What fare classes qualify for E-First upgrades?
 

And what's the typical going rate for upgrading these?

NW's website doesn't really say much, just that it's available at the self-service kiosks.

On DL, they run $100 - $300 depending on flight distance. I imagine NW is similar?

I had these offered to me very infrequently when travelling on BixFlex fares. The fare code for BizFlex fares ends in 'BIZN'. I am willing to guess they were offered so infrequently because first fills with elites before they make these upgrades available (which is the case for me now after making SE a couple of weeks ago.) I remember a couple of months ago being offered one of these upgrades for $50 from MSP-OMA.

Great question...I hope someone has the answer!

I've only had it happen once on a MSP-LAS trip, but I've always wondered which fare types are even eligible for this.

I just got one, but...
 

I was just offered an eUpgrade tonight on my DTW-BDL flight.
Checked in at a kiosk...

Class of service: Y
Cost for upgrade: $50

I declined since the flight was only an hour long.

I was given 500 bonus miles though and was allowed to pre-board, (which I didn't do) plus was allowed to use the elite line to go through security screening (which I did, although since there was only two people in the normal line, it was not that big of a "bonus"). :rolleyes: :D Oh well, it was nice to get the 500 bonus miles (and hopefully they will post).

When I got on the plane there was only one empty seat in 1st.

My question is, if I had upgraded would that have upgraded my class of service, to be able to gain more EQM?

You shouldn't. It most likely would have posted as F/Y (class flown/paid), and your miles would be based on the class paid. Although it shouldn't matter for you anyway EQM-wise: Y earns a 50% EQM bonus same as F (Y just doesn't get the 50% banked mile bonus for paid WBC/FC).

If it was an actual Y class, shouldn't it have been upgraded for free?

A few weeks ago I flew MSP-SEA as part of a trip and the lady sitting next to me in FC had bought the e-upgrade when she started her trip in North Carolina. What's amazing is that there were a ton of elites in the back of the bus on the MSP-SEA leg (wait list maxed out at 24), yet she was able to pay $100 to upgrade trans-con. Something wrong with this picture in my opinion.

Btw..she said she was on a super cheap fare.

-RM

I think the poster who talked about the Y fare is not a NWA Elite. The auto upgrade for a Y Fare purchase is only possible if you are an Elite member (if memory serves me).

Josejsoe50

no way jose...

Right, I am not elite just a ho-hum flyer who doesn't fly enough (yet). :(

Just adding that on my flight from BDL back to DTW, I was not offerred an eUpgrade (reason: First was full). I was given the 500 bonus miles, plus the option to pre-board with elites and go through the elite line (they didn't have one, plus again only five ppl in line) for security.

From what RobOnLI said, my DBL-DTW flight there were at least 3 Upgrades given to elites who were waitlisted. They called them up right before we started boarding. So that is weird that a non-elite would have been given preference over elites waiting for an upgrade. Although when you think about it I am sure NW likes the real $$$ it gets for an eUpgrade.