Northwest makes big changes in flier miles
By Karren Mills
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Northwest Airlines announced major changes in its frequent flier program yesterday that eliminates blackout dates but increases the number of award miles needed for free travel from the Mainland to Hawai'i.
Northwest is dropping the discounts it offered to passengers who chose to redeem award miles during off-peak periods, which were available for up to nine months of the year.
The Eagan-based airline said that, effective March 1, it will become the first U.S. carrier to drop blackout dates, times when customers generally are not permitted to book free travel using miles they have accumulated through flights and other award programs.
Although blackout dates — mostly around holidays — are being dropped, Northwest noted that seats on flights during those periods will be limited.
Passengers who can't get free seats during peak periods may use the carrier's RuleBuster plan, which waives most capacity controls but requires using double the amount of miles for a ticket.
Airline analyst Terry Trippler doesn't see that as much of a perk. "Double miles is quite a bit," Trippler said. "We're talking 50,000 miles domestically. You should at least be in first class, or they should give you a toaster or a blanket with it."
The industry generally values frequent flier miles at 2 cents apiece. That would put the cost-equivalent of a RuleBuster domestic roundtrip ticket at $1,000.
Northwest also will eliminate the existing structure that requires fewer award miles for customers who fly free during less-busy travel periods. That change is effective June 1.
The change puts Northwest in line with most other carriers, which charge 25,000 miles for members of their frequent flier programs to fly free roundtrip within the continental United States or between the continental United States and Canada. Under the current program, Northwest charges only 20,000 miles for off-peak domestic travel from September through May.
The minimum mileage charged for travel between North America, Hawai'i, Central America and Europe will be increased to 50,000 miles, from 40,000 miles that now is required for travel for the eight months from October through May.
For travel between North America, Central America and Asia destinations, frequent fliers will lose the 10,000-mile break for flying during off-peak periods from mid-January through March and November through mid-December. Free flights will require a minimum of 60,000 award miles anytime under the new policy.
The changes also affect business and first-class award travel to Asia. For business class, the minimum mileage increases 10,000 miles to 90,000 miles. For first class, the requirement increases 20,000 miles to 120,000.
Airline analyst Bob Smith, a consultant for OneTravel.com, said changes Northwest has made in its frequent flier program over the past four years, for the most part, have not benefited customers.
