Using Skymiles to book on KLM - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

troyhouse

Join Date: Sep 2011

Posts: 893

PHXflier

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: PHX

Programs: Delta 2M DM, Southwest A List and CP

Posts: 1,108

xliioper

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,209

Specifically, Fall of 2022 was when they harmonized partner and DL metal rates on Skymiles awards to/from US/Canada. Prior to that, they had 3 levels for most partner metal depending solely on advance purchase (60-day, 21-day, and no AP). Although finding availability on partner metal during higher demand times has always been a challenge. The cheapest Skymiles Main awards on DFW-AMS in the summer are 92K miles roundtrip before Amex discount (78.2K after 15% discount) and require a roundtrip booking and mid-week travel (award levels for one-ways and weekend travel require more miles). Delta has cheaper award levels to Europe that are limited to shoulder and off seasons. Basically, as noted above, award levels mostly vary with revenue fare pricing and generally copy their fare rules requirements as far as advance purchase, roundtrip and minimum stay, day of week travel, seasonality, etc. (the fare rules are available on delta.com just like revenue fare rules).

Skymiles award levels vary from market to market. For example, there are DFW-CDG Main awards starting at 58K roundtrip (49.2K miles with Amex 15% discount) starting in mid-August and beyond. Since these award levels require roundtrip bookings, you will never see them if searching as one-way awards. This is a limited example of where they can potentially offer redemptions rates significantly better than 1 CPM. Revenue Main fares on DFW-CDG go for around $1K roundtrip in the summer and getting in the 2 CPM range with Skymiles as below would be considered a very good deal.

Last edited by xliioper; May 26, 2024 at 2:11 pm

DrMilano

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: On the run

Programs: DL 2MM/DM, Hilton LT Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Titanium

Posts: 576

You can not transfer SkyMiles to Flying Blue. If you have AmEx Membership Reward points then you can transfer to Flying Blue and book the lower KLM redemption. Mater of fact, Ben Lipsey who runs the Flying Blue program has gone on the record that offering low redemption business class availability is wanting to be an attractive points transfer partner to secure more of the US credit card revenue. Whereas Delta just wants AmEx paying for useless SkyMiles that have the value of dirt, as Delta's business plan is passengers are paying one way or an other, either cash or SkyMiles via credit card spend.

Last edited by DrMilano; May 26, 2024 at 2:16 pm

troyhouse

Join Date: Sep 2011

Posts: 893

thank you, this was very helpful. any other routes in Europe that are in 50K range? I might just book this and use train to go to Brussels, Amsterdam and other nearby cities.

xliioper

Join Date: Jul 2003

Posts: 23,209

The DFW-CDG awards potentially drop down to 49.2K roundtrip if you have a Delta Amex card (Gold or higher) with Amex 15% mileage discount (shown below). These require Delta metal flights. You can get a DL Gold Amex card with first year annual fee waived and just cancel it after you have redeemed and flown awards. DFW-BRU is available from 68K (57.8K roundtrip with discount), but having hard time finding dates with availability. DFW-CPH is available from 66K (56.1K with discount) and has better availability (although the DL CPH-JFK flight gets in too late to catch last JFK-DFW flight and requires an overnight at JFK), although not really convenient to AMS.

If you are looking for something further south in Europe, DFW-ZRH and DFW-NCE are available from 61K - 62K roundtrip in August with Amex discount.

Last edited by xliioper; May 27, 2024 at 6:43 am