I wonder why Northwest is promoting this ?

After all, if my experience is anything to go by, the airlines are all that serious about being on-time.

For example, on a recent Alaska flight (of only 1 hour duration), we sat on the runway for 45 minutes while cargo was loaded !! No air, no drinks, no apologies.

If the airlines were really serious they would give us frequent flier miles for the time we wait. How about 500 miles for every hour (or 50% of flight time) that they are late ? Then we might see some improvement.