Here they are:

http://www.nwa.com/features/wp2004.html

All NW operated flights will continue to receive 100% EQM. Discounted fares on CO-operated flights will receive 50% EQM effective Jan 1, 2004. However, all economy class fares on Delta will receive 100% EQM effective Oct 26, 2003. That's kind of odd.

http://www.nwa.com/features/dlcomileage.html

Also, reward first class North/Central America awards to Hawaii increases to 75000 miles. Double for rulebuster.

And upgrading 'domestic' itineraries will now cost 15000 miles.

The most interesting change is that from Delta, actually increasing to 100% EQM from 50% on L, U, and T class fares.

Not much can be said for the lack of notice. Two days notice for the Delta change, and less than nine weeks for the Continental change.

[This message has been edited by keithguy (edited 10-24-2003).]

All NW flights will continue to earn 100% EQMs!

This is an excellent, gutsy, brave stance on the part of Northwest Airlines! We MUST reward NW with constant business, buying all fare types, starting immediately!

We must write to Beth and thank her for doing the right thing! And assure her that she hasn't made the wrong bet!

Goodbye forever CO/DL!

Let the collective sigh of relief begin!

I will be dropping a note to Northwest thanking them for not gutting their program and hope others do the same. The first paragraph of the announcement almost reads like a stab at CO for their changes, see below. Thank You Northwest!!

WorldPerks will maintain its industry-leading Elite qualification structure. To keep Elite qualification realistic and attainable, Northwest will continue to award Elite status based on either Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) earned OR Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) flown in a calendar year. Northwest will continue giving full mileage credit towards Elite status on most discount fares. Members traveling on Full Y fares will continue to earn a 50% bonus towards Elite status. Members who purchase business fare types and/or travel short distances can earn Elite status with as few as 20 Elite Qualifying Segments. Our flexible options for Elite qualification include the following:

(edited for spelling)

[This message has been edited by OutOfOffice (edited 10-24-2003).]

Reward those who pay more for their seats:
This to me makes a lot of sense. Use a carrot, not a stick. NWA has a lot of class in my books.

With the changes to segments on CO, I would suspect that CO elites will have to switch to NW in order to get the full miles, not just fly NW.

I was already trying to figure out if I could possibly stay at Gold -- it wasn't pretty. While I seems that I an usually flying "Q" there certainly are some K's and V's in there (as well as B's and M's). This CERTAINLY will keep most of my flights on NWA.

One has to wonder whether Gordo will keep the 50% qualifying mile rule in place or back down. The current structure pretty much guarantees that few NW elites will ever plant their butt on a CO airplane.

Just two years ago I always chose CO over NW if it was an option. During the past year CO's EUA shenanigans and arrogant agents made me fly NW the majority of the time. These latest developments, along with the new 330, ensure that I will be on NW for ALL my Eastbound flights, even the $6000 full J European trips that my company pays for.

Thank you Richard & Beth! Gordo: Time to release the sequel - "Worst to First and Back to Worst"

Kudos to Anderson and his management team, who realize that real-world frequent travelers book a mix of fares. He has also learned what Bethune used to preach: that by providing superior service and benefits, NW can derive a premium over other airlines (a lesson that Bethune seems to have regrettably forgotten). In addition, NW has kept its program user-friendly and easy to understand: no stupid HoKeY rules or figuring out what fare bucket qualifies for what elite mileage. As a CO elite, I have to say I'm incredibly surprised and pleased and can only hope that it will cause CO to back down. If not, NW is starting to sound really good to me right about now! I wonder what's up with the DL changes...

Cheers,
Brooklynflyer

[This message has been edited by brooklynflyer (edited 10-24-2003).]

The new NW terms seem almost like a judo-like attempt to turn the tables and isolate CO... whereas until now it looked like CO and DL were trying to isolate NW!

NW will award 100% EQMS on all NW and DL published fares... but only 50% on CO discount fares!

Ha! Gordon can go fry ice! He can wander through Terminal C watching the tumbleweeds blow around! He can have all the Baby Bonbels in the PC to himself! He's been trumped! NW has defied an industry bully and will be justly rewarded by its (and CO's) customers! This makes me so happy...

But DL offers few upgrades...

But at least I have an option to fly DL, not CO (where it's 50% EQM and upgrades are always hard to get).

Just sent off an email thanking the folks for no major changes. Also plan to send a letter to Beth w/ a cc to Richard.

I haven't seen a Bonbel in an airline lounge in a very long time... Where have they gone? Have they joined the Doritos and Milanos (fortuantely, America West has Doritos and Northwest has Milanos)?

------------------
"We will not cut benefits from OnePass, our industry-leading frequent flyer program, because we remain committed to rewarding our most loyal customers."

-- Gordon Bethune (Continental's CEO) two weeks before significantly cutting benefits of the OnePass program

I'm flabbergasted. When I saw the subject header, I thought, "Oh no, here it is." This makes me want to head to the airport and take a MR right now!

YAY!

I am looking forward to bringing as much business (both for work and for fun) as I can to NWA next year.

Same here... and I will never put my butt into a Continental seat again!

Good job NW!

Anyone know Beth's e-mail addy so I can send her a nice thanks?



[This message has been edited by slippahs (edited 10-24-2003).]