My experience (YMMV) has not seen the level of recognition historically. Of late, I have had a few flights where the lead FA has come around and thanked the Million Milers for their loyalty and it is a nice gesture. I passed my one, two, and three million mile thresholds as a CVG captive. Never got any recognition during those days. I did get the bonus Hartman luggage, but nothing from the CVG staff.

That said, I did see last year a group of gate agents and a red coat find a gentleman and give him a gift bag and thanked him for flying Delta. He was earning his first million mile on that flight. Very nice, though really irritated me that my one, two, and three meant nothing to the CVG staff when DL had their stranglehold on CVG.

So, DL has figured out that service and nice gestures costs them little to nothing and they gain great loyalty with it. It takes the traveler's mind off the fact that upgrades to FC are non-existent, and the future of upgrades to C+ are next on the block.

At least I did finally get my trip in a Porsche with a late arrival and tight connection in MSP last year.