Just got the email on the new incentive. The ability to give away Silver or Gold status is going to be great.

What?

win1300

Sorry - here's the link to the details.


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

Looks like Silver & possibly Gold elite just became USELESS at Northwest.

Now that Platinums can upgrade a companion at the 5 day EUA window, there will be no 'F' seats available for EUA and probably very few P seats available at the airport for upgrades.

Sorry Gold & Silver elites.

Of course, I don't know what percentage of platinum travelers normally travel with a companion.

-RM

Nice enough bennies for those who don't pay for their own tix...

One thing that all elites can say about this incentive is that it reinforces NWA positive approach to the program.

They are rewarding flyers who pay more rather than penalizing those who pay less (like CO's 50% EQMs).

Pretty nice addition NW!

too bad we're not being credited with pts for 2003 to kick the year off.

Exactly my thoughts. I've read some posts on the Delta and CO boards lately; those people are unhappy. Very different from the general tone of the NW board.

Most of my miles are earned on my dollar, and even when traveling for my employer, a non-profit educational institution, I try to fly on discount fares. I don't mind greater benefits to the people paying the higher fares; but I am pleased that I'm not being penalized for flying relatively cheaply.
tom

I wouldn't say that it makes Silver or Gold useless or that there will be no F seats to EUA.

I do think that it will make it tougher for Silvers and non-plat companions (and potentially Golds on some flights). From my experience there usually aren't a boat load of Plats and when there are there either isn't a companion the vast majority of the time or the companion is also Plat. Remember, the companion has to be on the same PNR, which I think limits situations also.

The ability to give away Silver at 1200 Plat points or Gold at 2400 points should be difficult enough to achieve. 1200 points requires 15 RT J tickets or even at the potentially cheapest, 60 RT Y/B tickets. I imagine that someone would rather choose the 2 one-way system wide upgrades at 1200 (more valuable than Silver in my book) or the $1000 World Vacations GC at 2400.

I see Plat Points as a good thing. I'm not so sure that the plat companion upgrade is fair to other elites or generates additional revenue or loyalty in total. Time will tell.

Congrats to all Plats out there...you deserve it!

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Randy
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HH Gold; SPG Gold; NW Gold; UA PremEx

As far as the new points awards for Plat. Unless you fly almost exclusively at full fares, it's gonna be tough to rack up the points. If I am reading correctly, you would have to fly like 13 J class trips to Asia to earn 1000 points and earn the top prizes.

Great marketing idea to reward high revenue customers though. Proves you can thank your best customers without punishing low fare fliers like myself.

I've got to agree that getting points will be tough.

Honestly, rarely do I travel domestically on Y/B fares.

Internationally we've been travelling on them (and Z fares in one case), but still, 5 or 6 international trips in Y just barely make the first tier.

You've gotta be red hot to get the upper 1000+ point tiers.

I'll be first tier at best.

Steve

Hopefully they'll award *some* points for cheaper fares (5?), or for some of the other things they give points for in Mile-A-Rama.

What I would love, is if you got some systemwide upgrades with your platinum package every year. Just once, I'd like to ride in the front on an Asia bound plane.

Some of the mileage bonus levels don't make sense either. Why would you use 300 points for 7500 miles, when you can get 10,000 by using the 150 level twice?

I think the way it works is 5,000 at the first level, and then another 7,500 at the second level for a total of 12,500.

Personally I like the other options a lot more at tier 2 and up than selecting bonus miles.

I was getting a little worried about the opened avaliability for Hawai'i upgrades using Plat Points, but from what I've read, they can't be redeemed on Sat. and Sun.

Also, it should be noted that gifted elite status would be good till Feb. 2006 -- that's quite a long time! Anyone wanna trade on the CC?

In general, I think it's a great idea to reward higher revenue Plat elites (e.g., Radiocycle) with more perks, but I'm very frustrated at the fact that there will be less F seats left around for us gold and silver riff-raff. Oh well... at least I'm not flying those (C)rummy(O)ther airlines.

aloha