What Are The Benefits Of SkyTeam Elite Plus Status?

What Are The Benefits Of SkyTeam Elite Plus Status?

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There are three major global airline alliances — oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance — and each offers some level of reciprocal elite recognition. In previous posts I’ve written about oneworld Emerald status, oneworld Sapphire status, and Star Alliance Gold status.

In this post I wanted to take a look at the benefits of SkyTeam Elite Plus status. SkyTeam is a popular airline alliance, and Elite Plus is SkyTeam’s highest reciprocal elite tier.

How airline alliance status works

One of the major benefits of the global alliances is reciprocal elite recognition across airlines. While you’ll generally be treated the best when flying “your” airline, there are certain perks you can expect regardless of which member airline you fly. From the perspective of frequent flyers, this is one of the key value propositions of an airline alliance.

You don’t earn elite status directly with SkyTeam, but rather you earn status with a SkyTeam member airline, and that status maps over to an alliance elite tier. SkyTeam has two elite tiers — Elite and Elite Plus — and it’s the higher tier where the perks really kick in.

For example, if you’re a SkyTeam Elite Plus member through Delta SkyMiles, you can expect some level of recognition, regardless of whether you fly Air France-KLM, Korean Air, China Eastern, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, or Virgin Atlantic, among others.

Alliances offer a level of reciprocity for frequent flyers

Benefits & perks of SkyTeam Elite Plus status

What are the perks of SkyTeam Elite Plus status? Let’s go over each of the benefits, roughly in the order that I value them (admittedly this is pretty subjective, and depends on your travel patterns).

SkyTeam business class lounge access

If you ask me, the most valuable perk of SkyTeam Elite Plus status is the lounge access benefit, as members receive access to most SkyTeam business class lounges when traveling on an international SkyTeam flight the same day in any cabin. They’re allowed to even bring one guest with them (also traveling on a SkyTeam flight).

Unfortunately this is an area where Delta puts its frequent flyers at a major disadvantage. Those who earn SkyTeam Elite Plus through Delta SkyMiles don’t receive Delta Sky Club access when traveling in economy on international flights. However, they can access partner lounges.

Access airport lounges with SkyTeam Elite Plus status

SkyPriority check-in, security, & boarding

As a SkyTeam Elite Plus member you get access to SkyPriority services, which include priority check-in, security, and boarding. You can generally expect that you are grouped in with business class in this regard, so keep an eye on the red SkyPriority signs at airports, as these can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Receive priority check-in with SkyTeam Elite Plus status

Extra baggage allowance & priority handling

While many frequent flyers prefer to travel hand luggage only, for those times where you do check luggage, the extra SkyTeam Elite Plus baggage allowance comes in handy:

  • For tickets that have a weight limit, you get an extra 20kg of luggage
  • For tickets that have a piece system, you get one additional bag

In addition to the extra allowance, you also receive priority handling for your bags, so that they hopefully come out early.

Preferred seating

SkyTeam Elite Plus members are supposed to receive preferred seating when traveling on any SkyTeam airline. The catch is that the execution here differs greatly by airline. Some airlines will allow you to assign exit row and other extra legroom seats at no cost, while others have much more limited options. Meanwhile some SkyTeam airlines apply this policy to companions on the same reservation, while others don’t.

You’ll always want to check with the airline you’re traveling on to see what kind of seating you can get as a SkyTeam Elite Plus member.

Priority on waitlists & for standby

If you find yourself on a standby list or a waitlist for a flight, this is generally prioritized by status. You can expect that SkyTeam Elite Plus status will give you priority on this list. This is useful in situations where you’re trying to stand by for a flight or score an upgrade, but there aren’t many seats left.

Receive priority on waitlists with SkyTeam Elite Plus status

How does SkyTeam status compare to others?

If you’re going to fly with an alliance, you’re of course better off having status than not. All three of the major alliances are quite consistent when it comes to alliance-wide perks, including priority services, an extra baggage allowance, etc.

All that being said, I do think that SkyTeam Elite Plus is generally less valuable than comparable elite tiers at both Star Alliance and oneworld. Admittedly the differences are most noticeable at the margins, and to give you a sense of why:

  • Star Alliance Gold doesn’t restrict lounge access only to international flights, and Star Alliance Gold members sometimes get access to better-than-business-class lounges, and can also sometimes check-in with first class, which you don’t usually find at SkyTeam
  • Similarly, oneworld Sapphire and Emerald also don’t restrict lounge access only to international flights, and oneworld Emerald offers service more on par with first class, rather than business class (first class check-in, boarding, lounge access, etc.)

I think the domestic vs. international lounge access policy is worth emphasizing. For example, if you have Star Alliance Gold status or oneworld Sapphire status through a non-US frequent flyer program, you can access United Clubs and American Flagship Lounges (respectively) with your status. Meanwhile the same doesn’t apply to SkyTeam Elite Plus members through a non-US frequent flyer program.

A terrible aspect of SkyTeam is how the alliance’s largest airline (Delta) doesn’t grant its own frequent flyers Sky Club access on international itineraries, contradicting the standard SkyTeam policy. That’s not something you’ll find at American or United.

I can’t think of any relative advantage that SkyTeam Elite Plus has over comparable status with Star Alliance or oneworld, though someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I love how oneworld Emerald status offers first lounge access

Bottom line

Status with an alliance can be valuable, especially if you don’t always fly with the same airline. Elite Plus is the top elite status in the SkyTeam alliance, and it offers perks like business class check-in, lounge access, and boarding, plus an extra baggage allowance, priority baggage delivery, and priority on waitlists.

There’s definitely value to be had with SkyTeam Elite Plus status, though I think SkyTeam lags a bit behind Star Alliance and oneworld when it comes to reciprocal recognition.

If you’re a SkyTeam Elite Plus member, what has your experience been with the status?

Conversations (31)
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  1. TJ Guest

    Matched my AA status to ITA Airways Premium (which gave me SkyTeam Elite Plus). Specifically if I was to now fly Delta (no status) - does it mean I would get a checked bag for free along with choice of seats? if so, do I have to put the ITA Airways FF number in the Delta reservation to get these benefits? I'd rather earn another SkyTeam partner miles than ITA.

  2. Chris K Guest

    Was able to get status matched at ITA Airways a few years back. They keep renewing it and I was able to gift a premium membership to my daughter. Came in super helpful when we flew KLM home from Amsterdam and were able to bring our family of four into the Crown Lounge in Amsterdam. My daughter is studying in Europe so this will be a huge benefit as she travels.

  3. Origami Guest

    Reading the "OMAAT loves Delta!!1!" comments on a post calling out Delta (and ST elite) as subpar is hilarious. Who's small child did you upset, Ben?

  4. Throwawayname Guest

    This is really bizarre, I wrote a detailed post twice from different browsers but it hasn't appeared here, what a waste of time this site is.

    1. ImmortalSynn Guest

      I've had the same thing happen. There's an unusual (though not necessarily "bad") word that's tripping the site's algorithm, so it's auto-blocking. I've learned to just copy my entire post before submitting, and if it's blocked, just look for the trigger word that's causing it, and try again. Usually works.

  5. Tony Guest

    Considering the lounge crowding in Sky Clubs, that's probably why DL doens't just let anyone willy nilly walk into their lounge on a domestic ticket.

  6. polarbear Gold

    The lounge situation is pretty sad. In SFO neither Virgin nor Air France lounges accept Sky team elites. (not even talking about DL's own club)

  7. Bubba Guest

    Here's my read: first, it sucks to be Delta elite.
    Second, STE+ is a pretty good deal. The downside that you don't get first class lounge access is actually countered by the fact that most of the airlines in ST don't have a first class lounge. Or rather, their lounge offerings are better than the competition, which has taken the cheap route on the business lounges. So, United will have a bar with a...

    Here's my read: first, it sucks to be Delta elite.
    Second, STE+ is a pretty good deal. The downside that you don't get first class lounge access is actually countered by the fact that most of the airlines in ST don't have a first class lounge. Or rather, their lounge offerings are better than the competition, which has taken the cheap route on the business lounges. So, United will have a bar with a tower of sadness. LX will feature a sparkling alcoholic beverage they can't even call wine. The skyclub offerings are decent, Air France is great, and KLM, well, they try.
    As for the domestic lounge prohibition, that has some effect worldwide, but mostly affects the US. And there, since I gotta pay for it, I'm happy to change airlines.

  8. JP Guest

    The subject of OMAAT seems to have been changed exclusively to Tim Dunn and Delta at this point.

    1. Dim Tunn Guest

      Why would we want to discuss anything else?

    2. ConcordeBoy Diamond

      It's gotten beyond absurd, but management of this blog/board refuses to do anything about it..........

    3. Creditcrunch Diamond

      Not sure if Ben is keeping these trolls to drive traffic through the blog or he is struggling with the moderator tools for the chat but I agree it’s getting ridiculous.

  9. Ralph4878 Guest

    In my experience, the best part of having STE+ has been the customer service. Even before the pandemic, Delta, AF, and KL were all remarkably flexible when I needed/asked them to be (KE...not so much). I never received the same sort of compassion or flexibility with oneworld carriers (cannot comment on *A). I've also noticed consistent recognition on board any ST carrier, and even some nice bumps on oversold flights/IROPs that made me suspect that...

    In my experience, the best part of having STE+ has been the customer service. Even before the pandemic, Delta, AF, and KL were all remarkably flexible when I needed/asked them to be (KE...not so much). I never received the same sort of compassion or flexibility with oneworld carriers (cannot comment on *A). I've also noticed consistent recognition on board any ST carrier, and even some nice bumps on oversold flights/IROPs that made me suspect that in these situations, they are prioritizing their most elite flyers ST flyers (this is actually an area where KE has shined - on 3 different trips, I was upgraded to F from J when they needed/wanted to seat a family together or needed to involuntarily move folks...alas, F is almost gone on KE now). Granted, their fares seem, on the whole to be higher as a group than the other two major alliances, but sometimes, it has absolutely been worth it.

  10. Mika Guest

    In defence of skyteam: there are much fewer restrictions on extra baggage (i think it’s just Aeromexico?). And skyteam elite status to me is more valuable than Star Alliance Silver and OW Ruby, which mean nothing really. At lease skyteams base level gives a free bag as well.

  11. Lee Guest

    It offers nothing of meaningful value that you can't otherwise get from a premium cabin ticket.

  12. Jim Guest

    As a long-time DL GM/PM - which translates to SkyTeam elite plus - I agree with your prioritization... and note that revocation of the lounge access removed any remaining value proposition (which there wasn't much left to begin with...) from DL elite status.

    1. Dim Tunn Guest

      don't be ridiculous. Nothing on this earth is as valuable as Elite Status with Delta, the World's Greatest Airline

  13. NS Diamond

    Not exactly related to this article, but is there any frequent flyer programme left that gives you a membership card by just signing up, without reaching a certain tier?

    1. Never In Doubt Guest

      A physical (plastic) card?

      Why would you ask about that?

    2. TravelinWilly Diamond

      “Why would you ask about that?”

      Because he/she was wondering.

      Why would you care?

    3. aoz Guest

      JAL Mileage Bank, from when I signed up I got a card by mail

  14. Levi Diamond

    One point in favor of SkyTeam Elite status over the other alliances (especially Star) is that the extra checked bag benefit gets interpreted more often by the member airlines as granting a checked bag on tickets that don't have an allowance (AM's basic economy is the notable outlier here) vs. interpreting it as "if the ticket gives you one, a second is free" (e.g. LH Group light fares don't let *Golds check a free bag).

    1. Voian Guest

      LH doesn't, but LO does. So it does vary even within an alliance. Same discrepancies in oneworld between BA/AA/AY...

  15. Dim Tunn Guest

    this article is totally unnecessary bc everyone knows the benefit of SkyTeam™ Elite Plus® status is that it means you've been flying Delta a lot, you lucky dog

    1. Josh Guest

      We get it, Tim Dunn is obsessed with DL and the airline can do no wrong in his eyes. But, perhaps try to contribute something to the conversation instead of just making fun of someone.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

JP Guest

The subject of OMAAT seems to have been changed exclusively to Tim Dunn and Delta at this point.

3
ConcordeBoy Diamond

It's gotten beyond absurd, but management of this blog/board refuses to do anything about it..........

2
Josh Guest

We get it, Tim Dunn is obsessed with DL and the airline can do no wrong in his eyes. But, perhaps try to contribute something to the conversation instead of just making fun of someone.

2
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