Originally Posted by DHAST
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have to be an elite to upgrade any fare? If you're not an elite, won't the system kick back a full Y fare or close to it?
Try it (I just did). Log out and then search. I'm still pulling up $300 + 30,000 miles.
But you're sort of correct, too. From NWA.com:
Non-Elite WorldPerks members may no longer use miles to upgrade to First Class on domestic itineraries when purchasing Northwest T and K type fares or Continental V, Q, T, S and L type fares.
I tried searching Full Fare and it returned nearly the exact numbers OP posted. I think they were just searching full fares instead of all available fares. But this is also for buying a coach ticket,
then using miles to upgrade. It's still 30,000 to upgrade an already purchased ticket, unless it's full-fare, which is 20,000.