FF # changed during flight?
 

I am a NW Plat and flew a complicated ITN this past week. Flew GRR-MSP on NW metal and was upgraded with my NW FF#, then flew MSP-SLC on Detal metal with a NW Co-Share flight number. Boarding Pass showed my NW FF#. Then about 9 hours later I caught a flight SLC-SEA on Delta with an Alaskan flight number. However, the Boarding pass had a Delta FF#. I asked the gate agent to change the number, but was told since I have already flew two segments they couldn't change it. Furthermore, my MSP-SLC flight also had the Deltal number attached! I showed him the boarding pass for the MSP-SLC with the NW FF# and said that is wierd, but he can't change the number.

so then I check-in for my flight SEA-DTW, and it also shows a Delta FF#. I was able to change the number back to NW and I still had my upgrade.

Has anyone else ever had this happen? Were you able to get credit on NW for these flights?

When you say the boarding pass had "a Delta FF#" is it safe to presume that it had your Delta FF#? Or are you saying that no, you didn't sign up for FF#s with 2 members of the same alliance, and that's some random number? ;)

That is a good question. Since the alliance, I have not used a Delta number. However, before the alliance I had one but have no idea what the number is. I can only assume that it was mine........

I've occasionally run into this problem with DL tickets, especially if I've tried to find the flight using the DL PNR that NW assigns to it -- somehow my DL FF number, which is automatic when I log on to the DL www site. And, when I cal DL, I usually talk with someone out of the country who doesn't quite understand what I want to do.
The only airline that I've ever encountered that can seem to manage two FF numbers, one for logging in to their www site and one for crediting FF miles is CO (maybe NW handles it as well, but since I always credit my NW filghts to NW, I've not encountered a problem).
tom

This is why I'll probably never get a DL number. :)
 

I've never flown DL that I can recall, but I've had the option a few times, and expect to have it in the future. I'd have big problems with their tendency to put a DL FF# on everything automatically, so I think I'll just stick with my current selection of FF#s- AA, UA, NW and HA. Being able to credit my HA flights to three of those four is bad enough!

I've often run into this with DL and NW, don't know how, but someone
sneaks in a different number. (DL sneaks in my DL number..
while NW sneaks in my NW number) even when i've used my
CO OP Plat number during the booking. I've managed to change this
half way though.

I have fought this battle with DL on a number of occasions in the past. That is probably why DL is absolutely my LAST choice of partners. They not only sneak in my latent Skymiles # on connecting legs, they tell me they did not do it and there is no way to change it!

There's another thread going on DL UG's for NW elites. They sometimes offer to sell them at the gate. BUT, only if you agree to let them put your DL # in the record!

Great partner.........NOT.

There is no need to be logged in to the DL website to purchase a ticket. While purchasing a ticket through DL.com will earn you a 500-mile bonus if logged in, logging in will enter your DL# as the FF#. I don't even know if you still get the 500-mile bonus if you switch your FF# after the purchase, as the bonus isn't credited until you fly.

As a NW Elite, I never once had an problem with my NW FF# number on DL flights, but I always made sure that a DL# was never associated with the ticket (buy ticket on DL.com without being logged in). There are numerous reports on this board that say switching from a DL# to a NW# can be problematic. To me it just doesn't seem worth a potential 500-mile bonus to log into DL.com when purchasing a ticket.

In what way do you find this policy worse than NW's policy for UGing DL elites?

That's just it -- there is NO POLICY. There has been talk, talk, talk about DL reciprocating on UG policy (i.e. NW/CO agreements) but no action.

My point is that NW FF's should be entitled to WP credit and DL FF's should be entitled to SM credit and neither airline should be changing those numbers for their convenience!

Well, that's my point too...implying DL is a poor partner for treating NW elites the same way NW treats DL elites doesn't seem fair. If so, then NW is a poor partner for DL because it doesn't have a policy to UG DL elites.

I'm in complete agreement with you there. However, based on my personal experience and other posts I've read, the problem doesn't seem to be that DL replaces FF#s for their convenience, rather that many agents don't seem to know how to completely erase a DL# and insert another FF# in its place. I'm not saying that's the way things should be, but there is a moral difference between a deliberate act and an unintentional screwup.

rashby's experience may be different, but we don't have details--how was the ticket purchased, for instance? As mot29 points out, logging in to DL.com when you purchase a ticket automatically associates your DL# with the ticket.

Yeah, once you have your DL number in the reservation, it often comes back up despite having changed it to your NW number. You have to have the person physically delete the DL number out of the system as oppose to just adding your NW number. Always double check your boarding pass since that's the most important part. They have been able to change that for me, though with some work usually at the gate and print out new BPs. They should be able to do this as long as it's before the flight, even mid trip.

So you don't get any bonus miles on DL if you get NW miles, BTW.

Starkly different treatmen of partner FFs booking online
 

Upgrades are one thing. Screwing around with FF numbers seems to be another - and happens to be what this thread is about.

I just looked at both NWA.com and Delta.com.

On Delta.com, at the passenger-info stage of booking, I can enter a SkyMiles number.

On NWA.com, I can enter a WorldPerks, Flying Blue, OnePass, SkyMiles, Bonus, Club Premier, Fidelitas, Mileage Plan, MilleMiglia, OK Plus, HawaiianMiles, Jet Privilege, SKYPASS, Enrich, Duna Club or Midwest Miles number.

So... during online booking, I think NW treats partner FFs well. ^
And during online booking, I think DL treats them poorly. :td:

I wouldn't characterize it as poor treatment as a DP system in need of upgrading. DL's computers have long been considered by all parties (and admitted by DL mgmt) as the obstacle to reciprocal upgrades and better handling of non-DL elites.

Fair enough. NW has invested heavily in improvements to technology and automation to benefit its pax - including those in partner FF programs. And it shows.