Divide, Conquer, Screw!
 

Thinking about the "givebacks" that have occurred today and their relative impact on the NW vs. EL elites, it appears that the DL elites are largely maintaining their status quo:

1. 50% bonus returned on YBM fares
2. 2 changes allowed & reduced redepost fee for Plats
3. They get upgrades on awards & the return of segment qualifying.

There are no net negatives on the DL side other than reduced/limited award redeposit/reissue privileges for Plats.

On the NW side, we're still screwed:

1. Reduced mileage accumulation (25% for Silver, 100% for Plat).
2. Close-in redemption extortion (up the $750 for a family of five to get award tickets to a funeral)
3. reduced/limited award redeposit/reissue privileges for Plats (assuming we get the same break they gave the DL Plats)
4. Increased redemption levels
5. SWU's reduced to DL's sucky version, crippled by requirement for close-in redemption
6. 3-tier award calendar

Did I miss anything?

I think they caved in so they can say they mollified everyone in the 4Q earnings confernce tomorrow, but basically they've mollified their own elites while still giving the shaft to the NW side of the aisle.

Sucky DL.COM software. Horrid customer rep on Flyertalk. Fuel surcharges on DL (and probably NW soon) ex-Europe. I'm sure the partner surcharge will also be coming our way, possibly as soon as March 1st.

FT NWA folk actually like most of the people working for the airline. We've taken money out of our pockets to show the Elite phone reps that we do value them. NWA Scoop has been an important member of our group, and would actually help us out, not be some PR flack's mouthpiece.

7. TATL phantom upgrades
8. 1,000 mile PE upgrade guarantee

Are these confirmed to be gone? My thinking is that they haven't yet been addressed.

I guess it's not confirmed they are gone. I'd be amazed if they don't take these away too. :confused:

Plat companion UGs (NW style) is the other thing I am guessing will go the way of the dodo.

That actually showed up in the 2009 benefits for DL Plats! :)

Availability may be less because upgrades are more competitive on DL, but the benefit as documented today appears substantially the same as on NW.

Except for the fact that they cannot be used on sLUT fares?

+50% bonus for M fares
+segment qualifying on DL flights

Also, we can apparently dodge the close-in booking fees, if the DL flyers don't get them, by moving your NW miles to a DL account and then booking.


Regardless, there are no circumstances in which the DL elites don't get better changes than we do, assuming we all end up in the same place, since they started out in a worse spot.

Sadly, apparently it's the DL elites that they are listening too. Since the merger, apparently DL could care less about NWA elites. Although, the two changes vs unlimited is still a pretty big loss to PE/PM's given how many itins you change annually.

http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/elite/...mpEliteUpgrade

PE companion seems to still be valid on NW from the same link above. Subject to enhancement though, also no mention as to when it processes. I'm presuming for now still at the 5 day window. No word also on if it will go for all revenue classes going forward or the DL non LUT fares.

Can you point me to it? Companion UGs didn't seem to be mentioned at all in the mailer, and I didn't notice it in Jeff's email, although I could have missed something.

From: http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/elite/upgrades09.shtml

Platinum Elite Confirmed Companion Upgrade
Platinum Elites will be able to upgrade one companion booked within the same reservation at the same time the Platinum Elite upgrade is processed. Upgrades will be accommodated via the automated upgrade process. Platinum Elite Companion Upgrade is valid on Northwest-operated flights only, and is permitted in the same travel region as the WorldPerks Elite Upgrades. Award tickets are not eligible for Platinum Elite Companion.

Looks like companion is still upgraded at the 5-day window.

Aren't you missing an important benefit for NW elites -- we now receive SWUs? Isn't it true that we didn't get them automatically before, but rather only as an Elite ExtraPerks redemption at one of the high thresholds?

Perhaps the NW version was better than the DL version before, but for those of us who didn't receive them before, this seems like a great benefit.

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/about...ades/index.jsp

Note that while Delta does not offer companion upgrades on sLUT fares, they DO offer them to Silvers.

I think the new DL SWUs are very limited in use for most NWA flyers. Taking away the excellent EEP SWUs is one of the very sore points about all the changes.

If I had to place a value on the SWUs vs PMUs, I'd value the former at $1000 each, the latter at $25.