Bad news for Duluth Minnesota travellers

[DisMN]

As of November 30 we're back to being NWA only.........Midwest Airlines has decided to discontinue service to Duluth.

Not sure where that leaves us as we already have Midwest tickets purchased for a January trip Duluth to Orlando.
I'm thinking too that NWA prices out of Duluth will climb significantly in the next few months so hop on those good prices when you see them!

 

[ntsammy5]

That's too bad. And I thought Buffalo had a dearth of carriers!

 

[dudspizza]

As of November 30 we're back to being NWA only.........Midwest Airlines has decided to discontinue service to Duluth.

Not sure where that leaves us as we already have Midwest tickets purchased for a January trip Duluth to Orlando.
I'm thinking too that NWA prices out of Duluth will climb significantly in the next few months so hop on those good prices when you see them!

So, how does it work then? Will they offer you a chance to fly out of MSP or will they simply refund your tickets?

It was nice to see a choice in Duluth, it is too bad Midwest wasn't getting the business they needed.

Duds

 

[elgerber]

Wow, that stinks! I fly out of MSP, so it doesn't hurt me, but I feel for ya, NWA is the airline I avoid like the plague!

 

[becca-becca]

Wow, that stinks! I fly out of MSP, so it doesn't hurt me, but I feel for ya, NWA is the airline I avoid like the plague!

Why do you avoid NWA like the plague? We are flying them out of Memphis in January.

 

[elgerber]

Why do you avoid NWA like the plague? We are flying them out of Memphis in January.

Just because they gouge Minnesota travelers with high fares, which tends to keep the other carriers more expensive up here, and they have had some questionable business practices in Minnesota in the past also.

I have flown them many times in the past, and never had any problems, I just don't like them as a company, so if I can fly someone else I will.

 

[hercamore]

Hi DSMN

Too bad about Midwest.

I fly NW all the time. Only other airline out of RST is AA and their fares are usually higher than NW

I normally don't have probllems with NW, but my last flight to Pensacola, Fl in June was a total nighmare of 18 hours. Two cancelled flights iwth no notice, got sent to to Houston from MSP and then finally into Fort Walton Beach at midnight.
I was supposed to arrive in Pensacola at 11 a.m. So My DD has to drive 60 miles to pick me up at midnight.

Well, I'm flying to Orlando with NW next month sat after Thanksgiving. I'm hoping for no problems, we'll see.

 

[Inkmahm]

Midwest and Northwest announced a code share agreement earlier this year and it is starting in November. Maybe when they get around to it you'll be able to take NW to get to MSP and then Midwest from there all under a Midwest ticket?

 

[DisMN]

Just talked to Midwest and NWA is refusing Midwests request to accomodate passengers who have already paid for their tickets.

I guess we're looking at a full refund......and hoping PRAYING that we can find a flight out of Duluth. I'm so tired of this flying stuff.....sheesh! Flying and airports used to actually be FUN. LOL

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

In this type of situation, since there is advance notice, there is typically no "accomodation" by one airline for another. It is up to Midwest to handle the situation and that can be a full refund or rebooking you on another airline (in this case NWA) and endorsing your tickets over to that airline at no expense to you. This is really up to Midwest, not Northwest, as long as there are seats. The easy way out is to just give you your money back and basically leave you hanging!

BobK/Orlando

 

[DisMN]

In this type of situation, since there is advance notice, there is typically no "accomodation" by one airline for another. It is up to Midwest to handle the situation and that can be a full refund or rebooking you on another airline (in this case NWA) and endorsing your tickets over to that airline at no expense to you. This is really up to Midwest, not Northwest, as long as there are seats. The easy way out is to just give you your money back and basically leave you hanging!

BobK/Orlando

Thanks for your thoughts in all this. That's exactly what I worried about that we might be left hanging so I'm looking at the good side and feeling pretty glad this happened now and NOT closer to our trip.

I don't mind flying with NWA I just hated being locked into higher prices than we were finding everywhere else. In any case I did find a NW flight that will work for us and isn't costing an arm and a leg to boot.

As it stands now we're currently holding TWO tickets each for a flight to Orlando at the end of January.
Fingers crossed that I don't run into any glitches with the Midwest refund, although the agent didn't believe I'd have any problems at all. Will know more later in the week.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

You might try Midwest again and perhaps a different agent might actually rebook you on NWA and use your refund to pay them. Not likely though, since Midwest probably has an official policy to follow for the booked Duluth passengers. But worth a try. If not, you might want to make sure Midwest has posted the credit to your credit card before you buy the new tickets. Midwest is not going out of business so its not like there is a scramble for the money.

BobK/Orlando

 

[deltachi8]

That's too bad. And I thought Buffalo had a dearth of carriers!

Not really....US Air, Southwest, Northwest, Delta, Jet Blue, Airtran, Continental, United...not to mention some of the lowest fares in the country.