Northwest Airlines
From SmarterTravel
As one of the largest airlines in the world, Northwest Airlines provides flights throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. It uses the hub and spoke system, with hubs located in Tokyo, Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Detroit, Memphis, and Amsterdam. Currently a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Northwest will merge with Delta Air Lines by the end of 2008.
Airports with Service
Northwest Airlines (NWA) is the sixth-largest U.S. airline based on domestic passenger miles, and also the sixth-largest in the world based on total passenger miles. NWA has an extensive U.S. route network, as well as being one of the larger carriers from the West Coast to Asia. Service to Europe is largely offered via Amsterdam as part of an agreement with KLM.
Planes Flown
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Merger with Delta Airlines
In April 2008 Northwest announced that it would combine with Delta Airlines in an all-stock deal. The two airlines are trying to complete the merger, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, by the end of 2008.
Frequent Flyer Program
Northwest's frequent flyer program, WorldPerks, is typical of a major U.S. airline, with three elite levels (Silver, Gold, and Platinum), a dedicated Visa card, multiple partner airlines, a mileage mall, and thousands of possible award routes. This program will soon merge with Delta Airlines' SkyMiles program to become the worlds largest mileage program.
On-Time and Safety Statistics
Carry-On and Baggage Rules
Size limits on all checked luggage are 62 linear inches and 50 pounds. For coach class travel on domestic, Canadian, Mexican, and Caribbean flights, the cost of one checked bag is $15. The second checked bag is $25 and each subsequent checked bag is $100. For international travel to all other countries, two pieces of free checked baggage are allowed.
One exception is that NWA WorldPerks or SkyTeam elite members get the second piece of checked luggage free of charge on domestic flights.
Standard carry-on rules apply; the maximum carry-on size is 45 linear inches.
What You Get in Each Class
Partners/Alliances
SkyTeam offers 658 destinations in 133 countries. It has a combined fleet of more than 2,000 aircraft across its nine member airlines:
- Aeromexico
- Alitalia
- Air France
- Continental Airlines
- CSA Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Northwest
Lounges
Taxes
Typically, advertised (or "published") airfares in the U.S. do not include government-imposed taxes. Put another way, the low price consumers first see is usually not what they will end up paying. See airline taxes for a current breakdown of domestic and international airfare taxes.
Fees
Many of the major U.S. airlines have instituted additional fees for booking tickets through their call centers, at airport reservations desks, or at city ticket offices. The fees range from $5 to $25 for most flights. Internet bookings on individual airline websites remain free of charge.
In addition, charges for optional services can sometimes raise the price you pay. These include $25 for a second checked bag, $100 for traveling with a pet, and $100 for an unaccompanied minor. See airline fees for an up-to-date list of fees for Northwest.
Airline Mile-Earning Credit Cards
Northwest offers six different WorldPerks Visa credit cards, all of which earn miles for purchases made.
Promo/Coupon Codes
Contests
Lower Price Refund Policy
Traveling with Pets
Contact Information
Northwest Airlines website
External Links
- To check for the latest airfare deals offered by Northwest Airlines, visit SmarterTravel.com's Deals by Airline.
- To see seating charts for the planes flown by Northwest Airlines, and read reviews of the various seats by travelers, visit SeatGuru.
- To get more information, visit Northwest Airlines.