Can you transfer FF miles from one airline to another

[origami]

The answer to this is probably a BFN but I thought I'd ask anyway just in case anyone knew. Is it possible to transfer all of my FF miles from one airline to another if they're both partners? I'm specifically asking about going from Delta to Korean Air if that matters.

[v]

At the very least, you can use Delta miles to book Korean Air tickets. Would that accomplish what you're looking to do?

[mabillon]

I tried (delta to Korean) and was told I couldn't. That specific partnership has been one of the most useless I've ever seen. Delta miles have been useless to me on Korean and I have only once managed an upgrade (out of a half dozen flights when I KNEW they has availability).

[kaylie]

There are some sites out there that offer swapping services. I think points.com has a way to let you exchange them with other users.

[origami]

Feb 22, 2015 11:08:04 GMT -5 v said:

At the very least, you can use Delta miles to book Korean Air tickets. Would that accomplish what you're looking to do?

you can?! I might be dumb but I can't figure out how to do this. The only flights I see on their website are codeshares but I'm looking at flights that don't involve the US, so they aren't on Delta's site at all.

ETA: I'd prefer to actually move them because there are some benefits to having korean miles, but booking award tickets would be great too. especially if they used the KA award chart.

[frlcb]

I thought you could redeem them on Delta as well but to be fair I don't know how to do that. I have always been under the impression you can't transfer from one airline to another.

[v]

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:30 GMT -5 origami said:

Feb 22, 2015 11:08:04 GMT -5 v said:

At the very least, you can use Delta miles to book Korean Air tickets. Would that accomplish what you're looking to do?

you can?! I might be dumb but I can't figure out how to do this. The only flights I see on their website are codeshares but I'm looking at flights that don't involve the US, so they aren't on Delta's site at all.

ETA: I'd prefer to actually move them because there are some benefits to having korean miles, but booking award tickets would be great too. especially if they used the KA award chart.

SkyMiles Award Travel means you can use your miles to book a flight on Delta Air Lines, all SkyTeam® Global Alliance Partners and other SkyMiles partners.
Within and between the Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada, round-trip Award Tickets will continue to start at 25,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).
Airlines included in SkyMiles Award Travel: Delta Air Lines, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, AirEuropa, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, GOL, Great Lakes, Hawaiian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Tarom Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Xiamen Airlines
With the launch of the all-new Award calendar, it’s now easy to search for and see prices for Awards online. Search for the price of an Award like you search for airfare today. The expanded search capabilities and calendar at delta.com provide more choices and an easier-to-read and more accurate view of Award prices.
Check out the all-new Award calendar by clicking on “My Dates Are Flexible” when searching for an Award Ticket.
Sufficient miles within your SkyMiles account are required to redeem miles toward Award Travel. To shop for Award Travel on delta.com select ‘Book SkyMiles Award Ticket’ when initiating your flight search. Once you’ve selected your itinerary and logged into your SkyMiles account, you’ll be asked to pay for the flights you selected.
Current carriers that are able to be shopped and booked on delta.com are Delta, Delta Connection®, Aeromexico, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia.

www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/use-miles/award-travel/about-award-travel.html

[scout8]

Did you try calling? I'm not familiar with Delta's FF program, but with AA, I have always had to call to book awards tickets on partner airlines.

[rupertpenny]

I agree with scout8, you should call.

My H somehow booked us flights to Vietnam for Easter on Vietnam Air using British Airways miles or something. The flights looked almost sold out online and no rewards tickets showed as available online but a real person somehow helped him do it.

[origami]

Feb 22, 2015 21:04:10 GMT -5 v said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:30 GMT -5 origami said:

you can?! I might be dumb but I can't figure out how to do this. The only flights I see on their website are codeshares but I'm looking at flights that don't involve the US, so they aren't on Delta's site at all.

ETA: I'd prefer to actually move them because there are some benefits to having korean miles, but booking award tickets would be great too. especially if they used the KA award chart.

SkyMiles Award Travel means you can use your miles to book a flight on Delta Air Lines, all SkyTeam® Global Alliance Partners and other SkyMiles partners.
Within and between the Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada, round-trip Award Tickets will continue to start at 25,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).
Airlines included in SkyMiles Award Travel: Delta Air Lines, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, AirEuropa, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, GOL, Great Lakes, Hawaiian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Tarom Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Xiamen Airlines
With the launch of the all-new Award calendar, it’s now easy to search for and see prices for Awards online. Search for the price of an Award like you search for airfare today. The expanded search capabilities and calendar at delta.com provide more choices and an easier-to-read and more accurate view of Award prices.
Check out the all-new Award calendar by clicking on “My Dates Are Flexible” when searching for an Award Ticket.
Sufficient miles within your SkyMiles account are required to redeem miles toward Award Travel. To shop for Award Travel on delta.com select ‘Book SkyMiles Award Ticket’ when initiating your flight search. Once you’ve selected your itinerary and logged into your SkyMiles account, you’ll be asked to pay for the flights you selected.
Current carriers that are able to be shopped and booked on delta.com are Delta, Delta Connection®, Aeromexico, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, China Eastern, China Southern, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia.

www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/use-miles/award-travel/about-award-travel.html

Thank you! (And everyone)
I will definitely call because they are lying that I can shop these flights on their website. Hopefully a human there can figure this out.

I will report back in case someone else looks this up later.

[cheezer]

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:30 GMT -5 origami said:

Feb 22, 2015 11:08:04 GMT -5 v said:

At the very least, you can use Delta miles to book Korean Air tickets. Would that accomplish what you're looking to do?

you can?! I might be dumb but I can't figure out how to do this. The only flights I see on their website are codeshares but I'm looking at flights that don't involve the US, so they aren't on Delta's site at all.

ETA: I'd prefer to actually move them because there are some benefits to having korean miles, but booking award tickets would be great too. especially if they used the KA award chart.

I'm a Star Alliance girl so I can't comment on anything Delta related but United/Star Alliance doesn't show all their availability for partner redemption flights on United's site. There's more availability by calling.

[Norticprincess]

Feb 23, 2015 1:18:44 GMT -5 cheezer said:

Feb 22, 2015 16:55:30 GMT -5 origami said:

you can?! I might be dumb but I can't figure out how to do this. The only flights I see on their website are codeshares but I'm looking at flights that don't involve the US, so they aren't on Delta's site at all.

ETA: I'd prefer to actually move them because there are some benefits to having korean miles, but booking award tickets would be great too. especially if they used the KA award chart.

I'm a Star Alliance girl so I can't comment on anything Delta related but United/Star Alliance doesn't show all their availability for partner redemption flights on United's site. There's more availability by calling.

ANA's website is much better for showing Star Alliance flight availability

[iammalcolmx]

Doesn't everyone on Flyertalk and other points sites use Expert Flyer to check for award availability?

[origami]

Update!
I talked to Delta. Some KA flights can use delta skymiles, some not. The rep had to check flights individually so I don't know what flights are generally excluded. None of the "domestic" (aka korea to korea) flights she checked were allowed. Big international destinations, like Shanghai & HK were allowed. Bali was allowed (and only 40,000 miles round trip!)

I'm subject to KA blackout dates though, which are basically every Korean holiday + peak expat times to fly. Of the 6 flights I'm taking this year only 1 is not during a blackout period. And that one is a domestic flight, which Delta apparently can't do. So FML.