Due to hit Skyteam Elite Plus by end of the year and just wandering if anyone in this forum has any status with Skyteam? And from your experiences what are some pros/cons holding it based in AU? I'm specifically based in SYD. Is it worth attaining long term?
Relatively useless in Australia, too few carriers from Skyteam. I have status on Korean, which is an airline I enjoy flying with and has a convenient timing for me out of Brisbane, but the flight is never full so the guaranteed seat perk is redundant and I am never flying another a Skyteam carrier so the lounge access perk is moot as well. And not enough carriers to book great reward flights out of Australia (though if booking flights overseas only, I find skypass a great program and skyteam a great alliance to redeem on)
I'll probably be flying China Southern a bit in the future, so maybe it will change. At least you have Delta out of Sydney, so let m know how it goes for you.
Due to hit Skyteam Elite Plus by end of the year and just wandering if anyone in this forum has any status with Skyteam? And from your experiences what are some pros/cons holding it based in AU? I'm specifically based in SYD. Is it worth attaining long term?
Thoughts?
Cheers.
Which airline do you hold status with? We can't be much help without knowing that and where you're planning to travel.
I find one of the biggest downsides to be the lack of lounge access on domestic flights, particularly given the length of some domestic flights (especially in the US, Russia, and closer to Australia, even Vietnam).
It's rubbish that you can literally be a top-tier frequent flyer, and yet your 'reward' when you fly on domestic itineraries with SkyTeam is to walk past the lounge and sit out in the terminal to wait for your flight.
Of course, if you primarily take international flights, or (overseas) domestic flights connecting to same-day international flights, lounge access isn't usually a problem. :)
Evil Muppet, I'm assuming the cookie monster because he doesn't share, raises a good point... Which airline with Skyteam? I don't recall seeing much about them on here.. Chris is there a post comparing the Skyteam Loyalty Programs on here? I'd be very interested in checking it out.
I actually recall their are p lenty of skyteam carriers flying out of SYD. Delta, Vietnam, Garuda, Korean, China southern, China Eastern, Xiamen, China airlines. 8 carriers are plenty to choose from and I think the destinations number direct flight would be 11/12. Some airlines offer double daily as well. CI is going A350 double daily from December, CZ might be double daily from CAN.
Domestic lounge access only if you have an international flight book within 24hr of the domestic flight.
I am CI emerald member Australian Expat hometown BNE.
Yeah reason why i've recently got status with Skyteam is because of the routing esp with Vietnam Airlines - i travelled recently to Vietnam and Japan (Tokyo and Osaka). Due to fly China Southern in December to BKK via CAN. So have found their routes and timings to be perfect for me.
You're right @tris06 - since flying my first time with Skyteam have done a bit of research and found there are actually a good variety of airlines and routes available for international travel.
I know it would almost be useless for domestic travel in AU - which is where my QFF kicks in.
I'm a platinum (Skyteam Elite plus) with Garuda based in SYD. I use lots of the skytem carriers to China and the UK. I like the alliance and feel they try harder than my NZ Elite with star alliance or Gold with QF (oneworld) I always get reward flights no problem. Lots of choice out of SYD. VN GA DL KA China southern, eastern ..... In reality if you are travelling J or P it does not make much difference.
I think with the big factor for me to retain are the Chinese/Asian carriers upping their presence in AU plus their increased network base for my international travels.
Would anybody have any idea how to get to the skyteam people. Am Garuda platinum which is skyteam elite plus but whenever flying with Vietnam airlines am only in their system as elite so miss out on the lounge access. Just not sure how to correct this.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Pros and cons of SkyTeam Elite Plus when based in Australia
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
Due to hit Skyteam Elite Plus by end of the year and just wandering if anyone in this forum has any status with Skyteam? And from your experiences what are some pros/cons holding it based in AU? I'm specifically based in SYD. Is it worth attaining long term?
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 180
Relatively useless in Australia, too few carriers from Skyteam. I have status on Korean, which is an airline I enjoy flying with and has a convenient timing for me out of Brisbane, but the flight is never full so the guaranteed seat perk is redundant and I am never flying another a Skyteam carrier so the lounge access perk is moot as well. And not enough carriers to book great reward flights out of Australia (though if booking flights overseas only, I find skypass a great program and skyteam a great alliance to redeem on)
The Evil Muppet
The Evil Muppet
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 16 Dec 2015
Total posts 12
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
I find one of the biggest downsides to be the lack of lounge access on domestic flights, particularly given the length of some domestic flights (especially in the US, Russia, and closer to Australia, even Vietnam).
MRYJDrake
MRYJDrake
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
Member since 31 Oct 2016
Total posts 206
Evil Muppet, I'm assuming the cookie monster because he doesn't share, raises a good point... Which airline with Skyteam? I don't recall seeing much about them on here.. Chris is there a post comparing the Skyteam Loyalty Programs on here? I'd be very interested in checking it out.
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
Hey guys, sorry didn't think it was relevant - but VNA (Lotusmiles). And mainly international flights out of SYD.
dimi
dimi
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 Jul 2012
Total posts 154
One benefit of SkyTeam is much greater business award availability from Australia to Asia/Europe, compared to OneWorld.
tris06
tris06
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
Member since 22 Sep 2012
Total posts 11
I actually recall their are p
lenty of skyteam carriers flying out of SYD. Delta, Vietnam, Garuda, Korean, China southern, China Eastern, Xiamen, China airlines. 8 carriers are plenty to choose from and I think the destinations number direct flight would be 11/12. Some airlines offer double daily as well. CI is going A350 double daily from December, CZ might be double daily from CAN.
Domestic lounge access only if you have an international flight book within 24hr of the domestic flight.
I am CI emerald member Australian Expat hometown BNE.
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
Yeah reason why i've recently got status with Skyteam is because of the routing esp with Vietnam Airlines - i travelled recently to Vietnam and Japan (Tokyo and Osaka). Due to fly China Southern in December to BKK via CAN. So have found their routes and timings to be perfect for me.
xtfer
xtfer
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 14 Mar 2017
Total posts 159
I had it for a year and never used it once, but I suppose it depends where you need to fly to.
MikeAir
MikeAir
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
Member since 14 Jul 2017
Total posts 5
I'm a platinum (Skyteam Elite plus) with Garuda based in SYD. I use lots of the skytem carriers to China and the UK. I like the alliance and feel they try harder than my NZ Elite with star alliance or Gold with QF (oneworld) I always get reward flights no problem. Lots of choice out of SYD. VN GA DL KA China southern, eastern ..... In reality if you are travelling J or P it does not make much difference.
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
I think with the big factor for me to retain are the Chinese/Asian carriers upping their presence in AU plus their increased network base for my international travels.
hvanney
hvanney
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Oct 2016
Total posts 10
Would anybody have any idea how to get to the skyteam people. Am Garuda platinum which is skyteam elite plus but whenever flying with Vietnam airlines am only in their system as elite so miss out on the lounge access. Just not sure how to correct this.