basicdude, I don't have experience with DL on this matter but I wouldn't think it would be an issue as long as you were doing confirmed mileage-upgrades on DL ahead of time, then changing the FF# on the ticket at the gate (or even on the phone ahead of time, once the upgrade is confirmed).

On UA at least, you can use miles to upgrade anybody with an eligible ticket, not just the person spending the miles. A father with tons of miles, for example, can upgrade his whole brood for an int'l vacation, and they'll still earn their miles for the base fare. So it shouldn't matter what ff# is associated with the ticket, as long as the upgrade has already been confirmed. I see no reason why DL would be any different.

If you're doing some sort of last-minute mileage-upgrade, that's probably a different story, though.

I have never had a problem changing my skymiles number to a worldperks number at the counter. The only downside of this is you have to remember to do this everytime. I have forgotten twice, and lost about 1300 miles..(actually they are skymiles that basically useless). On the other hand, I like the convenience of online check in and being able to use my skymiles card at self service check in. I fly in and out of ATL weekly so I really have no choice than to bite the bullet. It is definitely a pain, and miles on comair are slow to post when I wind up on one of those flights. Simply another reinforcement of choosing WP over Skymiles.

As a Worldperks convert trying my best to make Platinum this year, and after much experimenting on DL flights and tickets, I think the following are the best guidelines:

1. If you have DL status, and will use those benefits to get an upgrade, online checkin, priority airport lines, etc., then you should reserve it as a DL FFer. Never change the number until you get to the gate. And yes, then you have to remember to ask them.

2. There is still an issue. When you change the number on the ORIGINATING flight, the entire Skymiles itinerary disappears from one set of screens usually used by DL phone and airport agents! They have to look you up a different way after that.

3. I am not sure yet about DL kiosk checkin. I have been turned away from it twice on return legs, after giving my Worlperks number at the gate on the originating flight. But an agent recently told me if I use a credit card instead of my Skymiles number, the kiosk will "find" my return reservation. Haven't tried it yet.

4. Delta agents are learning the ropes only slowly on how to do a Worlperks switch at the gate. They need to do a LOT of typing, even when they actually know how to do it. I stay until they actually can print me a boarding card with the Worldperks number; I now will not let them say they will enter it after the flight has left, OR that the number is switched but it didn't "take" on the printed card. Both of those times it never worked.

Seamless this AINT.



[This message has been edited by Justin026 (edited 09-28-2003).]

Okay, next question: What has been your experience for length of time for miles on DL flights to post in your NW account? I've had 2 DL flights in the last couple of weeks using my WP account, but neither has posted yet.

Read the agreement carefully and see if COMAIR segments are in the agreement..When
DL had a partners agreement with UA (due to be cancelled) the COMAIR segments were NOT in the agreement.
UA rerouted me due to a cancellation and the flights were COMAIR connection to DL.
The DL miles got posted the COMAIR did not.
A call to UA got the miles posted since the original flights were on UA and UA had rebooked me with a COMAIR flight.

So you best check the flight numbers you get to stay off COMAIR if you are not going to get your miles.

COMAIR miles will show up on any "Skymiles" FF account.

Delta is not the easiest airline to deal with even to correct their mistakes.

myleguy -- It has always taken less than 3 days to go in, IF the Delta agent did it right. If they didn't, then it is time to write in to get the credit.

Which brings up another fine point: who do you write to? I was told by phone with a Delta agent that FIRST you must call Delta to get them to remove the credit, THEN you write or call (haven't done this part yet) NW to get the credit added. If you do it the other way, they will see the partner credit and bounce your request.

Has anyone else experienced this facet of seamless cooperation yet?

Great idea. But if you do this on your departing flight your WP number will be in the system for the return. Wouldn't that mean you couldn't use online check-in on the return?

Fflyer, you are exactly correct. It is a bad deal, made worse by the fact that DL will not let you do e-check-in from home for both directions of a same day RT. As I point out above, I have been told (anyone confirm yet?) that you can use a credit card instead to find the return reservation at the kiosk for a "switched" reservation. But if that fails, you are stuck in the lines if it is an airport that won't accept printed itineraries.

I fly ATL-JAX Tuesday same day RT and will try it out.

Seamless partner stuff, ya know?

I can vouch that this works great for viewing itineraries and changing seats. After I switched my FF number from DL to NWA I couldn't find the reservation at delta.com, but did find it at Song.

Now I just have to wait for the flight to see if I can check in online.

Kiosk Check-In

SkyMiles Card - Only if it is in the PNR

Any Credit Card showing the passenger's name.

Driver' License - must have a magnetic stripe on the back.

Today I flew DL ATL-JAX round trip. I used my Skymiles number to book the trip and to do a home e-checkin (you cannot e-checkin the return leg on DL). Went to the airport and changed my FF number to NW at the gate. New BP with the NW number. All went well.

Returning, I used my AMEX card (not my Skymiles card) at the kiosk in JAX. It put me through twenty questions, but printed a BP with the NW number on it.

So all that works.

But a new situation. This week and last, at JAX, and when changing my FF number in this manner, I have been flagged by DL for extra TSA screening for the return leg only. Any similar pattern noted by others?

[This message has been edited by Justin026 (edited 09-30-2003).]

A point not mentioned so far ...

On nwa.com, you can access special seats(such as bulkhead) when you check in online up to 36 hours in advance.

These seats weren't available when I checked in online at Delta/Song so I figured they were taken.

But when I asked at the gate, Row 10 on a 767 was wide open.

As an aside, every DL rep was surprised to learn that you can see itineraries at Song even when you don't have a SkyMiles number in the reservation.

I flew on Delta earlier this year and was frustruated that as a WorldPerks member I wasn't able to check-in on line or to enter my worldperks number into the reservation. As an aside, this is in Delta's best interest as it will save them time and trouble either at check-in or at the gate. Anyway, I received a form letter back saying non-Delta members were not able to check-in online or to add other freq. flier numbers online, not so helpful considering that this was the exact information I wrote them to complain about! I guess they are still ironing out their new alliance but it does not seem to be asking too much for them to allow NW/CO members to add their #s and check-in online. This is, in fact, in their best interest.

I was able to online check-in via the Song link for my DL flight. I had booked the reservation using my WP # and it is clearly listed on my BP. I'm assuming NWA is the only 9 digit all numerical FF# in the system compared to say AF, KLM, CO or DL.....let's hope my miles post. Has anyone done the onlien checkin w/ a WP # via Song and had the WP miles post no problem?

I purchased a DL ticket on Orbitz which tried to put my DL Skymiles number in the PNR. I blanked it out, but could not find a way to add the WP number, so I called Orbitz and had them do it.

I then checked in for my first flight via Song. No FF# printed on my boarding pass. I had the GA add it (which she did quickly and with no problem) and print a new BP for the flight.

On my return flight, when I checked in using the Song site, the WP# printed on the boarding pass. Note that it did not print as simply a 9 digit number; it printed with NW in front of the 9 digit number. Not sure if that's what you're seeing. If not, you may need to fax the BP to NW for credit (it sounds like you already took the flight -- if not, just ask the GA to fix it in the computer).

My DL miles posted within two days. This was faster than my last CO trip! HTH.