well-just got off the phone with the NW elite line--primarily to express my suprise and extreme disappointment with the change to the upgrade policy, esp. with how it was communicated (or lack thereof). this change could have and should have been communicated better: read earlier, and not by a covert methods, ie posting via the freakin' web site. a change like this was undoubtedly in the making and decided upon a long time ago. at least NW could have given its loyal (i mean formerly loyal) ffers some advance time to make travel plans under the old rules. one day notice? come on!
now that i've calmed down a bit

the rule change itself is understandable. every other airline has fairly strict upgrade regs for lower-end coach tix (though it was a way NW formerly got business from me). again, its the lack of communication/forthrightness that kills me.
from talking to the agent, it seems they only got word of the change via an early morning memo dropped off on their desks. the agent told me she didn't think it the rule change went into effect until the 10th or 11th -- i'm thinking this is probably the "other" memo for a similar rule change for trans-pacific flights (to answer your Q doc).
Grrrrrrrrr well, now i will be taking my trans-atlantic business elsewhere as NW has just done away with a perk that had differentiated them in my eyes. and i sure hope that NW can fill all those seats with full revenue pax.
MJW - i'm pleading with you here ... anyway to communicate this feedback and what others have said back to the decision-makers at NW?? if so, give them a word-up on how to better inform us of tough messages such as this. we ff-ers can take changes to the program, just be more upfront about it.
sorry for the diatribe.
jexjex
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