I had more than 100,000 EQMs on United in 2006.

Only if NW offered systemwide upgrade certificates to Plats and resumed nonstop flights to China, then I may return ....

Same crash for me...only flew 20,000 eqm last year due to uncertainty (I prefer to get to my destination at some time)...went from PE to base.

Of course I already have 35000 miles booked between now and Feb 12th so lets see what they do.

Maybe I am the only one hoping SWUs are the new exciting change to the WorldPerks program this year?

As I am not familiar with SWU, are these used for international travel?

On United (AA is similar):

1Ks (100,000 EQMs in a year) receive 6 SWUs.

These lovely certificates can be used to upgrade to business class, system wide, e.g. BOS-SFO-SYD (or LHR-SFO-SYD!!!), confirmed at booking if there is space.

You need to buy W class or higher coach fares in order to use SWU.

Currently W fare to China, for example, looks like $900 in low season and $1,050 in high season.

SWU is a tremendous benefit for UA high mileage elites flying international.

I wrote a letter to NW management last month indicating that lack of SWUs is a major flaw in the WorldPerks loyalty program.

Maybe SWUs are coming to NW 2007 Program.

Is a W fare about equivlent to NWA V fare?

Hmm... I've only flown SEA-MSP and MSP-SEA (different months) as a SE, but got EUA'ed both times. YMMV.

Just got off the phone with WP Elite line. Had to have my Jan current trips updated with PE status for EUG.

The WP agent told me that she had quite a number of PE's that were a bit short routed over the last week domestically to make the EQM's. Unfortunately, the best fares seemed to include Denver & Chicago and thought that there were probably a number of PE's sleeping in airport due to WX delays.

No falls here -- 2007 PE status gained on MSP-LGW MR with no issues.

UA W fare is often slightly more expensive than NW's V, but more or less the same.

From Plat down to Silver, at ~43,000 miles. Oh, well...

I'd say UA W-fare is a bit higher then NW V-fare... say more similar to a NW Q-fare? NW international V-fare is sort of similar to domestic K-fare... "as low as you can go". If NW were to go with SWUs, it would probably require a NW Q-fare. And even that isn't that bad... DTW-LGW 1/13-1/14 V-fare is $430, while Q-fare is $514. $514 for a C/J-seat... sign me up!!! And if NW were to go with SWUs, my guess is (2) SWUs for Plat, then (4) for each 25k EQM threshhold (then there's rewards for flying more then 75k EQM per year). I'd definitely do the extra 25k EQM for the extra (4) SWUs.

Are you listening, NW? Give us a reason to fly beyond 75k EQM! You think it's a coincidence I stopped flying after crossing the Plat threshhold?

Steve B.

Exactly, or give us a reason to fly NW after 75k EQMs. I start switching my travel to CO, who has better service and is about the same price.

Everyone needs to remember that NW didn't evaluate any soft landings until later on in the year in 2006. So there's still hope for those who fell all the way back down to base... except for those who flew 0 EQMs in 2006.

I'll be flying close to 25k EQM by 2/28; so hopefully won't have a crash by then

01Mar2006-28Feb2007 Platinum Elite
01Mar2007-29Feb2008 Platinum Elite

but at least 50,000 miles came from just 4 tatl trips so not too much time in the air