Northwest Airlines review - by Aldo Jaworski

26 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

AMS-MSP-LAS-BOS-AMS . A330 with good IFS although food needs attention in economy. On transatlantic sectors crew were very attentive. Outbound seats 11A/B comfy enough for an 8+ hour flight and return from Boston seats 10A/B a dream (exit seats) - flight was short only 5hrs 40 mins. MSP-LAS a tired old 757 that had seen better days although got up graded to first. Crew efficient but very surly.

Northwest Airlines review - by L Hurst

25 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

YYZ-MSP-LAX with connection to an international flight. On my first leg of flying, my FA was hilarious. Got through safety procedures while have a good chuckle about seatbelts. Even the announcements from the flight deck were good for a laugh. Overall, pleasant experience - until I got on the second leg of flights. A one hour delay out of MSP which meant we landed late into LAX (I had another flight to check in to - really pushed missing the next flight). Overbooking played a huge role. On the flight, the man sitting in front of me was rude and kept pushing his seat back even when I asked him not to (I was doing work on my laptop which was on the seat back tray). I approached an FA to do help me and was refused assistance because the gentleman had a right to push his seat back as far as he wanted. Upon landing in LAX, FA were unsypathetic to those who had connecting flights with one comment overheard that stated "Well maybe you should have booked your flights with more time in between". In my case, I had initially had 4 hours between flights but by the time they let us disembark (we sat at the gate for at least 20 minutes) I only had 2 hours to check in and go through international security.

Northwest Airlines review - by Laura Crampton

21 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

If you don't have a seat assignment, you're likely to be involuntarily removed from the flight, thanks to Northwest's habit of overbooking flights. This just happened to us on February 15 when were booked to fly from Indy to Fort Myers. We did get a refund and a later flight to Fort Myers via Detroit getting to our final destination at midnight. Another family of 3 was given the option of flying to Fort Lauderdale with a complimentary limo ride to Fort Myers, but we weren't given that option. The flight crew from Detroit to Fort Myers was rude to a number of passengers. I will not fly this airline again if I can help it. If I had bought last minute tickets, I'd be more understanding, but we bought these 2.5 months ago through Expedia. Take home message - do the online check in 24 hours ahead and make sure you have seat assignments.

Northwest Airlines review - by C Merchant

21 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

DEN-MEM-PNS : the worst experience I've ever had. Delays, crew issues, incompetent gate agents, the list goes on and on. Sat on a small airplane after diverting to Jackson MS (instead of Pensacola), then waited for 2 hours for a fuel truck, which never arrived, by which time the flight crew had worked their maximum allowed hours for the day, so we were unceremoniously dumped off in a small, closed airport at midnight and told nothing. No hotel rooms provided, no food, nothing. Finally made it to our destination the following day by lunch time. Fortunately, Northwest has a minimal presence in Denver, so I rarely have the "opportunity" to fly them. Just an all-around dreadful experience.

Northwest Airlines review - by A Hiransomboon

12 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

I purchased an economy class ticket, B fare, for travel BKK-NRT-PDX in July. With this B-fare ticket, I qualified for what they call Coach Select (SM) benefits. These supposedly include access to NWA WorldClub lounges, use of priority security lines, and 1,000 FF miles (called "Coach Select Bonus"). The 1,000 miles were credited to my account. However, as for the other "benefits". Priority security line. Lounges: BKK doesn't have a WorldClub, but in both PDX and NRT I was initially denied entry. I was only allowed in PDX after showing the receptionist a printout of the website notice (which was printed inadvertently - I didn't even realize I had it until I was forced to look for my e-tickets). NRT was even worse: I was prepared with the document but still was met with an inordinate amount of skepticism and bad attitude, and it took a lot of stubbornness on my part to finally get in. In the end I was allowed in the lounges, so why am I still annoyed? One, because if I hadn't printed that page out, I would have been out of luck. Two, because of the response I received from NWA after I wrote a letter to their Customer Care dept. Coach Select is a nice idea, but apparently it exists only on some page of nwa.com that is in another dimension, and is only viewable by a privileged few. If you should be so fortunate, make sure you print your list of benefits and carry it with you on your trip - and cross your fingers that the document doesn't dissolve into dust as you hand it over to the WorldClub receptionist.

Northwest Airlines review - by O Banderas

4 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Just when NWA transatlantic services took leaps forward from DC10's to A330's they decide to sneak in B757's which offer a very basic and uncomfortable for the same fares. Be careful which aircraft is operating the particular flight on your route.

Northwest Airlines review - by A Jafarzadeh

4 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

SIN-NRT-DTW-BOS return Economy. A330 between Tokyo and Singapore one of the most pleasant experiences I've had - very new, bright and comfortable. Excellent AVOD system. Trans-pacific flights meanwhile were a total nightmare. Getting off a NW A330 and onboard their ancient 747s is like stepping from first-world to third-world. Seats are so old and worn you can feel the knees of the passenger behind you digging right into your back. On NRT-DTW leg my seat recline was broken so on take-off had to sit right forward to prevent from being pushed all the way back. Due to delays out of Boston was changed to later DTW-NRT flight and lost my aisle seat that I requested several weeks in advance. Was given a middle bulkhead seat but still extremely uncomfortable. Back still suffering after more than a week. Domestic flights between Boston and Detroit weren't too bad. One can put up with an hour or so of NW's economy class. Overall I would avoid NW until they update their transpacific product, or fly via Portland to ensure getting the new A330 for another ten or so hours.

Northwest Airlines review - by R Brooks

24 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

How cheap can you get? Should be the new motto of Northwest. I've logged over 600,000 miles with them and while not all bad, when it comes to food and friendliness they have been going down hill the past few years. Economy service has become so poor it's like riding a public bus. On shorter flights, no free food, not even a mini bag of pretzels. You may get a drink, but if you ask for a refill, the odds are not in your favor. First-class domestic is a little better, but still bare bones. Pillows and blankets are no longer offered on most of the domestic flights including first class! While 'customer service' appears to have been removed from their vocabulary, they still one of the best for doing the main objective - get me and my luggage to a different location on time.

Northwest Airlines review - by J Baker

17 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

LGW-MSP-LAS-LGW. Gatwick to Minneapolis on A330 very good - plenty of legroom, good food and good entertainment. Flights to and from Las Vegas on B757 cramped, no entertainment, no food and pilots do not update on weather as they did on the transatlantic routes. To summarise, transatlantic flights good but internal flights need improving.

Northwest Airlines review - by Michael Oakes

13 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

LGW-MSP-ORD out, MDW-MSP-LGW way back - all economy. Check-in online on way out and got great exit row seats. Check-in at Gatwick not bad. A330s clean, modern and spacious. The seats in economy are quite wide and comfortable too. Cabin crew horrendous - transatlantic flights staffed by jaded personnel - the most miserable I've ever seen. They made it clear that they didn't want to be there or help anyone. I personally thought the food was great (except for the solid bread rolls) but the service was poor. IFE pretty good - better than many. The domestic flights to and from Chicago were fine - only an hour long so can't go that wrong. I was concerned that they are still using DC-9s on the MDW-MSP route. The flight back MSP-LGW was also on an A330 - we were stuck in the middle - had aisle seats on either side - and had NO leg room as the IFE boxes underneath the seats in front of us were huge and took up all leg room. All-in-all I liked NWA - the aircraft are great (except the DC9s) and it is what I call a 'good vibe' airline. However, the middle seats in economy are disgustingly small and cramped and the cabin crew are the worst I've ever come across - and I've flown Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Northwest Airlines review - by C Doran

13 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

LGW to LAS on Northwest - outbound trip via MSP, return via DTW. The transatlantic flights on Airbus A330 were excellent - the best of the US carriers I have used over the years. Cabin crew efficient and only real complaint was the food - not very good at all. MSP is very easy to change flights at, but Immigration was very slow. MSP to LAS was Airbus A319 and was old but did the job. LAS to DTW was on a 757 and was in better shape but don't expect anything other than a drink and some not particularly healthy food for sale. DTW is another good hub for changing which really helps my rating of the airline. Transatlantic flights have AVOD which gives a good selection of movies, especially for kids, and I think Northwest are the only US carrier to give you drinks free of charge in coach. Would recommend and will use Northwest again - but don't expect the same level of service on domestic flights.

Northwest Airlines review - by Fraser Campbell

10 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

AMS-BOS return economy. Travelled with family of three young children. AVOD was a hit. We were sitting in the front section of the economy cabin on A330 both ways which has 32-33" pitch and decent width of seats and good foam/padding. Food acceptable, liked the free bar service - becoming rarer in economy these days with US carriers. Service unenthusiastic but efficient. All in all very acceptable (price $700 per seat including connecting flight from UK to AMS) and would travel again with family.

Northwest Airlines review - by A Bansal

10 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

CLT-DTW-AMS-DEL return on the same route. NWA from CLT-DTW-AMS and KLM from AMS-DEL. Boarding on NWA was quick and A330's are surprisingly comfortable and staff helpful, better than KLM. However the food quality is average. Overall a pleasant experience.

Northwest Airlines review - by B Grouitch

9 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

CDG-DTW-LGA and EWR-DTW-CDG economy. Both transatlantic flights good. A330 seats comfortable. Poor amenities. Meal arrived too late after take off on CDG-DTW, return flight OK. Meals OK. The product is great for the price. DTW is a great modern airport, so much better than CDG ; however the customs are a little rude, they yell at you. DTW-LGA flight on A320 fine, no meal, only refreshments. Return flight from EWR ran almost 2 hours late. Flight was on a DC9-40, very noisy airplane. EWR- CDG, on A330 again, crew friendlier.

Northwest Airlines review - by Malcolm Young

1 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

My travel on NWA is usually commuter and regional. Unfortunately, two trips by family to and from Washington - South Bend via Detroit were poorly handled. The travelers managed to avoid the truly bad weather days and so we looked forward to on-time flights and made connections. No such luck. On a day when weather nationally was clear, Detroit experienced some fog in the morning and NWA promptly cancelled all its flights to South Bend. My family members rented a car and drove. Then on their return, the flight from South Bend was delayed, no explanation, certainly not weather. NWA permitted my family members and others to board and their plane departed from South Bend with, possibly, enough time to make connections in Detroit. But further delays led to a missed connection. There were few available flights out of Detroit, my family members were rerouted to Delta for a connecting flght to Washington that arrives hours after schedule. What I fail to understand is why the airlines, NWA in particular, cannot let passengers know that they are likely to be delayed or stranded before they leave the originating city. In our case, my family could have delayed a day or taken flights that would have been more convenient the next day, if they had the option. But NW let them board, landed them in Detroit, and then told them they'd missed their connection and would have to wait for hours, and arrive more hours later. There is a terrible lack of information available to the traveler. And of course, if the traveler telephones NWA, they are put into an impossible telephone queue. I continue to rate NWA poorly for service, lack of information, and basic poor treatment of passengers.

Northwest Airlines review - by Peter Margolin

31 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

BOS-AMS Economy return. A330, aisle bulk head seat. It was fine for economy. Great AVOD inflight entertainment. The food going to AMS was good but not great, it was better going back. A pretty good for a transatlantic flight.

Northwest Airlines review - by Ron Powers

29 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Tampa to Detroit to Green Bay. Another (expected) bad experience with the airlines. Flight delays, no communication. TPA to Detroit- 45 minutes late, leaving 15 minutes to run (with kids) all the way to other concourse (in Detroit). Detroit, NW terminal; walk a mile from arrival gate to departure gate. Arrived at designated G2-gate, told to go to another gate G4. Short walk to this gate, (kids crying) informed by monitor departure flight (from Detroit to Green Bay) running one hour late. Plane arrived, customers informed pilots need to step out for a sandwich break. Stewardess looked tired, said she has been going 13 hrs (single attendent plane). Departed to GB, waited for luggage, only two of four pieces of luggage arrived, initially thought carousel was broke as there was no mention of delayed luggage to the many waiting from this flight. After 45 minutes, went to Northwest counter, attendant looked up the luggage and "found it". Today, December 27, online search shows luggage found, no word yet when it will be delivered. NW customer satisfaction ratings for NW mirrors our experience.

Northwest Airlines review - by M Gregory

24 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

BHM-DTW-MNL round trip economy. Have flown NW many times and this was the worst of it all. Planes looked the same as they did 10 years ago, only more shabby now. Toilets were dingy, had antiquated fixtures. Ground staff incompetent at BHM and rude in DTW. Flight attendants seemed to hate their jobs and treated some passengers with contempt. IFE old and lousy. I'm not a freeloader but a paying customer.

Northwest Airlines review - by C Chavez

11 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Coach in NW is a crap shoot. The 757 has more room, but feels older, DC-9 has less room, but feels a bit newer (still old, though). FAs nothing special - most are below par. Food is non-existent, and drink selection could be improved. However they have been coming down on their prices, their FF program has many alliances, and hub airports are good. I've transfered at MSP and DTW. MSP can sometimes have quite a hike between the main terminal and NW Airlink flights, but if you take the train it's not that difficult, plus the Mall of America is nearby, so if you have about 2.5 hours you can go to the mall and back on the light rail. Security wait times are good. DTW has a better inter-terminal train connection. You can easily make a connection of 30minutes and have time to get something to eat (since again they don't serve food). Really if NW would improve FAs and interior of the plane's it would be a much better airline.

Northwest Airlines review - by M Quaglia

30 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

BNA-DTW-LGW in Economy. Check in at BNA a breeze with the kiosk. Plane was older model, slightly worn. FA's efficient if not overly friendly. Leg to LGW was on A330 - fairly new, was clean. FA's were efficient and friendly. Meal was pretty decent. IFE had to be reset twice and I don't think it ever worked properly. Breakfast decent. Return on the A330, friendlier FA's, decent meal and snack. IFE worked great. Plenty of leg room but I am short so usually not a problem. DTW-BNA cancelled after sitting on runway for 2 hours. We were given a hotel and meal voucher and rebooked for early the next morning. Everything was handled well however it was over 2 hours after the cancellation that I even made it to the hotel after standing in line at customer service, then waiting for the shuttle and standing in line to check in to the hotel. Shuttle back to the airport was at 5 am and the new flight left about 45 minutes late. Pilot apologized several times for all the trouble. NW is great for international service but domestic could use a face-lift. I will fly them again for my upcoming European trips.

Northwest Airlines review - by Ian Matheson

30 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

London Gatwick to Detroit in Economy. Check in at Gatwick okay as I had already selected seats online. A330 and had a comfortable journey and able to get some sleep on the return leg. Service and food good and the only downer to the journey was the 60 minutes spent getting through immigration. Our final destination was Newark which entailed a short hop on an internal flight. Would have no hesitation in choosing Northwest again for this type of trip.

Northwest Airlines review - by L Gomes

26 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Economy class Narita to Orlando via Detroit on the outdated 747-400 series. The plane was old, tray tables came down the minute you brushed by them to take a seat, and video screens were small. The FA in our section was surly at best, barking at passengers in reply to common questions, while the FAs on the return leg were more pleasant. Food surprisingly good and ample, with a menu detailing the 2 choices for the entrees. Many senior ground staff at NWA clearly need re-training in customer service and sensitivity. Overall a decent flight for the price, however, a trans-Pacific flight warrants a much newer plane with more updated amenities, and that will be a consideration in the future when flying long-haul again.

Northwest Airlines review - by M Sjolund

23 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Flown NWA a whole bunch of times between AMS and SEA. Business class on A330 flight is excellent for the comparatively low cost (approx £1300 - £1500). I am happy to keep flying this route with NWA.

Northwest Airlines review - by Kasper Hettinga

21 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

AMS-BOS with NWA. Check-in was a bit of a problem (KLM should open more desks for luggage drop-off after internet check-in). From that point on, everything went very smoothly. The flight was with an up-to-date A330-300 with nice seats. FAs were friendly. Food average. Seating good, even with my long legs. I would use them again on a flight to the US (and recommended NWA over KLM, which are partner airlines but KLM is worse in seating quality and IFE).

Northwest Airlines review - by J Fitch

19 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

DCA-MSP-DLH and return on business on Airbus 319s and a CR-200. First experience on NWA in over 20 years. Departure from DCA delayed 30 minutes, but still made MSP connection. FAs and gate attendants friendly enough. Overall my experience of their staff and planes was good. My one complaint is that their business model is anti-customer. My organization paid a whopping $1,000 contract fare for Y-class economy (there were no alternatives for this route), but NWA forced me into a middle seat with many empty aisle and window seats available, and insisted I pay more out of my own pocket if I wanted to move. On my regional connection from DLH, I was forced into the back corner by the bathroom. Fortunately, on empty A319 flights, I was able to move over a seat. Overall, good experience with NWA staff and aircraft, but pricing model offers poor value to Y-class business passengers and since I don't regularly travel to DLH, I have many alternatives for better value for both personal and business travel.

Northwest Airlines review - by Tom Lotze

16 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

FRA-DTW return in Y class. A330 on transatlantic leg was great. Good legroom and AVOD. Friendly and professional flight attendants. Domestic flights just regular just like on any other US carrier. Transfer at DTW and immigration was a breeze.

Northwest Airlines review - by J Moye

12 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

LGW to SAN return in business class. The crew were great - food & drink just kept coming. Transfer in MSP was painless and the wheelchair ordered was waiting. MSP-SAN the plane looked tried but was clean and service was good. The flight back was just as good and all on time. All in all I have to rate the flights with NW as excellent.

Northwest Airlines review - by Gregg Hillier

26 October 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

PDX-MSP-TUL. This trip started out well enough but ended up a disaster. My AA flight to TUL via ORD was cancelled and the only option was NWA thru MSP. Ancient 757 - no inflight entertainment, no power ports, and surly FA's. Landed at MSP and walked miles to my NWA Airlink flight to Tulsa, which was delayed one hour while we waited on Crew. Took off at 11pm and Pilots kept calling the FA on the phone and I knew something was wrong. Was it ever ! Pilot came on the PA: said we were returning to MSP because of "Crew had worked too many hours." Why did we take off in the first place ? Landed at MSP and Gate Agents said they couldn't help - no flights to TUL for 3 days! Gave us hotel for 1 night. I managed to rebook on AA for the next morning - but it was a struggle to get NWA to approve the swap. One nice thing: the Baggage Service Rep went and fetched our bags for us. Though I appreciated that, I suggest you avoid NWA - especially at the end of the month when they have Crew issues.

Northwest Airlines review - by J Lam

18 September 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

HKG-NRT-SEA return Economy. Overall I was pleasantly suprised with my first experience with NWA. The seats were comfortable and provided good legroom and there were no glaring problems. Considering the long haul nature of the flight, comfortable seats made up for the downsides which were: Slightly shabby planes, lack of inflight entertainment and lack of overall service. It is worth commenting that the NWA check in system at SEA is very confusing to most passengers. The check in queues are slightly shambolic as a result. It did not appear to affect passengers all that much, but seems to take its toll on harassed-looking counter staff.

Northwest Airlines review - by G Bocao

18 September 2007  Customer Trip Rating :