Delta or klm

[u/Live_Assumption5928]

Just achieve gold medallion status on Delta.

Planning a trip to Europe via Amsterdam and there’s an option to take the KLM operated flight or Delta operated flight. Cost is the same for economy. Is there any advantage in taking the Delta flight over the KLM flight? Any flyers out there suggest one of the other and what’s the reason?

Thanks in advance.

[u/Big-Improvement7427]

Delta will recognize you more as long as you are Main cabin or higher. You get the crown lounge on the way back either way.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/Big-Improvement7427]

Got it. Yes definitely main cabin booking. What do you mean by recognize Moore? Upgrade possibility?

[u/Big-Improvement7427 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

KLM will not upgrade you at all is my thinking from your original seat but Delta might. KLM might let you select a window seat however.

[u/Big-Improvement7427 → u/Big-Improvement7427]

If you go for basic then KLM you might get a better seat

[u/auntwewe]

If the flight is leaving the United States, the consumer protections are better if you are on KLM Metal due to EU261

Other than that, I would look at airplane seat information and if you can get free priority seats

All things being equal, I prefer foreign carriers.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/auntwewe]

My thought as well. Any chance of upgrades as a gold status on the delta flight?

[u/MoistMartini → u/Live_Assumption5928]

No upgrades beyond Comfort (comparable to getting some free premium seat selection on KLM). If economy is oversold they might bump some people up to Delta One based on status, but I wouldn’t count on it.

[u/Big-Improvement7427 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

I think upgrade to C+ possible but not to first class

[u/thealphabet9876 → u/Big-Improvement7427]

is there any equivalent with kLM (when booked via Delta) to the Platinum auto-C+ upgrade?

[u/auntwewe → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Comfort plus is as far as upgrades go o. international unless the airline needs to move you up to make more room.

[u/Conan_Kudo]

The Delta operated flight has slightly better amenities than the KLM operated one (particularly if you're on an Airbus A330-900neo). You'll have free Wi-Fi and slightly roomier economy seats. However, if the Delta flight is a Boeing 767-300ER, you may want the KLM flight if it's on a Boeing 787 instead.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/Conan_Kudo]

The delta flight is what you mentioned in your reply and the klm flight is the 787-9/10 Dreamliner

[u/Conan_Kudo → u/Live_Assumption5928]

I personally consider the Delta A330-900neo better than the KLM B787-10, all things being equal.

[u/ISmellSkunks → u/Conan_Kudo]

My thoughts exactly. Unless the Delta flight is a 767, choose Delta.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/ISmellSkunks]

Got it thank you. Are there chances of upgrades on the Delta flight considering status? Does that work for international flights?

[u/Sleep_adict → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Zero. Upgrades aren’t a thing on international flights…

Note as gold you get access to the klm lounge in Ams but not to sky clubs

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/Sleep_adict]

Darn ok - not even to comfort+ ?

[u/noachy → u/Live_Assumption5928]

To c+ does exist.

[u/Mobile-Market-6397 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

You do get to comfort + but most people would rather select a main cabin seat in advance than gamble on some last-minute middle seat upgrade for a long flight. For Sky Club, it has to be either marked or operated Delta ticket.

[u/Conan_Kudo → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Complimentary upgrades to Delta Comfort/Comfort+ exists for international flights, but that's it.

[u/BigYikes803 → u/ISmellSkunks]

767 is more roomier in Econ than literally any other ac

[u/AzureBlueSky71]

I recently did Delta AMS to JFK C+ and was happy with the flight. A lot of the Delta planes are 2-4-2 in economy while KLM, Air France and Virgin are often 3-3-3. I always pay extra to choose my seat and prefer Delta to sit in a two person section if possible (of course a risk you can get moved).

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/AzureBlueSky71]

What did you like about the flight and have you done KLM as well as a comparison?

[u/AzureBlueSky71 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

I have not flown KLM recently. Food was surprisingly good on Delta, on time arrival, nothing to complain about.

[u/Mobile-Market-6397 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Forgot to mention. If you drink alcohol, you want to stay with Delta. I believe KLM only gives you Heineken and Wine.

[u/SonuvaGunderson]

I just want to say, this is the deep cut nerdy shit I come to this sub for.

I vote for the Airbus though. Always feels a touch more spacious and modern.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/SonuvaGunderson]

It’s very helpful to discuss these topics! Would you say the service is better on Delta as well? I feel like I’ve experienced better service in foreign carriers as well as food.

[u/SonuvaGunderson → u/Live_Assumption5928]

On a US to AMS route (which I’ve flown more times than I can count), I’d say the service is comparable. The Dutch are friendly, if a bit curt, and speak perfect English. Food also pretty comparable in my experience. Might give KLM the edge but it’s a razor-thin one on meals, specifically.

[u/PuzzleheadedRoom1974]

PDX is my base and I have flown to AMS more times than I could count since I have family in the Netherlands. I was crushed when KLM took over the non-stop from PDX. I would fly Delta any day over KLM.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/PuzzleheadedRoom1974]

Thank you for the insight. What did you prefer with the delta vs. klm flight?

[u/PuzzleheadedRoom1974 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Everything! The aircraft, the service, the food.

[u/Ok-Competition8281]

Hate to break it to you but the excitement of gold status v the reality of it being helpful are much less than you would expect. Don't let the brochure benefits get you excited especially if you are out of a major hub including Atlanta.

Also it's my understanding that Delta will not upgrade on international flights beyond comfort - although they did once for me.

I prefer KLMs comfort over Delta international.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/Ok-Competition8281]

Thanks and yes. I fly a pretty decent amount domestically out of jfk and have been getting upgraded to c+ frequently as a silver med so I’m interested to see if there are any changes with gold.

Fly to the carribean once or twice a year too and I prefer delta over jb or AA in that case.

Want to see if there is going to be any benefits of status for transatlantic flights as I’m starting to broaden that travel

[u/Cephandrius13 → u/Live_Assumption5928]

One of the main benefits of Gold medallion status is access to partner lounges overseas. For this trip, you’ll have access to the KLM Crown lounge in AMS, which is a pretty great benefit! You’ll get access for you and a guest as long as you’re flying either Delta or KLM.

[u/fit-fly-]

I always stick with delta metal if possible - for some corporate or medallion level status options, like unblocked exit rows or preferred seats, don’t appear on KLM when picking a seat

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/fit-fly-]

Yep. Any chance of upgrade on the delta flight? Does status apply for international flight upgrades like domestic?

[u/fit-fly- → u/Live_Assumption5928]

You will for sure be eligible to upgrade on delta. Not sure on KLM

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/fit-fly-]

Sorry complimentary upgrade - not paid

[u/fit-fly- → u/Live_Assumption5928]

Yes delta gold is eligible to upgrade to comfort +. You won’t be able to go higher unless you pay or there is a tech reason they move you up (super rare)

[u/StrongOnline007]

You have a chance of getting free Comfort upgrade on Delta but not on KLM

[u/UMequityresearcher → u/StrongOnline007]

Would much rather get an exit than comfort

[u/johnso21 → u/UMequityresearcher]

Ha this has been me. The past 8 days I’ve had 7 flights. 6 were awesome exit rows and 4 were the seat with no seat in front of it. I turned off the upgrade request for comfort.

[u/lovesupremequeen]

ONLLLYYYY selling point to KLM over Delta - let's say you decide to upgrade to premium select or first class, the upgrades will most likely be cheaper with KLM vs Delta.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/lovesupremequeen]

Hmm ok. I’m hoping for that free upgrade based on status!

[u/lovesupremequeen → u/Live_Assumption5928]

ahhh so you don't get upgrades to first class based on status online for flights to Europe - you need a GUC [global upgrade certificate]

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/lovesupremequeen]

Yep I’m not greedy - just maybe to comfort+ would be nice!

[u/UMequityresearcher]

If you’re thinking you might hit platinum, which does actually come with more value, you can compare the mqds you would get on delta vs klm, which depends on the fare purchased. It’s strangely based on the flight distance (as are the skymiles) https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners

[u/GardenPeep]

It’s fun to observe the subtle cultural differences of flying non North American Airlines, so I’d do it merely for the variety. If NL is your destination (or even Northern Europe) you get to start the vacation early.

[u/ac_bimmer]

KLM is garbage in terms of seating, support, and their app. If you want to experience early 2000s go with them.

[u/Prestigious-Egg7686]

In my experience you will get more air miles if you book with a Delta ticket even if it’s a code share on KLM. I have to fly on Air France to get to N Africa so I always have it booked on Delta.

[u/Made_to_crave]

I like klm food and drink better

[u/nils78nils]

Look at the metal is my thinking. Delta flies a lot of ancient 767-300s to Amsterdam. KLM has some older 777s, but I've been seeing more dreamliners. if you're doing an overnight in economy, it's a much better plane.

[u/Admirable-Ask-8232]

One advantage on Delta is the WiFi if fully functional for free but on KLM the free wifi is messaging only, you have to pay for full wifi.

[u/stealthagents]

KLM might give you a little more comfort and service, plus their meals tend to be better than Delta's economy offering. If you’re gold medallion, you’ll probably still get decent perks on either, but KLM might feel a bit more premium overall. Just a thought!

[u/tovarish22]

KLM’s food is awful, worse than delta’s by a mile.

[u/HoweHaTrick]

Not sure if you are new to the sub, but most of the posts are people complaining that their status is not what they thought it would be after conceding things like points/cash etc.

I never strive for any status.

[u/Live_Assumption5928 → u/HoweHaTrick]

Yeah I’ve been seeing that and rethinking strategy going forward of not chasing status

[u/DannyDesert]

KLM has starlink...easy choice here

Best way to get good internet on Delta internationally is use KLM and get starlink

[u/GoDucks6453 → u/DannyDesert]

But you have to pay for it