Yesterday a really big box (maybe 24"x24"x18") arrived at my house from NWA. In it was a hand written (I think) note saying "Your loyalty to Northwest Airlines is appreciated" with these goodies: a pound of coffee beans, a stadium blanket with strap to carry, a pair of binoculars in a case, and a thermos with coffee service in a zippered case.

I'm curious about the reason...a "loyalty gift" for years as a Gold or Plat, or an apology for the most recent screw-up (last flight out of DTW cancelled for mechanical and a forced overnight resulting in a 14 hour delay in getting where I wanted to be.) In the past, I've been given "Customer Service" bonus miles in lots of 5,000 and/or coupons for X amount off my next flight for screw ups. I'm wondering if "The Box" is the new apology?

I'd guess that's what it might be for. I can't see NW sending something like that out to all of their loyal Golds and Plats, or even just the Plats. A "mass apology" like that has already happened this year to the tune of between 5-10,000 customer appreciation miles. I would think it has something to do with some seriously irregular ops. like the one you described.

That said, I will keep an eye on my doorstep anyway...

Reminds me of the good old days of when Midwest Airlines would send their elite customers a tin of their famous chocolate chip cookies at the end of the year. Needless to say, those days are long gone, and as a direct result of their inattention to their most frequent flyers I now fly NW exclusively out of MKE.

When I flew DL, they occasionally sent goodies. A great leather Hartman folio that I still use today for 1MM, a Tumi rolling briefcase for 3MM, a CD of the awful music ythey used years ago, and tickets to functions in the area.

Hilton just sent this Hhonors Diamond a 30Gig Ipod.

Nada from NW yet

The straps. The straps. Don't forget the free luggage straps! Holds your nametag without fear of loss, good in all weather, and guaranteed to match even the most discriminating designer luggage. Those things are great! No wait, we had to pick those up ourselves at a WC.

You can upgrade for $15 to the ChoiceBox.

Um, Midwest sent me cookies two years ago, and a leather travel wallet last year. Both quite nice.

Picking them up does not count

a new way to save money: everytime there's a major screwup send the customer a box full of stuff from the lost baggage

You must have some serious spend at Hilton.

ROTFLMAO!

.. of course that title line was tongue-in-cheek ...

No, I haven't received a "big box"

I also never received the "mass apology" of 5-10000 miles.

I've been Platinum for 3 years now (originally comped at the start of the year, but earned BIS Plat that year and have maintained it since). I won't mention here that I'm "riff-raff" Platinum

In my flying NW (always a connection both ways), I've only been delayed over 2 hours one time ... a mechanical out of PHX that caused an mis-connect/overnight at MSP. Other than my hotel & next day flight arrangements already completed when I arrived MSP (we wern't that late, I watched by connection flight push out 2 gates away as we were pulling in), I never received any kind of an apology, "make-up miles", nothing. In reading this forum, it seems that "apology miles" are the standard (tho the amount seems to vary wildly). I just wonder if my account is truely flagged as the equivilent of "riff-raff" (discount fare) so they ignore me ???

I have to agree. I fly 6 to 8 segments a week, 46 weeks a year and have for the last 7 years. Through the course of the week I usually end up losing 3 to 4 hours of my time every week for delays due to maintenance or waiting for a crew to arrive, etc. I have sent letters, complained on the elite line, etc., and have only been compensated a few times in the 7 years I have been traveling with NW. I know the small inconveniences are not as "earth shattering" as being stranded overnight or having a flight totally cancelled out, but the small inconveniences can add up to be the same or a greater hassle as the flight cancellations, etc. Just my 2 cents. I still love my NW!

All NW gives me is miles - and I actually have to fly to earn them!

The best gifts I've ever gotten from airlines was a gold keychain from TG in biz many years ago & the little liquor houses from KL when you fly their biz class. BA at least gives leather luggage straps with their elite luggage tags - although their luggage tags are card size, not like the NW tags.

I was referring to this (quoted from WorldPerks mileage summary):

I received a letter from Jim Cron informing me of this mileage deposit. That's what I was referring to. IIRC, most people here also received this, and some received an "extra" 5,000 miles under a similar notation.