Whew. I just booked LUT on Delta to Florida. While I won't get the upgrade, it'll sure be nice to have 100% EQM.

Jiburi

First off, there is no point in attaining elite membership with a carrier that you don't regularly patronize. Period. Thought that might be less true for CO elites, seeing how elites on CO don't get upgraded any more, if flying NW frequently, you'll reap MUCH more benefits being a NW elite, since promotions, especially will give you much more miles and upgrades put you ahead of all other partner elites in the same tier. I am NOT stating that the benefits should go first to those who patronize NW metal, rather, the benefits should go to those who both patronize NW's FF program and purchase tickets from NW.

FWIW, I've flown only two segments on Continental and all other 20 on Northwest, mostly long hauls, in 2004.

aloha

With the efforts to standardize SkyTeam benefits, I think this is becoming less true. Among the many benefits of being a FF, the only two things that stand out as being carrier dependent are 1) domestic upgrades and 2) the various bonuses attached to online booking, checking, etc...

On one hand, I think each airline should do what it can to persuade its elite members to travel on the metal on which they hold their elite status. OTOH, I'm not sure it really matters... if you're not earning your elite status on a particular piece of metal, that carrier won't have to honor the benefits very often with you either.

As a Worldperks member who just relocated from one coast to the other, NW/WP just doesn't work for all of my travel needs anymore. With the re-advent of 100% EQM on sLUT fares on DL, I can earn EQM on any of my west coast trips (mainly LAX-LAS, and that connection in SLC just bumps up the mileage) and keep my long haul trips on NW. Competition means I still can snag a cheap fare on one carrier over another

If you stick with one airline all the time, you're screwed because you'll end up having to pay whatever the airline wants to get where you need to go. People argue about how this codeshare/alliance stuff hurts competition, but at least for the frequent flier (as I suspect you all are) with the SkyTeam stuff, you do have a choice and not lose any ground in the game to earn elite mileage. That seems to help competition if you ask me and not let one airline have a monopoly on your business.

I don't understand how people survive flying just one airline all the time, unless you have a fixed destination or someone else is footing the bill.

So that being said, wouldn't you want to get elite benefits on DL too? Assuming there was a DL fare $100 cheaper and you were just elite on NW? Wouldn't it just be nice to have? I can't see an influx of one elite to another airline either way unless one carrier just has a fire sale on fares, but they're all pretty close to the same - NW, CO, and DL - at least in my neck of the woods. At least the alliance gives us choices. I know there are a lot of anti-DL folks on NW, but if it came to saving $100, I think I could just bite my lip and tolerate it until I got there.

Another thing, NW just doesn't go everywhere I need to go, nor does DL. What are you going to do, pay the extra cost to get a ticket on NW but have to fly another carrier's plane for the sake of giving your patronage to NW?

Suit yourself, but enjoy that coach seat on your Northwest and Delta flights.

FWIW, a great number of people here don't pay for their own tickets. I for one, would never fly Delta just to save a $100. Never had to, never will and 95% of my flying comes straight out of my own pocket.

aloha

To me this is a big thing. Upgrades are the reason why I fly Northwest. To get myself in front of the CO Golds/NW&CO Silvers is the benefit to me for flying on NW and keeping my flying on there. Not to mention the various bonuses and promos that I wouldn't get flying CO/DL. Though there are efforts to make the perks equal across the board, there are still many benefits I receive for choosing NW over others.

Agreed.

aloha

That's the point though - if it were unified under some sort of SkyTeam umbrella for upgrades, I would be able to obtain a higher status by being loyal to just one program (instead of two) and in all likelihood have a better shot at upgrades with a higher level and get more bonus miles. That would also help in the award travel department not having to juggle miles on two FF accounts.

Are you against this because you're anti-Delta, which is fair enough.. To you, with no desire to fly DL, there is absolutely no benefit for this agreement. But, assuming you weren't - wouldn't it make sense, like say it were another non-DL domestic carrier for example?

Well (also in reference to flying DL to save $100)... Inflight, *the* most important benefit is the ability to pre-reserve an exit row seat. I say that, because as a lowly silver, I've been told that on my choice routes the u/g is going to be hard to come by. I'm in heaven with a decent exit row seat (I'm 6'1" you see...) and with my experiences with domestic F on UA (lots) as an NRSA and NW a few times (mileage u/g, NRSA) I just don't think dom F is anything to write home about. There were a few times on United I was going to sit in E+ in coach if they were going to give me the bulkhead F seat. Due to some creative routings, I'll probably make gold this year. When I do, and if my u/g chance is decent most of the time, I'll probably stick with NW for everything possible.

When it comes right down to it, I like the competitive choice and will take my exit row seat and forgo the u/g on DL (like I'm going to get one anyway) if it means I can save $100. Who knows how life will be as a gold.

[Edited to add:] I'm trying to think if a truly universal FF program would dilute the upgrade chances for those at the bottom. At first I'd say yes, but that would only be if one carrier had a stellar F cabin over another, which really isn't the case. In summary, I think a strong alliance will help each carrier individually. In this case, it kept me from jumping to Oneworld.

This is pretty much true for anyone on a coast . . . even if I were willing to connect through a NW hub for a flight from BOS to DCA, NW doesn't even price the route! Likewise for a hop to NYC, or even a trip to FL when time's an issue. (MEM wouldn't be a bad connection, except they've downgraded BOS-MEM to a CRJ, and if I'm going to be in coach I can fly DL BOS-ATL on a 767...)

While I definitely prefer flying NW when I can, sometimes I can't, and on the east coast, DL makes a really good compliment.

BTW, does anyone know if NW is planning to move into DL's new Terminal A at BOS when it opens? I'm hoping not; I like the relative quiet of E.

No, this question has been addressed in the past and it was said that they will not.

aloha

Yes and getting DL to credit miles is like pulling hens teeth, for me at least. No thanks, I will stick with NW. Even with the issues we experienced this Holiday flying to LAX from IND.