2006 program changes?
 

I could be just having a senior moment, but were 2006 program changes announced? I'm trying to decide my plans for 2006, and am wishing (not really expecting) there might be something to keep me with NW.

Steve

Not yet, except Korean Air will accrue less miles for certain fare travel, and Diners Club US will leave Worldperks.

Jiburi

Russ said during the chat that not much would change. I suspect that some information will be posted soon.

Probably some small enhancement to keep us happy...

"enhancement"
 

it all depends on what the meaning of "enhancement" is :D

I think we as FTers know of a few changes already:

* access to CRCs without a DL BP

* more competition for elite upgrades (especially for the first 2 months of '06)

* less EUAs / more battlefield UGs

Lets keep this mature. :rolleyes: Not a WP issue.Nothing new.An issue for a few, not for many of us.

[QUOTE=SchmutzigMSP]

* more competition for elite upgrades (especially for the first 2 months of '06)
QUOTE]

= What does this mean?

-A.

more competition for elite upgrades (especially for the first 2 months of '06
 

[QUOTE=abrelosojos]There is increased competition for EUAs (and will remain through the remainder of the program year) due to the combination of reduced capacity and an increased number of elite flyers. The reduced capacity issue is the result of the removal of flights from the schedule to increase revenue and simply fewer flights on the winter schedule. There are more elite flyers from the WP promotions ("complementary" elite status for the remainder of the program year) discussed in this forum ad nauseum.

This is/will be a real program change negotiated between DL & NW. I view the overall package, not WP vs. WC.

Mike in Mpls.

Apologist at Large

Please explain the immaturity of my post?

The CRC access affects all WP members, some to a higher degree than others, but it affects everyone. The increased competition is a fact, as stated earlier. Decreased service, increased elite members...i don't think attrition will cover the increased elites (and "elite lights"). And the EUAs have not been processing on time for many elites, Plats included. I expect that even Plats will be finding EUAs come less often and will be getting battlefield UGs more often than they're used to.

So, where's the immaturity in that? Nice post, BTW. Anything useful to the conversation that you wanted to add? :rolleyes:

CRC only affects those who have purchased a WC membership. Nothing to do with the WP except that Elites get a discount.

Please, document the "increase elite" statement. It is assumed that there is an increased number but I suspect that increased attrition will even this out. No one here can demonstrate an increase in Elite numbers right now. But if someone does not get an upgrade, then it's because of "elite dilution". Give me a break.

The upgrade issue is a repeating theme on FT. Nothing new, just some folks who like to complain. Happening now, happened earlier in the year, last year, the year before...

My contribution to this thread has already been made. You have brought nothing yet...

This will be a downgrade of DL elite status in the long run. Little will change for most WP users. The OP is asking about WP changes.

I'd say getting upgrades, whether EUA or battlefield, is an issue of premium importance to all NW elites. And given that EUA is becoming somewhat less common, I don't see how this affects "a few of us."

DirtyMSP FWIIW, I agree with you. This is one of the reasons that I dont post too often in the NW forum.

Too much nit picking and then things get contentious.

Every one of your points are valid and, in one way or another, affect everyone of us.

He is right -- there was nothing immature sounding to me.

oh well..
 

Count this Platinum WP member as part of your suspected "increased attrition", who expects to have zero EQM for 2006.

CRC affects WP Platinums as well as WP members who purchase biz fares, not just WC members.

Can you "document" the attrition you're counting on? I suspect not. Since neither can document, I suppose we have to let that one rest. But I can assert from personal experience that as a Plat, I'm not getting upgrades I used to get as a silver. Call that inflation, call that reduced schedule, call it what you will, but it's a fact. I know many others here on the forum can recount similar experiences.

So...your great contribution was saying that "Russ said not much will change" and that there will "probably be some small enhancement to make us happy"? Funny what counts as a contribution these days... :rolleyes:

I agree, getting an upgrade is critical! I hear some that complain about reduction in upgrades, but a lot of us do not have that problem. Every now and then there is a upsurge in complains that quickly disappear. It's a recurring theme.

Yep. :D Sure is better than what some others have contributed.

WP2006 will likely say very much the same, as stated by Russ during the chat. NW is not in a position to reduce the fields of elites.

My second statement reflects on the usual way these programs give us new and improved enhanced features that are usually meaningless - think Platinum Points.

Can't wait to hear your input on WP2006! Or are you going to stick with simple negative comments???

Sadly, I was afraid of 'not much will change.'

Admittedly, I am two things which leave me in an NW minority -- I fly interntionally on Y and C/Z fares, and am based on the west coast.

Steve

That's debatable. Saying nothing substantive twice does not make it substantive.

We have a purely speculative topic that none of us are are likely to know any precise answer to, yet some people try to box in the discussion so as to eliminate the only area in which changes are known to be taking place.


Mike in Mpls.

Apologist at Large

Outsourcing of WP Elite Cards for 2006
 

To save 4 cents per elite card Worldperks has outsourced the domestic elite cards to SIN for program year 2006.

RC

.... where most of the employees are actually from China and a simple phone conversation takes an hour. A while back I had to help some (mostly Chinese) software engineers at our Singapore plant work through some issues. They really were a bright, competent bunch, but communicating was a challenge!

Mike in Mpls.

Apologist at Large

Does anyone know the number of elite cards that will be made for 2006?
(I assume that is confidential information.)

Do you think the double EQMs substantially increased the number of nwa elites?

While this has already been discussed ad nauseam, I definitely fall into the camp that will answer "No" to your question. I would not anticipate EUA percentages for the 2006 program year to be different from the 2005 program year due to the double EQM promo. While I have no evidence, my reasoning...

I've missed exactly one EUA in the last 6 months and it was on a Sunday after Thanksgiving flight that was sold out for weeks ahead of time including in First. Certainly had nothing to do with Elite inflation as no elite that didn't pay an F fare got an F seat.

Further, in the last 3 months, not a single EUA of mine has come fewer than 6 days in advance including supposedly difficult West Coast flights.

I'll take that over CO any day, where I went 0/21 for upgrades on domestic segments so far this year...

I agree with Grizzly. I have had 126 paid segments and 8 free segments this year on NW. I have only missed upgrades on less than 10 of them. most came during the Jan/Feb travel time when elite years over lap. I was also a gold at that time. I flew 6 continental segments this year and was 2/6.

Well, I count you both as very lucky - or maybe I fly the wrong routes. On 68 upgrade-elligible segments this year I've been upgradead on 49 - or 72%. Well below what most platinums report. This includes barely 50% from DCA-MSP-DCA and 100% on MSP-YVR-MSP (which is now gone.)

Strangely, everyone else seems to have problems with MSP-LAX, but I'm 8 for 8 on that segment.

Mike,
Thanks for the kind words... and your contribution so far is ...

Just because you do not like what I have to say does not make it less substantive. The topic is speculative to beging with. Most of us saw that on the first post.

:o Thank god! I'm tired of my US based WP card taking the primary position in my travel wallet simply because I've had it the longest. I open my wallet and have to deal with people seeing this unattractive card that is supposedly Platinum, but just looks like an old Silver card. And the service that I get with it is nothing like it used to be. I, for one, cannot wait for the shiny new Asian-based WP cards to be deployed so that my WP card will finally be on par with my KE and CX elite cards.

peace,
~Ben~

:p

huh?
 

FromXYU is the greatest in the world - i appreciate all of your valuable insights into this topic and others

Nice to have your input as well!

If you do not like what I write, simply move on.

Once again, positive input to this forum is heading down the drain....

BTW, aren't personal attacks against other FTs a reason for suspension?

Members... please try to keep it clean or I will close this thread!

To remind you all... here's a bit from the Terms of Service you all agreed to,

It also impacts Asian Gold and Plat elite that have a free WC membership...

I believe the EUA issue is more of reduced F seats in the air today as they play chicken with the leaseholders by letting plans sit in the hangers, and in additional the number of pax flying is starting to increase

As a former CO Gold I'll 2nd this!

On over 70 upgradable segments, I only missed 3 (one was last minute flight change)..I'm PE, and just requalified this week.

Delta has announced changes to its program: 2006 Skymiles Elite Upgrade Changes.

So far, nothing about DL upgrades on NW.

Thank goodness! Otherwise bad news for WP Gold and Silver members...

I agree with Schmutz and Mikey. As far as the comment:

"Please, document the "increase elite" statement. It is assumed that there is an increased number but I suspect that increased attrition will even this out. No one here can demonstrate an increase in Elite numbers right now. But if someone does not get an upgrade, then it's because of "elite dilution". Give me a break".

I keep track of my upgrade percentage and have done so for several years. My own reduced upgrade percentage certainly does demonstrate that for me, with the same elite level (PLAT), with the same number of flights and same mix of routes, a reduction of PE benefits.

Schmutz's comments were accurate. Since when is accuracy a sign of immaturity? I visit this forum for an information exchange that is useful in my travels. I found Schmutz's comments useful. The immaturity thing didn't provide any value.

Hehe... I'm 4/4 hub-DCA vv as a SILVER and probably 50% hub-LAX vv also as a silver. Guess you're flying to LAX on the same days I'm flying to DCA.