Northwest Airlines today announced that it will begin offering members of its WorldPerks frequent flier program new award redemption benefits on domestic flights operated by Japan Airlines (JAL), starting April 1, 2003.

“We are pleased to expand the number of redemption opportunities for WorldPerks members traveling to destinations throughout Japan,” said Beth Shultis, vice president of marketing programs. “These new benefits, along with our existing redemption relationship with Japan Air System (JAS), make it possible for WorldPerks members to use their miles to visit nearly any destination in Japan.”

The agreement allows WorldPerks members to redeem 15,000 miles for round-trip Economy Class awards on JAL-operated domestic flights beginning April 1, 2003.

In September, Northwest announced a separate agreement with JAS that allows WorldPerks members to continue to earn and redeem WorldPerks miles on JAS-operated domestic flights until March 31, 2004.

“From the most comprehensive flight network, to the most convenient U.S. hubs, to new frequent flier benefits, Northwest offers travelers more,” said Robert Isom, vice president - international. “Members of our WorldPerks program can book Northwest with confidence, and continue to depend on their Northwest tickets, reservations and frequent flier miles.”

Northwest offers service to more Asian destinations and flights to and within Asia than any other U.S. airline. The airline operates a hub at Tokyo’s Narita Airport that connects the U.S. gateways of Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York/ JFK, San Francisco and Seattle, to key destinations such as Bangkok, Beijing, Busan, Guam, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Manila, Saipan, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. Northwest also offers nonstop service from Nagoya to Detroit and Manila, and from Osaka to Detroit, Honolulu and Taipei.

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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