Domestic Upgrades
	Automated Upgrade Processing on Northwest Automated Upgrade Processing on Delta® Automated Upgrade Processing on Continental Unlimited Complimentary Domestic First Class Upgrades Upgrades on SkyMiles Award Tickets Upgrades From Full-Fare Coach Tickets Upgrades From Discount Coach Tickets Platinum Elite Confirmed Companion Upgrade Elite Upgrade Status Messaging
	International Upgrades
	International Mileage Upgrade Waitlist

Elite Upgrade Helpful Tips

For a quick overview of how to get the most out of your Elite upgrade benefits, visit our Elite Upgrade Helpful Tips page for a summary of the most frequently requested questions.

Automated Upgrade Processing on Northwest
You do not need to call Northwest to confirm a complimentary First Class upgrade before your flight. Subject to availability, you will be upgraded to First Class automatically according to your SkyMiles Medallion status and the type of fare purchased. The Automated Upgrade Process assigns the best seat available at time of upgrade. If you wish to change your seat assignment you may request a change on nwa.com, at check-in or at a self-service device. Members who have upgraded to a higher Elite tier status do not need to call the Elite Services Line to update the status of reservations made prior to their Elite status upgrade. If a member reaches a new Elite status, all reservations for future travel booked prior to reaching the new Elite tier will be updated to reflect the member’s new Elite status automatically.

If your reservation includes companions who are not SkyMiles Medallion members, your upgrade will not be processed. Elite agents cannot upgrade your flight unless your reservation is divided. To upgrade yourself, you will need to divide your reservation by logging on to nwa.com and selecting Manage My Reservations. Once divided, your reservation will be automatically upgraded. Please call the Elite Services Line or 1-800-225-2525 to determine if your reservation can be divided so that your Elite upgrade may be processed by the automated upgrade processor. If you are traveling with companions who are on separate reservations and you prefer not to take advantage of automated upgrade processing so that you can sit together in Coach Class, please call Elite Services Line or 1-800-225-2525.

If the upgrade is not available, the system will place you on the airport priority standby list for upgrading to First Class at time of check-in if available. This process is automatic; Reservations agents cannot add names to the airport standby list. You may confirm the status of your upgrade upon check-in at the airport by presenting your SkyMiles Medallion membership card and photo identification. Travel agents may not perform complimentary Elite upgrades. All complimentary Elite upgrades must be processed by Northwest.

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Automated Upgrade Processing* on Delta and Continental
Delta and Continental Airlines will also automatically process upgrades for SkyMiles Medallion members. You do not need to call Northwest, Delta or Continental to confirm your upgrade.

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

* All bookings made on or after October 28, will be placed in the automatic upgrade process for Delta-operated flights.

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Unlimited Complimentary Domestic First Class Upgrades
UPGRADES VALID ON: Northwest, Delta, and Continental-designated/operated flights. Upgrades are also valid on Northwest Airlink flights that offer a First Class cabin.

FOR TRAVEL: Within the 48 contiguous United States; between the 48 contiguous United States and Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America; also on select Continental Micronesia flights within Asia.

The following Delta and Continental flights are not eligible for Elite upgrades: flights to/from Central and South America with a BusinessElite^™ or BusinessFirst and select Delta and Continental Micronesia flights with a BusinesElite cabin

In order to use your complimentary upgrade benefit, the frequent flyer number in your flight record must be your SkyMiles account number. Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members traveling on award tickets may upgrade once ticketed on Northwest-operated flights using the upgrade rules in the Upgrades on Award Tickets section below. These upgrades are not available on Delta or Continental-operated flights or to Silver Elite members or companions traveling on award tickets. (Upgrades from SkyMiles award tickets must be booked from W class into A class.)

Due to the timing of SkyMiles Silver Elite upgrade confirmation and First Class capacity constraints, Silver Elite members on discounted Coach Tickets may experience limited upgrade opportunities.

Your SkyMiles Medallion status may be used to upgrade travel on the domestic portion of an international itinerary. Only the U.S. mainland portion of your itinerary is eligible for upgrade travel to or from Hawaii via a gateway connecting flight when a change of flight number exists. Elite upgrades are not available on flights operated by Northwest Airlink or Northwest affiliate airlines, except Northwest Airlink flights with a First Class cabin.

The following fares do not qualify for upgrades: charter, bulk, VUSA passes, VUSA fares, travel-industry free and reduced-rate or standby tickets, student, infant or child fares, companion offers and group fares. Some ticket designator programs – including N/GP/X/C – may allow upgrades; check with Northwest Airlines for details. Upgrades are not permitted with select promotional offers and other fares that may be specified by Northwest Airlines. Only flights that are eligible for SkyMiles mileage credit qualify for Elite Qualifying Miles.

First Class seats are released 30 minutes before departure on domestic flights (exception: Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas are 45 minutes). On international flights, BusinessEliteSM seats are released 30 minutes before departure. If you have not checked in by the appropriate time, your seat may be released to another customer.

SkyMiles First Class Bonus Mileage will not be awarded for free upgrades. Coach Class mileage will apply.

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Upgrades on SkyMiles Award Tickets
SkyMiles Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members may upgrade PerkSaver Award and PerkPass 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).

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Upgrades From Full-Fare Coach Tickets
When you are traveling on a full Y fare or -26/-27 type fare, you may confirm your First Class upgrade at the time of reservation. (Full-fare tickets offer greater flexibility and more immediate upgrades.)

If a First Class upgrade is not available at time of reservation, automated upgrade processing will apply. The system will automatically upgrade you if a First Class seat becomes available. There is no need to call Reservations to confirm your upgrade.

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Upgrades From Discount Coach Tickets
We also invite you to take advantage of complimentary First Class upgrades when traveling on qualifying discounted Coach Class fares.

These upgrades may be confirmed as follows:

Platinum Elite Upgrades	After midnight (at the departure city) 5-days prior to departure
Gold Elite Upgrades	After midnight (at the departure city) 3-days prior to departure
Silver Elite Upgrades	After midnight (at the departure city) 1-day prior to departure

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Platinum Elite Confirmed Companion Upgrade
Platinum Elites will be able to upgrade one companion booked within the same reservation at the same time the Platinum Elite upgrade is processed. Upgrades will be accommodated via the automated upgrade process. Platinum Elite Companion Upgrade is valid on Northwest-operated flights only, and is permitted in the same travel region as the SkyMiles Medallion Upgrades. Award tickets are not eligible for Platinum Elite Companion.

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Elite Upgrade Status Messaging
To help you save time and minimize hassle, you can receive notification when your domestic First Class upgrade on Northwest is processed. You may choose to receive the Upgrade Status message via e-mail, voicemail, pager, handheld device or wireless phone. Remember to select a preferred notification time. Sign up and select options for your Elite Upgrade Notification.

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International Mileage Upgrades
Platinum Elite and Gold Elite members booked on select Y or B fare coach tickets on an international flight may be placed on a waitlist for a mileage upgrade to BusinessElite. If a seat in BusinessElite becomes available for your flight, you will be upgraded and the mileage deducted from your SkyMiles account.

There is a chance that not all flight segments in your itinerary will be available for the mileage upgrade. In that case, only the over-the-ocean flight will be upgraded. By putting yourself on the waitlist you are authorizing Northwest Airlines to deduct miles from your account for either the over-the-ocean segment alone or the entire international itinerary, whichever will become available.

To be placed on the mileage upgrade waitlist, please call the Elite line at the number printed on the back of your SkyMiles Medallion Card. You do not need to call Northwest to confirm your upgrade. Once the upgrade is processed, you will automatically receive an updated trip summary and receipt via email. Waitlisted mileage upgrades may also be processed, space permitting, at the gate.

The International Mileage Upgrade waitlist applies to Northwest designated/operated flights on international portions of an itinerary including Trans-Pacific (in both directions) and Trans-Atlantic (US originating flights only), flights within Asia, and flights to India. Travel companions within the same reservation will also be waitlisted for the BusinessElite upgrade.

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