1st Timer on NW review
 

I flew for the first time with NW this past weekend and it was memorable to say the least. I flew MCO to NGO on one of those cheapie K fares, and a 2 1/2 hr flight with no snacks was an unpleasant welcome from NW. The DTW terminal is very nice though. I then learned a 13 hr flight in coach on a full 747-400 is something no one should ever attempt. However, on the return NW was nice enough to greatly overbook my flight and rerouted me with 2 extra stops, a nice ECV and an op up to WBC. The only problem was my "direct" LAX-MCO. When we stopped in MEM they told us the plane was actually going to MIA then and we would now be the last flight of the evening. MEM is not the best place to be stuck in for 4 hours. Overall experience was good, but only because the voucher nearly covered the cost of the trip and the NRT-LAX WBC op up. Domestically NW leaves much to be desired.

Soon enough (and sadly), all carriers will soon be the same, less the LCCs...

Glad you got the VDB comp. and the op-up!

It sounds like your return trip was great! May I ask the value of your VDB? We have seen $750 and $500, sometimes less if you also get an Op-Up, usually depends on the GA.
Thanks!

The check in agent started at $200 and I only countered to $400, I think I could have gotten more since I was the first person checking in and the supervisor ran over when he heard what flight I was checking in for and handled my check in personally. The op up was more important to me though. 747 in a full coach cabin is not pleasant.

If you are one of the first to volunteer, it doesn't hurt to ask that if they raise the offer later on if they would honor it for you as well. More than once I have accepted a lower amount and when they raised it becuase of lack of takers, I was given the higher amount for the asking.

Sounds like you made out well as the op-up is the most worth it part of it I think.

I don't know if they upped the amount because they were asking at check in and not at the gate. It must have been very oversold since I was the first to check in as soon as the check in line opened and they approached me. Can't complain though, $200 R/T from Florida to Japan with half of that in First/WBC.