I'm relatively new to the forum and thought someone might be able to answer a question that has long been on my mind: Does Northwest offer any long-term loyalty rewards such a million miler benefits as other airlines?

I have been an elite NWA flyer continually since the early 90's and recently made Platinum. I have the feeling at some point I will pass a million miles flown with Northwest if I have not already, although I notice NWA does not list that on any mileage statements-- just the total lifetime mileage earned which is close to 1.4 million.

The last two years I have started flying United on my international flights because they are less restrictive than Northwest on upgrades, allowing "B" class fares to Europe to be upgraded for 15,000 miles one-way while Northwest charges twice that level -- a full 30,000 miles to upgrade. (I even flew a "Y" fare on Northwest to the Middle East early this year and learned that the upgrade was 40,000 miles each way because I was not flying on the most expensive Northwest Y fare available--only the most expensive Y qualified for the 20,000 mile discounted rate). In addition, United will place you on an upgrade list if a mileage upgrade is unavailable at ticketing while Northwest requires us to call the elite line on a weekly/daily basis to try to net a mileage upgrade.

I suppose my best course may be to continue to divide my flights between Northwest domestically and United mainly for international and then to let my annual NWA status continue to pan out as gold elite or sometimes platinum while I now work to keep Premier Executive with United each year. I am just curious whether I may be missing any long-term benefit by not keeping all my loyalty with Northwest which I have flown as my main carrier for years.

(Oddly Northwest's mileage new upgrade award structure of charging 30,000 miles for upgrades on most Y and all B fares to Europe encourages me to choose United when I purchase high-fare (albeit non full fare) international tickets.)