Until recently, I've never done much business travel. Never earned elite on anyone or even come close. But in the last 6 weeks, I've done MSP-DEN on NWA 5 times. I'll probably do the same route another 25-30 times before '04 lets out, and another 30-40 times in '05.

The route yields a scuzzy 1386 EQM per RT, and I have no recreational travel planned until 12/04, so I need 14 more RT's (19 total) just to claw my way to Silver. In my humble, neophyte opinion, it's a TERRIBLE route for attaining status.

With UAL and Frtr. sitting in Denver, there is beaucoup competition on this route. I've just faxed in a request to NWA to consider my future travel needs and comp me elite status in order to ward off the competition. What are the odds NW will go for this? My guess is not good, given the airline's history of treating Minnesotans like conscripts.

Oh, and am I being a baby to think 19 RT's is a lot to earn Elite status?

Thanks,
TP