Northwest Makes Changes to WorldPerks Program
Friday, January 02, 2009 3:44:08 PM

In an effort to make its frequent flyer program more consistent with their merger partner Delta's, Northwest today announced the following changes to its WorldPerks program:

- Effective 01/01/09, flights on Delta Airlines will count as "Elite Qualifying Segments" and will help toward attaining elite status.

- Effective 01/15/09, Northwest will no longer impose a Saturday night stayover restriction for free award tickets.

- Effective 01/15/09, the penalty to change or cancel a frequent flyer ticket will increase from $50 to $100

- Effective 01/15/09, Northwest will charge fees for last minute "free" seats obtained with frequent flyer miles. The fees will range from $75 per ticket (for bookings made between 8 and 20 days in advance) to $150 per ticket (for bookings made 3 days or less before departure). There will be no fee for tickets booked 21 days in advance.

- Effective 01/15/09, Northwest will introduce a third award level. Right now, they have "PerkSaver" awards which cost the least in terms of miles, but have the most limited availability. They also have "PerkPass" awards which usually cost twice as many miles, but are significantly more likely to be available. The new award level with fall somewhere in between PerkSaver and PerkPass awards, both in terms of cost and availability.

- Effective 02/01/09, members of the Northwest and Delta frequent flyer programs will be able to transfer miles between the two programs.

Northwest and Delta still plan to eventually combine their frequent flyer programs. That is tentatively scheduled for late 2009.

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