[CONFIRMED] 1/6/09 NW E-mail: Plats to Pay $100 for Award Ticket Redeposits Beg 3/1
Jan 20, 2009, 11:51 am
#346
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Highland PArk,IL,USA -- AA Lifetime Platinum, IHG Plat, UA Silver, Hilton Gold, Radisson Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 2,366
AA does not even charge a change fee on an award for their base members as long as destinations do not change. THey can change data and time without a charge.
Jan 20, 2009, 11:57 am
#347
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA NW Platinum Elite Since 1999, United GoldMM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, IC Ambassador, Avis Chairman's
Posts: 7,445
You gotta go to the page on SkyMiles updates to find out info on this...
Here are the Delta award fees:
https://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_m...d_travel_fees/
And on that page DL does not even indicate that it is eliminating a Platinum medallion benefit that exempts such members for yet another one of DL's many award ticket fees.
https://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_m...d_travel_fees/
And on that page DL does not even indicate that it is eliminating a Platinum medallion benefit that exempts such members for yet another one of DL's many award ticket fees.
Jan 21, 2009, 7:51 am
#348
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
Stupidly, I'm sure my situation is included in the quote about how people "block out award space that others could be using" - my apologies for sometimes buying the $8k work ticket that replaces the vacation award ticket I was holding! This is one thing I have always disliked about AA's program, and it is a feature I hate to see NW adapt. I guess UA stands at the top on this one now.
Also, and I apologize for not knowing, but is it confirmed that they will hit a date change only ticket with a fee? The reason AA/UA don't do this is that the transaction doesn't require reticketing. But I'm not familiar enough with NW's workings to know if they handle this the same way for lower level elites (I've only been plat). Thanks for any confirmation of this.
Jan 21, 2009, 11:39 am
#349
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Ditto for me, that's a common scenario... as is the scenario where I make a change to a $8k work ticket for myself and need to make a similar change to my wife's WBC award ticket. I guess for the $8k NW is getting for my ticket, they wouldn't feel that injured if I move her award ticket around a day or two.
This change really pushed me over the edge. It now has me analyzing my flying habits ENTIRELY independent of the NW loyalty program (whereas previously if cost was similar I would take NW, even if less convenient from a connection standpoint). So I am going to take the flight that meets the criteria of best cost, best connections and best equipment, with NW loyalty no longer in the equation at all (and that means NW is going to lose quite often). I just arrived in London this morning on the BA nonstop from SEA-- wow, nice flat bed, exit row in 744 upper deck and I didn't have to connect in AMS (and priced $1k less than NW). Since I rarely have any business in AMS, I am guessing that BA, LH and AF will get more of my business this year, as they get me into the cities I need to visit without a connection for about the same price. I have no OneWorld status at all, but that didn't seem to interfere with a great flight on BA last night! With loyalty programs heading where they are, I think status is an over-rated concept.
This change really pushed me over the edge. It now has me analyzing my flying habits ENTIRELY independent of the NW loyalty program (whereas previously if cost was similar I would take NW, even if less convenient from a connection standpoint). So I am going to take the flight that meets the criteria of best cost, best connections and best equipment, with NW loyalty no longer in the equation at all (and that means NW is going to lose quite often). I just arrived in London this morning on the BA nonstop from SEA-- wow, nice flat bed, exit row in 744 upper deck and I didn't have to connect in AMS (and priced $1k less than NW). Since I rarely have any business in AMS, I am guessing that BA, LH and AF will get more of my business this year, as they get me into the cities I need to visit without a connection for about the same price. I have no OneWorld status at all, but that didn't seem to interfere with a great flight on BA last night! With loyalty programs heading where they are, I think status is an over-rated concept.
Jan 21, 2009, 1:16 pm
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
Jan 21, 2009, 1:18 pm
#351
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: DL Plat, NW Plat(x2), BMI Gold, IC Ambassador, etc
Posts: 1,685
If there's any PR people in the house, can't someone come up with enough spin to make this come out as very bad PR for DL/NW?
They are really pushing the envelope WAY too hard...
They are really pushing the envelope WAY too hard...
Jan 21, 2009, 1:53 pm
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
New simple chart comparing NW Plat vs other US FF plans
I did a really basic fee comparison chart of NW plats vs AA, CO, UA and US. I don't have a good place to upload it, so if someone wants to do so, feel free to. I took all the info from these recent threads, so if there are any errors, please let me know.
Just email me at Jaimito_cartero @ Yahoo.com, and I'll send you a PDF version. These make surprising nice handouts at the airport!
Just email me at Jaimito_cartero @ Yahoo.com, and I'll send you a PDF version. These make surprising nice handouts at the airport!
Jan 21, 2009, 5:18 pm
#353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
NWA comparison chart sent!
Okay, I've emailed out to everyone who dropped me a note. If you wish to make copies of it, and spread it out on your travels, feel free!
Also, if you want to post it online, that's fine too.
Also, if you want to post it online, that's fine too.
Jan 21, 2009, 7:17 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
Okay, smaller JPG version online now
Okay, I finally dug out one website that had a basic (very basic!) hosting plan with it. So I updated the site, put a few views about the merger and upcoming changes on it, and put up a smaller .jpg image of the comparison chart.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
Jan 21, 2009, 7:20 pm
#355
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
Excellent chart!
If we can confirm with Elites from UA, AA, and CO that it's accurate, then it's time to mass produce the thing!
If we can confirm with Elites from UA, AA, and CO that it's accurate, then it's time to mass produce the thing!
Jan 21, 2009, 7:53 pm
#356
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Okay, I finally dug out one website that had a basic (very basic!) hosting plan with it. So I updated the site, put a few views about the merger and upcoming changes on it, and put up a smaller .jpg image of the comparison chart.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
One way to counter this might just be hand it out in the lounges to the reps and educate them.
Jan 21, 2009, 8:02 pm
#357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,544
I think a series of "viral" 8 1/2 x 11" posters would be good.
4 or 5 would probably work out nicely.
I've noted some of the titles in the DL thread. I think that if we can highlight some of the real problems that these changes bring up. Such as:
You need to use your NW miles to take your family to visit your sick grandmother. Oh wait, that flight in two days away, please pay $600 to just use those miles you've worked so hard to earn.
and
You've saved up your Skymiles for three years for that perfect honeymoon flight to Europe. You book try to book the flight 11 months in advance, but they want triple the miles?
4 or 5 would probably work out nicely.
I've noted some of the titles in the DL thread. I think that if we can highlight some of the real problems that these changes bring up. Such as:
You need to use your NW miles to take your family to visit your sick grandmother. Oh wait, that flight in two days away, please pay $600 to just use those miles you've worked so hard to earn.
and
You've saved up your Skymiles for three years for that perfect honeymoon flight to Europe. You book try to book the flight 11 months in advance, but they want triple the miles?
Jan 21, 2009, 8:34 pm
#358
Join Date: Mar 2004
Programs: DL PM, DL MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG
Posts: 804
And send it to the Chisholm reps,
Jan 21, 2009, 8:59 pm
#359
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Inland Empire!
Programs: NW Plat (formerly), UA 1K, Hilton Silver, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,917
Okay, I finally dug out one website that had a basic (very basic!) hosting plan with it. So I updated the site, put a few views about the merger and upcoming changes on it, and put up a smaller .jpg image of the comparison chart.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
You can see it here.
If someone would like to post the full PDF version, let me know the link, and I'll add it to the site.
I suggest that WP FTers print out the info on the linked website and just leave them in the seat pockets and in the inflight magazines on our NW or DL flights. AS we know they never really clean that area out, it is a place to put them, esp. in FC where others might see it who aren't FTers. Leave the fliers in the WC, discretely share with the WC receptionists, etc. Share with your seat neighbor....
Jan 21, 2009, 9:03 pm
#360
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: DL DM MM (fmr NW Plat), BA GGL/CCR, Aegean Gold, WorldClubs Life, SPG Plat, Hyatt Plat, HHonors Dmnd
Posts: 1,409
Sigh, I had to change an award reservation coming back from DCA->SFO. Changed from a DL flight to a NW flight that left two hours earlier. Would cost $100 under the new scheme (FlyNow not available because it was DL, SDC not available because i wanted to change to NW).