Hi Guys, I'm new here and need a little advice...if you guys had a choice, which airline/FF program would you choose? Northwest or Delta?

A little info on myself: I'll be mostly flying out of Sacramento and San Francisco, and mostly on international flights. Some domestics within California as well. I'll mostly be flying coach, at least for now until I make more money.

My priorities: 1. Ticket prices 2. Service/reliability 3. Frequent flyer program/miles earning protential.

Northwest seems to have the better FF program, but Delta have more flights in the West with a hub in Salt Lake City, whereas NWA's hubs are in the East Coast/midwest. But I figure I can fly one airline (for flights that aren't available for the other) and earn miles on the other airline's FF program, since Northwest and Delta are partners.

I was in the same box and am collecting into Alaska mileage plan. You can DL, NW, CO, AA, BA and other partners and put them in to AS (alaska). You can redeem AS and partner flights through alaska airlines website and the redemption seems to be good. No double miles rip-off.

I am wondering where most of your international flights will be going? Asia, Europe, South America? It definately makes a difference, because while NW and DL are partners, they do not share all their international partners.

first of all Northwest is still in bankruptcy.

second, horizon/alaska may soon be up for sale.

there should be some major airline merger in 2008

i suspect horizon/alaska will become part of JetBlue

I'd go with Delta miles and stick with the main carriers: DL, CO, NW
for international travel.

Unfortunately UA and AC are not DL/CO/NW partners at this time.


Merry Christmas all.

huh?

International travel will be mostly Asia, Europe, and Canada.

If you want ease of redemption, stay away from Delta. You can find the seats, but you have to try a lot harder. NWA has some more partners that would make things easier.

NW is not still in bankruptsy.

I switched from DL as a PM because I got pissed at SlyMiles changes AND no more segment credit. (I was 3MM, PM and FC for whatever that all means) This was 3-4 years ago.

Since then, I have been on only a handful of DL flights and am PE with NW.

I can't comment on west coast service.

In my opinion, both airlines are comparable. DL does offer IFE on some domestic flights, NW doesn't. This is of no interest to me because I bring an Ipod or DVD player to watch and listen to what I want, not what they think that I want.

My upgrade % as been much higher with NW. (Even my first year as GE)

Neither carrier is anything to write home about. Service on both is about as good, or bad, as the other.

I do like NW's hubs better than ATL. But that's just me. (ATL has made some changes and seems to be getting better)

Either line's club membership gets you into the other's, as well as CO. BTY, I am stld that CO is better than either DL or NW, but no personal knowledge of that.

Go with the company that gets you where you want to go. If segments are important, go with NW.

it all depends which airports/hubs you're using.

one difference I learned about recently btwn NW and DL is that if (God forbid) you die without using all of your miles, your heirs would not get any miles you earned from NW (or UA/US for that matter either)

I checked the DL website and confirmed that they don't do this (nor does CO, not sure about AA)

(may or may not an issue depending on your age/whether or not you have a job that puts your life in danger on a regular basis)

I'll be flying out of Sacramento and SFO...so those would be my airports/hubs.

Never thought of my miles gong to heirs in the case that I die...haven't thought of death too much since I"m only 29.

Thanks for the suggestion. Alaska Airlines seem like a good option with the ability to shop for the cheapest fares ( from it's numerous partners) and dump them into Alaska Mileage Plan. Then I can redeem them on either Alaska or its partner airlines. One thing is that it doesn't look like you can book international flights on Alaska's website for reward redemption...Looks like you would have to call in. anyone can comment on the success/accessibility of redeeming international flight awards on Alaska's partners through AS? (Alaska only flies to US, Canada, and Mexico)

Fortunately, what they claim, and what they've been known to allow or do can be quite different. Not so long ago, NWA and UA merged grandpa's miles into grandma's accounts with a minimum of foolishness; IIRC one wanted a fax of the death cert.

Think about this: You can't will your miles, but nothing says you can't 'gift' your account numbers and passwords.

perhaps check your system clock.
:

Look at Alaska. I collect my miles there and since they are partnered with Delta and Northwest all of my flights on them count on Alaska. As for international flights, again check with Alaska and their partners. You might find a broader base there.

As far as death and miles are concerned, when you book a flight using miles, no one asks if the hold of the account is sill alive. Just use the miles before they expire. (No pun intended.)

I'm usually the kind of person who would never break any kind of rule ( ), but your idea of sharing account #s and passwords w/family/friends (or whoever would be the lucky recipient of unused miles/points) is not a bad idea at all. That is, unless you're a loyal DL/CO customer (and don't have to resort to deception).

I wonder how many miles/points get lost because people fail to mention them in wills? My guess is that it happens pretty often (and wouldn't expect any airline to make any effort to lessen this from happening either).

Not to be morbid, but the thing about it is that you never know when the reaper might come calling (maybe you have a better idea at 99 than 29 but still..). So it is good to have a plan in place.. (esp. if you got many many miles on NW/UA/US).