Originally Posted by
cliburn
When I said I was well within the window, I meant that I qualified (not that I did not qualify)... I would not have left for 10 days when I called. I am also not 'juding' them on overbooking WBC... my question is, they proclaim a benefit that they really do not intend (per the 2 NWA people I spoke with) to offer... why?
Ok, thanks for the clarification. That was not clear in your original post.
As a few others have said, I think this feature is infrequently used, especially overbooking "J" class (WBC). Typically what you will find on this board are people telling you, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." Most phone agents at NW are exceptionally good and a pleasure to deal with - but they may not all be enlightened as to the rules or know how to invoke them. A call back will usually either yield a more senior call center agent or the ability to talk to a supervisor. Supervisors, also, may be ill-informed about this rule.
Long story short, you could have either continued to try and call or taken your UA flights (or whichever airline you ultimately chose). An email to TTU might elicit a response as well.
Finally, the MN call center closes (I think at 8p CT, but it might be 6p CT). At that point, most calls wind up at the Seattle call center. I typically find the Seattle agents even more friendly than the MN agents, but here in Seattle they are not dedicated to the elite line as far as I know.
-RM