Aeromexico has a very different definition of Sky Priority than other SkyTeam carriers do…and I found out the embarrassing way.
For Aeromexico, Sky Priority Is Based On Class, Not Status…
As I’ve completed this journey around the world on 15 SkyTeam carriers, with Aeromexico being the 15th and final carrier of this SAS EuroBonus Milion Mile saga, I have been impressed by the consistent signage and elite recognition of SkyTeam Elite Plus members when it comes to the use of “Sky Priority” lanes for check-in and boarding.
In fact, I was prepared to write a glowing post complimenting SkyTeam for doing such a great job of consistently recognizing SkyTeam elites with its SKy Prority branding.
But then we flew Aeromexico, which seems to take a very different approach to SkyPriority than its peers.
In Cabo, we lined up to board our flight. There was Sky Priority on the left and general boarding on the right. Without thinking much of it, we lined up on the left.
A woman shortly appeared, carefully inspecting each boarding pass. I received a good schooling for being in the wrong line. I pulled out my SkyTeam Elite Plus card and was told no, that Sky Priority is only for business class.
And of course, that begs the question, why not just put business class on the line instead of Sky Priority?
Interestingly, my boarding pass indicated my SAS EuroBonus number, but had no Sky Priority indicator on it and had no notation of my SkyTeam Elite Plus status, something even TAROM had…
Ultimately, it’s not a big deal, but it does appear Aeromexico is an outlier when it comes to SkyTeam and that’s a shame because the alliance does a great job in this…with the exception of Aeromexico.
I’m on the final portion of my SAS Million Mile Bonus trip, with a quick trip to Mexico that I’m sharing about real-time style.
I fly AM a lot (used to have AM Titanium since my husband is Mexican and we use AM a lot) but on the SAS challenge I booked through DL on a codeshare and my SK Gold was on the boarding pass and no issue with Sky Priority (listed on boarding pass). I think you just had a rogue agent. But thats just my thought.
On the challenge flights , did you go anywhere ( other than Copenhagen ) , which was interesting ?
Likely Not Jeddah ?
@Matthew, I fly AM fairly regularly and have SkyTean Elite Plus status through AF/KLM Flying Blue and it always appears on my AM boarding passes though generally it has to be re-added at the airport for it to appear properly.
IME AM Gate Agents, go by what the boarding pass says, not what cards one might have, they are not that well trained at especially out of MEX on the SkyTeam Partners.
correction, it should read that they are not well trained except for (not especially) MEX on their SkyTeam partners.
Yes there are some agents in MEX on AM that seem blissfully unaware of Sky Team rules. But its not policy its just poor training.
Makes sense.
its blocked on Basic economy tickets with AM and supposed to be on a few other SkyTeam carriers. If you book basic, you get NO elite bennies.
Ah, I guess that explains it? I was indeed on a basic ticket.
AeroMexico also fails to honor Delta’s (and SkyTeam’s) policy of Silver Medallion (and up) members not paying for checked luggage. It’s very frustrating for sure, especially when DL and AM are supposed to be operating as a single airline under their immunized joint venture.
Their flights should get real busy in a month…..all flying one way with a bunch of illegals headed home. Take the churros with you MFers, we can pick our own crops!
Are you signing up to pick them? Because I’m certainly not and I’m going to be pretty ticked off if my produce prices double.
Nope, I’m good. But plenty of white trash and others on welfare and public assistance that need to get to work instead of sitting on their asses.
The Dream of WORKfare still exists with some of us.
And you’ll be fine if prices double, remember “spread the wealth around”.
@Dave … The most important priority would be to deport the Criminals , no ? Myself , I cannot understand why Brandon and Camel-a want to bring in the Venezuelan gangs .
@Dave: I don’t believe in “spreading the wealth” (whatever you mean by that), but I do believe in a social safety net that is characteristic of any first-world nation.
@Matthew … Deporting the Venezuelan gangs will be of benefit to everyone , including the regular illegals .
So you’re volunteering to go work in the farm fields, orchards, bogs and barns full-time? Are you also volunteering to be whipped if you don’t work hard enough and efficiently enough to stop food prices from jumping up?
When the prices of basic ag and animal husbandry commodities rise, healthcare costs will rise more too over the longer term. Didn’t realize you loved inflation so much.
Regarding priority in Mexico with global entry. Is there a priority line a GE US citizen can use upon arrival to SJD?
…BOG?
Thank you for any insight!
No priority line.
From the SAS website:
Note: Due to technical reasons, EuroBonus members will not initially be able to enjoy all Elite or Elite Plus benefits on the following airlines: Middle East Airlines, Aeromexico and Aerolineas Argentinas. We are working hard to enable it as fast we can and will notify you as soon as it is available.
AM does not honor elite benefits on basic tickets the way other Skyteam carriers do. It’s pretty silly just how big of a carve-out AM has made in this area. Furthermore, AM’s IT system is horrendous, and often drops the status or frequent flyer number entirely at check in time when you are partner elite. It’s maddening, and half the gate agents at AM don’t know how to get it re-added properly. I don’t fly them anymore unless the J price is too good to pass up, because MEX is such a dumpster fire to transfer through.
Then Aeromexico would be more at home landing in Star Alliance where the 0+1 free bag for Star Gold has meant 0 free bags on the cheapest booking types with some of the Star Alliance airlines.
My Aeromexico boarding passes had SkyPriority noted on them as a result of my SAS ElitePlus status number being in the record, And the flights credited to my account with no problem. I wish I could say the same about some of these SkyTeam airlines whose flights haven’t yet posted to my SAS account.
Did you use the landside Centurion lounge at MEX? I have learned to use it as long as possible instead of suffering the airside lounges.
That’s strange as I again got SkyPriority benefits as an SAS ElitePlus flying Aeromexico just a few weeks back from the US to MEX, and the flight again auto-credited to my SAS account,
I found this blog as I’m standing in line on zone 3 on an AM flight wondering why there’s no Sky Priority or zone 2 on my boarding pass. I’m a Platinum Medallion member via Delta. I fly AM a lot and had never had an issue with Sky Priority. We bought Basic class tickets and did receive the upgrade to Comfort one week before per the Platinum status. I’m guessing this boarding pass issue might be a tech fluke.
I’m just trying to avoid them checkkng in my carry on because they’re threatening to do it for zones 3 and up
Update: I asked at the gate and she said it’s a mistake and next time I can just go up to the counter to get the boarding pass fixed. Hope this is helpful
Thanks for the update.