I think NW's first class product is lacking as it measures up to DL. I like the full can of soda on NW in coach, and I think the people at the NW counter (at least here in MOB, GPT, and PNS) are very polite.

I've flown NW's FC a few times, all in the last 2 months. I will agree, getting upgraded on DL is ridiculous. It is almost pointless to even try. Hopefully if NW and CO join SkyTeam, I could get upgrades on NW and CO.

But, the availability of flights via MEM are pathetic. You miss your flight due to weather, mechanical delay, or being bumped, be prepared to sit in MEM sniffing BBQ fumes a few hours because NW isn't going to put you on another airline (as DL would) and there is often a large gap between departing flights. No regular service is offered to MSP or DTW near here other than through MSY, about 125 miles from Mobile, AL. I think there is one flight, PNS-MSP, but other than that everything is through MEM.

Comparing the airplanes themselves, the NW planes seem older and more cramped, but they're not as full as DL flights, so you can spread out more. That is probably a toss-up.

I like the codeshare NW has with Alaskan Airlines. DL has pretty limited, and very expensive west coast service (everything through SLC). Who wants to fly LAX-SLC-SFO?

We just don't have a lot of choices here - it is pretty much DL, NW, or CO. If NW only had as many flights as DL had.