Northwest frequent fliers lose upgrades on Alaska
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 41
Northwest frequent fliers lose upgrades on Alaska
More good news for WorldPerks elites...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ebdelta08.html
Among the other changes:
• Free upgrades on award tickets (those purchased with frequent flier miles) will be unavailable to current WorldPerks members until spring of 2010.
• The PerkChoice program, an option that allows Northwest members to use miles to pay for one half of a round-trip and cash for the others, will be discontinued.
Delta has a similar "Pay with Miles," program. Currently, it's only available to those with a Delta Skymiles credit card issued by American Express, although that could change in the future, Skrbec said.
• WorldPerks members who have achieved elite status will be eligible to obtain unlimited free upgrades for traveling companions.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ebdelta08.html
Among the other changes:
• Free upgrades on award tickets (those purchased with frequent flier miles) will be unavailable to current WorldPerks members until spring of 2010.
• The PerkChoice program, an option that allows Northwest members to use miles to pay for one half of a round-trip and cash for the others, will be discontinued.
Delta has a similar "Pay with Miles," program. Currently, it's only available to those with a Delta Skymiles credit card issued by American Express, although that could change in the future, Skrbec said.
• WorldPerks members who have achieved elite status will be eligible to obtain unlimited free upgrades for traveling companions.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Alaska flyers are also losing auto upgrades on NW starting 10/1.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
First priority right now is simply getting the integration to happen and everyone in the same program. Once that happens, then we should see some of the NW WP benefits (such as PerkChoice, the AS upgrades, award ticket upgrades, etc.) return once the largest (and for most people, most important) part of the FFP merger is done.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
First priority right now is simply getting the integration to happen and everyone in the same program. Once that happens, then we should see some of the NW WP benefits (such as PerkChoice, the AS upgrades, award ticket upgrades, etc.) return once the largest (and for most people, most important) part of the FFP merger is done.
to me, it seems that perk choice is being *enhanced* with pay will miles.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: The best state in the USA - Florida!
Programs: Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, AS MVP75K, AA PlatPro, UA Premier, Disney AP
Posts: 14,497
Jeff Robertson mentioned at the Delta DO back in June that they really like the PerkChoice option and do plan on bringing it back - it's just another one of those Delta technology issues where the antiquated DL computer system can't handle PerkChoice (or award upgrades, or Alaska upgrades, etc.) at this time without getting some massive code added to it to handle it.
#6
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: SkyMiles, NCR Emerald; Hilton Gold VIP
Posts: 118
Why was PerkChoice eliminated? Will it be reinstated?
Due to the significant challenges and resources required to integrate two programs on very different platforms, we are not able to develop this functionality for Delta at this time; however, a similar Pay with Miles program for eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Cardmembers is available to purchase tickets with a combination of miles and money. Once total integration of the two airlines is completed, we will revisit the program and development of this option.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: MSP; SM with status & many BIS miles
Programs: AA, WN & many Hotels... avoids UA like the plague!
Posts: 1,019
Essentially the non-upgraded portion would not be included in the regular upgrade sweeps. Ironicly had someone tell me that had the whole trip been booked as a coach award, the segments would have been included into the upgrade sweeps in the applicable rankings. Had a good coach seat so slept through the flight and chalked it up to a learning experience as well as chance to re-qualify for coach/exit row seating .
-H
#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: MSP; SM with status & many BIS miles
Programs: AA, WN & many Hotels... avoids UA like the plague!
Posts: 1,019
-H
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
As previously discussed