NWA flight# 247 on 3/12/09: Aircraft is designated as 75N. What does 75N mean?
This is a fairly new designation being used by NW, most likely to differentiate planes operated by Northwest vs. Delta, as a result of their merger. The actual aircraft could be either:
75N Means you may be on one of the following types of equipment:
*757-200 (one of six different cabin configurations flown by DL/NW capital Equipment with equipment own and or leased by or from American, TWA, Delta, Northwest, or Eastern.
*757-351 Exclusive to Northwest and Longer than the 757-200
*Airbus A320 – Exclusive to Northwest
*Airbus A319 – Exclusive to Northwest
*DC-9-51 – The Largest DC-9 in the Northwest fleet
The new DL has had problems merging equipment, crews, and routes at the moment and by having both equipment, crews proficient to fly said aircraft and the aircraft available for substitution at hub or key airports.
Load factors have shifted significantly and at time the airline counts on failure or delay of other flights operated by other carriers to send customers to them for travel (many airlines now publish the accuracy of an on time departure with a percentage).
That information is taking into consideration when placing an aircraft on a route and publishing a seat map.
In response to angry customers, you will now see the standard seat map for the 757-200 5500 series with exit row and Coach Choice seats with no pricing – and you can’t book them. They are designated at “75N”.
On smaller or less popular routes they are designated with “32R” meaning an Airbus A320 or smaller – all the way to a regional jet.
Also, flights appear oversold in the booking process, often with only center seats available on the original seat map – buy a ticket and amazingly, the flight is now only 50% full (they are trying to get consumers to book a flight thinking they are getting the last available seat).
It’s what I call Delta Deception. But there is a trick/loophole (just in case) if you don’t care to be bumped from you next flight.
Try booking on Alaska (alaskaair.com) and simply have them book the flight for you – you still get to enter you carrier’s FF number and Alaska accepts payment and issues the ticket – you can be on an exclusive NW/DL/AA/UA/CO routing and if you get bumped, AS can re-issue a ticket on a competing carrier sometimes in conjunction with their own routes.
How can they do this? They are the only carrier today that offers full fare, multi class domestic service that has no affiliation with alliance travel partners like Star Alliance, One World, or SkyTeam.
They have the ability to act as a travel agent when booking a flight.
Unlike many other carriers, if you have had a travel inconvenience and you must be re-routed on an Alaska flight, you are likely to receive a free upgrade to first class (or one for a minimal charge of $50.00 if seats are available).
Try it – it works. And I’ve been flying NW and DL for thirty years. Alaska have saved me on a few occasions on the past when I was bumped from overbooked or cancelled flights.
Now that I have seen this new side of Delta, I take caution when booking. The best bet of course would be to just wait until DL irons out all the kinks – flyer beware.