Colin

Never flown NW before, but will need to do so in the coming weeks. What are the recommended steps for booking a NW domestic economy ticket with the hope of getting a free domestic elite upgrade, based uponCO elite status?

My thinking:

1. Buy the ticket on nwa.com using GUEST ACCESS. Do not register for WorldPerks number.
2. There is nowhere to put my CO elite number into the reservation at nwa.com when purchasing, so add my CO elite number to the reservation after ticketing via nwa.com Manage My Reservations.
3. This should allow me to pre-reserve a CoachChoice or Exit Row seat for free at nwa.com.
4. Wait for elite upgrade email within 5 days of departure. Go back to nwa.com to improve seat assignment.

Anything else?

SuperG1955

If you want 100% EQM and EQP's book NW Fare Class Q or higher.

Don't be surprised if your number 4 doesn't happen at 5 days. Depends on route, day, etc. - no different than CO. Also, check it yourself, don't rely on a notification email. Upgrades do seem to be easier. As CO Silver we were both ugraded this year LGA-MSP-SFO on a Sunday morning and not upgraded on a red eye SFO-MSP-LGA Wednsday morning.

sbm12

Even if you register for a WorldPerks number (which I did as it allows for saving a profile and other useful things) you can enter your CO OP number during the booking process or after the ticket is reserved.

One thing to note is that the eliteness of your account doesn't register until after the flight is booked. So you won't get the good seats during the booking process but can get them by going back in after confirming the reservation. At least that's how it used to work.

DUKEswoosh

Also note that CoachChoice(sm) seats are not available to anybody (that includes all Elites, NW or not) until 24 hours prior to departure...at least that is what I have been repeatedly told by NWA agents and the web help desk.

SuperG1955

Based on my most recent experience in the last couple of weeks where I booked a trip on NW for October, NW doesn't assign seats until 90 or 91 days before the scheduled flight date.

I had our CO Onepass numbers entered. [Side note: By having a WP Number and Profile, our OP numbers, which are selected as our choice in our profiles, were automatically entered.] Once they assign seats, seat selection opens up and you can pick what you like. I took exit row (11-A/C and 11-D/F) on an A320 for us (we're both CO Silver) at the 90 day mark. I had to wait until the 90/91 day mark for the return flight to select seats. All Coach Choice, Premium and Exit row seats were available for selection.

SAT Lawyer

Respectfully disagree. I don't know what status Colin has with CO, but as a NW Platinum, I haven't missed a complimentary upgrade on a domestic NW flight in nearly three years. And virtually all of my NW upgrades clear at the five day window, with many clearing six days out. Getting a seat on NW up front is generally so much easier, although CO definitely has the superior first class product.

carpboy

1) Get a WP# and use it at booking

2) Book and then modify the res and change to OP#. Eliteness is instantly recognized.

3) Select seats. Exit row are available for (most) elites.

4) Using kiosk, enter OP# as FF#. Prepend the OP# with "CO", ex: COAB123456.

5) Online access use the WP# done in step #1. nwa.com will not find a res by OP# (only reason to do step #1).

6) Await EUA. If plat, virtually a sure thing.

LGAiahSAT

Keeping on this thread, what if you were a gold onepass trying to upgrade a companion on NW. Would this be possible, would it need to happen at the gate?

sbm12

Yes and yes.

otralot

I am about 99% UG as a gold this year, including in and out of SFO, PDX, DCA (Avoid Thursday and Friday eveninnings and Sunday when congress is ins session). So I would expect OP chances to be excellent.

Also note that that NW email notification system is behind UG system. Check res starting at UG windows every day. Many, Many times UG is confimed in res and email comes 2 days later.

ausflygrl

Thanks everyone - gotta love Flyertalk! I had this exact same questions and found my answer within seconds on the the CO board without even having to do a search!

gravy

This is technically true, but most of the "premium seats" made open to ST Elite are better than the Coach Choice seats. It will probably be a non-issue.

Additionally, if you aren't upgraded at 5 days, then you can still go back and change your seat selection to one where an upgraded passenger was sitting. These also will be better than CoachChoice seats.

Finally, Northwest uses the R bucket for upgrades. If still not upgraded at 24 hrs, do not check in online. Use your favorite web tool to monitor the R bucket and check in when/if one opens up. If you online check in at 24-hrs and then NW opens an R seat, you will not get upgraded. Instead it will go to the next elite who checks in and accepts the upgrade.

Good luck!