I bought these memberships years ago along with lifetime Pan Am which became a lifetime United and American . I don't think a lifetime member option for Crown Club has been available for many years, if ever. Mine was "grandfathered" when Delta acquired Western Airlines.

The difference between the NWA/DL situation and the American take over of TWA was that American bought certain equipment and route assets of TWA that did not include the TWA Ambassadors clubs and members. Delta has purchased all the assets of Northwest including clubs along with the club members. So along comes the "liability" of honoring the memberships.

So I think there is a case for some compensation, not necessarily cash, to existing Delta lifetime Crown Club members that are also existing lifetime Northwest World Club members.

I did pay a substantial amount of money for these lifetime memberships at the time of purchase, even though the cost continues to rise as inflation marches on.