Yesterday I was booking IAD-SEA-IAD when I saw that they had $163 RT fares. I went to NWA.com and did not find any routings that appealed to me. Being a CO Plat I prefer to be on CO metal (just a personal pref). So I went to Expedia to see what kind of legal routings I could have on these K fares. I also reviewed the Expedia listings for routings between IAD-SEA-IAD and noticed that they can route you on CO metal via IAH. Other sources also told me via worldspan that a legal routing would be IAD-IAH-SEA-IAH-SEA for the dates specified and at the K fare requested.

I called NW with the specific flight using NW flight #'s (all CO metal) and NW told me that at least ONE segment MUST be on NW metal. I had never heard this and recall taking CO entirely on NW flights in the past. I called again shortly thereafter and was told the same thing. At this point in time I was worried about losing the fare so I booked IAD-MSP-SEA-IAH-IAD.

My point is that I believe that the NW CSR was full of it although I'm not 100% sure. Does anyone else have any experience with this scenario on NW? For the record I noticed I have more time, as this fare is still available this a.m.

Trojan: I am flying tomorrow on a NW itinerary purchased on nwa.com. There are "zero" NW metal flights, all (4) segments are on CO.

I have also called NW CSRs and had them price itineraries for me using only CO as the carrier, i.e. RDU/DCA via IAH for $112... massive mileage for a little ~250 mile drive. I can get a walk-up fare EWR/RDU for like $100, so combine the two of 'em for about $200 and 5,500 miles. It is also less expensive that EWR/DCA direct on CO.

[This message has been edited by EWR-COflyer (edited 02-03-2002).]

If the fare is still available, you can call back and change your routing without penalty during the first 24 hrs.

update, this evening I tried calling and switching again to the CO flight but now they tell me the airfare will be $1200 plus dollars. I'll try one more time and then I will be out of time Midnight CST