DL/NW Reciprocal Upgrades Starting October 28
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,043
Well this is a potentially beneficial move. I am a little apprehensive as the obvious and immediate affect on both Delta & NW is a huge dilution of the elite upgrade pool, meaning essentially a doubling of upgrade competitors overnight.
I really hope that this is a true "interim" step, however, where on Delta metal Delta Elites always trump NW AND vice versa. I realize in the end this dilution will occur anyhow, but it would be nice to accomplish this in steps, but that is just my thoughts.
I really hope that this is a true "interim" step, however, where on Delta metal Delta Elites always trump NW AND vice versa. I realize in the end this dilution will occur anyhow, but it would be nice to accomplish this in steps, but that is just my thoughts.
So, there will be a slight dilution from the current status where the few crossovers do not grab the upgrades of the partner airline fliers, but there will certainly not be a "doubling" of competitors (due to your brethren fliers crossing in the opposite direction). In the end, you will have the combined pool elites drawing upgrades from the combined fleets of both airlines and not much difference from the current status quo.
To put it another way, let's say there are 10,000 combined NW/DL Elites flying on a given day with 10% (or 1,000) currently crossing over. Those 1,000 are currently not eligible for upgrades, so the upgradable pool would currently be 9,000 fliers on a given day. The reciprocal upgrades will simply put those 1,000 fliers back in the upgrade pool, increasing it to the full 10,000 flying Elites. So the dilution effect will be fairly minimal as the percentage increase from 9,000 to 10,000 fliers is not all that great.
I realize there are a couple of assumptions here -- that the current number of crossovers is small and that the new crossovers will be roughly equal in each direction. If anyone has hard facts on the number current crossovers, I'd like to hear about it.
Last edited by xliioper; Oct 24, 2008 at 1:34 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
YES!!! I just booked 2 NWA MR's (back to back) and was really hesitant because I needed them credited to DL for MQM. DL's fare was $50 more (on a $150 fare) and I couldn't convince myself the bonus miles promo AND upgrades were worth the 30% premium.
So happy to see I may actually stand a chance getting an upgrade next month.
So happy to see I may actually stand a chance getting an upgrade next month.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TLV now - formerly LAS
Programs: King of Rental Cars, BA Gold, Virgin Gold, AA MM Gold, A3 Gold, SK Gold, Hotel SuperElite
Posts: 7,357
The merged airline will be called Delta. Legacy Delta elites don't deserve any preference over legacy Northwest elites once the merger is completed. Until that occurs, these are the rules.
Just think what would have happened if the new airline were called NWA. Would posters be insisting that NWA elites have preference over DL elites?
Elites from both airlines spend the same amount of time BIS to qualify (except for DL DEQM).
Let's stop the ridiculous rants and get back to discussing this development...my 2 cents
Just think what would have happened if the new airline were called NWA. Would posters be insisting that NWA elites have preference over DL elites?
Elites from both airlines spend the same amount of time BIS to qualify (except for DL DEQM).
Let's stop the ridiculous rants and get back to discussing this development...my 2 cents
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
I too would like to know what the priority will be. I have three flights on NW coming up booked using my NW FF# for the upgrade, but I may switch it to DL if my upgrades look good.
#20
Join Date: May 2003
Location: ATL/MOO (Many Others Often)
Programs: DL GM (2MM), Lifetime Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,456
#21
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat
Posts: 696
Ack, my question got lost in the other thread.
Does anyone know if DL elites will get upgrade confirmations at the upgrade window, or will this only be gate upgrades?
I'm booked on two NW flights on 10/28, EF shows R7/R2 for them (and 12/16, 7/16 open F seats), I'm DL GM; In theory, today or tomorrow I should get confirmed upgrades -- but who knows.
NW's res system has recognized me as "Gold Elite" since booking.
Does anyone know if DL elites will get upgrade confirmations at the upgrade window, or will this only be gate upgrades?
I'm booked on two NW flights on 10/28, EF shows R7/R2 for them (and 12/16, 7/16 open F seats), I'm DL GM; In theory, today or tomorrow I should get confirmed upgrades -- but who knows.
NW's res system has recognized me as "Gold Elite" since booking.
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 813
Send an e-mail from the contact us section, they should be able to answer you.
#23
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,113
#24
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: ATL
Programs: DL - PM (Sky Priority);HH - Gold; Marriott - Silver; National - Executive; DL Reserve AMEX
Posts: 5,232
Sorry, but just for clarification, does this mean a DL Elite will get put on the upgrade list on ALL Northwest flights or only those that are code-share flights?
Is there a way to tell before you buy the flight on either DL.com or NWA.com that the flight is a code-share?
Lastly, does this all mean that for a DL-Elite (like myself) we should only be buying Northwest flights via DL.com and not on NWA.com?
Thanks.
Is there a way to tell before you buy the flight on either DL.com or NWA.com that the flight is a code-share?
Lastly, does this all mean that for a DL-Elite (like myself) we should only be buying Northwest flights via DL.com and not on NWA.com?
Thanks.
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 358
I heard flying blue elite members will get elite upgrades on dl as well.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
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Posts: 14,497
That's the disheartening part for me. I don't mind reciprocal upgrades between NW and DL since it benefits a NW flyer on DL and vice-versa. FB elites on the other hand get upgrades on DL/NW metal, while DL/NW elites sit in the back on AF/KL flights. Doesn't seem right at all to me. They get benefits while DL/NW elites get squat.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlántida, Canelones, Uruguay (MVD) and rarely GNV
Programs: AV LifeMiles, CM ConnectMiles, BA Exec Club. Former:ex-ASGold, ex-UA1K, ex-COPlat, ex-NWGold.
Posts: 2,673
Sorry, but just for clarification, does this mean a DL Elite will get put on the upgrade list on ALL Northwest flights or only those that are code-share flights?
Is there a way to tell before you buy the flight on either DL.com or NWA.com that the flight is a code-share?
Lastly, does this all mean that for a DL-Elite (like myself) we should only be buying Northwest flights via DL.com and not on NWA.com?
Thanks.
Is there a way to tell before you buy the flight on either DL.com or NWA.com that the flight is a code-share?
Lastly, does this all mean that for a DL-Elite (like myself) we should only be buying Northwest flights via DL.com and not on NWA.com?
Thanks.
If you buy a NW flight through any booking vehicle whatsover (other than an "opaque" channel like name-your-own-price part of Priceline) and put your Medallion-level DL# in it (which has been possible for years at nwa.com), you as a DL elite will be included in NW's EUA (Elite Upgrade Automation) process.
If you buy a DL flight through any booking vehicle whatsover (again excluding an opaque channel) and put your Elite NW# in the reservation (which will be possible at Delta.com as of Monday), you as a NW elite will be included in DL's EUA process.
You don't have to buy the flight from either delta.com or nwa.com. You don't have to have the "other" airline's code on it. The comment about the code in the original announcement was about how delta will be showing upgrade inventory buckets for the codeshares on NW. It was not saying that the only way to get upgraded was to buy the flights under the codeshare#.
Go buy it on Orbitz if you want. In fact, you're a lot more likely to find DL coded flights on NW metal showing up on Orbitz than you will on either delta.com or nwa.com. But you don't need the codeshare anyhow.
As to order: Plats are Plats, Golds are Golds, Silvers are Silvers. All Plats get upgraded before any Golds and all Golds before any Silvers. That's entirely fair, if you can realize that the concept here is to "treat the other's elites like our own". Especially given that in a couple of months there is only going to be Delta (in terms of ownership of both airlines).
It would be horribly unfair if an NW Plat was behind a DL Silver for an upgrade on a DL flight. That NW Plat has shown more loyalty to the new combined company by flying at least 75K on what is going to be the new combined company, than has the "native" DL Silver who flew only 25K even if it was all on DL.
If DL and NW were not merging, then there might have been a valid case for "All DL before any NW" - but even there, that wouldn't match up to the model being copied from the NW/CO partnership. It's unclear if CO Plat comes behind NW Plat on NW, but it is clear that All Plat from upgradeable programs come ahead of All Gold.
#28
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Here there everywhere
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Posts: 2,825
That's the disheartening part for me. I don't mind reciprocal upgrades between NW and DL since it benefits a NW flyer on DL and vice-versa. FB elites on the other hand get upgrades on DL/NW metal, while DL/NW elites sit in the back on AF/KL flights. Doesn't seem right at all to me. They get benefits while DL/NW elites get squat.
The main benefit of being an elite member in Europe is the access to lounges, upgrades are not included as the aircraft have adjustible curtains to tailor to the demand.
There's also quite a strong rumor/feeling that Skymiles will not operate in Europe next year and all European members will be integrated into Flying Blue (like the current WP-FB agreement) and that all North American Flying Blue members will become Skymiles members.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
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Posts: 14,497
Well there is a reciprocality in benefits in Europe on AF/KL - you get lounge access, extra baggage allowance and preboarding.
The main benefit of being an elite member in Europe is the access to lounges, upgrades are not included as the aircraft have adjustible curtains to tailor to the demand.
There's also quite a strong rumor/feeling that Skymiles will not operate in Europe next year and all European members will be integrated into Flying Blue (like the current WP-FB agreement) and that all North American Flying Blue members will become Skymiles members.
The main benefit of being an elite member in Europe is the access to lounges, upgrades are not included as the aircraft have adjustible curtains to tailor to the demand.
There's also quite a strong rumor/feeling that Skymiles will not operate in Europe next year and all European members will be integrated into Flying Blue (like the current WP-FB agreement) and that all North American Flying Blue members will become Skymiles members.