If you've all the time in the World, Fly Northwest
Jan 7th, 1998, 06:14 AM
#1
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If you've all the time in the World, Fly Northwest
If you are planning that once in a lifetime vacation/fantastic deal shopping trip to Asia, keep in mind that the choice of Northwest Airlines to transport you there will probably screw up your best laid plans royally. If you are a business traveler, God help you, for Northwest surely won't!
I don't diss airlines for one mistake, Northwest made that one with a three hour delay of a June 1997 trip on flight 85 Detroit to Tokyo. Wasn't as bad then, we were off the plane, although NW was very unhelpful in rescheduling flights at that time if memory serves.
On Monday Jan 5, 1998 NW loaded flight 85 at 1:30pm in Detroit. The plane took off at 6pm, a 4.5 hour delay, sitting on a plane, which then took 13 hours of flight time to reach its destination. Most of the time the power cart worked to keep lights and A/C on, but not all of the 4.5 hours. A full plane, which meant shortages of everything; one beverage service of watered down juice, and no meals during the entire delay.
NW didn't want us to get off the plane, as the flight attendant flunkies kept telling us "only 30 minutes more". For those that did get off, and attempted rescheduling, again, Northwest was very unhelpful.
Well, they succeeded in filling every available seat from previously bumped flights, and then we took off.
Lulled by the promise from the flunkies of Northwest holding all connections in Tokyo, the cattle kept from stampeding.
Only at the touchdown in Tokyo did they say so sorry, no Northwest connecting flights held. After 18 hours of that hell flight, we were too tired to fight.
Folks, Northwest overbooks every flight to Asia, and all the connections therein. There is no incentive for them to hold a connecting flight if they have already filled the plane, in fact they would just have to pay out money to bribe people from their seats for the connecting passengers. Full planes, poor food, non-existant service from the flight attendants, usually just smart mouth on your requests to them, and a willingness to steal your time as if it was their own, means that you travel at your own risk on their planes. While Warren Buffet says the purpose of airlines is to make millionaire investors out of billionaire investors, NW has gone one step further, they have totally written off customer service in the equation.
You have a choice of carriers, and given the extremely poor attitude of both company and employee to their chosen profession and to their customers, I recommend that you don't use Northwest for overseas flights. Asian carriers still believe in the concept of customer service, and given the dollar/local currency devaluation, are a bargain to fly. But even if you pay a premium compared to NW, isn't your time worth it to get where you are going on time and on schedule?
Northwest Airlines - NWA, No Way to Asia.
I don't diss airlines for one mistake, Northwest made that one with a three hour delay of a June 1997 trip on flight 85 Detroit to Tokyo. Wasn't as bad then, we were off the plane, although NW was very unhelpful in rescheduling flights at that time if memory serves.
On Monday Jan 5, 1998 NW loaded flight 85 at 1:30pm in Detroit. The plane took off at 6pm, a 4.5 hour delay, sitting on a plane, which then took 13 hours of flight time to reach its destination. Most of the time the power cart worked to keep lights and A/C on, but not all of the 4.5 hours. A full plane, which meant shortages of everything; one beverage service of watered down juice, and no meals during the entire delay.
NW didn't want us to get off the plane, as the flight attendant flunkies kept telling us "only 30 minutes more". For those that did get off, and attempted rescheduling, again, Northwest was very unhelpful.
Well, they succeeded in filling every available seat from previously bumped flights, and then we took off.
Lulled by the promise from the flunkies of Northwest holding all connections in Tokyo, the cattle kept from stampeding.
Only at the touchdown in Tokyo did they say so sorry, no Northwest connecting flights held. After 18 hours of that hell flight, we were too tired to fight.
Folks, Northwest overbooks every flight to Asia, and all the connections therein. There is no incentive for them to hold a connecting flight if they have already filled the plane, in fact they would just have to pay out money to bribe people from their seats for the connecting passengers. Full planes, poor food, non-existant service from the flight attendants, usually just smart mouth on your requests to them, and a willingness to steal your time as if it was their own, means that you travel at your own risk on their planes. While Warren Buffet says the purpose of airlines is to make millionaire investors out of billionaire investors, NW has gone one step further, they have totally written off customer service in the equation.
You have a choice of carriers, and given the extremely poor attitude of both company and employee to their chosen profession and to their customers, I recommend that you don't use Northwest for overseas flights. Asian carriers still believe in the concept of customer service, and given the dollar/local currency devaluation, are a bargain to fly. But even if you pay a premium compared to NW, isn't your time worth it to get where you are going on time and on schedule?
Northwest Airlines - NWA, No Way to Asia.
Feb 24th, 1998, 09:56 AM
#2
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Your comment reminded me of my last trip to Asia on Northwest. On my way there, my baggages got all wet in the snow and mud at Minneapolis. Everything went as expected: the plane arrived on time and the transfer was OK and lousy food service on board. Certainly no service to boast of, but we got to see a movie or two. On my way back, the TV at the back of the plane didn't work. A couple of attendents came and pounded on it a few times. It flicked on and off. Finally, the attendents just turned it off. So for the whole flight from Tokyo to San Francisco the back part of the plane didn't have the TV on. However, before the plane started to decent and NW wanted to make some extra money out of weary passengers, the TV miraculously was on again. I can't say I enjoyed NW's lousy service, poor to non-existing food. I did get compensated on the wet luggage. Northwest and most North American airlines are just no comparason to good Asian airlines. If you can, avoid them like plague. Just my 2 cents.
Mar 1st, 1998, 07:21 PM
#3
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As an employee of United Airlines I kind of like people trashing other carriers. Next time you fly to the Orient fly United. We fly to Hong Kong from SFO and Lax and in April are staring a non-stop from Chicago. We have a non-stop to Toyko from JFK and Chicago and 4 from West Coast and Connections to Singapore Shangai and Beijing.
Aug 20th, 1998, 07:17 PM
#4
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Dear Kathy of United Airlines: In October I will be flying the United non-stop to Tokyo from Chicago that you meantioned...I will certainly add my two cents (positive or negative) to this thread when I return. I hope I find better service than our friends who wrote above received! <BR>
Aug 24th, 1998, 01:40 PM
#6
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Currently I fly around 500,000km on average each year with 80% of that travel in Asia so let me over my 2 cents worth on airlines in Asia. If taking a long haul flight then you should definately choose a long haul carrier who is experienced in this type of flight. The best airlines in this regard are undoubtably Singapore Airlines, Cathy Pacific, Qantas and more recently Malaysian Airlines. These airlines only make a living based on taking passengers long distances and as such are of a much higher quality in regard to comfort, connections, punctuality, entertainment etc. In regard to Northwest/United etc I always try and avoid airlines that have a large domestic market/service.The other side of this is that you will probably pay more to fly one of the better carriers but at least you will be assured of a better experience.....most of the time!
Aug 24th, 1998, 03:47 PM
#7
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I flew Northwest in May from Detroit/Tokyo/Bangkok and have no complaints. The only delay I experienced was from Tokyo/Bangkok and that was to help an unfortunate passenger who had missed his connection to Singapore and was rerouted through Bangkok. For the price - I found Northwest to be a very good value and will certainly use them again. <BR>
Aug 31st, 1998, 06:04 PM
#8
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Although the trip did not include overseas travel, my first encounter with NW ailines was horrendous. What should have been a six hour flight turned into 24 hours with delays including sitting on a runway in Minneapolis for 4 hours - no food, guarded beverages until there was a mutiny and poor air quality. Customer service was lacking at all levels and upon requesting assistance none was given. They just didn't care. Never again will my travel dollar be spent with NW airlines. <BR>
