the crew members of delta airlines are very professionals and thee passengers receive communication and are not left in the dark.

Safety and Performance

As awarded by AirlineRatings.com, Delta Air Lines has a 7/7 safety record. This utilizes information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body, plus government and crashes records. It also takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification.

Awards and Notable Mentions

Delta is adorned with many awards and notable mentions. The company is held with high reputes in the different aspects of its operation which can range from its services, labeling, lounges, and reward scheme acknowledgment.

Review of SkyMiles, the Frequent flyers program of Delta Air Lines

The frequent flyers program of Delta was established in 1981 and is referred to as SkyMiles. The program is suitable if you fly frequently and lives near Delta’s airline’s centers of Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle, and New York City.

Even though Delta provides one of the premium and most reliable inflight amenities compared to other USA airlines, its SkyMiles program is far more outstanding because Delta constantly launches astonishing alterations and undisclosed devaluations which come as a huge shock to those sign up for the frequent flyers programs.

Delta is the primary airline to launch a revenue-based flyers program in 2015. After it was launched by delta, other airlines did the same in a short while. Delta is also one of the founding members of the number three biggest airline alliance across the globe known as SkyTeam, the world’s third-largest airline alliance.

SkyMiles program details and how it can benefit flyersDescription: https://i1.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/skymiles-delta-frequent-flier-loyalty-program-review-1.jpg?resize=678%2C382&ssl=1

Skymiles elite levels

Four membership tiers come with Delta’s Skymiles program. You can start from the base level and work your way up to higher levels by earning more miles.

The base level is the Silver Medallion; the second tier is the Gold Medallion whereas the 3rd and 4th tiers are Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion respectively.

Each level comes with unique benefits as you progress from Silver to Gold and from Platinum and in the end when you acquire the Diamond Medallion status; these benefits are becoming more useful.

Flyers based in the US can gain their status from a mixture of miles they earn from their flights, from their tickets category which can be either the (Medallion Qualifying Miles or MQMs), how many times they fly (Medallion Qualifying Segments or MQSs), and how much they spend with Delta airline and its numerous partners which can be (Medallion Qualifying Dollars or MQDs).

MQD pre-conditions are eliminated if you pay for goods and services worth 25,000 USD ever year on a Delta brand-named American Express card.

Silver Medallion

You will attain the silver medallion status when you have exceeded 25,000 MQMs or 30 Medallion Qualifying Segments MQSs and 3,000 USD MQDs in one calendar year. The silver medallion benefits include any of the following:

  • Receive 7 miles every USD expenses you make
  • You will get free upgrades for Silver member and one friend you travel with on paid flights (not flight merited through award) for roughly 24 hours before the flight takes off if accessible. You will also get one unpaid checked bag for the flyer with the Silver status and roughly 8 travel companions on one single reservation.
  • Gain precedence check-in and boarding
  • You will get Virgin Atlantic precedence check-in, precedence boarding, and on extra checked bag together with a standard check-in bag allowed on the Virgin Atlantic airline.
  • You could equally get Luggage tags to display your status

Gold Medallion Status

You will attain the Gold Medallion status when you have reached 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs and 6,000 MQDs in one single year. This comes with every benefit of a flyer that has attained the Silver status together with the following:

  • Obtain 8 miles for every one USD expenses made
  • You will equally get free upgrades for Gold member and one flight companion for roughly seventy-two hours before the flight takes off if accessible.
  • Free upgrades on award tickets
  • Two unpaid checked bags for a member with Gold status and a maximum of 8 traveling companions in one single flight reservation
  • You will equally get free same-day alterations and same-day chance to fly a standby
  • Waiver of an Award booking fee
  • You will get SkyPriority check-in, security, and boarding on Delta and its associate airlines
  • You will equally gain access to airline lounges on international travel.
  • You will equally acquire the Hertz 5-Star status
  • You will gain the Premium Economy Class check-in and fast track security when you fly with Virgin Atlantic flights

Platinum Medallion

You will attain Platinum Medallion status after you gain 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and 9,000 dollars MQDs in one calendar year. The following are the benefits you gain from the platinum status. It commonly includes the benefits of the gold status in addition to the following benefits:

  • An award of 9 miles for every one US dollar expenses you make.
  • Free upgrades for Platinum members and one friend accompanying you on the plane. The offer is available until five days before the flight takes off
  • You will equally get three unpaid checked bags for Platinum members and roughly 8 travel companions on one particular reservation.
  • Award alteration and cancellation fee waivers.
  • Hertz President’s Circle Status
  • You will gain the following benefits if you fly with Virgin Atlantics: Higher Class check-in, Higher Class security, higher Class precedence luggage handling, and chance to use the airport lounge.
  • One yearly gift referred to as Choice Benefit which you can select from including the following:
  • Four regional Certificate upgrade
  • 20,000 SkyMiles bonus
  • Ability to give a buddy or a close family member a Silver Medallion status
  • Two hundred US dollars on Delta travel voucher
  • Two hundred US dollars USD gift card from Tiffany and Co.

Diamond Medallion status

You will attain the Diamond Medallion status when you have acquired 125,000 MQMs or 140 segments and 15,000 MQDs in a single year. The Diamond Medallion status offers you the entire benefits of the Platinum status together with the following:

  • You get 11 miles award for every US dollars you spend
  • Free CLEAR membership comfort as you go through security checks in the airport
  • Three different Benefits that can choose from including the Delta Sky Club Membership options, the Global and regional upgrade certificates and the Gift Gold Medallion status to you, your buddy or a relative.
  • 25,000 bonus miles for yourself, another person or any SkyWish charity you choose.
  • Two hundred USD voucher on Delta travel
  • Two Hundred USD Tiffany and Co. gift card

Description: https://i0.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DELTA-MEDALLION-ELITE-LEVELS.jpg?resize=678%2C264&ssl=1

How you can earn SkyMiles in the air

The SkyMiles program is classified into two: Medallion Qualifying Miles and award redeemable miles. Medallion Qualifying Miles or MQMs is used for the determination of Medallion status. You earn them depending on the distance you travel and the type of your airfare. MQMs reset every calendar year while you grow to gain a new status each year.

The following chart illustrates the amount of Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) you must acquire on Delta flights to be eligible for the Medallion status.Description: https://i0.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/delta-skymiles-mileage-earning-1.jpg?resize=678%2C394&ssl=1

In addition to MQMs, you also earn award redeemable miles every time you fly with Delta. The amount of miles you earn is based on your status within the SkyMiles program at the time of travel:

  • General SkyMiles Membership: Earns you Five miles for every Us dollar spent.
  • Silver Medallion Membership: earns you 7 miles for every Us dollar spent.
  • Gold Medallion Membership: earns you 8 miles for every Us dollar spent.
  • Platinum Medallion Membership: earns you 9 miles for every Us dollar spent
  • Diamond Medallion Membership: Earns you 11 miles for every Us dollar spent

You can also earn MQMs and award miles you can redeem when you fly one of Delta’s over twenty partner airlines. This include when you fly with all airlines that are part of the SkyTeam alliance program which is the number three biggest airline alliance globally:

Aeroflot

  • Aerolíneas Argentinas
  • Aeromexico
  • Air Europa
  • Air France
  • Alitalia
  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern
  • China Southern
  • Czech Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM
  • Korean Air
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Saudia
  • TAROM
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Xiamen Air
  • GOL (Does  not belong SkyTeam)
  • Hawaiian Airlines (Does not belong to SkyTeam)
  • WestJet (Does not belong to SkyTeam)
  • Virgin Atlantic (Does not belong to SkyTeam)
  • Virgin Australia (Does not belong to SkyTeam)

The amount of MQMs and award miles you can redeem which you gain from joining SkyMiles program vary according to different marketing and ticketing agents.

Specific subsidiary airline flights will allow you to gain miles depending on the distance travel rather than on the amount you spend.

For instance, below is the mileage you earn when you fly Korean Air which is a SkyTeam partner of Delta airline:Description: https://i0.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/KOREAN-AIR-MILEAGE-SKYMILES.jpg?resize=678%2C678&ssl=1

Description: https://i2.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SKYTEAM.jpg?resize=678%2C197&ssl=1

 How To Earn SkyMiles On The Ground

There are numerous opportunities for you to receive award exchangeable miles and raise your account in the SkyMiles program even when you are on the ground. This can be done by using the additional 1,000 SkyMiles buddies.

You can also obtain miles when you lodge at a hotel that associates with SkyMiles. This would be regularly about 500 to 1000 miles for any hotel lodging.

The only thing you need to do is to provide the check-in personnel with your SkyMiles card digit. This feature is associated with all their hotels, either large or small brands like World Hotels, Millennium Hotels, Hyatt, Radisson, InterContinental, Shangri-La, Langham, AccorHotels, Hilton, and Marriott.

Some hotel loyalty programs permit you to transform your hotel points into SkyMiles. Some of the hotels which give this privilege are AccorHotels, Hilton, Marriott, Radisson, and InterContinental.

Marriott Bonvoy – The Marriott Hotels loyalty program rates as the best program based on points conversion. It lets you change Mariott points to SkyMiles frequent-flyer miles based on a ratio of 3:1. Therefore, when you change 60,000 points to miles, you should get 20 miles but there is a 15,000 miles conversion bonus which lets you get up to 35,000 miles.

Airbnb which partners with SkyMiles proposes more than 5 million exclusive houses to select from for your subsequent stopover. You get miles during the duration of your stay (1 mile for every $1 expended) or accommodating with Airbnb worldwide. You could also refer to deltaairbnb.comfor more information.

SkyMiles members earn reward exchangeable miles also for every moment they lease a car from one of the main car leasing firms. Several firms that do this are Enterprise, Dollar, Alamo, Thrifty, National, and Herz. The precise number of miles you get for a car leasing is subject to the firm and varies from 50 to 500 miles every day.

Delta Air Lines offers cruise trips and vacation packages (hotels +flights) aside from flight handling. They have several cruise firms who assist them in the cruise trips like Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. You obtain miles each time you take a vacation or cruise reservation through the steadfast Delta web platform.

Members also get SkyMiles by shopping from their online platform like skymilesshopping.com where you will get access to lots of products like Nike, Apple, Macy’s, etc. When members eat at numerous joining restaurants or buy wines, gifts, and flowers in the United States, they get SkyMiles.

SkyMiles also grants the opportunity to procure tens of thousands of miles while on the ground. This option is relatively interesting to check out if your mileage account is lacking an award ticket.  2,000 miles is the least mileage which can be procured for every transaction while 60,000 miles is the maximum mileage to be deposited into a SkyMiles account each year.

To enhance your mileage account, loyalty points could also be transferred from the JCBDiner’s ClubBanco De Chile, and American Express credit card benefits program into your SkyMiles account.

One of the quickest means to get SkyMiles is via a Delta Air Lines co-branded American Express credit card. These credit cards, likewise, grant substantial bonus miles after you have made a primary procurement (mostly ample for a reward ticket).

How To Use SkyMiles On Unpaid Travel

The most suitable method to use your SkyMiles is to convert them to unpaid air travel on Delta. Unluckily, however, Delta does not broadcast a reward chart, thus there’s no orientation to the cost of a reward.

To worsen the situation, Delta frequently presents modifications to its reward rating, with little or no notification in advance. Nevertheless, the blog “Travel Is Free” has put out a reward diagram that Delta (more or less) follows and we have added it in this write-up for reference.

Description: https://i0.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/delta-skymiles-skyteam-award-chart-3.jpg?resize=678%2C561&ssl=1

With your SkyMiles, you could obtain a free ticket that you could use to board a flight on any of Delta’s partner airlines.

These flights take you to about 1,000 locations in the world and are offered by every SkyTeam member. Some of their non-member airlines like Skymark, Thai Air Asia, GOL, Jetstar, Air Tahiti Nui, Virgin Australia, and Atlantic, also offer such opportunity.

Once more, Delta does not broadcast a table with you required redemption miles necessary to fly on a partner airline; you can simply obtain this info by contacting Delta Reservations Department or when you look for it on Delta’s web platform.

Regrettably, one has to spend more amount of SkyMiles to board partner flights instead of Delta on the US-originated courses.

There exist numerous different methods you could convert your SkyMiles in addition to converting them to free flights on Delta Airlines and their partner flights.

  • This could be implemented in-cabin upgrades. You could make use of them to elevate yourself to a higher cabin on nearly all Delta international and domestic flights. These could be carried out on their web platform (delta.com), mobile application(Fly Delta) or through the Delta Reservations Department.
  • SkyMiles grants you the “Cash +Miles” alternative where you can make flight payments in both dollar bills and miles in situations where your miles are not enough. You should note that tickets procured via Cash +Miles are reward tickets, therefore, they can be subjected to every restriction attached to a reward ticket. For instance, they can’t receive Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or even miles.
  • With your miles, you can board any Delta’s Private Jets and fly magnificently, smoothly and effortlessly to your terminus. You can make use of your Jet Card to make Redemptions by purchasing 2.5 million miles at about $25,000. This could be substantial for a group of four to fly to South Florida from Atlanta on a round-trip.
  • You could as well purchase or redeem your Delta SkyClub membership by using miles. What is meant by the Delta SkyClub in the membership package is the network of suites run by Delta Airlines.
  • Miles can also be used for charity work if you wish to donate some miles to charity homes thereby making aiding the needy. Similarly, you could transfer miles to a fellow member’s account also of 1,000 miles equated to 1 cent for every mile.

For this transaction, a $30 fee is charged and you cannot make miles transfers above 30,000 miles in a transaction. Also, you cannot transfer above 150,000 miles from your SkyMiles account every year.

Best SkyMiles redemptions

Delta One Suite is the most preferable means you can expend SkyMiles and this is done on a Business Class reward flight. The suite provides passengers with a reserved enclosure you can access through a sliding door. Once there, you get a classy and relaxing residential feeling as there are attentively calculated private storage spaces, an innovative on-board entertainment system, and superior trim and gilts.

The Delta One suite is presently obtainable on only the Delta’s A350s and several retrofitted B777s. Their courses are particularly from Los Angeles to Tokyo or Sydney. Ensure your journey does not begin from Europe because SkyMiles slyly includes a massive cash additional charge for these journeys.

Virgin Atlantic also provides you good SkyMiles spending chances on their Business Class reward, although it is not a Delta’s SkyTeam partner. Virgin Atlantic refers to their Business Class as Upper Class and their direct ticket costs about 86,000 miles. Your journey could originate from London to let you access the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse that is one of the best lounges in the world however; there will be a substantial extra charge due to UK exit tolls.

Air France avails its Air France Business Class 305 days before the departure date to only their Flying Blue Members, nevertheless, the same reservation is available 331 days in advance to every Delta SkyMiles member. This is greatly rare, as lots of airlines grant better accessibility to their members than their partner members. Therefore, it would be advisable to make your reward reservation on Air France through Delta other than through Air France if you prefer reservations.

SkyTeam is the biggest airline treaty in China, therefore when you are furnished with countless alternatives when you wish to fly to China via your SkyMiles: Their airlines include Xiamen Airlines (situated in Xiamen), Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern (situated in Shanghai), China Southern (situated in Guang zhou), and China Airlines (situated in Taipei).

Generally, direct reward flights in Canada, Alaska, and the central USA begin at 10,000 SkyMiles. Nevertheless, it is probable to discover flights that charge 5,000 miles for a direct flight on specific domestic routes like from San Francisco to Seattle. Occasionally, these are broadcasted as limited-period SkyMiles flash sales; in other periods, they appear when cash ticket costs are inexpensive.

Pros Of SkyMiles

The major SkyMiles point is the ability to obtain and/or use miles on beyond 20 partaking airlines.

These are every SkyTeam airline like Xiamen Air, Tarom, Middle East Airlines, Kenya Airways, Delta Air Lines, China Southern, China Eastern, Alitalia, Air Europa, AerolíneasArgentinas, Vietnam Airlines, Saudia, Korean Air, KLM, Garuda Indonesia, Czech Airlines, Air France, Aeromexico, Aeroflot and China Airlines.

Likewise, there are numerous non-SkyTeam airlines like Skymark, Thai Air Asia, WestJet, GOL, Virgin Atlantic, Jetstar, Air Tahiti Nui, and Hawaiian Airlines Virgin Australia. With all these airlines offering this, you will be able to obtain miles and fly to almost 1,000 destinations in the world.

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles does not necessitate you to obtain or renew no less than one mile each year so that your account is in good condition not like several hotel and airline programs that do such. Delta SkyMiles has no expiry date; a rare feature between loyalty programs.

The Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) you obtain higher than your Medallion level for every year will roll over to the subsequent qualification year. Hence, it gives you an edge over other first earners. This opportunity is given by only Delta and it is the solitary regular flyer program worldwide that lets you get elite rank on the ground via credit card payments.

If you possess the four Delta co-registered cards allotted by American Express that obtain Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), you may place abundant expenses on the four cards to obtain a Delta Platinum status. It is explained further in the “The Points Guy“ blog.

Delta Air Lines has the finest Business Class product amongst all North American airlines. It has sliding doors in their reserved suites and other exclusive additions to make the program a first-rate selection if you wish to obtain or renew miles for flying in a Delta One Suite. Its program is suitable for residents of several cities in the United States. They include Seattle, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Detroit. Also, frequent passengers to and from New York City are included.

SkyMiles grants its elite members substantial quantities of bonus. Medallion Silver members earn a 40% bonus, Platinum Medallion members earn an 80% bonus, Diamond Medallion members obtain a 120% bonus, and Medallion Gold members earn a 60% bonus while traveling with Delta and member airlines.

SkyMiles permits open-jaw reward tickets. For instance, you could have your flight disembark in Africa and originate from Europe or Amsterdam and terminate in Paris.

You can attain rank for life in the Delta SkyMiles program. Million Miler rank is anchored in the sum Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) a member earns in his lifetime. Complimentary yearly Medallion Status is granted every year and has validity till the conclusion of the Medallion chart.

Remuneration related with Complimentary Status is granted after you renew your complimentary Status every year. Platinum Million Miles Status is attained after accumulating 4 million MQMs, Gold Million Miler Status is attained after accumulating 2 million MQMs and the Silver Million Miles Status is attained after accumulating a million MQMs.

Reclaim My Status is an exclusive advantage of the SkyMiles program intended to assist you to go back to your status if unforeseen circumstances delay your trip.

This provision is introduced at a stage in life when you come across an event that derails your travel ability and plans thereby withholding you from attaining the Medallion rank. You possibly have had been just been close to achieving it but with the impediment, you are unable.

Some of these impediments could be when you have gotten kids thereby bringing along the parental responsibility, switched to a new job, having to return to your studies, being down with a medical condition, having the responsibility of catering for a relative or friend, etc. There are other several things aside these mentioned here which could still impede your achievement.

Nevertheless, you are still permitted to tender an application to Delta when you are finally ready to continue flying. With the application tendered, you will be able to acquire back your Medallion status and continue from where you stopped.

With your application honored, you could start from any of the Silver, Platinum, Diamond, and Gold Medallion status depending on your previous Medallion status.

The duration of the complimentary status will be for three months starting from the date of your application.

However, you can lengthen your status further than the three months but there are some requirements. Once you can attain the least travel and expenses necessities throughout the three months, then it would be possible.

Cons of Delta SkyMiles

Delta was the earliest airline to formulate its regular flyer program to be revenue-cited. This signifies that miles are granted depending on the extended dollar bills instead of the number of miles you have traveled.

The Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) you obtain depends on the cost of your ticket exclusive of fees and taxes. You obtain eligible dollar bills as a proportion of the distance traveled and the ticket category when flying on SkyTeam partner flights. It indicates that you ought to fly and expend plenty to attain the elite status.

Breaks in your journey are not tolerable: layovers are narrowed to four hours inside the United States and 24 hours in a location outside the United States. You should also note that there is a possible additional charge on reward flights beginning from Europe and on several airline partners.

Delta is infamous for solitary discharging inadequate spaces obtainable by reward travel. Some other airlines within the SkyTeam alliance that are far more liberal with reward availability are KLM, Air France, and AeroMexico.

Nevertheless, there is a cancellation fee of $150 on their reward tickets by Delta airlines although it is not for all passengers. Their elite members’ are exclusive of payment of this fee.

The SkyMiles program is open to regular and impromptu modifications that could severely alter the worth of points. With the modification, you are less informed of the outcome of your points whether it will be advantaged or disadvantaged thereby keeping you in the blue.

MQD necessities are put aside for Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members once they expend $25,000 every year on a Delta-branded American Express card.

To attain Diamond Medallion status however, the MQD waiver can merely be attained by purchasing products worth above $250,000 for the calendar year with appropriate Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express.

Conclusion

We congratulate Delta on its obligation to customers’ satisfaction and service. It is not hidden as on their reviews, you will find ample info about their staff eminence. They are one of the most dependable airlines based on flight cancellations and delays even though they are not the most inexpensive airline

Delta’s guidelines regarding ticket additions and cancellation/change modifications are equitably apparent, and this is revitalizing. Several airlines hide this bin their T&Cs. With their innumerable rewards and health benefits, similar to their motto, it appears as though Delta Air Lines would “keep climbing.”

Review of KLM Airline

KLM is one of the foremost participants in the airline industry. It is a renowned European airline which equally operates internationally because of its broad flight network and outstanding package. KLM is the most suitable airline particularly if you are flying from Western Europe.

About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Description: https://i2.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_2353.jpg?ssl=1

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was established in 1919 and is headquartered at Amstelveen, the Netherlands in the same neighborhood as the Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol.

Royal Dutch KLM is regarded to be the most primordial airline with nonstop functional operations in the world. KLM is renowned for its lively blue uniform and Dutch household alcohol bottle ornaments. The air company is one out of two parts of the Franco-Dutch multinational Air France-KLM.

The KLM Group also has several holdings aside the renowned KLM airline of which are; Martinair and Transavia. Martinair is based mostly on aircraft repairs and care, training of pilots and airfreight.

Meanwhile, Transavia is renowned for its inexpensive flights in the Netherlands originating from Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.

On the 6th of May, 2004, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was merged with Air France. Although the agreement was for them to become affiliates, nevertheless, maintaining their respective trademarks.

The Air France-KLM group functions as a single company whereas, the different airlines still maintain their trademarks while focusing on the core businesses of engineering & maintenance, passengers’ affairs, and freight business). Based on revenue scaling, the Air France-KLM Group is ranked as No.5 in the entire world.

The company has numerous codeshare pacts with several airlines like Olympic Air, Bangkok AirwaysAer LingusEtihad Airways and Malaysia Airlines. It has a total of more than 100 aircrafts conveying passengers and goods to above 130 locations on earth. The airlines also received an award as the Best Business Class Seat among the entire European Airline Companies.

KLM Tickets and Flights

KLM, also known as, the Royal Dutch Airlines is the Netherlands national airline with the headquarters in Schiphol (AMS), Amsterdam. The airline has an ICAO code “KLM” and has a fleet of more than 120 aircraft, as well as 8 Airbus A330-200. The airline is also a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which is comprised of Alitalia, Air Europe, Air France, and Delta Airlines.

There are several flight tickets based on travel classes from which passengers are opportune to choose from. Ranging from the top and costliest classes, you find the World Business and Europe Business Classes. Following them are, the Economy Class (international), Economy Class (within Europe), and finally the Economy Comfort class which is the most inexpensive.

KLM Destinations

KLM provides nonstop flights to all parts of the earth. Just within Europe, they convey passengers to 91 separate destinations. Additionally, you could also fly to 75 destinations in other parts of the world. For instance, you could board a nonstop flight to San Francisco, New York, Vancouver, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Los Angeles, Havana, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Tokyo, and Dubai.

Facts about KLM

KLM is the single airline that provides nonstop flights from Europe to Taiwan and vice versa via the Chinese airspace and permitted by the Republic of China. Its operating name in this vein is KLM Asia.

Aboard their International flights, you have access to their entertainment screens and supply of free drinks.

KLM ran international flights with more than 200 aircrafts last year and generated revenue of €10 billion. It is also ranked in the third place in Amsterdam’s employment field as they employed 32.000 staff last year from the heart of Amsterdam.

The KLM fleet is made up of the following aircrafts:

  • 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for intermediate and extensive haul destinations
  • 13 Airbus A330-200 and -300 for intermediate and extensive haul destinations
  • 29 Boeing 777-200ER and -300ER for extensive haul destinations
  • 14 Boeing 747-400 for extensive haul destinations
  • 50 Boeing 737NG for small- and intermediate haul destinations

The KLM aircrafts derives their names from city centers all over the world (A330s), Dutch East India Company’s Ships (B747 freighters), world cities (B747s), birds (B737s), flowers (B787s) and UNESCO world heritage sites (B777s).

KLM was the foremost airline to employ biofuels in their commercial flights: 171 passengers were flown on the 29th of June, 2011 from Amsterdam to Paris by a KLM Boeing 737-800 which runs on a 50/50 mixture of used cooking oil and local jet fuel.

However, incorporation with its project SkyNRG, KLM announced the world’s foremost Corporate BioFuel Program which would allow airline companies to employ ecological biofuels for portions of employees’ flights, thus encouraging the improvement of the biofuels market.

Online check-in

Online check-in is accessible on KLM flights and travelers are obliged to key in their ticket number or booking code along with their flight number.

Also, there is a possibility of accessing their online platform with the provision of your password and email address. On the menu provided, the passengers or travelers of international flights originating from Amsterdam can select their meals or seats.

Passengers get their flight tickets immediately after finishing the online check-in procedure. They can then proceed to print them out. On the other hand, you could save the boarding pass on your tablet or even mobile phone to be presented at the airport instead of having to print it out.

Hand luggage Permission

Passengers flying on KLM flights are permitted to have with them, a piece of hand luggage aboard the flight. However, the baggage size depends on the purchased ticket type and flight route.

For instance, hand luggage should generally not be greater in size than 55 x 35 x 25 cm. Passengers with the Business Class tickets have the opportunity to bring additional luggage which should not be greater than 45 x 35 x 20 cm in size.

Such passengers are permitted to take aboard liquid containers which should not be greater than 100 ml. However, the liquid itself should in total not be more than a liter as the containers should all be placed in a plastic bag.

Checked luggage rule

The quantity of checked luggage permitted on KLM flights is determined by the ticket type bought by the passenger and his/her route. A good number of Economy class passengers are permitted to check in a piece of luggage weighing about 23 kg, whereas the passengers in the Business class are permitted to check in 2 pieces of baggage with each piece weighing up to 32 kg.

Children are permitted to check in a piece of luggage provided that it weighs 10 kg or below. Sporting gear for instance; skis, snowboards and golf clubs could be used as a substitute for a piece of checked luggage. The passenger’s name and address must be tagged on every owned checked luggage.

Cabin seating

KLM provides full-flat seating in their World Business Class and can be accessed on their 787, 777, and 747 aircraft. The seating provision on these flights is certainly relaxing, likewise the duvet and pillow.

KLM provides a top catering service and is renowned for its exclusive dinnerware. Even though the service can be delightfully Dutch now and again, the general experience is still delightful.

KLM exudes the overall feeling is of comfort efficacy instead of being excessively classy or refined. A good act is their pre-deregulation tradition of giving passengers a last drink “on the house.”

Business class cabin

KLM newly finished a (long required) revamp and advancement of its A330 fleet. The features of the KLM’s aircraft, A330-300 encompasses 222 standard seats in Economy Class, 40 standard seats in Economy Comfort (with more legroom) and 30 lie-flat seats in Business Class.

Their A330-200 aircraft which are smaller than the former has 214 seats in the Economy Class, 36 seats in the Economy Comfort and 18 seats in the Business Class. In the Business Class, the seats are either in 5 rows on the A330-300 or3 rows on the A330-200 all placed in one cabin.

The Dutch Designer Hella Jongerius, having collaborated with KLM was able to design the interior of the fresh A330 cabin. The cabin has a renewed, contemporary, and KLM standard sensation having been adorned with various shades of blue in the cabin area and the seat cover furnished in dark brown.

Every seat in the Business Class are arranged facing the plane’s nose and in a standard 2-2-2 layout. It entails that the passengers seated by the window-side cannot access the aisle without crossing over the neighboring passengers’ legs.

There are dividers mounted between the seats too so that you can either converse with your neighbor if you wish or have your privacy without rubbing shoulders.

Aside from the KLM, there are still some airlines like United B787sQatar Airways’ A330s, and Ethiopian Airlines B787/A350s which have adopted this Business Class outline.

Description: KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

Business class seat (+ best and worst seats)

The Business Class seat on KLM’s A330 is dimensioned at a pitch of 60 inches (152 cm) and width of 25, 5 inches (65 cm). A pitch is referred to as the distance from one point on a seat to the precise same point on the seat behind or in front, and hence a good indication of the legroom.

There is a shared console for the two joining seats that could be employed to serve as a minor table for a tray or drinks. It is retractable if needed by the passengers. There is a slight partition, an armrest fitted with an electronic seat adjustment controller and an eye-leveled reading light.

The other side of the seat not partitioned comes with an easily accessible fitting just above the arm rest. This fitting consists of a wired-control for the on-board entertainment, a USB port and a universal AC power outlet. There’s as well a tiny slot behind the headrest, which provides you with smart phone, glasses or wallet storage. These are the only things that you could store there as the larger gears have to be kept in the overhead compartments over your seat.

There is an 18.5” high-resolution TV that has touchscreen access ad displays in 16:9 formats before every seat. There is also a small comfy footrest just below the TV which transforms into a portion of the flat bed when the seat is positioned horizontally having been reclined at 180 degrees.

The idea of the complete flatbed is a substantial upgrade of the angled lie-flat seats which were featured in the earlier KLM A330 Business Class aircraft.

The converted-bed has a total dimension of 206 cm in length and can accommodate taller passengers. Even though the bed is a little tapered, you could drop one of the arms rests down thereby increasing its breadth to improve your sleeping coziness.

Interrupted aisle access for window-seated passengers

There may be some disturbances for the front row passengers from either the returning users of the lavatories or even the galley workers. Additionally, it won’t be a good decision to choose the seat in the last row just preceding the Economy bassinet seats.Description: KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS SEAT

KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS SEAT

On-board Features

Below is a list of features accessible to the Business Class passengers on a KLM’s extensive haul flights:

A brown amenity kit bag

The popular Dutch fashion designer Jan Taminiau who in 2014 bagged the Grand Seigneur, Netherlands’ most significant fashion award, designed the

KLM’s amenity kit bag.

It comprises the essentials items for extensive flights like the Rituals lip balm and face moisturizer, toothpaste and toothbrush, an earplug and an eye mask.

A duvet

An elegant and comfy, marine-blue blanket

Noise-canceling headphones

An earphone you make use of only aboard the aircraft and must be returned at the end of the flight to the flight crew.

A Delft Blue miniature traditional Dutch house

There is a delightful gift for every Business Class passenger at the end of every flight which is a Delft Blue miniature traditional Dutch house. It portrays an actual Dutch house and is filled with Jenever, a Dutch gin. This gift has been presented to all KLM’s Business Class passengers ever since 1950.

KLM holds a yearly celebration every 7th of October where its anniversary is celebrated and a new house is presented. On the KLM’s site, you can go through their collection of houses and the unique stories attached to each one.

KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS: AMENITY KITDescription: KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS: AMENITY KIT

KLM A330 BUSINESS CLASS

Meals

If you are opportune to board, for an example, an 8-hour flight originating from Amsterdam, just after departure, you’d be given lunch and eventually, a dainty meal an hour before arrival.

Their attractively decorated menus (references Delft houses and tiles) are commonly all-encompassing and presented exceptional wine combinations. Although you can take wine, be warned that drinking alcohol on flights as they result in headaches.

An additional fantastic design feature that KLM get completely accurate is the elegant and exceptional tableware. The renowned Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders had designed all the chinaware, glassware, tableware, tray and linen used by KLM. Aside from that, the pepper and salt shakers have the resemblance of clogs, which is a unique symbol in Holland.

Below are my preferred choices from their lunch menu:

  • Starter: smoked beef loin with cornichons, salty fingers and black garlic cream
  • Main course: herb-crusted seabass in Beurre Blanc sauce with mashed potatoes, haricots verts, and pickled celery
  • Dessert: Calamansi citrus mousse with crème anglaise

An hour before landing, a light meal will be presented, with all course served immediately on the same tray.  An example is:

  • Appetizer: grilled vegetable salad
  • Main course: steak sandwich with cheese and onions, served with mustard, mayonnaise, and gherkins
  • Dessert: moelleux au chocolate

Entertainment

Every Business Class seat is furnished with a large 18, 5-inch high-resolution TV screen that can be controlled by either employing the handheld wired controller fitted on the armrest or using the touchscreen model.

There is also a tiny screen on the controller where you can watch a different program like the flight map. KLM provides over and above 1000 hours of communicative entertainment in several languages like Spanish, Korean, German, English, Portuguese, Japanese, French, Chinese, Arabic, and Dutch.

You can also access various movie picks from world cinema movies, classics and recent releases. You could as well view numerous kids’ channels, games, CDs, audiobooks, language courses, and TV shows.

Review of Flying Blue, the regular flyer program of Air France & KLM

In 2005, when Air France and KLM were merged, their regular flyer programs were fused into a fresh loyalty program known as Flying Blue. Numerous airlines in the Air France-KLM household now employ the Flying Blue program, together with Tarom, Aircalin and Kenya Airways (of which KLM is a foremost shareholder).

Every month, there are new registrations on Flying Blue by fresh members as it is recognized as one of the top regular flyer programs worldwide. However, you can benefit from the flying blue program by following the guidelines as explained below in this write-up:Description: https://i0.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FB-1.jpg?resize=678%2C382&ssl=1

Flying Blue Elite Levels

The Flying Blue loyalty program is comprised of four different elite levels that you could climb up to. The levels rank from the Ivory, Silver; Gold and Platinum levels with the top level being the Platinum and the Ivory level being the entry or first level.

There are different benefits, accrued to every level and this increases in worth as you climb higher up. Your membership level is based on Experience Points, which are also referred to as “XP” in abbreviations.

You obtain XP once you purchase tickets and board any Air France, KLM or their partners’ flights in the SkyTeam Alliance. However, the amount of XP is also dependent on your flight class and the covered distance.

Description: https://i2.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/flying-blue-xp-scale.jpg?resize=678%2C151&ssl=1

Ivory status

Ivory is the beginner’s level and gives you some benefits after you just sign up for the Flying Blue program. These benefits include the following:

  • There is a €10 deduction on the first piece of funded check-in luggage on KLM and Air France flights
  • There is also a 10% slash on booking the desired seat in the Economy Class (courtesy at check-in)
  • You can also acquire 4 miles for every Euro spent.

Silver status

You will attain the silver status is after amassing 100 XP every year. Flying Blue Silver members are equal to Elite members of the SkyTeam Alliance. They enjoy the benefits listed below:

  • An extra 50 % elite mileage (6 miles for every Euro spent)
  • Precedence check-in and luggage drop-off
  • Courtesy standard seat preference
  • Twenty-five percent off booking a chosen seat in the Economy Class (courtesy at check-in)
  • Superior accessibility of Business Class reward tickets
  • Accessibility to First Class reward tickets and reward advancements with Air France
  • One additional unrestricted checked bag to the luggage provision specified on your ticket
  • Entree to a high-class booking service
  • Lounge admittance is probable for a payment

Gold status

You will attain the gold status after amassing 180 XP for every1-year. Flying Blue Gold members are equal to Elite Plus members of the SkyTeam Alliance. Thus, they enjoy the benefits listed below:

  • Courtesy standard seat preference
  • 50% off booking a chosen seat in Economy Class (courtesy at One extra 75% elite mileage (7 miles for every Euro expended)
  • Precedence check-in and luggage drop-off
  • Right of the way at security and immigration
  • Precedence boarding check-in
  • Superior accessibility of Business Class reward tickets
  • Accessibility to First Class reward tickets and reward progressions with Air France
  • One additional unrestricted checked bag to the luggage provision specified on your ticket
  • Entree to a high-class booking service
  • Courtesy entree to every lounge possessed by the SkyTeam Alliance
  • Unrestricted movement between Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle via Le Bus Direct

Platinum status

The platinum status is attained after amassing 300 XP every year. Flying Blue Platinum members are equal to Elite Plus members of the SkyTeam Alliance. Thus, they enjoy the benefits listed below:

  • An extra 100% elite mileage (8 miles for every Euro expended)
  • Precedence check-in and luggage drop-off
  • Right of the way at immigration and security
  • Precedence embarking
  • Courtesy standard and desired seat choice
  • Superior accessibility of Business Class reward tickets
  • Accessibility to First Class reward tickets and reward progressions with Air France
  • One additional unrestricted checked bag to the luggage provision specified on your ticket
  • Entree to a high-class Platinum service line
  • Courtesy entree to every lounge possesses by the SkyTeam Alliance
  • Unrestricted moves between Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle via Le Bus Direct

How To Get Flying Blue Miles In The Air

Flying Blue allows you to get two kinds of miles: The first is the already discussed ‘XP’ that defines your status, and the ‘award redeemable miles’, which could be traded for various prizes.

Experience Points (XP)

Experience Points (XP) defines your status level and is centered on the kinds of flight and cabin class you maintain when flying on any of the airlines in the SkyTeam Alliance. For instance, if you fly on a Business Class aboard a return flight that originates in Amsterdam and lands in New York-JFK, you get 60XP.

However, if you fly on an Economy Class aboard a direct flight originating in Nairobi and terminating at Oslo through Paris-Charles de Gaulle, you get 15 XP.

Onsets for elite membership are 100 XP, 180 XP and 300 XP for Silver, Gold, and Platinum statuses respectively, and all XP must be gotten within a year. You obtain a fresh membership card immediately you are eligible for an upper membership level.

Award redeemable miles

One could say that the Award redeemable miles are the legal tender in the Flying Blue program. They are gotten additionally, to XP when you travel on an aircraft owned by a SkyTeam alliance airline or another airline partnering with Flying Blue airline.

These miles could be traded for numerous prodigious prizes. The quantity of award miles you get is determined by your boarded airline and your status.

For Air France, KLM, JOON, and HOOP, these award redeemable miles are centered on your expenditure instead of the miles covered. The least quantity of miles you get for each euro expended is 4 (exclusive of government-enforced fees and taxes), and the greater your elite status, the further you get award redeemable miles.

Description: https://i2.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2017-11-06-at-8.04.36-AM.png?resize=678%2C161&ssl=1

If you board a partner airline’s aircraft or if you are a SkyTeam member, you get award redeemable miles for your elite status, the reservation subclass, and the distance covered.

The distance you traveled is multiplied with the earning percentage of the elite bonus and the earning percentage of the booking sub-class, and these numbers are added up:

Award redeemable miles = (distance in miles x earning % of an elite status level) + (distance in miles x earning % of the booking class).

The Flying Blue’s Miles Calculator is available to you if you wish to check the number of miles you could get with your ticket. Flying Blue is a grand regular flyer program as it permits you to get (and also expend) miles with many partner airlines:

XP and award eligible miles could be gotten on every one of the 20 airlines in the SkyTeam Alliance, that all benefit from high-flying statuses for excellence service.

These carriers include Xiamen Air, Tarom, Middle East Airlines, Kenya Airways, Delta Air Lines, China Southern, China Eastern, Alitalia, Air Europa, AerolíneasArgentinas, Vietnam Airlines, Saudia, Korean Air, KLM, Garuda Indonesia, Czech Airlines, Air France, Aeromexico, Aeroflot and China Airlines.

You could also acquire XP and award redeemable miles by flying on various non-SkyTeam alliance airlines that partners with Flying Blue. These airlines comprise Chalair Aviation, Air Corsica, and Aircalin.

You could also get award redeemable miles (but not XP) by flying on various non-SkyTeam alliance airlines that partners with Flying Blue. These airlines comprise Westjet, Twin Jet, Jet Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines, Japan Airlines, Copa Airlines, Wijet, Transavia, Ukraine International Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, GOL, and Air Mauritius.

You are not able to get miles and at the same time utilize Flying Blue miles on Bangkok Airways.

Description: https://i2.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SKYTEAM.jpg?resize=678%2C197&ssl=1

Earning flying blue miles on the ground

The potentials to get award redeemable miles and enhance your account are infinite in the Flying program, even when you are not airborne, by utilizing its numerous partners:

You can also obtain miles when you lodge at a partner hotel with Flying Blue. This would be regularly about 500 to 1000 miles for every hotel you lodge. The only thing you need to do is to provide the check-in personnel with your SkyMiles card digit.

Some hotel loyalty programs permit you to convert your hotel points into Flying Blue miles. These programs comprise Starwood Preferred Guests, IHG Rewards Club, Hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards, World of Hyatt, and Best Western Rewards.

Starwood Preferred Guest – their loyalty program has the most excellent exchange program as it permits you to exchange your Star points with Flying Blue award redeemable miles in the ratio 1:1, together with an additional 5000 conversion when you exchange 20,000 Starpoints.

Flying Blue members get award redeemable miles each moment they lease a vehicle from one of the top car lease firms, as well as Europcar, Thrifty, Sixt, Avis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Driving Blue, Budget, and Herz. The precise number of miles you get for a car leasing relies on the firm you are making the lease from and varies from 50 to 500 miles for each day.

Members get 3 miles for every Euro expended in the KLM and Air France online store. You will also get a double quantity of miles on your foremost procurement to give you a grand reception.

There are numerous items, goods, and equipment you can procure in the KLM online store and the Air France online store.  These ranges from luggage materials, pens of different designs and makes, travel and excursion related objects, tableware, electronic gadgets, watches, clothing of various designs, etc.

You could make use of your miles to purchase whatever items you find and desire from the online shops. On their online platform Shop@KLM, members get 2 award redeemable miles for each Euro expended on tax-free purchases.

You could opt for the goods you have purchased to be delivered on your flight as part of your luggage or to be transported to any location you wish for worldwide. Flying Blue members could as well pay for these products procured on Shop@KLM by the use of their miles.

Members get 750 award redeemable miles in the event of them signing up or subscribing for six months to obtain one or several magazines and newspapers totaling above 300. Additionally, they have the benefit of a 50% reduction from in-store costs.

This opportunity is only accessible by Flying Blue members who have a functional postal address in the municipal part of France and is restricted to 4 magazines for every member in a year. Members also get miles for cultural tours in France and The Netherlands (e.g. wine tasting, cruises on the Seine, museum visits, etc …).

Flying Blue proposes as well the opportunity to purchase tens of thousands of miles straightforwardly without flying, which could be a fascinating alternative to look at if your mileage account, is presently deficient of an award ticket. Miles could be bought in units of 2,000, starting from €55.

Ivory members can buy a maximum of 75,000 award miles every year. Elite members can purchase a limitless amount of award miles. Promotions are frequently initiated where you obtain bonus miles on top the purchased miles.

Members can considerably boost their Flying Blue mileage procurement with credit card expenditure:

You could carry out points transfer from the American Express Rewards Programs to Flying Blue. The least number of Membership Rewards points necessary to transfer your points into your Flying Blue account is 625 points.

Immediately the transfer of Membership Rewards points is confirmed, it is no longer allowed to trade Flying Blue Award Miles for Membership Rewards points. You would also need up to 3 full days for points transfer to be completed.

One of the quickest methods to get Flying Blue miles is via a Flying Blue co-branded credit card (accessible by only European members). These credit cards as well grant substantial bonus miles after you have made your foremost procurement (even though it is not comparable to the generous signup bonuses granted by the USA branded regular flyer programs credit cards).

Spending flying blue miles on free travel

The most suitable method to expend your Flying Blue miles is to renew your miles and get unpaid flights on KLM, Air France or one of its (SkyTeam) partner airlines to almost 1,000 locations in the world. The amount of Miles you’ll require relies on the flexibility of your travel time, travel class and your destination.

There are four various kinds of award tickets:

Promo Awards

Promo Awards are a unique variety of destinations that are presented for an abridged amount of miles. You could make reservations for these award tickets up to three months before your scheduled travel time.

This would even let you save up to 50% on the miles you would usually require for a Classic Award. Ensure you frequently verify the Promo Awards, for the reason that there is a monthly update of the destinations list there is and restricted availability.

Classic Awards

Classic Awards are flight tickets you could make flights reservation for with KLM, Air France, and whichever of their airline partners to every destination in return for award miles. You could get the necessary amount of miles in the Flying Blue online calculator.

Certainly, you’ll expend more quantity of miles for a ticket in Business Class than for an Economy Class ticket. It is probable to merge several airline partners and flights on a ticket as long as the transfer duration among the flights is lesser than a day. Classic Awards may be altered for a € 45 payment or canceled.

Description: https://i1.wp.com/theluxurytravelexpert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FLYING-BLUE-AWARD-CHART.jpg?resize=678%2C231&ssl=1

Flex Awards

Flex Awards are tickets that provide you with further flexibility in your travel dates. They could also be altered at no cost lest there is a change in your travel plans. You certainly require a lot of miles to make reservations for them (regularly two or three times greater than classic award).

Round-the-World Awards

Round-the-World Awards are tickets that let you make arrangements for your very own worldwide journey reliant on every destination presented by KLM, Air France, and other SkyTeam airlines. The ticket might consist of a blend of SkyTeam airlines and it is probable to stop over at 6 locations in the world and 3 on the same continent.

Tickets consist of feeder flights from Europe; hence you could be capable of back-tracking to/from the flight origin. A global ticket is priced at 350,000 miles in Business Class and 140,000 or 280,000 miles (conditional on booking class) in Economy Class.

You should get in touch with the Flying Blue Service Centre in writing no less than 2 weeks ahead of the departure date if you wish to make reservations for these tickets. In addition to free flights redemption, there are some extra means you could exchange your Flying Blue miles:

You could expend your miles on different flight-related services, for instance booking a seat with more legroomshopping in the air, extra baggage allowancelounge access, or onboard a la carte dining (on only Air France).

Beginning from 7,500 award miles, you could advance your ticket and savor the comfort and luxury of Business Class. Upgraded awards could be demanded for flights with Delta Air Lines, Aircalin, Kenya Airways, KLM, Air France, and chosen SkyTeam airlines.

The number of award miles you require for an upgrade award could be viewed here (although you require a Flying Blue account login) and is dependent on the airline handling your flight, your original booking class and the destination you are flying to.

The number of miles you get for the flight is dependent on the situation of your initially procured ticket. Upgrade awards are constantly subject to the equal vacancy of award seats, and it is not possible to upgrade from Business to First Class.

Flying Blue members could use their award miles by lodging at more than 300,000 properties, autonomous boutiques and grand resorts with PointsHound. To go about this, the first step you take is to log in on your Flying Blue account, choose your destination and there will be numerous hotel opportunities at grand prices.

If you utilize the ‘Cash & Miles’ payment selection, then you could get discounted reservations for your subsequent holiday booking via your Miles. Flying Blue members can trade their miles for car rentals, magazines, cultural experiences, and newspapers.

Flying Blue members can as well make miles transfers to family and friends, provided that they are members of the Flying Blue program. You can transfer at most, 50,000 miles in one transfer and you are charged €3 for every 250 miles. Such transfers could be done on their webpage.

Miles donation is a way of making the world better for all so you are welcomed to donate your miles to charity homes.

The Best and Worst Flying Blue Redemptions

The promo awards issued by KLM and Air France that are released on a monthly basis are the ideal deal for your Flying Blue award redeemable miles.

Even though the dates can be somewhat constraining and the booking window at a flashpoint, you would be saving about 25-50% of the total miles for any route even when you decide to fly in a Business Class.

One other nice Flying Blue program redemption is the 15,000 miles flight from the US to Hawaii in an Economy Class ticket.

Flying Blue places an incredibly high price for its First Class award tickets. But then, you’ll have to book irrespective of these stupendous charges if you are seeking to fly the Air France First Class. This is due to the fact that Air France only makes available its First Class award seat to the members of the Flying Blue elite.

It is not a wise use of mile to pay the high price of flying the First Class of Air France on a partner airline. Booking seats via the partner Airline or a SkyTeam member having good First Class redemptions is also not a wise use of miles and this is especially true when you are moving your miles from a transfer program.

The Advantage of Flying Blue

It is possible to redeem miles and make some money using the program’s plethora of partner airlines. These partner airlines include the vast majority of SkyTeam partners (Aeroflot, AeroMexico, Aerolineas Argentina, Air Europe, Alitalia, Air France, China Airlines, China Southern, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Delta, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, KLM, Saudia, Middle East Airlines, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines) also, there are some airline carriers that are not part of SkyTeam partners.

  1. They include (Air Mauritius, GOL, Copa Airlines, Japan Airlines, TAAG Angola Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, Twin Jet, Transavia, Jet Airways, Westjet, Malaysia Airlines, and Wijet). The implication of this is that you can spend your miles and earn using a large number of airlines traveling to close to a thousand destinations in the world.
  2. The most important benefit of using the Flying Blue program is the fact that it releases promo awards on a monthly basis and also lets you book emergency award redemptions on Air France and KLM for the 25-50% price slash for the needed miles (plus availability is also an advantage). Endeavor to frequently check the Promo Awards. This is because the destination lists are updated every month.
  3. Flying Blue also gives women the opportunity to retain their membership level when they are on their maternity leave.
  4. One other advantage of Flying Blue is the freedom it gives you to retain award ticket reservations for two days (Even when you have no miles in your account) or you can pay a little sum and hold the ticket reservations for half a month. This can be helpful to you when you are drafting your travel plans but the details are not very clear. It is all the more fascinating for members that are interested in transferring points in the account they hold with Flying Blue. Chase transfers and American Express are usually prompt in their operations. This means that you have the freedom of finding the award seats you desire, retain them and move the points and approve the reservation.
  5. Flying Blue lets for straightforward award tickets.
  6. Also, for the same geographical location, Flying Blue permits open-jaw award tickets. This means that you can travel from Paris and move to Amsterdam (same region). This does not apply to different geographical regions. For example, you cannot fly from Europe and fly into Africa.
  7. Flying Blue lets for a break on award tickets. But you cannot book stop-overs online.
  8. Members holding the Platinum membership for 10 consecutive years are eligible to retain it for their entire lifetime without any need to renew the elite status yearly.
  9. They also provide a lot of unstinting amount of extra miles to its very important member. For Platinum member holders, they are eligible to earn an extra 100% of the bonus, Gold members are eligible for an extra of 75% bonus while Silver members are eligible for an extra of 50% bonus plus the base miles they earn when touring with KLM, Air France, and their airline partners.
  10. Also, the company creates a lot of available space on KLM and Air France flights for their elite members than they create for their airline partners.
  11. The search engine of Flying Blue found on the official website of Air France and KLM is arguably the best online tool to book and find SkyTeam award seats.
  12. Fuel cost that applies for the award tickets of Air France and KLM Economy Class are minimal.
  13. Air France’s award seats for their First Class cabin stands out as one of the best First Class materials on earth. The elite members are the only ones available for this Flying Blue program. This sets the program a class of its own.
  14. Flying Blue offers a very inexpensive mainland Hawaii to/from USA award seats for its Economy Class (roughly about a ten-hour flight or a distance of 15,000 miles from Honolulu to New York). Flights are usually worked out by Delta or Alaska airlines.
  15. Another interesting thing about Flying blue is the fact that it is the only one offering entrance to its members, the round the world ticket awards.
  16. Flying Blue aims to introduce Miles and Cash in June 2018 that will allow you to redeem cash and miles towards a ticket’s price. You would be able to pay for 25% of your ticket cost with cash.

The Disadvantages of Flying Blue

  1. The ability to redeem miles for Air France La Premiere is only exclusive for their elite members. Flying Blue ivory members plus those enrolled for the programs of partner airlines are not eligible for the First Class award seats.
  2. Also, Flying Blue charges a very expensive price for the number of miles meant for the First Class award ticket. This is irrespective of whether it is for a partner airline or Air France.

It is truly a waste of mile for you to pay the high cost of flying the First Class award seat instead of booking those seats via another SkyTeam member with nice First Class redemptions or that partner. This is particularly true when moving miles from a transfer program.

  1. Also, those with partner awards do not have the eligibility to be booked within two weeks to when departure is expected.
  2. Fuel cost for First class and Business Class award redemptions are incredibly high.
  3. Flying Blue does not allow for mixed cabin redemptions. For example, a feeder flight on the Economy Class in Europe linking to an International Business Class flight.
  4. The search engine of the Flying Blue award indicates phantom award space. This means that when you need to book an award by transferring points to your Flying Blue account, you don’t have to rely on the website’s message or award’s availability. All you have to do is to end the award before transferring points.
  5. When there are no account credit award-earning flights for a period of 20 months, then miles are doomed to expire.
  6. It is rather unfortunate that UK and U.S. residents are not eligible for the credit cards of Flying Blue. But then, a lot of the big credit card transfer programs (for example American Express, Chase) have partnered with Flying Blue as their transfer partner.
  7. The elite members of Flying Blue do not get upgrade vouchers. This is contrary to Delta, American Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways that give their elite members 2-6 upgrade vouchers every year.
  8. Lastly, Flying Blue is an income-based program where its members earn on miles instead of distance flown.

Some interesting facts about KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is one of the top airlines in the Netherlands with the headquarters situated in Amstelveen and hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

It was established in the year 1919 and is highly recognized for being the oldest airline in the world that still functions using the same name since its establishment.

Another unique feature of this airline is that it has a fleet of 119 aircraft, which ensures it’s rated among the best in Europe with regards to performance and fuel efficiency.

The airline boasts of many jets which include the Boeing aircraft and the three (3) cargo jets which are Boeing 747-400ERF.KLM, the airline also has eight (8) Airbus A330-200 and five (5) Airbus A330-300, one of which will be positioned on the new route.

KLM has four subsidiaries which are KLM Cityhopper, KLM Asia, Martinair, and Transavia that makes it easy for its customers to book the flight across the globe.  Presently KLM is available to about 140 destinations in 70 countries and more than five continents.

Using Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles for Delta Air Lines Flights

KLM and Air France are both using Flying Blue as their frequent flier program because each of them is the subsidiary company of the other. When you have some Flying Blue miles, one of your best decisions is to book your flight using their subsidiary company, the Delta Air Lines.

Listed below are a few reasons why it might be best using your flying blue miles in the subsidiary company, ‘Delta Air Lines:

Cheap Award Price

Following the leads of Delta’s Air Line, KLM now deployed the dynamic award pricing instead of the award charts. However, travelers still enjoy reasonable award prices for using Delta-operated flights. Listed below are some convincing packages:

  • Flights from the United States Mainland to Hawaii for seventeen thousand five hundred in economy class, pricing on Delta starts from twenty-two thousand five hundred miles.
  • Flight from the United States to Mexico in the economic class is fourteen thousand five hundred miles. Pricing on Delta starts from seventeen thousand five hundred miles.
  • Flights from the United States to Europe in economy price starts from twenty-five to twenty-nine thousand miles, and seventy-two thousand for business class. Pricing on Delta starts from thirty thousand for economy class and eighty-two thousand for those in business class.
  • Flights from the United States to North Africa and Israel’s price starts at the same price as Europe whereas on Delta economy class, the pricing begin at thirty thousand miles for the United States to North Africa and Israel for thirty-five thousand miles in economy class.

For business class, the pricing starts at eighty-five thousand miles to Israel and seventy thousand miles to North Africa. Aside the economy flights to Hawaii, most of the local flights have higher pricing rates compared to Delta’s lowest prices.

This same high pricing is also observed in routes that are regarded as ‘sweet sports’ until Flying Blue was modernized, such as the United States – the Caribbean and commercial class from the United States to Hawaii.

No Close-in Reservation Fees or Additional charges

Delta airline doesn’t add any extra fees for close-in reservation but raises the number of miles needed. When you use the Flying Blue miles to book Delta flights, it will allow you to avoid those mileage extra charges and you won’t need to pay additional fees.

Most Delta flights add no additional fuel charges

Both the Air France and KLM charge extra fuel pricing traveling miles on their flights usually 200-300 US dollars on a round-trip journey.

But, many Delta flights don’t charge fuel surcharges. An example is KLM pricing of twenty thousand miles in February for a flight from New York to Paris and additional 81.56 US dollar taxation and surcharges.

On the other hand, Delta charges only $10.10 for 25,000 miles. However, there are additional fuel charges for Delta operated flights in Europe. But a round trip to Europe from the United States may not experience the same problem.

Transfer Points from the four subsidiaries of Flying Blue Transferable Points Programs

The four major transferable points programs, that is, the American Express Membership Rewards (AEMR), Citi ThankYou points, the new Marriott Rewards and finally the Chase Ultimate Rewards (CUR) programs, American Express, Citi, and Chase allow for the transfer of points at a one ratio one, that is, one point equivalents to one mile.

However, you are entitled to an extra twenty-five to thirty percent bonus miles on American Express and Citi during their promotion time. Points transfer in the new Marriott Rewards program transfers in three ratios one, in which three thousand Marriott points equal one thousand Flying Blue miles – and you will be rewarded with five thousand bonus miles for every sixty thousand miles transferred.

How to Book Delta flights with Flying Blue miles

It is not difficult to book delta flights with the use of Flying Blue miles. You just need to visit their website, klm.com or airfrance.us. We will be using the Air France website for example because of its simplicity. Having opened the Air France homepage, you will see an icon “Use Your Miles” click on it.

Having done that you will be required to log-in to your account with them, after logging in, you will see where you will input your booking details, carefully fill all required details and click on search. You might be made to see a series of booking results for the particular dates you wished if you are lucky enough, but don’t be worry if what you get is a message that says no bookings are accessible.

Flying Blue has made it easy to check an entire month for flight availability. What you need to do is click on the box that says “You are looking for a flight around these dates”. Here, you will see a calendar showing the cheapest price in miles for a particular day. Click on the date of your choice, move down and then click on next and make your booking.

You will see different flight options here, the nonstop flights being listed first. You can always move down to see the connecting flights but if you are not satisfied with the nonstop option at the top. Select the charge of your desired flight, move down and then click on the return flight. Having selected the flights you wish to book, you then move to evaluate your tour summary, now select next to input your details and book.

Fundamentals for using Flying Blue Miles to book Delta flights

Though Flying Blue made some adjustments to their package, it provides the best substitute for Delta’s SkyMiles.

Before booking the Delta airline, you can compare their program prices to that of Flying Blue since both offer flexible award pricing.

Description: _FodorsAwards__BestUSAirline__Winner__Delta_DELTA_A350_D1_CAM15_NYT

Delta Air Lines vs. KLM: Comparison Details

In this section, you will see side by side comparison of the Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

  • Best for Gift Card Support

Delta airline offer gift cards support, whereas KLM Royal Dutch Airlines doesn’t provide gift card support currently.

  • Best for Pet Policy

Both Delta airline and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offer pet policy. However, Delta airline has the best pet policy

  • Best for Airlines Support

Both the Delta and KLM airlines support partner airlines.

  • Best Money-back Guarantee Policy

Delta Airlines offers a money-back guarantee policy. Also, KLM Royal Dutch airline offer the same policy to their esteemed customers.

  • Best Promo Code Support

Both Delta Airline and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offer their customers promotion codes.

  • Best Contact Information accessibility

The two airlines, Delta and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines provide their customers with their contact information.

  • Best Affiliate Programs provider

For affiliate programs, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the winner. While the airline offer does offer affiliate programs, the Delta airline doesn’t currently have such provisions.

  • Best PayPal Support

Delta Airlines doesn’t offer PayPal support at this time. The KLM Royal Dutch airline is the winner here. It offers PayPal support and accepts PayPal payments.

  • Best Website Security & Privacy Policies

The Delta airline doesn’t presently provide website security and privacy support. The KLM Royal Dutch Airline offers to their customer’s website security and privacy support.

  • Best Debit & Prepaid Card Support

Delta Airlines accepts debit & prepaid card payments. Likewise, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also supports debit and prepaid card payments

  • Best Free Return Policies

The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the winner here. The company offers free returns and exchanges while the Delta airline doesn’t.

  • Best International Shipping Policies

Unfortunately, both the Delta airline and the KLM Royal Dutch airlines don’t have international shipping policies in place at the moment.

  • Best Ethical Practices

Delta Airlines observe good ethical practices. The same applies to the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

  • Best Sales and Promotions practices

The Delta Air Lines offer support for sales events. The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines equally offer sales events.

  • Best Loyalty Programs

The Delta airline offers the best royalty program and it is the winner in this category, whereas the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is presently not offering loyalty programs.

  • Best Black Friday Promotions

The Delta Air Lines offer Black Friday deals and wins over the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines which doesn’t support Black Friday deals presently.

  • Best Military Discount Policies

The Delta Airline wins for military discounts. The company offers discounts to military personnel, whereas the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines don’t provide military discounts currently.

  • Best Cyber Monday sales

It is a tie. Delta Airlines provides Cyber Monday deals. Likewise, have a page dedicated to Cyber Monday deals.

  • Best Official Coupons Support

None of these two companies is a winner here. The two airlines, the Delta Airline and the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines don’t currently provide official coupons page.

  • Best Apple Pay Support

For apple pay support, Delta Airlines is the winner. Delta supports Apple Pay, whereas the KLM Royal Dutch airline currently does not have Apple Pay support.

  • Best Amazon Pay Support

It is a tie. Delta Airlines does not support Amazon Pay. Also, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have no such support.

  • Best Student Discount Policies

Delta Air Lines doesn’t give students discounts. At the same time, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines don’t provide any discount policy for students at this time.

  • Best Price Adjustment Policies

Delta Airlines does not provide price matching or adjustment currently. Equally, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines does not provide support for any price matching program at the moment.

  • Best Affirm Financing Support

Delta Airlines does not offer Affirm financing currently. Also, the KLM Royal Dutch airline doesn’t offer Affirm financing.

  • Best Senior Discount Policies

Delta Airlines is a winner here. While it offers a discount to seniors that travel through Delta airline, the KLM Royal Dutch Airline doesn’t have such provision currently.

  • Best Birthday Discount Policies

Delta Airlines is the winner here. While Delta offers birthday discount policy, the KLM Royal Dutch airline has no such a provision at the moment.

  • Best Afterpay Financing Support

Delta Airlines doesn’t support Afterpay financing presently and also the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines don’t take the Afterpay financing option.

  • Best Teacher Discount Policies

The Delta Airline doesn’t currently have such provision as the teacher discounts. Equally, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines lacks such teachers discount policy program.

  • Best QuadPay Financing Support

Regrettably, the two airlines, the Delta airline and KLM Royal Dutch airlines do not support QuadPay financing.

  • Best Sezzle Financing Support

Delta Airlines does not support currently supports Sezzle financing and the same applies to the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines which equally doesn’t support Sezzle financing for the time being.

  • Best Competitor Coupon Policies

Delta Airlines does not support competitor coupons currently. Equally, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines doesn’t presently support competitor coupons.

  • Best AARP Discount Policies

Delta Airlines does not provide AARP discounts currently. Likewise, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines does not offer AARP discounts.

  • Best Coupon Stacking Policies

Both the Delta airline and the KLM Royal Dutch airline do not presently allow their customers to engage in coupon stacking.

The Best Airline for Plus-Sized Passengers

Delta Airlines has one of the largest cabin seats ever available. However, they are not available on each one of their airplanes. If you’re are looking for cabins with extra legroom in the economy class, you will get 18 inches wide with 31 or 32 inches of legroom if you fly on Delta’s Airbus planes. You should be able to check the airplane you would be flying in when you are booking for your tickets.

The Delta Airbus planes have sufficient legroom. They equally have free seat belt extenders and a fleet-wide policy that does force passengers who require more room to pay for a second seat. The cabin crew will rather move you next to an empty seat or permit you to upgrade to the first-class cabin or business class.

The Best Airline for Pets: KLM Vs. Delta

Although KLM has pets’ policy, Delta wins as the best airline for pets. The airline welcomes a broad range of pets. Besides, dogs and cats, Delta equally allow household birds to fly as carry-on only if you have a small kennel for them which easily fits into a seat in your front. Also, the pet must be at least 10 weeks old.

Besides, the airline doesn’t charge a lot. You only pay 125 dollars for pets on domestic flights and pay 200 dollars on international flights. Additionally, if you’re flying to Brazil, you’d be paying only 75 dollars for pets.

The Best for Wine & Cocktail Connoisseurs: Delta Vs. KLM

KLM airline is popular for its friendly staff, flawless service, and plenty of legroom for business class. They equally delight their passengers with exclusive selections of beverages. Also, all-business-class seat passengers on KLM receive a gift of a small Delft Blue house with genever. This contains a delightful Dutch gin. You don’t find such gifts anywhere except on a KLM flight.

The loveliest thing about the gifts is that they are designed as a mock-up of an existing house in the Netherlands. Presently, they have 99 types of houses. Frequent flyers who are not restricted by the budget may get a different Delft Blue House each time they fly for one of the most high-class varieties of Gotta Catch ‘em All.

FAQS

1. What are the finest Business Class seats on KLM’s A330-300?

You can choose any of the seats in the cabin. They are good except for the seats in the foremost and last row. This is particularly true for traveling couples. Ensure you book your seat before time online. You can choose your preferred seat online free of charge. Booking early saves you from unwarranted disappointments given that QA flights are frequently entirely packed.

2. What are the poorest Business Class seats on KLM’s A330-300?

The 2-2-2 Business Class seat configuration makes the cabin less attractive for single travelers because it makes you to constantly sit close to strangers. However, the paired seats have a tiny screen that divides them to provide passengers extra privacy.

3. Which should I go for, Delta Vs? KLM better?

The majority of long haul flights on delta have a seat layout configuration of 2–4–2 or 2–3–2. This implies that you have only two seats by the side. This configuration of Delta seat is better than the KLM’s 3–4–3 or 3–3–3 configurations on long haul flights. Also, the Seats on Delta’s long-haul airplanes are a bit broader than the space on KLM long haul travel equipment.

4. Is flying with KLM airline cost-effective?

Flying with KLM is considered cost-effective and budget-friendly. You get served with meals while onboard. It is not sufficient to tag an airline as a full-service airline just because it offers customers free water and sandwich aboard.

5. Are KLM and Delta Partners?

Yes, both KLM and Delta airlines are partners. They belong to SkyTeam partnership and airlines that belong to the SkyTeam aside KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,and Delta include the following: Aeroflot, Aerolíneas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen.

Does KLM airline offer reliable airline services?

The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is a great and reliable airline. The airline staffs are attentive, welcoming and responsive. Their complimentary snacks and meals are equally fantastic.

Conclusion: KLM vs Delta

Delta is the best airline if you are shopping for a long-haul flight. While the economy class of the two airlines is roughly the same. If you require additional legroom, the two companies make paid provisions of legroom allowance. The extra legroom offer on the Delta airline is referred to as Delta Comfort+.

Also, both KLM and Delta airlines are associates of the SkyTeam alliance. The two airlines also formed a cooperative venture with Air France, and the implication of this is that each of the carriers can sell seats on the flights or each other and jointly share the proceeds.

The two airlines; Delta and KLM also belong to the same JV agreement. Therefore, their airfares are nearly the same. The two companies equally offer their customers a good standard service.

So, the best airline for your specific needs should be based more on which schedule and route are more convenient for you. Take factors like departure and arrival time, together with the number of connections and their duration and other related factors to determine which is best for your travel needs.

Bottom Line Summary: Delta (Expedia / OneTravel) offers a better premium experience with Delta One, more middle tier pricing options, and slightly lower transatlantic fares in most cases. That said, if flying from Europe or within Europe, KLM tends to have more connecting flights to regional hubs.

Further Reading on Air Travel Options (Domestic & International):