Elite Upgrade Helpful Tips

To help you get the most out of your Elite benefits, remember these helpful guidelines.

Automated Upgrade Process

Northwest prioritizes upgrades based on the type of ticket purchased (full-fare vs. discount fare), Elite status, class of service (within Elite levels), date and time of booking. Full fare tickets include Y fares or -26/-27 type fares. Discount fare tickets include all other fares.

Delta® and Continental Airlines will also process upgrades for SkyMiles Medallion members on Delta-operated and Continental-operated flights. All upgrades are automatically processed. You do not need to call Northwest, Delta, or Continental to confirm your upgrade; SkyMiles Service Center agents cannot upgrade discount fare tickets.

Continental Airlines will be leaving the SkyTeam Alliance on October 24, 2009. The last day Continental will upgrade SkyMiles members is October 24, 2009.

Complimentary Elite Upgrades are only available on U.S. domestic flights.

Upgrades are for travel within the 48 contiguous United States; between the 48 contiguous United States and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and on select Continental Micronesia flights within Asia and select Delta South American flights.

The following Continental flights are not eligible for Elite upgrades: flights to/from Central and South America with a BusinessFirst cabin and select Continental Micronesia flights with a BusinessFirst cabin.

Platinum Elite members receive automatic upgrades for one companion booked within the same reservation. If you have more than one companion included in your reservation, your upgrade will not be processed. To upgrade yourself when your reservation includes more than one companion, you will need to divide your reservation at nwa.com/asia and select Manage My Reservations. Once divided, your reservation will be automatically processed for upgrade.

Silver and Gold Elite members whose reservation includes one or more companions who are not SkyMiles Medallion members, will not be upgraded. To upgrade yourself when your reservation includes additional travelers, you will need to divide your reservation at nwa.com/asia and select Manage My Reservations. Once divided, your reservation will be automatically processed for upgrade.

Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members may upgrade PerkSaverSM and PerkPassSM Award tickets. These tickets will be automatically upgraded 1 day prior to departure if a seat is available for upgrades (only available on Northwest-operated flights).

More detail on Elite upgrades can be found on our Elite Upgrades page.