Northwest Airlines will begin offering new boarding lanes for its premium and most frequent customers at airport departure gates throughout the U.S. To be introduced the week of July 3, the service is designed for members of Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer program who have achieved Elite status, customers flying first class, World Business Class and customers of the SkyTeam Alliance who hold Elite status. Signs, stanchions and carpeting in departure gate areas will mark special boarding lanes for qualifying customers, who will be able to board their Northwest flight quickly, no matter when they arrive at the gate or when they are ready to board. The new boarding lanes will be introduced first at Northwest's WorldGateway at Detroit hub and airports in Bismarck and Fargo, ND, Phoenix, AZ and Portland, OR. The lanes will be introduced at all Northwest loading bridge-equipped gates in U.S. airports within the next two months. Members of Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flyer program achieve Elite status after flying 25,000 miles or 30 qualifying segments in a calendar year.
