I’m live-blogging my SAS EuroBonus SkyTeam Million Mile challenge this week. Click here for background and route information.
Saudia might want to do a better job of training its transit desk and lounge agents in Jeddah (JED) that the carrier is part of the SkyTeam alliance and has many partners to which passengers from around the world can credit their points beyond Saudia’s own Alfursan program.
Roadblock At Saudia Transit Desk Jeddah (JED)
After unsuccessfully adding my SAS EuroBonus number in Tunis, I hoped to do so upon arrival in Jeddah. After landing, I followed the transit signs and my son and I stopped at the transit desk in hopes of adding our numbers.
A very nice woman heard my request and seemed to understand, asking me for my number. I handed her our SAS numbers (displayed on my phone) but she shook her head and said, “No, the Alfursan number must be only numbers. No letters.”
I explained that I was not crediting to Alfursan but to SAS (SK) a SkyTeam partner. She looked at me like I was from another planet and said, “But we can only take your Alfursan number.”
Gently, I explained that SkyTeam has many partners and you can put in the frequent flyer number from any one of the programs. She shook her head and said, “This Saudia. Only Alfursan.”
Fine. It was going to do me no good to argue here.
I thanked her and she called out, “Go to the lounge and check. They can add your Alfursan number. It is only numbers. You have the wrong number.”
Shukran…
The lounge staff was just as ineffective and even more apathetic…Hopefully, I’ll be able to add the number at the gate prior to boarding…
You should have flown out of Cairo. I’m sure there is a guy there that for $20 will add it and give you bonus miles.
Thanks for the laugh
Chin up and Happy Thanksgiving. You’re doing great so far.
Experienced the same issue with Air France/KLM Flying Blue number being added to a Saudia reservation. I ended up calling AF/KLM and they were able to add my FB number to my Saudia reservation. Flying Blue phone rep said this had been an ongoing problem if ticketed with Saudia. Saudia system only took Alfursan FF numbers.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and family! I hate feeling helpless when dealing with a service industry employee that just need a little information. Often, if it says so in the computer they insist that the info is accurate. This experience will just be a memory soon. Enjoy your day you two.
Ah, so they are as familiar with alliances and partners as the average AA Admirals Club agent in CLT. “You have Advantage?”
Just like in the FlyerTalk thread, this million miles thing is just SkyTeam’s and SAS’ offer to hire members to report and smooths out the kinks for the rest of the members.
LOL
Add it on the website. The app doesn’t like SAS numbers but the website accepted it and I was credited for my flights.
I tried, but a 2FA email and text was supposely sent and I received neither one.
What did you expect? Tarom, Air Europa and Saudia are like the ugly step-children of Sky Team. Some may even say the bastards,
I added mine when i booked the tix at saudi website
Kafka would be proud of your experience the last couple of days.
Kafka was dour .
Matthew,
Maybe I missed it from an earlier article, but were you not able to input the FF numbers when you booked the flights online?
I was not – wanted to send 2FA to my phone/email and never received code.
Saudia app also did not have SK as an option, only the website.
SAS switched alliances from Star Alliance to Skyteam so the Jeddah staff were probably unaware of this and possibly their system hasn’t been updated.
Are you running into more roadblocks than you anticipated?
Sort of maybe off topic… 14th February 2006 at the end of a two week UK/European h0liday that was planned to the last detail and had gone wrong at every turn… I was at the KLM Lounge at AMS. The fellow in front of me handed his ticket to the lady behind the desk. She proceeded to read him to filth because he somehow didn’t qualify for entry. She actually pushed his ticket back over the counter at him…
I handed her my ticket (NW World Business Class AMS – SEA), inwardly shuddering. “Thank you sir. The coffee is just over there.”