PDX>NRT
Apr 17, 2005 | 11:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 686
PDX>NRT
I'm planning on going to Tokyo in the next couple of months and will be flying from PDX. Normally I would take UA from SEA or SFO, but am curious about NWA's non stop service from PDX on their A330. I'm also SkyTeam Gold Elite [CO] so am curious about upgrades, loads and service.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Apr 18, 2005 | 10:52 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold/MM, DL Plat/2MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil
Posts: 4,679
I'll handle the first one, on upgrades. I haven't traveled this route so don't know load factors.
If you haven't purchased WBC, then you need a B or Y fare to be able to upgrade using miles, which is 30K each way. Before you spend the extra $ on an upgradeable fare, call NWA first to make sure that a seat is available for upgrading. If there isn't, you can always call later and hope that one opens up (which often happens). But, you'd run the risk of buying a higher fare without any benefit.
Comp upgrades only occur when the flight is oversold, and then usually platinums are upgraded first. So, odds for a comp upgrade are quite small.
The A330-200 is a nice ship, even in coach. If you go WBC, I suggest you try for the first 4 rows as they are more quiet.
If you haven't purchased WBC, then you need a B or Y fare to be able to upgrade using miles, which is 30K each way. Before you spend the extra $ on an upgradeable fare, call NWA first to make sure that a seat is available for upgrading. If there isn't, you can always call later and hope that one opens up (which often happens). But, you'd run the risk of buying a higher fare without any benefit.
Comp upgrades only occur when the flight is oversold, and then usually platinums are upgraded first. So, odds for a comp upgrade are quite small.
The A330-200 is a nice ship, even in coach. If you go WBC, I suggest you try for the first 4 rows as they are more quiet.
Apr 20, 2005 | 9:10 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: JL - Diamond, NH - SFC, Hilton - Diamond, IHG - Diamond, SPG - LT Platinum,
Posts: 35
As FlytheTail mentioned, it is very unlikely to get comp UG. The load in Y is not high.
I have taken this flight probably 6 times (1 in C last Aug, 5 in Y last Oct, Jan and Mar) but I didn't see the Y seats fully occupied. It is probably because PDX is not really interesting tourist spots to Japanese or other Asian compared to SEA, LAX or SFO.
On the other hand, C section was pretty crowded.
I am a PlatElite, but have never been offered the upgrade.
If you travel a vacation season, the Y seats would be sold better, though.
I have taken this flight probably 6 times (1 in C last Aug, 5 in Y last Oct, Jan and Mar) but I didn't see the Y seats fully occupied. It is probably because PDX is not really interesting tourist spots to Japanese or other Asian compared to SEA, LAX or SFO.
On the other hand, C section was pretty crowded.
I am a PlatElite, but have never been offered the upgrade.
If you travel a vacation season, the Y seats would be sold better, though.
Apr 20, 2005 | 9:32 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC + LAX + SEA
Programs: DL/UA/AA/BA
Posts: 588
small edit on above: Y-fare upgrade is 15k each eay, B-fare is 30k each way.
There's a very nice new WorldClub at PDX - see other postings regarding it.
While there's no E+ on NW, the coach is pretty nice and has normal power ports in the front section of coach.
There's a very nice new WorldClub at PDX - see other postings regarding it.
While there's no E+ on NW, the coach is pretty nice and has normal power ports in the front section of coach.
Apr 21, 2005 | 5:18 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: NRT/PDX
Programs: Willamette Valley Cropdusters Silver Elite, National Tent Frequent Stay program, Ed's Rent-a-tractor
Posts: 3,357
I've noticed this flight (NRT-PDX or PDX-NRT) can get pretty full during peak Japanese travel seasons. My entire family of three was upgraded (as Golds) to WBC last summer, and while I didn't get upgraded (now Silver) at the end of March, I saw half a dozen people upgraded to WBC on the PDX-NRT flight I was on.