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.

Sorry if my comment was OT, but it was in response to someone else's statement in the thread.

100% in agreement with you there. DL.com should be able to handle input of non-DL FF #s at the time of ticket purchase, no question. However, I don't think that's what this thread is about--it's about NW FF#s disappearing from DL tickets in favor of DL FF#s.

There seems to be a sentiment among many that DL deliberately removes NW FF#s from people's records and inserts a DL#. I don't believe that to be the case. In my experience, it's a screwup. As NOLAnwGOLD points out, if there's already a DL FF# in your record, many agents will simply add your NW# rather than deleting your DL# then entering your NW#. This is likely to cause miles to go to DL rather than NW. Is that wrong? Yes. Should the agents be trained better? Yes. Is it a nefarious plot on the part of DL to 'screw with' peoples FF accounts? I think not, but you're free to disagree.

I have has something similar happen but with CO and NW. I was traveling with a friend who was using his NW FF # .I was using my CO#. Due to an agent screw up, his NW # got associated with my record mid- journey. The NW number replaced my CO#. I noticed this when our boarding passes printed on the first leg of a multi leg return. They were able to re-print the boarding pass for the future legs but claimed to be unable to correct the already flown legs that were associated with my friends' number. I was told that the agent could not correct it since segments had already flown. I tried to get this corrected at every point during the multi leg journey and even at a CO office and all claimed they could not correct it and I would have to mail in the boarding pass for correction. I know CO is not DL so what you have to do may be different but the agents along the way seemed to be pretty sure that they could not ( or were unwilling) to make the correction once the segment was flown.

Yes. (There have also been threads before about people who put their DL# in when booking online in hopes of getting a bonus for doing that, then go through huge amounts of trouble on the phone to get it switched over to their NW# for the actual flight.)

Agreed.

Sounds like we're mostly in agreement.^ I never meant to imply that DL shouldn't allow adding other FF#s at the time of purchase or train their agents better to avoid problems. My real gripe was that several of the posts here seemed to be implying that DL deliberately switches people's FF#s, which I just don't think is the case.

While DL should resolve the issues on their end, it's relatively easy (in my experience) to have problem-free crediting of DL flights to WP. Based on my personal experience and the numerous posts I've read, I suggest the following actions:

1. Make sure your NW FF# is the only one ever associated with the ticket. Even if you don't remember your DL FF#, don't "log in" to DL.com--it is probably saved in a browser cookie, and logging in will enter you DL FF#. If a phone rep asks for a DL#, just say you don't have one. If you buy a ticket through a third party (including online sites) make sure your DL# doesn't get entered--in many cases, booking a ticket on airline X will result in airline X's FF# being entered into your record. Cookies and server-hosted records at work again.

2. Until DL gets their act together to allow entry of other FF#s on their website when buying a ticket, e-mail DL to have the number input. A number of posts show that this is far quicker and easier than calling DL's phone line.

3. Make sure your NW# is on your DL BP before boarding--if you follow steps 1 and 2, it shouldn't be a problem. If it doesn't work out that way, then make sure it does before you board. Don't buy a GA saying that your NW# is in the record and miles will be credited to NW if a DL# is on the BP--the miles will really go to DL if the DL# is on the BP. Ask the agent to fully delete all FF# info and re-enter your NW#.

I have had problems with DL and my WP# in the past. In my case, the number that they had on record for me was just plain wrong (numbers were switched around). When I brought this up at the gate, they told me that I must be mistaken, because "their system checks for that sort of thing, and it wouldn't have allowed the connection of an incorrect number to my name." When I showed them both my NWA WP visa card, as well as my NWA WP card with the right number on it, they still maintained that I must be wrong... :confused:
Anyway, I finally got the 3rd GA that I asked to change it (even though the other two claimed that it was impossible).

Also, I'm not sure that I want all of DL's elites getting upgrades on NW. I don't fly DL enough to take advantage of that benefit...

I purchased my ticket through a travel agent and did not go through any websites. Before my trip, the entire ITN was on NWA.com. I got my boarding passes for the first two legs at the NW counter and both had my FF#. I was upgraded on the first leg which was on NW metal. I was not upgraded on the 2nd leg which was on Delta.

Definitely good advice. I've got a simplified version: I have a NW FF#, and no DL FF#. So if I'm on DL, or any other NW partner or SkyTeam member, there's one and only one number they can possibly use. :D

Yup & Yup. It's what I do.

As an added note: A Delta (metal) flight (6am departure)of mine got canceled. They wanted to rebook me on Delta metal later that day(3pm), to SFO (from east coast). I insisted on a codeshare CO metal flight that departed aprox. same early time as original flt (as it was only a 2 day trip and losing a day was not an option), had to have a Supervisor do something & OK it after the agent said it was not an option & could not do anything.

Anyone have the email addy to use for this? Delta's version of TTU won't deal with reservations.

hmm..I use their TTU to make this change all the time

I just did this, and the email reply says they added it, but I'm unable to access the preferred seating. Is this a problem with DL not automatically recognizing NW FO status, and should I have specifically mentioned that I was Elite, or ... ?

I have mistakenly ended up with my little-used SkyMiles number on a DL ticket instead of my WP number. The miles went to my DL account. It's the only time I have had to get the WP Service Center involved, but they did fix it for me. The only way I can think that this happened is that I had "Remember Me" checked on the DL website. When I pulled in my reservation by Conf #, the WP FF# magically got changed to the DL SkyMiles #. If you ever look at your DL itinerary on the DL website, make sure you are not signed in and make sure you pull up the reservation by Credit Card # or Confirmation #. In other words, just pretend you never had a SkyMiles #.

Someone also said that if you buy a gate upgrade on DL metal, they make you enter your SkyMiles number. This is not true in my experience. I flew on DL last year. I was so exhausted from SkyWest's butchering of my inbound flight into SLC that I bought the upgrade at the gate on the connecting mainline DL flight. I had my Continental OnePass number in the reservation, and there was no problem. The miles showed up in my OP account. I would expect the same would have happened if I had had my WP number in the DL reservation instead.

It does help to state something to the effect of 'based on my ST Elite status, I'd like to be switched from my current seat to seat 8C'. Is your NW status recent? It could take a week after NW recognizes your a new status level for the status to be communicated to DL. Other than having recently earned Silver, DL should not have a problem recognizing the fact that you have Elite status on NW.