Some brief thoughts on Sky Team

Happy Sunday V-Flyers!

So it’s been a little while that VS has been part of Sky Team. When they joined, I thought - well, this can only be a good thing. And I wanted to share some of my experiences so far.

The good

Air France/KLM tier points have posted faster than flights on VS metal.

Air France onboard service & food is BRILLIANT

Short haul flights via CDG/AMS in Business earn 40 tier points each. So as long as you don’t mind transferring, you can easily net 160 tier points on a European short haul trip for £500-600. (Ex LON>CDG>XXX).

Was welcomed on all Air France flights as a Sky Team Elite. Nice given some VS FSMs don’t even bother with that!

Obviously the route network options have opened a ton of possibilities we didn’t have before. I have a multi stop trip in the summer with AF that wouldn’t have been possible with VS but will earn 300+ tier points.

The bad

AMS is still in a bit of disarray.
Dealing with the passport control side of things post brexit for a short haul transfer is a bit of a faff.

The ugly

Air France direct phone booking is a nightmare. Sometimes takes like an hour on hold. WhatsApp service is no better. Payment and ticketing systems are still Operating in 1997 it feels like. Makes you really appreciate the VS Gold line.

Interested to hear other people’s experiences too.

Do you have some examples of the good TP earning runs? I just pinged some random routes / dates into the Air France website & was coming up with return fares of close on £1000 each for indirect EU routes via CDG (in Business).

To be honest, on the service aspect at least I’m not sure you could justify flying Business Class with any major European airline on a short-haul flight.

Do you have some examples of the good TP earning runs? I just pinged some random routes / dates into the Air France website & was coming up with return fares of close on £1000 each for indirect EU routes via CDG (in Business).

I tried BCN, PRG and LIS in November this year all coming in around £620 or thereabouts. Not cheap for sure, but find me a VS route where you can get 160 tier points for that price. You do have to do a 2 night stay otherwise AF only offers the Business Flex option which is more expensive.

To be honest, on the service aspect at least I’m not sure you could justify flying Business Class with any major European airline on a short-haul flight.

100% agree VS075. I think European short haul needs some serious innovation. Heck, the US carriers do this product much better. But alas, getting 160 tier points for a reasonable price can make it interesting for anyone needing to juice up their VS tier point balance IMO.

Do you have some examples of the good TP earning runs? I just pinged some random routes / dates into the Air France website & was coming up with return fares of close on £1000 each for indirect EU routes via CDG (in Business).

I just had to go to Nantes for work. There were no direct flights from LBA, so I did LBA-AMS-NTE in business for about £565. I carry a portfolio with art in it, so business is a must as they never try to take it away from me (it's an unusual shape compared to most carry ones!)

My Sky Team experience thus far has been largely positive.

Things I like:
• our closest local airport is LBA; now with KLM we have so many options as long as we don't mind a layover in AMS. For US flights we still always use VS as we're not too far from MAN, and we don't mind occasionally departing from LHR, either.
• TP earning has become much easier for us. We are flying to Mexico and Japan this year and will earn TP.
• Food on KLM flights is really good!

Things I don't like:
• no matter what I do, we have to chase TP from KLM after 90% of flights. Only once did they post, after a trip to Tokyo, but ONLY the LBA-AMS legs. I had to claim for the AMS-NRT sections.

I recently flew EDI > CDG >BOG and then returned CTG > AMS>EDI

Colombia is a wonderful place to visit and I used LATAM for internal flights in PE to MED and then onto CTG. A good product with flexibility to refund or reschedule and around £80 each leg with blocked middle seat, refreshments, priority checkin, hold luggage etc

Air France out and KLM back and both experiences in business were great. I am VS gold so got Sky Team Elite plus benefits and unexpectedly got to pick my seats on all legs for free. Is that a benefit?

So far only the 40 TP plus miles for the final leg AMS > EDI have appeared on my account so I will have to chase. The two long haul legs booked in O so I wonder if that means no TP (I think it was a Business Light fare)

Now rebooking for next year and I am being asked to pay an extra £136 each way to pick long haul seat. Does VS Gold / Elite plus not get to choose seats on AF or KLM?

To follow up I booked again for next July on KLM (I had the Amex AF and KLM offers on different cards)
Flights were around £260 cheaper on the KLM/AF apps than on the websites. After booking I logged into the KLM website with the booking code and was able to book seats on all 4 legs for free. (EDI>AMS>BOG and then return)

Again I chose the Business Light fare and have been booked into J for the EDI legs with TP and O for the transatlantic flights so no TP there.

At £1902 return less £150 from Amex that feels pretty good.

We have had some amazing journeys recently on Air France and KLM business.

In the past 2 years we have done:

MAN-CDG-BCN - Air France
BCN-CDG-MAN - Air France

MAN-CDG - Air France
CDG - AMS - MAN - KLM (due to cancelled AF flights for that day)

MAN-AMS-MUC - KLM
MUC-AMS-MAN - KLM

Food and service (including the lounges) have been perfect. No issues whatsoever.