QuietLion,

I have never flown out of LAX, so I cannot comment either way on that flight. As Phil said, you are one of the most respected posters on Flyertalk. I am bothered by stories such as your brothers'. I hope he wrote to Northwest and voiced his displeasure with the treatment he has received. You once wrote that I "must live right" in regards to NW. Maybe my treatment is different because I take the same flights most, if not all, of the time. Maybe your brother also took the same flights. I don't know. It doesn't make much sense to me.
-RKG

I had read that Northwest's fleet was older than the other majors.

But the first class seat was a major disappointment (especially compared to United who have far more comfortable seats). For me seat comfort is more important than food/wine. Can one tell which flights/planes to select or avoid?

Phil- It largely has to do with NOT properly crediting mileage, not honoring their promo and subsequently not respondiing to repeated calls, mailings, etc - even Mr. Dow (since departed from MWA) and Mr Dasburg- in attempts to clean up the mess!

Even when they finally said they would "fix" the issue and I agreed, they never lived up to their part of the bargain!


[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-30-2000).]

It depend. If you judge first class by the amenities of the other majors: no, NW first class isn't First Class. Food, seating and entertainment are not as good. Service, however, I must say, can be worse or better. One of the best flight attendants I ever had was on NW first. NW doesn't, however, intend that they be top dog in this category of service. They don't intend to add movies, equivalent food, or as comfortable seating--though some will like NW's foot rests on domestic first. Moreover, I don't expect that NW will add sleeper seats internationally. The improvments in WBC last year, such as hot towel service, etc., are nothing special since they egregiously lacked such amenities anyway.

If you judge NW's coach to be "second class" then you might consider the front cabin to be "First Class."

NW has attempted to make improvement in the food category, and they deserve credit here. Many have testified to the domestic improvement here. Shorter flights have some food. And the food on longer flights is better. Nonetheless, NW doesn't intend to match the quality and service of the others, which is evident, but a conscious decision.

For me, however, there are some germane factors surrounding NW "first class" seating that I should mention. These factors have seriously made me consider going back to NW over CO, when it comes to first. NW has the key first class amenity for me: leg room. And NW does have small foot rests that others don't have. NW does have 16 first class seats on the 319/320s, which is tremendous, and far superior to many of the other majors.Upgrading is easier. Try 8 seats on UA 319 or even 12 or 14 on CO. NW allows elite member to upgrade reward tickets via status. Auto system of upgrading for elites is good as well; no calling. Food is improved.

JL2

> What do you expect from an airline that
> is still buying MD-80's ...

Actually, NWA is buying something even
older - DC9's. The last time I checked
the FAA registry, they had 200+ DC9's and
were buying more. Their MD80 fleet was
approx ten (10) and I believe that they
were reducing it in favor of more/older
DC9's.

-doug

NW is NOT buying any more 9's. At the time, the only aircraft they are purchasing are 757's, A-319' and 320's.

And according to the latest annual report, DC-10s!!!

Red tail, you might remember this post www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/000588.html


[This message has been edited by cigarman (edited 08-01-2000).]