Is NWA Status worth it?
 

I was United premier exec for years, until I stopped consulting two years ago. Now I am back in the biz, and starting from scratch. I have 12,000 EQMs from a Delta trip to Accra last week, and am off to Nairobi next week. And for the first time, my new employer is buying biz class seats. This, unfortunately, will not be the norm. The usual is lowest cost econ.

I have two itineraries presented to me: NWA ROC-DTW-AMS-NBO; or UA ROC-IAD-ZRH-NBO. The first puts me over the first level status on NW. The latter gets me back with united,who I will likely be flying to Sudan later in the summer in econ, but does not yield me the 25,000 for status.

I have been trying to figure out what the real benefit from NWA status might be. It seems impossible to upgrade and there is no economy plus access. Anyone here have any thoughts on which program to aim for?

Thanks,
jer

With all the benefit cuts for elite since DL took over NW, I would avoid them if I could. The main benefit now for a silver would be free checked luggage allowance.

If you buy coach tickets in advance, as a silver you can get, and will have a good chance of getting, bulkhead or exit rows.
Also, with the reduction in business travel, don't discount the value of lowly silver in getting free upgrades, at least on routes that are not elite-heavy.

Thanks for the input. Turns out one of the return legs on the UA option was on BA, so am going with NW. That will put me at about 35,000 for the year. One more africa jaunt should put me at mid-tier.

On the plus side, DL/NWA have a much better set of options for travel to Europe that UAL, and one can allways pay the $75 for econ plus on UA even w/out status.

I really don't understand these airlines that would rather fly empty biz seats than let non Y/B fares upgrade. American's model seems much more sensible, and probably generates some revenue to boot. Most of us do not have the luxury of employers who will buy full fare eonomy.

Yep, not much left in the Silver program after DL took over. Basically preferred seating and free checked bags.

The biggest loss for me was the free standby. NW had free standby for all elites, free confirmed changes for gold/plat. DL has free standby or confirmed change for gold/plat, $50 standby for Silvers. Way to go DL >:o

I have found the benefit of DL/NW over UA comes at the Platinum level. It is a toss up on Gold, and UA is better at Silver.

Reasoning -- On united you still have limited free upgrades as a 1k, and the fleet has several planes with only 8 FC seats. DL NW has at least 16 on most planes, and the auto upgrade.

Gold you get upgraded sometimes, but if not, the UA E+ is better. Silver, there is not many advantages to DL NW, except baggage, and the chance to pick a better seat

Doesn't silver still get you on the plane early? That should count for something as getting overhead bin space is no longer assured, especially if you're late into the boarding process.

I completely disagree.

I have flown 16 segments this year on DElta as a Silver, more than half of them on NW.

Some of the few benefits of Silver are:

• About 80% of my travel has been upgraded to First Class this year.
• Saved $40 in bag fees every trip
• Silvers have preferred seating on NW (and Delta), which on NW includes Bulkheads AND exit rows.
• Priority Boarding is nothing to sneeze at -- ensures that I have enough luggage space every time
• a smile: maybe because I'm young, but I always get very friendly service
• 25% bonus miles

I do wish DL would offer Silvers free standby and security lane access. But with my 80% upgrade rate to First class (which gets me the security lanes), and never really needing to standby, its not such a big deal