Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?
Aug 5, 2013, 1:05 pm
#19
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Ormond Beach, FL USA
Programs: Delta Flying Colonel, Lifetime Silver Medallion, Million Miler
Posts: 621
I recall flying FC in the late 90's and took a peek at the manifest and saw the Flying Orchid notation. The FA had no clue what it was.
Feb 22, 2014, 10:40 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
The last surviving Flying Colonel benefit?
Just stumbled upon this:
Preferred seating
"A number of choice Coach/Economy Class seats are set aside and offered to qualified passengers. Qualified passengers include:
Passengers ticketed in Y and B class
Medallion SkyMiles members:
Silver Medallion (FO)
Gold Medallion (GM)
Platinum Medallion (PM)
Diamond Medallion (DM)
Passenger traveling with a Medallion SkyMiles member
Agency or Corporate accounts due to contract negotiations
Unaccompanied minor (only if non-preferred seats are depleated).
SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus partner members
Flying Colonel (FC)"
Preferred seating
"A number of choice Coach/Economy Class seats are set aside and offered to qualified passengers. Qualified passengers include:
Passengers ticketed in Y and B class
Medallion SkyMiles members:
Silver Medallion (FO)
Gold Medallion (GM)
Platinum Medallion (PM)
Diamond Medallion (DM)
Passenger traveling with a Medallion SkyMiles member
Agency or Corporate accounts due to contract negotiations
Unaccompanied minor (only if non-preferred seats are depleated).
SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus partner members
Flying Colonel (FC)"
Feb 22, 2014, 11:27 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
Feb 22, 2014, 11:49 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Feb 16, 2015, 8:46 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Paris, Chicago, Rome, London, St John
Programs: DeltaPrivateJet, Ritz PP, Delta 4 million miler - Flying Colonel; AA Exec Plat (3 million + USAir)
Posts: 796
Flying Colonels. Oh for the past
Delta used to be "fun to fly"
Prior to some As. Suing AA to make their VIP program open to all (thus the advantage)' Delta had the Flying Colonel. A marketing program that each stTion manager could give a couple out every year. They had "no host" private lounges with booze and decks of cards (some great poker games).
A Col was always upgraded with his party (I once had 4 friends upgraded) and all"rules" we're broken if possible
Then came the flying milers who thought they had as much right and the paid crown rooms. Delta used to guarantee to get you home (held your connecting flight if yours was late)
Prior to some As. Suing AA to make their VIP program open to all (thus the advantage)' Delta had the Flying Colonel. A marketing program that each stTion manager could give a couple out every year. They had "no host" private lounges with booze and decks of cards (some great poker games).
A Col was always upgraded with his party (I once had 4 friends upgraded) and all"rules" we're broken if possible
Then came the flying milers who thought they had as much right and the paid crown rooms. Delta used to guarantee to get you home (held your connecting flight if yours was late)
Feb 17, 2015, 11:48 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
Feb 17, 2015, 12:35 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Orlando
Programs: Delta DM FC Two-MM CRC
Posts: 14
Flying Colonel was awarded with a Personally Engraved Wood Plaque, Baggage Tags, ID Card and a Crown Room Membership. Membership was automatically renewed every 5 years until the late 1990's. Gate Agents DID go out of their way to help whenever there were opportunities to do "a little extra." When I received my initial appointment, I asked what I could expect as a Flying Colonel. A Gate agent in Chicago told me "Assume your flight was canceled and the passengers were being given Hotel Vouchers (that dates the Program), most passengers would be sent to the Days Inn, but the Flying Colonel would be sent to the Hyatt. When the program was retired, Delta at least kept the designation in the Customer records and it still to this day appears on the Flight Manifest for the Flight Attendants. Unfortunately, most of them have no idea what the "FC" actually means.
Feb 19, 2015, 6:54 pm
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Paris, Chicago, Rome, London, St John
Programs: DeltaPrivateJet, Ritz PP, Delta 4 million miler - Flying Colonel; AA Exec Plat (3 million + USAir)
Posts: 796
Each station chief had so many that he could give out, plus corp. it was for those who either had done something for Delta (I trioged the '88 Dallas crash) or who brought business to Delta. Ron Allen flew to Chicago to present me my plaque
Originally, there were "no host" lounges with booze in most airports and you could use them. Additionally, essentially all "rules" we're broken. I often upgraded 5 - 6 friends to first.
Reportedly, the major reason it was cancelled was that their became too many (and $ lost because of free Crown room)
With older agents, I still get rules broken and am called "Colonel"
Originally, there were "no host" lounges with booze in most airports and you could use them. Additionally, essentially all "rules" we're broken. I often upgraded 5 - 6 friends to first.
Reportedly, the major reason it was cancelled was that their became too many (and $ lost because of free Crown room)
With older agents, I still get rules broken and am called "Colonel"
Feb 20, 2015, 5:59 am
#30
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL DM & 5MM, WN
Posts: 1,451
Last night IND-ATL the FA went through first class thanking passengers for being loyal, etc. She thanked me for being a Flying Colonel. The guy next to me asked what it was and she gave a 95% correct description of how it used to work!