Northwest Airlines today announced that it will add self-service check-in options at 102 of the airports it serves throughout the United States and Canada with the deployment of its å“E-Service Centerå” self-service flight check-in devices (SSDå‘s).

“Northwest’s E-Service Center and Internet flight check-in options have already helped bust airport lines for more than 18 million travelers,” said Dirk McMahon, senior vice president of customer service. “The deployment of our popular E-Service Centers to an additional 102 airports will provide customers in communities across North America with an even wider array of efficient check-in options.”

The airline has embarked on an aggressive deployment schedule of E-Service Centers at North American airports served by Northwest Airlines-operated flights, and some of the airports served by Northwest Airlink partners. Northwest will install scores of SSD’s in the next two months, in some cases at a pace as high as fifteen airports per week. By 2003, Northwest travelers will be able to use E-Service Centers in 144 North American airports served by Northwest.

Northwest offers more electronic check-in functionality than any other airline. Through using either its E-Service Centers or nwa.com Check-In, the Internet check-in service available through the carrier’s Web site, customers traveling on e-tickets can:

Check-in for domestic flights, and flights from the U.S. and Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean.// Select or change their seat assignments.// Change flights, including payment of change fees.// View changes to their itinerary if their flight has been delayed or cancelled and confirms their choice of alternative flight service.// Receive a complimentary First Class upgrade (Elite members of WorldPerks).// Purchase “E-First” upgrades to First Class at special low rates when traveling on full-fare tickets and space is available.//Print ticket receipts.//Add their WorldPerks frequent flier number to their flight reservation.

Northwest’s nwa.com Check-In service enables customers to check-in and obtain their boarding pass from the convenience of a personal computer at home or work up to 30 hours prior to departure, a feature not offered by any other airline.

“Already, more than one out of every three eligible customers check themselves into their Northwest flight,” said Al Lenza, vice president of distribution and e-commerce. “In our Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit hubs, more than half of our customers enjoy the time-saving convenience of using our E-Service Centers or nwa.com Check-In product every day.”
Through December 31, 2002, first-time users of Northwest’s self-service check-in options, who are also members of Northwest’s WorldPerks frequent flier program, will receive a one-time bonus of 1,000 miles for checking in at either an E-Service Center or through nwa.com Check-In. First-time users of self-service check-in can earn up to 2,000 miles total for trying both nwa.com Check-In and an E-Service Center check-in. Visit www.nwa.com/features/ecomm2k.html for complete terms and conditions.

No advance registration is required. Membership in WorldPerks is required. Fast and easy online WorldPerks enrollment is available at www.nwa.com/freqfly/direct/enrol.

Northwest`s E-Service Center kiosks and associated software are produced by Kinetics, Inc., the leading developer of self-service solutions to the U.S. airline industry, as well other key Northwest e-commerce initiatives, such as nwa.com Check-In. For more information, visit www.kineticsusa.com.

Northwest Airlines is the world`s fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam and more than 1,700 daily departures. With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities in almost 120 countries on six continents.

For more information pertaining to Northwest, media inquiries can be directed to Northwest Media Relations at (612) 726-2331 or to Northwest’s Web site at www.nwa.com.

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