Kjet12 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 975 posts, RR: 8 Posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1423 times:
I will be going to HNL this winter over New Years for 2 weeks. My outbound flight is the DC-10 non-stop from MSP. I am thinking about cashing in my miles to get an upgrade. Does anyone think it is worth 15,000 miles for an upgrade? If I use miles to upgrade, do I still get miles for the flights that I took? What is the service like in World Business Class on flights to HNL. I have only taken NW to HNL from LAX and it was in coach. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated.
Asuflyer05 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2369 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1390 times:
Just a heads up...
According to nwa.com it's 17,500 miles each way from Mainland to HNL in select coach fares.
Ktachiya From Japan, joined Sep 2004, 1729 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1384 times:
Kjet12
You will still get miles for the distance that you are flying!!! I am not sure though. How many hours of a flight is it? Personally, I would prefer upgrading on a route that is flown on a A330. They have really good IFEs. But again, traveling on a DC-10 is good experience considering that they are going to be gone in the near future (I think unless NW changes its mind)
Aa777jr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1370 times:
Kjet12,
You will earn your regular miles from MSP-HNL. You should call NW to find out if you will earn more miles since your flying Biz/1st. I would try and get off that Dc-10, old school PTV and IFE. The NW A330 is much nicer and you could still upgrade.
Nwfltattendant From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 341 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1357 times:
A few things......
Theres no WBC service on that flight.. its an extended version of the domestic First Class service... Chances are HNL upgrades will be just about impossible to come by at this point.
AS far as worth it... remember this.. MSP-HNL is only 65 miles shorter than MSP-LGW.. SO YES, upgrade. Youre knees will thank you
Baw716 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 1995 posts, RR: 31 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1330 times:
Just a thought: Check with NW and see what variant of the DC-10 they use. If they are using the DC-10-40 (domestic a/c), then you will get a domestic first class seat and domestic meal service.
If you get a DC-10-30, then you get the WBC seat, with the domestic meal. The upside is the WBC seat is a 50-55 inch pitch with a leg rest.
Either way, MSP to HNL is about 8 hrs, so no matter how you slice it, 17,500 (35K round trip), is a no brainer for an upgrade. Besides, you will get about 8000 miles back, so the net cost should be about 27K miles. Just take care what type airfare they ask for the upgrade. Some carriers are adjusting their mileage requirements and uping the fare levels required for upgrade.
If you like your back, do the upgrade.
David L. Lamb, fmr Area Mgr Alitalia SFO 1998-2002, fmr Regional Analyst SFO-UAL 1992-1998
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6871 posts, RR: 29 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1259 times:
Baw716,
The DC-10-40's have been gone for almost 2 years.
Its a -30
Cessna172RG From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 744 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1227 times:
I tried to use some miles to upgrade on a NW flight from Honolulu to Seattle. However the gate agent told me that those upgrades are restricted to people who live in Hawaii. I couldn't believe it. Is this true?
Kbmiflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 112 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1212 times:
I upgraded an AA flight from ORD-HNL several years ago. For me, it was worth it due to the long flight. Also, AA was running a special for the upgrade for only 10,000 miles.
I received normal AA miles, but no bonus for Biz/First.
Kjet12 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 975 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1134 times:
Thanks for all of your help. I called the WorldPerks desk and they said that first class on my flight is sold out so unfortunately I cannot upgrade. But with my fare class it would have been only 15k. I guess I will just have to save those miles for another time. Thanks again.
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1068 times:
You should call NW to find out if you will earn more miles since your flying Biz/1st.
Just a note for the future that you only get credited for miles for the class of service for which you booked. So if you booked in economy yet use miles to upgrade to Biz, you get credit for Economy miles (usually 100%), not Business.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
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