If I purchase a RT NWA ticket from a travel agent, can I credit the outbound mileages into my WorldPerks account, and the inbound mileages into Alaska's Mileage Plan? Thanks.

I have read on this board that it is theoretically possible. But in reality, you will need the AS number to physically print on the boarding passes in order to be assured of receiving credit. That means first, after the outbound journey ends to ask the airline to change the FF number and second, be sure that the AS number prints on the boarding passes.

Experience of people posting here is that the airline can not or will not take the time to get the new FF number to print on the boarding pass. So if the mileage doesn't credit correctly, and you might need to send the boarding passes to the airline for credit, they won't credit you because the boarding pass has the NW FF number on it.

It is not dependent on where you purchase your ticket. So buying it through a travel agent, through an online agency or directly from the airline would incur the same problem.

Can't hurt to try I guess.

NW's policy is that once you've selected a FF program by virtue of using it on the first sector of your trip, all subsequent sectors must be credited to the same program. Given that you're using a TA, however, you might be able to get the TA to book the tickets separately so that NW isn't aware of the back half, assuming the fare rules allow it.

Would it be possible to do this by not entering any FF# in your res, then sending in the right boarding passes to the right FF program (send the first oneway to NW, the second to Alaska).

Simply change your FF through www.nwa.com after the segments you wanted on FF program 1 have disappeared from the itinerary that is being displayed online.

That means the e-ticket coupon has been pulled and the mileage credit has been processed. Then it's safe to switch and get credit where you want it.

It really depends on how far apart the outbound and return are.

If the return is more than two days later, then you shouldn't have a problem. Put your WP# in the record when you book the ticket. The miles should post 2 days after you fly the outbound. Then either change the FF# in the reservation at nwa.com, or simply wait until checkin and change it then.

If, however, the return is less than two days after the outbound, you may have trouble. I've seen cases where changing the number before the return caused the outbound to post to the new number.

In my experience (and I've tried several times), NW agents will refuse to change the FF# in your record once you've begun travel, regardless of how long ago.

That said, rcs85551 is also correct (as usual!) in my experience, but I was trying to keep quiet about that loophole lest they close it.

The real issue is if you're NW elite, they may revoke your upgrades for downline segments if you try to change it. YMMV.

Actually, I do not know of any airline not allowing you to change your FF number mid-trip, including NW. What no airline allows is to have one number on your boarding pass, and then ask for credit in another program after the segment has been flown.

So... I would not call this a loophole!

Also, as a KL/AF elite, NW has never given me any trouble with regards to upgrades - even when crediting the segments to my DL account.

Thanks for all the advices. My two flights are at least 3 weeks apart, so I will follow rcs85551's advice & change the FF# after the 1st flight is credited to my account.

Well, both NW and Delta stand by their policy of not changing FF programs--I've talked to front line agents, elite phone line agents, and even written several letters to try and get mileage credited differently, but have never succeeded (except with the on-line method). If anyone has a rule or reg I could refer agents to in the future that this IS allowed, I'd love to see it!

(And I've had agents revoke my upgrades on both NW and DL when trying to credit mileage to the other program, hence my firsthand knowledge and frustration with their restrictions. Maybe they're more flexible with non-US programs?)

I've had DL agents tell me that once flight activity has taken place on an itin, the FF# can't be pulled. This even applied when I wasn't trying to change to a different program, but rather to get my SM# pulled from a PNR and then re-entered so that my change in Medallion status would be reflected.

Well, looks like you got one of the (now many) agents not knowing their stuff. It certainly can be done.

What DL can't do by the book is remove your Skymiles number if you're using their complimentary Medallion Elite upgrades.

On NW, it is a different story. Their system and gate agents are perfectly able to handle upgrades based on eligibility AND mileage credit based on personal preference without any problems. Of course, I am always nice and friendly to the agents, which might help the fact

Now, if NW's phone reps were as friendly as their ground staff, they would get more business from me. But they are the worst in the industry, often lack common courtesy, and that's where I had confirmed (mileage) upgrades taken away.