MINNEAPOLIS - Northwest Airlines said Tuesday it will increase the minimum number of award miles required for free travel and allow frequent fliers to redeem those miles during peak-travel dates previously off-limits through the WorldPerks program.<br>
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Northwest is dropping discounts it offered for passengers who chose to redeem award miles during off-peak periods.<br>
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The Eagan, Minn.-based airline also said that, effective March 1, it will become the first major U.S. carrier to drop from its frequent flier program so-called blackout dates, when customers are not permitted to book free travel using miles they have accumulated through flights and other award programs.<br>
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Although blackout dates - largely around holidays - are being dropped, Northwest noted that seats on flights during those periods will be limited.<br>
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"Finding award seats to prime destinations at peak travel periods is always challenging," said Beth Shultis, vice president of marketing programs.<br>
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Passengers who can't get free seats during peak periods may use the carrier's RuleBuster plan, which waives most capacity controls but requires using double the amount of miles for a ticket. <br>
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