Business vs First on Northwest
 

What are the differences between business class and first class on Northwest airlines?

We're considering a trip to Australia, and only have enough miles for two business class tickets. We're wondering if we should get a NW CC again to earn the additional 25,000 miles we'd need for two first class tickets. Thanks!!

abram

As far as I'm aware NW does not have a first class section, and they do not fly anymore to Australia so its probably a codeshare, probably Korean, but you'll need to check with NW.

Geordie

Northwest only flies two classes: coach and Business First. You will be flying on a partner airline at least on the final leg into Australia, since Northwest doesn't fly there. When you find out what carrier is, others here can respond to your question. As for Northwest, their international Business First is quite comfortable, though there are certainly more luxurious first class accommodations available with other carriers.

Thank you for your responses.

It's interesting that NW lists both business and first class in their ff award charts.

Maybe we'll go to China instead of Australia to use our miles. Another airline isn't an option, as NW is the only one on which we have 300,00+ miles.

abram - NW lists first class on their reward charts because you can fly FC on their partner airlines using Worldperks miles. Like Korean Air to Australia.

Where are you flying from? From the US49 & Canada, the FC award to Australia is 50,000 miles more than business.

Even though your miles are with Northwest, you can use them on a partner airline to Australia. As a matter of fact, you HAVE to use them on a partner airline to get to Australia.

I'm not that familiar with Worldperks, but if you're originating from the US, I believe your best options may be Korean via Seoul or Air Tahiti Nui via Papeete. You can no longer redeem FC awards on Korean using Worldperks miles. I assume you can with Air Tahiti Nui. Korean also has a lot of blackout dates you need to work around - http://www.nwa.com/freqfly/earn/blackoutdates.html

Also as far as I know, you can still redeem Worldperks miles on Malaysia so that may be another FC option (Delta dropped Malaysia as a redemption partner very suddenly and without any advance announcement recently).

Coincidently I just got a mailing from NW this weekend. They show AeroMexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Delta, Alitalia, Continental, CSA and of course NWA..all airlines you can use with your World Perks FF miles.
Their website will show you the information also. Best regards.

When I put an itinerary from here to Australia in the NW website, thre esponse was, "No Northwest Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, or codeshare partner flights were found between Milwaukee, WI (MKE) and Sydney, NS, Australia (SYD)"

abram - You need to call to book the other partner flights.