In November I made gold medallion for the first time in a few years and just received my card and drink coupons. It is interesting that the coupons expire 31 December 09. Seeing that I don't have any more flights this year (my last flight was last Friday) , these coupons are pretty much worthless. I seem to remember the coupons I received the first time I made gold were good for the full next year.

Did Delta send me the wrong coupons or am I just complaining for no reason?

You'll get a new set in February 2010 (when new Medallion packets are sent out) which usually have a 2 year expiration. Most FAs will still take expired (recently expired, not 10+ years) drink chits.

I was just searching for a thread on this, and see this is from today. I have some Delta Inflight Courtesy coupons I got 6-7 years ago for some repeated issues, basically a baggage office person at MCI gave them to me after I visited him for the third time in a month. These coupons have no expiration date.

I gave an FA one today and she didn't want to take it. It has a date of 1993 as the copyright in small print and she pointed out that it was from 1993. Well, first of all I received it well after 1993, so what does that have to do with anything? She said they were only good for five years from that date, which would be an even worse insult if true meaning I was given expired coupons in the first place.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any insight on this? I've used this in the past without an issue, though not too recently. Is Delta really in such bad shape they can't afford to give me a can of beer for one of these coupons?

One of my flights earlier this year, someone had tried to use a drink chit from 12 years ago. The FA said she use to accept them but was recently told by DL to not take them. Heck, if there's no expiration date, I think DL should honor them. But then again, DL is known for changing the rules mid-game.

Mr. Cher905 couldn't use his coupons before the end of the year either, so I brought them with me a couple weeks ago on a MSP-TUL trip. I used one on the outbound flight, and gave the rest to the FA on the return flight to hand out to the first three passengers looking to purchase a drink. Kinda felt like Santa Claus for a minute...

Not the old battleax that refused to accept my coupon on a January 2009 flight from LAS-ATL. The coupon expired on 12/31/08.

Thanks for mentioning the expiration date of the coupons. I have been upgraded pretty much all the time since receiving those coupons, and I don't drink much to begin with. I handed one to an economy pax last month in the airport but still have 3 left. If I get UG'd to/from ORD next week three other lucky passengers will have a free drink

There are a number of states with rules regarding coupon/gift certificate/gift card expiration dates. Delta would be covered under these rules in the state where the coupons were issued or received by USPS.

If that state were California, for instance, a coupon is valid forever, absent an expiration date, and must, legally, be redeemed. A gift certificate/card may not expire. It's hard to say whether a free drink coupon is a "coupon" or a "gift certifica

I received PM credentials in early December.
The expiration date on the PM card is Feb 2011.

The expiration of the chits is Dec 31, 2010.

In October, I offered to buy a drink for a very nice guy who kept the window shade up because I was reading in the aisle seat. He looked ready to accept, but eventually declined. So just before landing, I gave him a coupon and he looked very pleasantly surprised.

I still have UA 1K and RCC drink coupons with no expiration date that I am unlikely to use in the near future. I also have four DL drink coupons expiring this year, but since I still have four DL/NW flights between now and 12/31, I might have a chance to use them if I don't fly in F.

Yes, I was just observing the same. Looks like somebody at DL HQ wanted to enhance drink coupons as well.

In the past, drink coupons "issued" in a given year were valid until 12/31 of the following year. The batch included in 2009 packages instead expires 12/31/2009.
Since new Medallion packages are sent out in February, how am I supposed to drink for free in January (and part of February) ??

I really hope they will instruct FA's to accept drink coupons with a 2009 expiration, at least for the first months of 2010.
In fact, I think we all should email Jeff pointing out this. I know I'll be doing it.

I do have a last one of the "gold-on-white" coupons they used to give at the end of the 90's. I got a bunch when I first signed up to SM; those were the days...
Don't know whether to sell it on eBay, or keep it for January. It does not have any expiration date and I would certainly expect it to be honoured.

I didn't get any drink coupons in my gold kit

Maybe Medallions will be allowed free drinks in any cabin starting 1/1/2010 and drink coupons are being phased out ?

I just got my PM package yesterday. The PM card is good through Feb 2011, but my drink chits expire 12/31/09.

Ditto.