NW or Delta?
 

I'm starting a series of weekly trips from SFO to MSP and Northwest is the best option for direct flights.

I have Silver Status on Delta and Platinum Status on American. Here's my question.

Should I start fresh as a NWA Worldperks Member, or book my NWA flights thorugh Delta?

Are there any other options to consider that I'm not thinking of?

Depending on where you'll want to use status perks and awards, see which FF program allows you to make the best use of status perks and awards on flights you are planning to use them on.

Regardless of how you book your Northwest flights (with Northwest, or as a codeshare from Delta if offered), you should be able to designate either a Northwest or Delta FF program for the miles.

Be aware that is US Airways actually does acquire Delta, there is a possibility of Delta's FF alliance / partnerships changing.

But don't expect this acquisition to take place for a while.

Or you could suffer through the connection at ORD and go for EXP on AA. Downside is you turn a 4hr trip into 7hrs (at best).

Yes, Alaska! Alaska partners with both NW and American, and if you're based in SFO there's more places you can go on Alaska once you stop flying to MSP on NWA. Also, keep in mind that Alaska is more likely (tho you never know for sure!) to stay in existence on its own the next few years than either NWA or Delta. (It's not so likely you'd lose the miles from either of the latter, but you may get them transferred to someone less useful.)

Keep in mind that when you give a partner's FF number when booking a flight (in the case either Delta's or Alaska's), you may or may not be eligible for exit rows and/or upgrades (depending on the specific relationship between the two partners). If this matters to you, look closer into each set of reliationships. If you're happy with just choosing normal seats, and just want to accumulate miles in some place you can actually use them later, then you have more choices open.

Btw, you can't transfer miles out of NWA to anywhere, so if you choose to earn NWA make sure you can use them as such. (You can redeem NWA miles for Alaska flights, tho.) I don't think you can transfer Alaska miles either, but in that case you're more likely to have use for them in SFO. I don't know whether you can transfer out of Delta or not...

I like NWA better and right now they even have some offer on their first page of web site about getting 7k on your sign up for Wp FF account! read it there. I find they have shorter hold times and i have had more success in mile redmeption, and ease of web site use, but thats just me, maybe.

The only thing I dont like is the guy's voice who is there when you are on hold. he sounds kinda stressful and when you are on hold with an airline, its bad enough.

I also like NWA because if you cannot find your award flight on their site, the phone people MAY still have some seats on that same itin, and while you have to pay the $15 fee, it could be worth it there. I KNOW united does not have this little thing, and I dunno about DL.

:)MM

DL can be good, however, if you are a member of Singapore Airline's krisflyer. I used to submit miles from DL and United flights to them and get credit on their airline, which is part of Star Aliance. So its one way to consider it ...

Why not leverage your AA PLT status and status match to NW for GE? That way you aren't starting over. Depending on when you fly, you might be able to game the system to get an FC upgrade here and there. Also, the Alaska option might also work because Alaska top tier elites are entitled to a few upgrades on NW, and I think may get access to elite seating as well. Either way safe travels!!