A Note on Mid-year Elite Qualification
 

Hi all.

I have seen at least one post in another area of FlyerTalk
which leads me to believe that some members don't
realize that we qualify members for an upgrade in Elite
status throughout the year. Each week we check each member's
year-to-date flight mileage, and if a member hits the 25,000,
50,000 or 75,000 mark their account is updated then and there.
New credentials are ordered and should arrive within a few
weeks of qualifying. No need to call the WorldPerks Service
Center...it will all happen automatically.

In case anyone didn't know!

Thanks, MJW, as always! It was not clear whether they had been told incorrectly by NWA that they do not upgrade automatically!

Most airlines, I've been told, have software that "kicks in" automatically. When I asked NWA in late '95 about this, they said they do it whenever they are eventually able to shut down the "regular system" and do a "run." They alluded to the fact that it was "about once a week or so!" I'd mentioned to NWA at the time that you could miss a critical (passing over the threshold) 500m flight credit not getting posted to your account just prior to a longer trip like JFK-NRT and possibly miss out on all Elite benefits for that entire trip, from checkin to amenities to bonus miles. It did in fact happen twice to us. It is good to hear NWA is working on these matters and that a better policy is developing! Thank you again.

Oops, MJW, almost forgot to mention that you may want to check out flyme2's latest entry in the thread MJW's role on Flyer Talk when you get a moment! Thanks and congratulations!

with UA, if you reach the next highest status, it is best to make reenter your ff-number for all existing waitlists/upgrade-requests/reservations, as only then the new status rules will be automatically "in the computer" before check-in.

With Northwest?

MJW-
Like doc, I was always told by WPerks reps that the system does a sweep "ever so often" (led me to believe every couple of months... too long when you fly as much as I!) So what I did when I passed the 50K mark was to fax in a letter requesting Gold status. The next day it was done! Much to my liking (and probably as a result of the fax methinks but maybe not).

Also, glad to say that I just received my new Gold intro packet - about two weeks after the system registered it. Very happy with the speed of the mailing.

Keep up the good work MJW - soon I'll be having all of my company and other FFer friends here in DC traveling on NW instead of United (no offense, but it's more competitive elite-wise with their Dulles hub and all)...

jexjex

MJW-any word on new equipment? and one last question... why no direct flight from SLC to DTW (only to MSP)???

Rudi - Excellent observation, Rudi! Thank you so much for bringing
this up! Yes, it is best for upgraded and new Elite members to
re-enter their FF number on any existing reservations so that
the new status is reflected. I wish this wasn't the case and I
hope we can fix this someday.

doc - sheer embarrassment is what will drive me off of
FlyerTalk! I hope Randy doesn't see that post. Besides,
my upbringing makes it impossible for me to take a compliment...
just ask anyone who knows me.

jexjex - I actually do have an update on equipment. We just
finished an article on the subject for the August newsletter,
but I forgot to post on FT.

In 1999, we are adding 31 new aircraft to the fleet (a new plane
every 12 days):
4 - Boeing 747-400s
7 - Airbus A320s
10 - Airbus A319s
10 - Avro RJ85s
After 1999, we'll be adding 10 new A319s each year through
2003. And we have a large order placed for 50-seat RJs (I
need to check a past press release for delivery details).
That's what I know for now...if I find out more, I'll try to
remember to post.

May I respectfully urge you to please get used to receiving compliments! Thanks in advance!

http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

thanks for the equipment update, MJW!!

jexjex

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This topic (the midyear elite upgrade) is particularly pertinent to me. I just passed 50k flight miles on Monday (the miles posted yesterday, Tuesday night) so I should be eligible for an upgrade in elite status from Silver to Gold. I have a flight out this coming Saturday; it would be nice to be Gold so that I could get a first class seat early (before they are all taken by other frequent flyers!) and it would be nice to get the 2x mileage bonus.

Obviously I'll be watching really closely in the next couple of days to see if my status gets upgraded before Saturday.

You did reenter your FF number (Call WP's) as Rudi and other have suggested, right? It can't hurt! Good luck!

Doc - I called yesterday and had them reenter my WorldPerks number. As it turns out, I had purchased the tickets before I'd even reached silver elite.

I checked again today; I have not yet been upgraded to Gold. I called the WorldPerks center - the fellow I talked to told me that he thinks that the computer scan for upgrades happens ever two to four weeks. (It's a good thing that we hear from MJW what really happens). Anyway, he also said that because I'm not a gold, he can't upgrade me to first class today (it's two days before the flight). There are now only two first class seats available on the flight from MSP to YVR so I'll be pretty lucky to get one but we'll see.

Of course, if the scan occurs tonight and I become a gold tomorrow (Friday), I've got a better chance than Saturday, the day of my flight.

Hi TravelLover.

The mid-year qualification sweep happens on Saturday night/
Sunday morning and the new status is reflected on the
database by Monday morning.

Do you have any Silver upgrade certs you can use? Might as
well use them up if you can!

MJW, thanks for the info about the elite status upgrades. Guess I won't keep watching to see if I've been upgraded. I don't have any problem using a Silver Elite upgrade certificate but I can't use it until I have a first class seat! (Tomorrow night, as the clock approaches midnight, my fingers will be on the phone buttons...)

BTW, congratulations on the OMNI award. Northwest might be interested in how much we all appreciate excellence in customer service as you've been providing!

Best thing is that you get it and the next best thing is that it will be far easier next time! Hope you enjoy the flight as well as have a safe and on time arrival!