I am flying Midway next week. Now that they have switched their partnership from AA to Continental/Northwest I will have to join either to get the miles..

Any tips on which one is better? In terms of mileage earning opportunities with partners... (Since neither flies out of ILM I will have to rely more on partners)

Certainly appreciate your inputs.

Not sure if still continuing, but you get double CO miles on Midway Airlines. Anyone remember the expiration date?

For use of miles, depends where you fly. With NW, you can use miles on partner KLM. With CO, you can't. Domestically, they are the same parnters and codeshares with each other.

CO offers more mileage bonus opportunities. Others may disagree, but I have been happy with the unlimited standby electronic upgrades offered by CO for elites, even if you are Silver!

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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

If you fly a lot of short hauls, CO is better because of the segment qualification threshold for Elite members which NW does not offer.

On the other hand, if you fly to Europe a lot then NW is the answer because of all the KLM and Alitalia flights.

A few factors to consider:

1) On CO you can qualify on segments as well as miles. On NW you can't. If your average segment (w/ the 500 min to segment figured in) is less than 833 miles, go with CO.
2) On CO you gain a little flexibility when flying to Latin America due to their partnership of Copa. This probably isn't a big deal to most.
3) On NW, you get KLM and Alitalia as international status mileage partners. With CO, you *do* get status miles on KLM flights (though maybe not on Alitalia) if you book the NW codeshare ticket. Not as flexible as just having KLM as a partner to begin with and will sometimes find that the KLM price is better than the NW-on-KLM codeshare price. So NW has an edge here, particularly if you do much intra-Europe travel.
4) On CO, you do have some codeshare options on AF to Paris and VS to London. NW members do not get miles for flying these CO codeshares.
5) On CO you get status miles (and upgrade privileges) on America West.
6) Recently, CO has had much better mileage bonuses for their flights (but only for OnePass members).

Each airline treats the other airline's elites very well.

So basically if you fly almost exclusively domestically, CO seems like the better choice (segment qualification and America West benefits). If you fly enough internationally to take advantage of KLM's route structure, then NW is the better choice.

Short of the international partners issue, I'd choose CO, but I am biased.

CO has huge international lift from EWR.

Continental is partners with America West, in case you're flying out west.... for some, that may be more useful than KLM connections.

Personal preference!

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 06-08-2001).]

Midway double miles promo exists w/ NW, as well; expiration date for both promos is 6/30/01.


As an addendum, note that--importantly--when it comes to upgrades, & if an elite member & upgrades matter to you (it does to many of us), NW gate agents will NOT expend effort to upgrade you once you've boarded--but CO gate agents will. This becomes a frequent "issue" as NW often will not release FC seats until after general boarding has commenced, & sometimes not until after the standby list has cleared(worst case = not releasing seats until just minutes prior to the door getting closed)--w/ NW, you are thus faced w/ frequently having to choose between being able to use overhead bin space & getting an upgrade, which is ridiculous.

I realize that the majority of your flights may be w/ Midway, & thus upgrades on CO or NW may potentially only apply to award flights (& even then, FYI, it's my understanding that CO doesn't allow [free] elite upgrades on award flights, but NW does [if this is incorrect, someone please clarify]).

If you fly enough w/ Midway to garner elite status, note also that whether your miles are w/ CO or NW, each allows reciprocal use of miles for awards (e.g. you can use NW miles to book an award flight w/ CO, & CO miles for booking an award w/ NW)--given what is printed on the Midway web site, it appears that the partner-based reciprocity re: mileage redemption for award flights extends to use of NW & CO miles for award flights w/ Midway.

With THAT said...the nwa.com club offers reduced mileage requirements for award flights (2,000 miles less - which, for off-peak travel [= ~9 months of the year], equates to only 18,000 miles needed for RT flight w/i continental 48). FYI, nwa.com club membership is currently $35, & enrollment will likely open up again around October (the anniversary of a round of enrollment from last year). The 2,000 mile "discount" can be used 2 times, for up to 2 reservations per--i.e. one can book a total of 4 flights w/ 2,000 miles saved for each. Important caveat: award redemption w/ nwa.com club discount requires that the award flight(s) be booked online--& you cannot use miles from a non-NW acct to book award travel online (but can via phone [for the record, award flights on Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines must be made via phone, regardless]).


Given your circumstance, & given that your point of departure is of the proximity it is to 3 of CO's hubs & 2 of NW's, & is essentially midway ( ) btwn the northern & southern "halves" of the continental 48--& that (1) any of your destinations w/ Midway out of ILM will involve a connection through RDU -&- (2) nearly all of your destinations out of RDU if flown w/ either CO or NW will often involve a connection -&- (3) given that every ILM-RDU segment is just over 100 actual flown miles but will earn 500 flight miles w/ both CO & NW...you have segments galore you can milk for both status & bonus miles (not only if you garner elite status, but if the bonus mile opportunities of late continue w/ CO, you can be in a major win-win when it comes to the earning opportunity [i.e. whether segment or flight mile-based])--& you have the reciprocity among Midway, NW, & CO which you can avail yourself of when it comes to booking an award flight.

It's just my opinion, but I'd focus on earning OnePass miles...if elite status is an option (I don't know how frequently you fly, or if there's a typical destination, etc.), you'd not only have the segment-based option for earning it if OnePass was your primary FF acct, but you'd still have the opportunity & associated flexibility of booking with either NW or CO (i.e. if going to a destination to which Midway isn't a carrier), yet still have the chance to fly on another carrier.

A review of flight schedules out of RDU indicates that both NW & CO have selections for morning, mid-day, & late afternoon (& some evening) departures (both non-stop & connecting) & arrivals to & from their various respective hubs.

FWIW, despite the fact that I recommend having OnePass as the primary acct, for one of your first flights (if you will not be flying some other time before 7/31/01, then this would have to refer to your first flight [next week]), I'd consider obtaining WorldPerks miles (depending on your itinerary [e.g. if it is not mileage or segment rich])--here's why:

1) if you create a WorldPerks acct w/ the ADVO promo/source code, you obtain an immediate deposit of 2,500 miles in your acct

2) if you then fly your first credited-to-Worldperks acct flight by 7/31/01, that same promo earns you another 2,500 mile bonus

3) you would earn a minimum of 1,000 miles for the round trip flight

The result is that you would have an easy 6,000 miles, which gets you 1/3 of the way to a free off-peak flight (if booked w/ the nwa.com club 2,000 mile discount [oh, FYI, the latest nwa.com club sign-ups included 2,000 bonus miles])...it also equates to more than enough for an inter-island RT flight w/ Hawaiian Airlines (interestingly, it requires double the # of miles if using Hawaiian Airlines miles [per the HA web site, @ least]). If you were to book a NW flight online (& earn WorldPerks flight miles w/ it), you could get another 4,000 bonus miles (first time booking bonus), bringing you to 10,000 miles (enough for a 1-way domestic FC upgrade [which can be used on NW, CO, or partner flights]). There are many ways to top that off for a free flight. All of this is just something to consider...if it would result in "cutting it close" re: earning elite status w/ CO (given that you have only 6 months in which to do so), then obviously the potential to compromise such is something to seriously consider.

Note that you have some interesting itinerary options when it comes to flying from RDU to various NW & CO hubs--not only do you technically have the option of flying directly to one of CO's hubs (EWR) via Midway, but depending on whose metal you'd be flying (of either NW or CO), you could choose to fly to one of the hubs via the other carrier--& through their hub (e.g. flying from RDU to IAH, connecting through DTW [bumping up the # of flight miles, as well as the segment count] [cost can increase w/ such @ times, of course, but it all depends]).

If you enroll an eligible AmEx card in the AmEx Membership Rewards program, you can earn CO miles & various CO travel certs w/ such (but not NW miles or travel certs, unfortunately [though remember, you can use CO miles to book award flights w/ NW]).

Both CO & NW have mileage-earning credit cards.

Both CO & NW accept ClickRewards ClickMiles on a 1:1 basis...& miles can be converted from both Starwood & Diners Club into CO & NW miles...


The bottom line is that there are mileage-earning opportunities w/ both CO & NW, but your overall best strategy may be that of earning status & flight bonus miles in the OnePass program (& there have been beaucoup flight bonus mile offers w/ OnePass), & keeping your eye on bonus mile opportunities involving the WorldPerks program, as well.

Oh, & even if you don't decide to have OnePass as your primary program, you may want to seriously consider purchasing a CO Privilege Pack (there are many threads pertaining to it in the CO forum).

Lastly, note that if you obtain a lounge club membership for either the CO Presidents Club or NW WorldClub lounges, either will get you into the other program's lounges (& FYI, even if you don't get a lounge club membership, but find a need for occasional use of either a CO or NW lounge, it seems to be easier to come by Presidents Club lounge passes).

[This message has been edited by ILTE_Miles (edited 06-08-2001).]

It's a myth. My experiences were opposite to that. I was called to see FA for seat rearrangement from coach to first class on NW flight. IMO, CO is not better than NW at this matter.
Generally NW treats elite members very well.

[This message has been edited by VinceLee (edited 06-08-2001).]

I have, more than once, been upgraded after taking my assigned seat on NW flights.

I sincerely wish it was...but it isn't from what I've experienced & seen, heard, & been informed of by fellow passengers' experiences...


Experiences--plural--has this happened more than once? What airport(s)?--I'd be stunned if it ever happened @ DTW. Was it a domestic flight?

I have no doubt it happens w/ operational upgrades on international flights.


The fact that it's been reported to occur @ all by many CO elites flies in the face of my experience w/ NW.

I have been told outright by a DTW NW gate agent that I have a CHOICE to make re: boarding prior to 10 minutes before scheduled departure (the timeframe they state & typically choose to stick to & prior to which they won't release whatever FC seats remain) or possibly getting an upgrade. I can understand the last minute release if they're waiting to see who on the waitlist checks in (prior to the timeframe @ which their seat can be sold to someone else)--but if they're not willing to accompany that with upgrading accordingly, REGARDLESS of whether the passenger happens to have already boarded (usually in addition to everyone else on the flight!), it's downright unfair.

I once even pre-boarded & exited to the gate area, to make it easier on the gate agent (i.e. she wouldn't have to go on the plane to seek me out), but was promptly greeted by an announcement-of-a-lie (for my benefit alone, presumably) stating that FC had checked in full (there was a seat which had not been released yet, & this was ~30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, & less than ~5 minutes after I had just been told by the agent that I'd have to wait until 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure)...interesting how the person who was given the seat didn't arrive on the plane until less than ~5 minutes prior to the door being closed, & after standbys had been processed...

[This message has been edited by ILTE_Miles (edited 06-08-2001).]

I learned this myth you brought up in CO board but I couldn't take it seriously because there are many NW elites ever upgraded onboard on NW flights including myself.

I was upgraded on board once on MEM to LAX and once on LAX to MSP.

I ever witnessed CO gate agent bypass a standby member for upgrade at gate at CMH once. (His friends was shouting at the gate agent saying the standby guy is already onboard when he heard his friend's name, but the agent still skipped him and gave the upgrade to other guy with a new boarding pass at gate)
However, I wouldn't generalize this coincedence as a policy of CO.
I deem this lack of training or laziness. There are always some bad apples.

For what you experienced at DTW, you should have written down the whole thing and filed a complaint to NW.

[This message has been edited by VinceLee (edited 06-09-2001).]

If it happens, it is nevertheless rare, certainly at the hubs. I don't think I have ever seen it at MSP, and I have been flatly told by every agent and supervisor I have spoken with at DTW that they will not do it. On the other hand, I have only been on perhaps 4-5 CO flights, and I was astonished to see it happen on every one of them.

I would say it is also a myth that they do not come on the nw planes to get you because they most certainly have in my case plenty of times. Yes I have been told that same story in DTW and have boarded the plane and had the same agent who told me that story come on the plane and give me my new seat assignment. (May 28)

[This message has been edited by magic111 (edited 06-09-2001).]

I've only missed out on upgrades TWICE on NW metal in the last year (ATL-MEM and MEM-LAX). However, I have seen MULTIPLE occasions where the agent has come aboard and paged elite pax out of coach to take the seats up front before we pushed back.

Everyone seems to enjoy NW bashing, but WorldPerks is truly a quality and classy operation. Don't worry about your upgrades if you pick NW - they are almost ALWAYS available in advance.