Delta, NWA miles will merge

Patrons of both airlines are now able to link their accounts, get a frequent flier bonus until March 15.

Nathan Hurst / The Detroit News

Delta Air Lines Inc. and its Northwest Airlines subsidiary are ready to walk your frequent flier miles down the aisle.

The companies, which officially merged Oct. 29, announced Tuesday that members of Delta's SkyMiles loyalty program and Northwest's WorldPerks could begin linking their frequent flier mile accounts. If members link their accounts before March 15, they'll receive 500 bonus miles in their SkyMiles account.

Delta's program will ultimately be the merger's survivor, and all WorldPerks accounts not linked to a SkyMiles counterpart will be converted to SkyMiles by the end of the year, the company said, though no date has been set. Members of both programs will have two accounts until later this year, and can continue to use both in the meantime.

WorldPerks Elite frequent fliers won't see their special status transferred until the full conversion to SkyMiles later this year, but can continue to receive complimentary upgrades, reprieves on luggage fees and other special perks on both Northwest and Delta flights by using their WorldPerks Elite accounts.

Customers must go online to link their accounts. Northwest customers should go to www.nwa.com/worldperks; Delta SkyMiles members can access their accounts at www.delta.com/skymiles.

You can reach Nathan Hurst at (313) 222-2293 or nhurst@detnews.com.