Hi, new to the forum, be nice

I looked over the WIKI about the classes, but I am confused as to why they exist. If I go out of my way to get a Y, S, X, or B class how much more am I spending and why would someone want to do this?

Thanks!

Hello, welcome to FlyerTalk!

Airline fare classes/codes can be a confusing thing at times, but rest assured most of it is justified. Rather than try and explain it all here -- since it can be rather complex -- I'll provide some helpful links for you to look over. Hopefully they'll answer most of your questions, and if you still have more, please ask.

Wikipedia - Travel Class
What's in a Fare?
Learn the ABCs of fare classes...
faqs.org - fare classes
Guide to Airfares

That should get you on your way. Please do read at least some of those links. They will contain most of the information you probably are looking for, and any specific questions you have could be directed back here.

As an elite Y and B on NW mean automatic upgrades at ticketing if available. Additionally, you get a 50% bonus in elite qualifying miles for flights booked in those classes. Internationally, Y and B are the only flights that you can upgrade with miles, Y for 30K miles roundtrip and B for 60K miles.

Additionally, many Y and B fares (although NOT all) are changeable or refundable to a certain extent.

S and X are full fares on KLM and have similar terms.

Unless you are an elite, need extra EQM, or a flexible ticket, you don't really need to worry about them.

"B" fares do not result in automatic upgrading.

To confused things more, some 'B' fares do allow you to upgrade at ticketing...and so do some 'M' fares as well. However, the majority of fares below Y don't allow upgrade-at-ticketing. Look for "B2P" or "M2P" fares to allow you to upgrade at ticketing or at least the first night after the ticket is purchased.

-RM

Thanks everyone. I have been a WP base member since 2002. My activity up till this year was minimal at best. Classes, EQMs, segments didn't matter much to me then.

Now I have a job that requires me to travel 2 or 3 times a month so I called NW about an elite challenge, they said they would sign me up for it but I would have to complete 2 RTs in a couple months to keep it till next year. The flights have to be in class Y, S, X or B.

I told them I would talk to my travel agent about it since I have been booked in L, Q, M and V lately and I don't know how much more these full fare classes will take.

It looks like I'll have 3 or 4 trips in April however the first one to San Luis Obispo has a leg from LAX to there operated by American Eagle, so I don't know if this would count as a RT since she said it has to be on certain NW and partner planes.

I might have to pay the difference my self which I guess is fine, quicker to gain status this way I think. Hopefully I will have this all figured out tomorrow.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it!

OK Got another quick question.

Do EQM and Segments from 2006 count until a certain date in 2007 or have I already lost those?

2006 EQMs/EQSs were good till December 31, 2006. So yes you've lost them already.

The qualifying year runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31. your qualifying miles and segments from 2006 ended on Dec 31 and started over again on Jan 1, 2007. The program year runs from Mar 1 to Feb 28. So if you qualify in March 2007 you will be (what ever level) Elite until Feb 29 2009.

Pushing for an extra day of status???

What he said. But if your Account Summary shows that you earned elite status during the calendar year 2006, that status is good until the last day of February, 2008.

If you earn elite status this year, it is good from the day the status posts (typically within a day or two of the miles that earn it showing up in your account) until the last day of February, 2009.

Last year was my first year ever flying Northwest, and I unfortunately flew round-trips from Hawaii to London and Beijing on non-partner airlines, and a round-trip from Hawaii to Mexico on a cheap Continental fare that only earned 50% EQMs, so I had to do one last trip between Christmas and New Year's to get to the elite level I wanted.

This year, I did a one-way from Hawaii to Scotland on United and Aer Lingus because it was insanely cheap (under $500), but other than that, and destinations where there simply are no EQM-earning partner flights available, I'm trying very hard to ensure that I earn EQMs every time I set foot on a plane!