My first status run was in 1993. I had been hospitalized earlier in the year and not able to do enough travel that year to retain status.

Put together a trip on DL in December (1k per segment) sfo-lax-phx-lax-las-lax-sfo. Actually had an angel at the CTO help me do it all!!!!

Two highlights that I recall.

The GA in PHX mentioning to me with a smile as I was getting back on the plane to LAX that had brought me to PHX "brutal trip tonight" and hitting a jackpot on a slot in LAS which paid for the trip plus some extra left over.

Later DL removed the 1K per segment and I moved on to another FFP and LAS managed to get back all their money plus some. Yes that is correct many of those lights in Vegas were paid for by yours truly but at the time (1993) Vegas paid for my first MR.