Denrael

Has NWA always been my airline of choice? No, being honest, I have to admit I’ve dallied with other airlines. The cookies on Midwest Express, the great fare structure on Sun Country, the convenient routing to Tel Aviv on Continental all have driven me to stray at one point or another. But, NWA was always the airline I came home to, the home town girl, the one that would always be there.

I’m sitting in the World Club in DTW now, pondering what went wrong. my NWA swept away by a smooth talking southern gent by the name of Delta. Life consists of change, and not all of them can be good.

Granted, the NWA of my youth is not the NWA of today. Like 99% of the other carriers, it is being run primarily by executives that only know how to take care of themselves. One wonders how often they sample their product in the same way that the flying public does. In no other industry can one so take for granted your key sources of income and still survive.

And yet, I mourn. NWA for all it’s faults did some things very well. The elite help desk located in Chisholm Minnesota is second to none. Their friendly can do attitude is a refreshing breath of air. WorldPerks, the NWA perks program also is one of the best in the industry. Automatic upgrades, Segment qualification as well as mileage based, free Internet, free cocktails, fresh veggies and great coffee. What more can you ask for? Oh yes, the employees. Not all NWA employees are happy,  and given the challenges that they have faced in recent years, it’s easy to understand why. The staff at the WorldClubs however are second in friendliness only to the people of Chisholm.

Delta tells us “All Things Just Keep Getting Better.” At the same time, they talk of taking the 747’s away from Minneapolis and moving them to Atlanta. MEM and MSP will most likely become shadow hubs over the coming years. The impact to business in these cities is only starting to be realized. Delta tells us that they are building the first “sustainable” model for the airline industry. I only see that they are building the next American, an airline who again posted record losses. Delta has planes downed for maintenance inspections while the NWA schedule is not affected. A sustainable model? I’m sorry Mr. Delta, but I see no new ideas, no innovations, just one company hungry for the sweet routes of another.

While I long for the slim chance that we will keep NWA my NWA, alas I fear I will soon have to bid farewell to the grand ol lady. From 1926 until now, your red tail has stood proud. You will be missed.