Interesting ... I didn't know those differences exist between NW WP and KL FD.

I am an Asia/Pacific member and I think NW has been quite generous in rewarding WP members, maybe because of stiff competition with UA.

We can now have award tickets booked and held (without having them issued) until the day of travel. But NW reservation agents in TYO say this rule will be changed (or may well have already been changed) and they will impose some sort of restrictions.

Asia/Pacific Platinum Elites are also have access to WP and KL business/RW lounges the world over.

WP, I find, is a good program as it treats NW, KL and CO almost equally, unlike Star Alliance, which has a very complex mileage accrual rules.