Who will actually pay for these seats? I suspect most people will pass them by - I can understand paying for a transatlantic exit seat but paying for one on a NW DC9 seems odd to me. I have been on several VS flights with empty exit row seats. I wonder what then happens if flight is full but no one paid for the seats - who sits in them?

http://www.nwa.com/features/coachchoiceqa/

Elites
Q: Are there any benefits for WorldPerks Elite members?
A: Yes. WorldPerks and SkyTeam Elite members have early access to Coach Choice seats. Elite members may purchase these seat assignments prior to check-in at 36 hours prior to departure using nwa.com. All other passengers may purchase only during the check-in process.

Q: Are there still Premium Select Seats for Elite members?
A: Yes. Select Seats remain available to Elite members up to 90 days prior to departure, free of charge.

Q: After purchasing Coach Choice, if a WorldPerks member standing by for First Class is upgraded, is the Coach Choice fee refunded?
A: No. The Coach Choice fee is nonrefundable in the case of upgrades.


-Vincent

Where do you see anything about a fee waiver for Platinums?

Yeah, we have a few more seats at our disposal than non-elites. But a lot less than as of yesterday.

And we'll have to pony up $15 to get the new "Coach Choice" seats like everyone else. We just get a 12 hour head start on staking our claim.

And even when upgraded, NW will keep the fee for the "Coach Choice" seat that we vacated.

THE SAME PEOPLE THAT POLICE THIS NOW!!!! Ugh. This "issue" has been mentioned several times on these various threads, but it is a non-issue. Currently, when one attempts to pre-assign an exit row there is a verbal (over the phone) or printed (online) "warning" about being exit-row qualified. One has to agree that one is qualified before the seats can be reserved. IT WILL BE EXACTLY THE SAME NOW, but you will need to provide your credit card to get to that point. Even if one isn't exit row qualified, but says s/he is, this will be discovered upon boarding and the pax will be re-seated.

THERE IS NO COMPROMISE TO SAFETY.

These issues may or may not be valid, but as you suspect, really has nothing to do with NW's plan.

Hmmmm I thought I read about the Platinum waiver somewhere...

-Vincent

True as to the 34", but the NW D9S 16 F/C seats are about 2" wider and come with free booze and occasional Spinzels(tm). Actually most NW aircraft have 16+ F/C seats far more than exist on JetBlue or on the growing CO ERJ fleet. With no CO/NW comp EAU on DL I guess I will be forced Mar 15 into the occasional NW 34" pitch.

MisterNice

Isnt Continental planning on withdrawing some 70 ERJs from the fleet?

-Vincent

No. They're threatening to take them away from RU and issue an RFP for a new operator. This is simply a threat to lower costs. Don't be suprised if you see a spawn of the Mesa Air Group flying under the COEx banner.

YOU have too be kidding the seats are better than the rest, and they should command a premium to the rest of roach class seating. smart move by Northwest and yes all the others will follow.

people pay for what they WANT, I should know i have been making a market is theatre and sports tickets for 30 years........TIXX

Ahh the fun of hostile negotations...

-Vincent

There is no waiver for Plats or any other elites. Elites get a double whammy...they pay the fee, and if they are upgraded, the fee is not refunded - but the seat can be resold to another customer and NW collects two fees on the same seat.

Perhaps this whole plan was thought out while NW management was watching a Soprano's marathon on HBO? It sounds like a racket to me.

I've scored them (without paying the 50 quid (!)) just by asking at the gate. And it seems sometimes the flight attendants let people move onboard if they ask.

Mr. Jim Cron,

These are certainly troubling times in the US airline industry. With overcapacity, low yields and labor crisises causing huge issues. These demand that airlines adjust their models to increase revenues (however incrementally) and reduce costs.

I fly Northwest and earned well over 100,000 miles last year mostly in paid World Business Class or domestic First class. I have been a Platinum Frequent Flyer (NWA # xxxxxxxxx) with Northwest for 2004, 2005, and 2006. (I do occasionally fly economy class for personal travel.)

My choice of carriers has been Northwest however, over the last few years that choice has become more difficult. With the removal of many meals, in flight entertainment, and even pretzels. The choice remained largely NWA when possible. Even in spite of the "worst domestic F cabin", and in some cases 11 hour connections to get home when I could have flown other carriers ("CO/DL/AA/UA") with far better connections.

I have suffered lost baggage, damaged baggage, mis connections, forced overnights at my own expense and rarely do I complain. I thought I was rather understanding compared to most.

The Coach Choice program however, is the final straw. It says what the marketing materials do not. That is that Northwest does not care about it's loyal passengers.

Northwest advertises and markets its elite programs actively. I have seen huge de-valuations and limitations on the programs yet I remained. This is however one step too far. The introduction of Coach Choice is ill conceived and I do not believe the incremental revenue will by compensated by the loss of the most loyal market segment customers.

Please withdraw this program it will not serve the best interest of Northwest or its loyal customers. It is insulting, degrading, and the person(s) who came up with this idea should be released.

I wish I could get Continental to match my NWA PLAT status. I am moving to Houston, and just as the previous poster, this is the last straw. When I fall to gold or silver, I will most likely not get upgraded, and I will not even be able to reserve an exit row.

Cheers,

Timo

it's in the long thread, someone received it either from Jim directly or from Customer Service