Ask a QuestionCoach ChoiceSM Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Coach Choice?
Coach Choice is designed to provide added choice and comfort, particularly to late-booking business travelers, by saving some preferred coach seat assignments until check-in. For a modest fee, customers can confirm reserved exit, aisle and window seats at nwa.com or Self-Service Check-in Kiosks 24 hours prior to departure.
Pricing
1. Are any seat assignments free?Yes. Approximately 95% of all Northwest-operated seat assignments remain free of charge.
2. Are Coach Choice seats all the same price?
No. Price varies by market. Domestic seats range from $5 to $35. International seats are $50 for trans-Pacific, Eastbound trans-Atlantic travel on Northwest-operated flights and $50 between Japan and Hawaii, and $25 between Japan and other Asia destinations, Guam, or Saipan. These prices include all taxes.
3. Is the Coach Choice fee calculated per roundtrip or one-way?
Coach Choice seats are calculated per flight. For example, on a one-way connecting itinerary with two flights, a customer may purchase Coach Choice on each of the two flights for the sum of each segment. Example: Travel from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Frankfurt via Detroit. Minneapolis/St. Paul to Detroit =$15 & Detroit to Frankfurt = $50, totaling $65.
4. What payment options are accepted for Coach Choice?
Only credit card payments are accepted. Payment information can be entered at nwa.com or credit cards can be swiped at Self-service Check-in Kiosks during check-in.
5. Is there a membership fee?
No. Coach Choice is available to all customers 24 hours prior to departure.
6. On 'Manage My Reservations', what does "prepaid" mean in the Coach Choice Fee column?
It means that the customer has already purchased Coach Choice for that flight. If flights change due to a Northwest cancellation, aircraft change or missed connection, the customer may choose a new Coach Choice seat assignment at no additional charge.
Availability
1. What if there are no other seats available at time of departure?Coach Choice seats, if unused, will be free of charge if there are no other remaining seats.
2. Is it still possible to get advanced seat assignments prior to check-in?
Yes. Most seat assignments will remain available free of charge up to 90 days prior to departure.
3. Are Coach Choice seats only available on specific flights or cities?
Coach Choice seats are available on most flights throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, except those operated by select regional jet aircraft. They are also available on all flights to Asia including Micronesia, but only on Northwest-operated flights to Europe (Eastbound.)
Note: Coach Choice seats are not available out of some cities in Mexico, Caribbean and Palm Springs.
4. Why can't I find a Coach Choice seat on my upcoming flight?
Coach Choice is available only 24 hours before departure and is limited to approximately 5% of total seat assignments.
5. Is Coach Choice only available on Northwest and Northwest Airlink flights?
Yes. Coach Choice is only available on Northwest-operated flights including select Northwest Airlink-operated flights (excludes SkyTeam-operated flights).
6. Can Coach Choice seats be purchased when checking in with a SkyTeam partner?
No. Coach Choice can only be purchased at nwa.com or a Northwest Self-service Check-in Kiosk.
7. Can Coach Choice seats be purchased from Northwest Reservations, airport agents or travel agents?
No. Coach Choice seats are only available at nwa.com or a Northwest Self-service Check-in Kiosk.
8. Are customers who purchase Coach Choice exit seats required to meet all conditions of exit-row seating?
Yes. Coach Choice customers in exit seats must meet all exit seat requirements and agree to all exit seat responsibilities.
9. Are there any exit seats available for free?
Yes. There are free exit seats on every aircraft. Approximately 65% of exit seat assignments remain available free of charge.
Elites
1. Are there any benefits for WorldPerks Elite members?Yes. WorldPerks Elite and SkyTeam Elite members can select Coach Choice seats free of charge on nwa.com or through a Northwest Self-service Check-in Kiosk 24 hours prior to departure.
2. Are there still Premium Select Seats for Elite members?
Yes. Select Seats remain available to Elite members up to 90 days prior to departure, free of charge.
3. Will passengers traveling in the same record as an Elite member be free of charge?
No. Only Elite members can select Coach Choice seats free of charge.
Refunds
1. After purchasing Coach Choice, is there a refund if flight plans change?Coach Choice seats are nonrefundable unless Northwest cancels flights, changes aircraft or creates a missed connection. Refunds will not be made if a customer voluntarily changes flights.
2. What is the process for getting a refund?
If Northwest operational challenges result in failure to deliver a paid Coach Choice seat, customers should either contact the agent at the ticket counter or call Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 to initiate a refund. Any refunds due will be credited directly to the credit card used to purchase Coach Choice. Please be aware that, due to billing cycles, credits will take approximately 7 to 14 days to be posted to the respective accounts.
3. After purchasing Coach Choice, if a customer volunteers to go on a later flight for compensation due to overbooking, will the Coach Choice fee be refunded?
No. However, the customer will have credit and will be able to apply that credit to their next flight if the routing and departure date are identical to the original flight.
4. Will a receipt be printed for Coach Choice transactions?
Yes. After the transaction is complete, receipts can be printed at nwa.com or the Self-service Check-in Kiosks.
5. After purchasing Coach Choice, if a passenger standing by for First Class is upgraded, is the Coach Choice fee refunded?
No. The Coach Choice fee is nonrefundable in the case of upgrades.
