Originally Posted by SpinzCity

Except maybe for the preponderance of CRJ's in the DL system. A DL elite would probably readily jump to NW mainline aircraft avoid them at any opportunity (I think of my beloved MSN, where NW is the only airline flying anything but uni-class cigar tubes). DL is cheaper, but the net effect would likely be for NW to pick up more elites and able to keep fares high, and drain some $ from DL.