Northwest Airlines

Airline Code: NW

Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN

Mailing Address: 2700 Lone Oak Parkway, Eagan, MN 55121

History: Northwest began its long history like many other early carriers, with a mail service route in 1926. Flying two rented, open cockpit by-planes, it carried mail between Chicago and the Twin Cities. A year later Northwest began carrying passengers and in 1938 Northwest developed the first practical aviation oxygen mask making high-altitude flying over the Rocky Mountains possible. In 1947 pioneered the Great Circle Route Asia and became known as Northwest Orient with early flights to Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Manila. Northwest deployed jets to provide faster trans-Pacific service, first with the introduction of the DC8 in 1960 and finally with 747 service beginning in 1970. Today Northwest operates over 200 non-stops each week to Asia. A 1986 merger with Republic Airlines brought the Detroit and Memphis hubs to the expanded airline. 1991 saw Northwest and KLM roll-out their ground breaking sales and marketing alliance with KLM that remains in place today. While Northwest has always been one of the more fiscally conservative carriers, the recent industry down-turn and unsettled labor relations lead the carrier to seek bankruptcy protection in September 2005.

Major Hubs: Minneapolis, Detroit, Memphis, Tokyo

International Network Strengths: Large scale trans-Pacific network. Trans-Atlantic service to key business destinations in Europe in conjunction with long-standing KLM alliance. Little Caribbean or Latin American presence although some route growth underway.

Domestic Network Strengths: Mainly East-West route structure focused around 3 mid-continent hubs. As the name applies, Northwest is still the main and sometimes only carrier to sparsely populated States of the West as well as a great deal of service to Canada and Alaska.

Plane Types:
Mainline
Airbus 330
Airbus 320
Airbus 319
Boeing 747
Boeing 757
MD – DC9

Cargo Boeing 747

Club/Lounge: WorldClubs

Web site: nwa.com

Useful phone numbers:
Reservations: 800-225-2525
WorldClubs: 800-692-3788
Customer Care: 701-420-6282
WorldPerks 800-447-3757
Hearing Impaired Reservations:1 800 328 2298
Automated Flight Status:1 800 441 1818

Frequent Flyer Program: WorldPerks (SkyTeam Partners)

Earning Currency: Miles. Earn one mile for every flown mile. Also earn miles through numerous WorldPerks partnerships.

Popular Redemption Award Levels:
Economy Class
25,000 Miles Free domestic US round-trip (50,000 miles for PerkPass)
35,000 Miles Free round-trip to Caribbean (70,000 miles for PerkPass)
35,000 Miles Free round-trip to Hawaii (70,000 miles for PerkPass)
50,000 Miles Free round-trip to Europe (100,000 miles for PerkPass)
60,000 Miles Free round-trip to Asia (120,000 miles for PerkPass)

Business/First Class
45,000 Miles Free domestic US round-trip (90,000 miles for PerkPass)
60,000 Miles Free round-trip to Caribbean (120,000 miles for PerkPass)
75,000 Miles Free round-trip to Hawaii (150,000 miles for PerkPass)
100,000 Miles Free round-trip to Europe (200,000 miles for PerkPass)
120,000 Miles Free round-trip to Asia (240,000 miles for PerkPass)

Elite levels:
Silver 25,000 qualifying miles (or 30 segments) in calendar year
Gold 50,000 qualifying miles (or 60 segments) in calendar year
Platinum 75,000 qualifying miles (or 100 segments) in calendar year

Mileage Expiration Policy: WorldPerks miles don’t expire as long as member has mileage accrual or award redemption activity in the program at least once every 36 months.

Co-Branded Credit Card: US Bank WorldPerks Visa Consumer and Small Business Cards

LOST BAGGAGE: Program really could use some customer service improvement July 07, you must complete a form in person, at the airport, no phone support, no web support for lost items.

What’s new?
“Perkology” is a new program that allows WorldPerks members to earn bonus miles for using the program to earn miles on flights and extended list of partners. The more different areas you earn miles from over a defined time period, the more bonus miles you receive – up to 50,000 bonus miles.

The new Coach Choice option allows passengers to confirmed preferred seat assignments at check-in for extra $15 per flight. Part of the growing industry trend to charge for everything passengers find valuable.

Who Knew?
Groundbreaking early alliance with KLM allows for code-sharing and frequent flyer partnership but also allows Northwest to manage all sales and marketing for KLM flights in the US. KLM returns the favor for Northwest in Europe market.