I am not as experienced as most of you with different programs but I am happy with my experience with Northwest since I've joined. Lots of little mileage bonuses along the way, and when I did get my 50,000 miles, not much trouble redeeming for standard award for 2. The free upgrades seem to keep coming pretty regularly even though I'm only a lowly Silver Elite. My home airport is MSY so perhaps I am not competing with so many people for those upgrades as folks do flying from hubs.

So I would recommend it highly and, in fact, I have signed up both my husband and a good friend on Northwest. The friend is already Silver Elite also, and while my husband's business travel is usually by car, so he didn't get status this time, he is getting pretty close to a standard award ticket, so he's pleased also.

If I thought the program wasn't as promised, I wouldn't want to get other people involved in it. But I'm very happy and think others will like it too.