Switch at gate has not worked for me recently. Having scored the U/G on NW flight based on CO status, I tried at the gate to switch to credit miles to NW, and was told that I would forfeit the U/G if I did so. So I said OK, and then went to the pay phone and called NW to make the same request and was told the same thing.

I've heard from several other CO Platinums that NW is cracking down on this practice. Soon switch at the gate may not be a viable alternative, so just prepare yourself to downgrade with NW just as CO does not allow NW members to swtich at the gate without forfeiting their seat.

WASJETBOY

You can try to get a status match if status is what you're looking for. I'm not sure if it would work since they are both part of SkyTeam. Worth a try...

Not an alternative between CO and NW. They have not allowed it for years. You need to pick one, fly them and get status in one.

... simply use on-line check-in and change your # there...

Good approach.

nw comped me from the big con. but I know many people who have been turned down. and they specifically say "one time only" in the letter

You are correct...CO and NW apparently do not comp the others elite flyers......however...a flyer I met recently in the WorldClub said he sent his card and statement to AA...they comp'd him..then ...CO and NW will comp the AA status...It worked for him...in spite of the quiet agreement between CO and NW to not comp the others flyers.

I like NW ...and personally have no interest in a comp....but it appears "where there is a will...there is a way" :-)

Better option...use OLCI/nwa.com to add your NW number...it will keep your OP elite number on file and upgrade you based up the highest status in your record but make sure you NW # prints on your bp

I made the switch when checking in online and, whether intentional or not, I was appreciative that NW made it easier to switch my loyalty to them.

Making the switch with live staff I would guess could create confusion for other passengers around the check-in counter, and burn staff time pre-departure.

Posted above: ... simply use on-line check-in and change your # there...

Well, I tried that too before arriving at the airport, and the system's response was that I could not check in on line and would need to do so at the airport. But when I tried using on line check in a few minutes later without trying to switch my FF acct, it let me check in on line. Earlier in the year, I credited numerous DL flights to NW expecting to build NW status later this year via switch at the gate when flying on NW, but now I am stuck with requalifying on CO because I'd rather keep the U/G and have been scoring U/G almost 100% of the time on NW (much less on CO).

Anyone try the change at the gate and/or online since. I'm assuming change at the gate is over but wonder if the online system still has the loophole.

I just finished a trip yesterday and did it without any problems. My outbound was last Friday (even got upgraded DCA-DTW!) and I did online check-in (I've never tried switch at the gate) and entered my NW number before actually checking in. Yesterday I was upgraded all the way back to DCA (BNA-MEM, MEM-IND, IND-DCA) with my NW number on the boarding passes and Silver Elite noted on the pass.

I'm glad it worked because I was getting a little nervous after monitoring this thread. Luckily I'm just about to Silver and won't have to worry anymore!

Well after leveraging this for a little while I can report that "Switch online" works just fine. In fact Socrates was quite correct - it appears that the NW system has a flaw in it that retains the 'mark' of an Elite.

One amazing example, I put my CO number on the reservation, didn't get the EUA during the processing window so I just sighed and adjusted to the best coach seat I could, changed the number to my WP number and checked in. Amazingly even though it carried the WP number the system still acted like I was elite. It put me on the First class waiting list and the boarding pass printed with my CO elite level even though my WP number didn't have that level at the time. (for those who care I'm only a Silver on CO so I wasn't bumping any NW elites at any level - as I understand it CO Silver is at the bottom of the hierarchy) Considering how permanent the marking is you have to wonder if the programming is intentional.

So after seeing this I let the Corporate booking system put the CO number on, switched to the NW number on the NW site well ahead of the flight and everything worked just wonderfully. Didn't even have to worry about last minute switching and resulting appearances.

I've now hit NW Silver (probably reach Gold or if I'm lucky Plat by EOY now that my mileage isn't 50% discounted anymore) so I'm not using my CO number at all anymore but I suspect given the other programming flaws people have mentioned that this big hole is still out there.

Not putting anyone down, but remember what Russ said about loopholes...