Originally Posted by fromYXU
My point was that a coach domestic award is a quarter of a trans-atlantic WBC award but rarely will the fare be a quarter.
That doesn't change the fact that NW has made a devaluation that some of the other main carriers have not made. My miles were worth more before than they are now. Price isn't an factor for me in terms of worth - I personally will never pay 7,000 or even 3,000 to fly in WBC - its just a fact.
UA vs NW:
Domestic US in UA's biz class is comparable to NW's F-class - UA is 40K, NW is 45K
US48 to Hawaii - UA's biz is 60K, F is 80K, NW is 75K for F
US48 to Asia/Oz - UA's Biz is 90K - NW is also 90K to Asia, but 110K to Oz, try finding award availability.
With UA, you can upgrade - in early 2004, I was able to buy an H-fare that came out to about 940 after taxes for IAD-SEA-NRT-BKK-NRT-LAX (2-day stopover) -IAD - then I upgraded (in theory, using miles, but in actuality, using SWU's) - that cost me effectively 940US + 60K miles to fly in business (not $3K-7K) - for NW, one has to buy an M-class fare - there's no way you can get that for 940 inclusive of taxes & even if you do, there's rarely upgrade availability between DTW/MSP & NRT. There may be some between PDX or SEA & NRT, but that adds an extra flight out of the US!
NW has devalued their miles - simple.