Thank You for the letter. You are Right! Comp and matches are to get business and that why they have them. You are also correct about customer service, most of the time they are good and considerate.

Now for moving business - yes Delta has won my travel, including my Travel from STL to CVG, CVG to ANC. ANC to HNL, HNL to STL, STL to BWI, and ORF to STL all in the next 2.5 weeks for $4k of money.

Actually because Delta was so nice and pleasant, they will also receive a good share of business next year, along with AA which I am top level on. I am even thinking about mileage runs on Delta and AA to keep both statuses.

You are correct, that match/comp's are to attract and gain loyalty and NW missed the boat.

PS. Another experience I had on NW. Coming back from Seattle this year I was sitting and hit a little turbulence and part of the cabin fell of. Some plastic piece of the light fixture and cut my head open. Had to get napkins to stop the bleeding. Fun thing, the flight attendant didn't really care. I guess I should have sued like the rest of America coffee drinkers at McDonald's - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thank you for the kind offer, ernestb

I have had no real complains about NW in the air. It's the customer "service" people I have problems with.

And why are Silvers treated like "base members" (ugh, that term), with no special rez phone number?

This airline has a lot to learn about treating customers. I can just imagine someday having a real problem stranded somewhere with some NW person barking at me, "documenting" my file, with no recourse at all. That is why I worry about flying NW much. My profile says "NW Silver" but it is 4 - 6 weeks before they post that to my account.

So I guess I will fly other airlines for that 4 - 6 weeks. I am certainly not going to give my business to NW during that time. So like a lot of things they (and other airlines) do, it backfires on them and they are too stupid to know what business they are losing.

I would never, ever have customer "service" people treat customers like I was treated. And this has happened now several times.

I know others report terrific experience with NW, but that is my experience.

4-6 weeks? Whenever my elite status has changed, it has taken the standard 2nd day for the miles to post plus a day for the status to change. Was the flight on CO or KLM or some other partner?

Brad

rayk...you're right. Enjoy DL.

rayk - what about United? Is United also going to get your business for comping you to Premier Executive?

I'm afraid that you are really going overboard on this comping business by simultaneously asking three airlines to comp you - one of which had already comped you for the current year. I have heard that United only comps once. So effectively you've got a comp on United which you wont be using (since you mention mileage runs on Delta and AA to maintain status on those airlines). Say goodbye to any future comps on United - when you may have needed a United comp.

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 12-07-2001).]

One other thing. I sent an email about 5 days ago. No answer. I have called and called the WP number. You go through a whole rigamorole re putting in your WP number, your PIN, etc., then after being on hold and going through this a recording says "we are unable to handle your call at this time" and hangs up on you.

It's another nail in the NW coffin for me I'm afraid. Atrocious.

Re: NW's treatment of Silvers versus the other Elites, keep in mind that the "Elite Curve" is probably a bit more skewed on NW than on other U.S. carriers (except possibly UA).

There is a LARGE contingent of NW Platinum Elites out there who fly to Asia (or Europe) 2+ times WEEKLY. For example, my dad did this for the first nine months of this year due to his job, and racked up in excess of 475K qualifying miles as a result (this includes about 75K for the staus Q-promo that NW offered this past summer). Assuming his company paid about $1/mile for the tickets (all in WBC), that would equal $400,000 to NW's bottom line.

So the question for NW is, with the limited amount of resources available, whom do you offer the additional perks to: those at the bottom of the Elite pyramid, or to the people at the top who comprise the majority of NW's income? It's sort of like politics, in that politicians could solve the problems of the poor and working-class, but instead largely cater to the middle-class and rich, who vote and contribute to campaigns.

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 12-07-2001).]

What happen if all WP member decided to write the letter to NWA asking for what you ask for? They're doing business here, not giving out freebie. What kind of business are you in if you can't think of this logic. How many flight have you taken with NWA this year? How many miles have you log? MAYBE that's the reason? They don't know you. Can they take your word for it that you are going to spend 50k with them next year? If I stop by a gas station and fill up a tank of gas today. The next day, I go to the same place and want to fill up another tank of gas but I have no money. Do you think the owner of the station will TAKE my WORD for it that I will pay him back and let me fill up another tank of gas?
Yeah and I crack my head open in the bathroom but the FA didn't even do an incidient report on it. lmao

In contrast, I'll have Platinum status on NWA doing about 80k miles this year at an average cost of <$0.07 a mile for a whopping total of <$5600. Perhaps a lot for mostly leisure travel, but I'm in the same bucket as your dad. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yes, but I think that we can both agree that, generally speaking, the Platinum bucket is more likely to be filled with higher-yield rather than lower-yield fliers.

I dunno, I'm surprised that this thread keeps staying on top, but I guess people like to dwell on negativity.

Here are my opinions -- as a nonsilver, non-gold, nonzillion miler: WorldPerks works. I've never had a problem from their end with airline flights being posted (NWA, KLM, CAL, or Midway). I've never had a problem making reservations for free flights online; I've never had a problem when talking to people at the 800 #, although after they severely discounted the number of miles needed to fly in November to Europe, they did hang up on me a few times... but that didn't really bother me. I've also never had a problem with anything at their end.

I have had problems with the flower club and those 500 miles for eating out three times with dining for miles back in June or July (I forget which), but those are not that important to me.

I think that if people don't want to fly any given airline, then they shouldn't--maybe they should make a post about it, but unless somethign was certiflibly unsafe or dangerous about it, why dwell on it? I mean, there are airlines I won't fly for various reasons, but I don't spend my time bashing them in their forums, 'cause I know some people happen to really like them. Ultimately, it's not worth the time and effort to me to do bash them.

I find it hard to believe there is a "LARGE" contingent of people who fly 2+ times "WEEKLY" to Asia. I'd imagine there are a good number who fly bi-weekly or maybe even weekly. But a "LARGE" number flying 2+ times weekly? Perhaps we define "LARGE" differently.

You're right-- few would likely do twice weekly (how my Dad did it, I'll never know...) But in my discussions with several NW Intl. FAs and Elite Service phone reps., I was indicated to me that there is a substantial pool of VFF Platinums (300K+ miles/year) who use NW flights to Asia (esp. NRT) as a "virtual shuttle".

This is my first reply to a post. Why do you think that NW should comp you status when you did not earn it? This is what is wrong with this world today.

Welcome to FlyerTalk Fairway911 GRR.
I am sure that you will make all the other GRR posters pleased that they have another member from that area.
As to the answer for your question from only my perspective it appears that some people in the world feel they are owed a living. Of course my answer to that is the same as my Daddy used to say to me "I would rather owe it to you than cheat you out of it." http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif