Despite all of the negative things I've read on this board, I must say that (as of late) NW has been pretty good to me!

Recently flew HNL-NRT-BKK-NRT-BKK. Had a fairly easy time getting upgrades AND seats in the old F section(using miles), and no hassles at the World Clubs (though the one at NRT is too darned crowded). Took a while to get all of my miles posted ("pending review" showed for about 10 days after each segment), but I was pleasantly surprised that I'd received not only my Silver bonus (outbound) and Gold bonus (return), but that I'd been credited with a 50% bonus for flying in C....on a paid discount coach ticket! PLUS a 500 mile bonus each direction for no apparent reason (AND a 50 mile bonus for a survey AND 4000 miles for booking online)....so 36K miles for a discounted 13K mile trip. YIPPEE

Feb trip planned HNL-NRT-HKG-NRT-HNL also using miles for upgrades. On "M" fare could only upgrade on the legs between HNL and NRT....only full "Y" fares could upgrade into HKG, apparently due to density of travel. Well... right after I made GOLD (on the outbound half of trip to BKK) I called to see if I could upgrade the NRT-HKG-NRT legs of the trip. Lo and behold, not only was I upgraded on the spot, but received seat assignments in the old F section! Now if they'll just give me the bonus for flying C again (despite the M ticket!)!

So I've got no gripes with NW right now.
That's not to say they've NEVER ticked me off though.......