Upgrading first time question
Aug 9, 2005 | 4:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 42
Upgrading first time question
A newbie with questions, please don’t flame me, and I did a search, but couldn’t find clarification.
Once you obtain silver elite, how do you go about upgrading to FC?? Does this cost you miles or what?? Is there more than one way to do this, such as using miles for an upgrade and/or just requesting standby for an available FC seat at the gate?
Thanks.
Once you obtain silver elite, how do you go about upgrading to FC?? Does this cost you miles or what?? Is there more than one way to do this, such as using miles for an upgrade and/or just requesting standby for an available FC seat at the gate?
Thanks.
Aug 9, 2005 | 4:57 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: PHL (and sometimes BKK)
Programs: aa/ua gold; mar titanium. SPG till I die.
Posts: 15,649
as long as you're flying domestic, the upgrades are free.
When you buy the tickets, just make sure the PNR (reservation #) has your WP and it reflects your silver status. Start checking 3 days before the first flight to see if you were upgraded.
Enjoy!
edit: do all this throught NWA.com if you did not know already.
When you buy the tickets, just make sure the PNR (reservation #) has your WP and it reflects your silver status. Start checking 3 days before the first flight to see if you were upgraded.
Enjoy!
edit: do all this throught NWA.com if you did not know already.
Aug 9, 2005 | 5:02 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Platinum HHonors Diamond Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,312
Originally Posted by Ned69
A newbie with questions, please don’t flame me, and I did a search, but couldn’t find clarification.
Once you obtain silver elite, how do you go about upgrading to FC?? Does this cost you miles or what?? Is there more than one way to do this, such as using miles for an upgrade and/or just requesting standby for an available FC seat at the gate?
Thanks.
Once you obtain silver elite, how do you go about upgrading to FC?? Does this cost you miles or what?? Is there more than one way to do this, such as using miles for an upgrade and/or just requesting standby for an available FC seat at the gate?
Thanks.
Just put your WP number on your res when you buy at nwa.com and it happens automatically and for free. You'll get upgrades on a space available basis and are behind NW Plats, CO Plats, NW Golds, and CO Golds in line for the upgrades. My upgrade percentage as a Silver our of DCA was about 55%. Free upgrades are ONLY for domestic flights. Booking yourself on flights that are not at peak times when lots of high level elites are flying will help your chances. Welcome to the NW elite ranks and to Flyertalk!
peace,
~Ben~
Aug 9, 2005 | 5:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 1,029
You don't have to do anything--as long as your WP number is in the reservation, and it reflects your status. Others have reported that they needed to manually remove and reenter their WP numbers in reservations they made before achieving elite status to get the status to show for those reservations. But once your number and status are in the reservation, it's up to fate, luck and NWs computer. There's a pecking order, and there are a few routes and flights on which even some Platinum Elites end up in the back (hubs to LAX and DCA seem to be a problem at peek times, for instance). But there are plenty on which Silvers have a great chance for an upgrade.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Aug 9, 2005 | 5:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: RDU
Programs: NW Platinum, WN, HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold, BWGCCI, Priority Club
Posts: 67
Ned69, welcome to FT. You may want to sign up for advance notification of upgrades at Worldperks Manage My Account on nwa.com. As silver, you would get 1 day advance notification when you are upgraded.
Aug 9, 2005 | 7:19 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CLT
Programs: NW, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 237
If you do have any flights that were booked before you were elite, (correct me if they've fixed this) you will have to call and have an agent remove your worldperks number and re-enter it in the system or else you won't get in the pecking order.
I'm sure someone can pm you the silver elite number if you don't have your card yet - might make it easier to get through to NW.
I'm sure someone can pm you the silver elite number if you don't have your card yet - might make it easier to get through to NW.
Aug 10, 2005 | 9:14 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: ROC
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, HH Diamond, National EE
Posts: 1,230
Originally Posted by BowdiKa
If you do have any flights that were booked before you were elite, (correct me if they've fixed this) you will have to call and have an agent remove your worldperks number and re-enter it in the system or else you won't get in the pecking order.
I'm sure someone can pm you the silver elite number if you don't have your card yet - might make it easier to get through to NW.
I'm sure someone can pm you the silver elite number if you don't have your card yet - might make it easier to get through to NW.
Welcome to FlyerTalk. As a Silver, I've seen upgrades about 75% of the time, but do my best to book at non-peak times and have just forgotten about the possibility on west coast flights (except red-eyes).
Aug 10, 2005 | 12:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: CLT
Programs: NW, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 237
Originally Posted by Phil2016
That is still correct, but you can fix that at nwa.com as well. Just click on your frequent flier number and re-enter it. Once you submit that, your silver elite status will be reflected on the reservation.
Aug 10, 2005 | 12:15 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
Originally Posted by BowdiKa
I thought I read somewhere that you will see your new elite status but you that won't make it elite for upgrade purposes. Darn, I wish I could search better - I thought it was discussed in this forum not too long ago.
Aug 10, 2005 | 12:59 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SYD+HND+GFK
Programs: UA 1K, QF Plat One, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Coles FlyBuys
Posts: 2,827
Originally Posted by seoulmanjr
You'll get upgrades on a space available basis and are behind NW Plats, CO Plats, NW Golds, and CO Golds in line for the upgrades.
Too many hands in the cookie jar
Aug 10, 2005 | 2:54 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: PHL (and sometimes BKK)
Programs: aa/ua gold; mar titanium. SPG till I die.
Posts: 15,649
Originally Posted by Phil2016
Welcome to FlyerTalk. As a Silver, I've seen upgrades about 75% of the time, but do my best to book at non-peak times and have just forgotten about the possibility on west coast flights (except red-eyes).
edit: sorry as a silver, and I also try to fly off-peak.
Aug 10, 2005 | 5:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NW Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 140
Congrats on becoming silver. Enjoy your upgrades. My success rate is about 90% out of DTW.