Without having been sent, and have not seen, a copy of the PE handbook,
I was not aware of the following;
1. Automatic NW Domestic First Class upgrades are now only available
against the purchase of full fare coach tickets for PE members.
2. To upgrade from Europe to N America is 40000 miles round trip.
However, be aware that this is only for point to point routes, and does not
inclode London to Amsterdam, if that is your chosen route, or onward
connections from the point of entry in the US. So if, for example, you
arrive in Detroit and wish to continue on to continue to Seattle, you
will have to incur an extra 10000 miles each way to upgrade
domestically. I didn't ask, but I assume that this also applies to 'free' tickets,
which is a change from the old program, where the onward connection was
treated as part of the overall journey at no extra 'cost.'
3. Should you require to be upgraded domestically on NW, the FD
Helpdesk require a seperate Email to confirm this.
This information was given to me by 'Mark' at the helpdesk this
morning.
I would be interested to know if anybody would care to put forward any
arguments as to whether or not this is a correct interpretation of the
'rules', as it was difficult to argue without something that I could
refer to in front of me.

They must make exceptions on case by case basis because I called yesterday and they were able to give me an award upgrade for CDG-AMS-LAX R/T for 40,000 total. I had to ask for it though.

As I understand it:

1: NW upgrade at time of reservation is available on full fare economy for PE. Other economy tickets are thrown into the EAU (EUA?) system, again only for PE.

2: The "most direct" routing costs 40000 for a return upgrade but if you choose an alternative routing they may try to charge you more. e.g. AMS-DTW-SEA might cost you 40000+20000 for a roundtrip upgrade because there is a direct AMS-SEA flight. Agents are giving different answers to this question at the moment so the "say thank you and hit redial" rule applies

3: Dunno. Should be elegible to go onto the automatic upgrade waiting list in any case.

-- Dambus

I think you talked to FD agents giving you incorrect information.

1. The new system is not point to point but zone to zone. So CDG-AMS-DTW-CLE or anything of the sort costs 20'000 each way to upgrade, or to fly for free in Y.

2. The above information is correct - upgrade on domestic NW flights for Plat in full Y at time of ticketing, and either through EUA or at the aiport for restricted tix.

3. Confirmations are always different. Just double check everytime and keep calling back until you have confirmations for everything.

The rule for North American Upgrades:

Upgrade to AMS is not included, you would have to pay for it...., anybody tried that on the F 50 ??

Then it gets complicated, according to a conversation with a good FD agent in late October, there have been no changes on the transatlantic upgrades.The following rules are in place since some years and have not been changed since Oct 23.

You will be upgraded until the final point of your itenary, only if you fly

NW metal

transatlantic ( unfortunately I forgot to ask about CO, though )

If you fly

KLM metal

transatlantic your transatlantic segment will be upgraded. If you continue on NW ( or CO apparently )you would have to pay another 10000 miles for an upgrade at the time of your booking.

Back in the days there were some rumours around, that KLM will upgrade you, if there is no inventory on a possible nonstop flight available etc. bla bla bla, but this info seems to be wrong !!

Let me add that I was upgraded until the final point at the time of booking even if I was on KL metal across the pond....I guess that was done because the agent did not know better and I was lucky and not because there is any rule for that.

Beside that let me add another X-MAS wish....

If anybody from KLM is monitoring this board....... There are obviously some more questions not answered in the book and answered in various possibilities when you call the FD desk.Is it too difficult to explain these things here or in a FD mailing ??

There was even a corner for questions on the last page of the FD Mailings, but I guess we are all smart enough to understand what to do if we don`t have a PIN or lost our card....

So I would vote for some serious questions and answers, instead of "I have lost my FD card " !! What can I do ??

I am not clear what the questions are as far as the free upgrade rule with NW is concerned, but ch_usa was right that upgrading CDG-AMS-DTW-SEA costs only 20,000 miles one way. The old rule where if there was a direct flight you would have to pay extra points does not exist anymore.

20000 Miles for CDG-AMS-DTW-SEA ?? But CDG-AMS and DTW-SEA would be in Y, right ??

I have been told that just a couple of weeks ago that I need to pay 20000 miles for AMS-DTW and another 10000 miles for DTW-PHX, cause the transatlantic portion is on KL metal.....
Is that wrong ??

Is this also true for CO? Like ams-iah-cun is 20.000 miles?

------------------
Viele Gr��e

Oliver

Was that by the FD Helpdesk? There really is no difference in regards to miles if you fly KL or NW or CO. Try to get the person's name and if you feel the answer is wrong ask for verification with a sup. All FD Helpdesk workers should give you the same answer.

And CUN is a different zone so that will be a bit more than 20,000 miles.

Dear Lurker. I appreciate your input to this forum. I have been told by the FD helpdesk that on a forthcoming trip to the US, the two Northwest domestic segments I am currently confirmed in coach, are full, in respect of upgrading to 'First' as part of my overall itinearary from the UK. They tell me that you cannot be waitlisted for upgrading...is this correct or have I just been 'fobbed off?' How much input do KLM have with NW when it comes to upgrade requests ? (To clarify, I do not mean my PE level NW upgrades...but upgrades using 40000 mile round trip redemption, against a paid coach ticket) Thanks.
ps I would be happy to supply my PNR reference and I know my long suffering wife would be happy to be upgraded, (if possible)