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Northwest WorldPerks (Edit)
Northwest WorldPerks is a solid program with a full line-up of valuable benefits for both business and leisure travelers. The extensive route structures of Northwest/KLM, along with Continental and two dozen partner airlines give true meaning to the name "WorldPerks," with particular strength in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. In addition to standard mileage-earning opportunties, WorldPerks offers a nearly endless supply of promotional opportunities for members who pay attention and register in advance. Following program changes in 2002, the minimum domestic award ticket is 25,000 WorldPerks miles. Northwest's major hubs are located in Minneapolis, Detroit and Memphis, making the program particularly attractive for travelers who might tend toward these gateways.
Features
Northwest Airlines offers a very customer-friendly Web site that makes it easy to book directly, as well as a network of city ticket offices where the airline has a significant presence. Bonus miles are invariably offered for online booking and members should always check the promotions list to see if there are any special offers prior to proceeding with booking. The promotions list should also be checked for bonus mileage opportunities prior to actual travel, as promotions may have been addes that were not in effect at the time of booking. Elite members earn lower rates for membership in the airline's extensive network of more than 100 airport clubs, including affiliation agreements, as well as select coach seating. A Visa card through U.S. Bank, a long-distance plan through MCI and a host of hotel and rental car partnerships offer the major bonus-mileage opportunities with WorldPerks, along with bonuses routinely offered in conjunction with flight promotions. WorldPerks accounts can be easily monitored and managed by members via the Web site.
Pros
There may be no better program for Elite members in terms of domestic upgrades. Unlike some competing programs, which offer limited coupons that may require some effort to redeem, Northwest offers unlimited domestic first-class upgrades to its Elite members on a space-available basis. Customers can be notified of upgrades via e-mail during the respective window prior to the flight or they can call a toll-free number. The WorldPerks program is very straight-forward when it comes to achieving elite status: 25,000 miles annually=Silver elite; 50,000=Gold and 75,000=Platinum. And those miles can be earned in any fare class. Mileage bonuses at these levels are 50%, 100% and 125%, respectively. Award tickets can be booked online and, like the rest of Northwest's site, it is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Because of multiple mileage-earning opportunities, it is not uncommon for even relatively frequent travelers to earn two-thirds or more of their miles as bonus miles as opposed to actual flight miles, however, only flight miles count toward elite status.
Cons
A common concern regarding WorldPerks revolves around capacity controls on minimum level award seats. Award tickets to more popular destinations often must be booked far in advance in order to secure seating. WorldPerks does not offer system-wide upgrades, so there is no opportunity to receive a complimentary upgrade on an inter-continental flight and the lowest fare classes are often not eligible to be upgraded with miles. Members need to carefully monitor and register for promotions.
