How long for NW flight request to clear?
 

I've requested a business class frequent flyer ticket using the NW/KLM code share from NYC-AMS-LIS at the end of June. Every time I call CO, I'm told there are seats available and that they have to clear them with NW. This has been going on for over a week. Any idea how long until (or if) the seats will clear?

I'm flying NW ATL-MEM-AUS today. I called CO at 1am and was on hold for about 20 minutes before giving up. I called again at noon and immediately spoke to a CO rep, but was put on hold for about 20 minutes while she contacted NW. She ultimately said that seats were available, but that they couldn't upgrade me and that they didn't know why. I was told that I'd have to upgrade at the ticket counter in ATL.

I'm at ATL now. The ticket counter NW rep wouldn't upgrade me at all since I didn't have my Onepass card with me and four first class, CO elite boarding passes from Friday wouldn't cut it for her. Fine, I went to the gate and was put on standby for the ATL-MEM leg, but told that they couldn't put me on standby for MEM-AUS until I checked in again at MEM.

I think that I'm going to stick to CO exclusively now; the partnership between CO/NW just "isn't there" yet.

dbaker - A solution to this problem could be to call WorldPerks at 1-800-225-2525, option 2 and talk to the agents there. They can see your CO Elite status and can upgrade you to First Class if seats are available, even though CO agents may not be able to. Make sure you call during business hours though, because after hours those calls get routed to regular agents who know not how to do it.

AAPlatinum - I only have part of an answer to your question. I don't believe that you will ever be able to receive an award seat on an NW/KL codeshare using OnePass miles unless all segments are NW coded. If any segment is KL coded, nobody will be able to get the seat for you. If all segments are NW coded, all I can suggest is persistence on your part until you find out if there really are any seats and if you can get one of them. Call, call again. And again. And again.

They are all NW coded, but I'm having great trouble getting them cleared and get a different answer every time I call.