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Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?

Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?

Old Feb 21, 2015, 12:11 pm
  #31  
 
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Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?

I worked with a guy back in the early 90s that was awarded FC status after assisting a FA with a belligerent pax. He was an infrequent traveler, but displayed the plaque in his office.

I always liked the "Flying Colonel" title; way cooler elite status name than DM.
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Old Feb 21, 2015, 3:16 pm
  #32  
 
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When I worked in reservations in the mid 1990s, the Flying Colonel was explained to us during training that it was some sort of recognition given out by the marketing department. But we didn't do anything special for them, like during IRROPS, like we did for SM/GM/PM. The pax's Medallion status determined the extent to which assistance was offered. Yes, "FC" showed up on the PNR next to the pax's name, along with their Medallion status if they had one.
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Old Feb 21, 2015, 4:34 pm
  #33  
 
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I have a cousin that was a FC in the mid-90s. I remember once he said something about them holding planes if his was late (as was mentioned already here). I always wondered how much truth there was to that.
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Old Feb 21, 2015, 5:51 pm
  #34  
 
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On the operations side, i.e., ticket agents, gate agents, etc., FC might have received special recognition and treatment; however, on the reservations side, before pax got to the airport, there was not much to nada. We weren't even instructed to address them with "thank you for being Flying Colonel" or something to that extent.
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Old Feb 21, 2015, 7:03 pm
  #35  
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I guess time does dim painful memories.

Just ran across this:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/500430-post1.html

Loss of Crown Room membership for FC was another bit of Leo Mullin skulduggery.

To relieve Crown Room overcrowding, no less.

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Old Feb 22, 2015, 8:48 pm
  #36  
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What an ironic coincidence... had an FA (older male FA) greet me today with "You're my FC on the flight today."

Yes, FC still shows on the manifest.

Interesting..., FA was emphatic that FO was the female equivalent of FC.

I'd never heard this suggested before.
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Old Feb 22, 2015, 9:38 pm
  #37  
 
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Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?

FO = flying orchid, female equivalent of FC.

FC still shows on manifest alongside with Medallion and MM status.

In the early 90's it was very helpful with IROPs. Also got inflight upgrades from C to F on my regular flights from CVG to FRA. Maybe was the Purser (Alexander) he flew the route regularly and welcomed me on board by last name at least 20 times :-) I start feeling old now...
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Old Feb 28, 2019, 1:30 pm
  #38  
 
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Here we are in 2019. I was a Flying Colonel and that card/status is long gone. I just hung up the phone with Delta reservations and the agent was gushing over me...that she was talking to a Flying Colonel and how much she appreciated my loyalty. I was quite surprised it is till in my profile.
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Old Feb 28, 2019, 7:02 pm
  #39  
 
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Honestly I think that DL should bring back FC status. Would be a great brand to use versus other unpublished benefits.
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Old Feb 28, 2019, 7:11 pm
  #40  
 
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Originally Posted by speedbird001
Here we are in 2019. I was a Flying Colonel and that card/status is long gone. I just hung up the phone with Delta reservations and the agent was gushing over me...that she was talking to a Flying Colonel and how much she appreciated my loyalty. I was quite surprised it is till in my profile.
FC status is lifetime, but discontinued. Ive only seen maybe 3 in the past 5 years.
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Old Feb 28, 2019, 7:39 pm
  #41  
 
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FO did indeed indicate Flying Orchid, but it was coopted in the 1980s as new categories were established (Medallion levels).
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Old Feb 28, 2019, 7:59 pm
  #42  
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I"m an FC, getting it in the mid 90s. Was a nice touch. Picked up by DL marketing in TYS and taken to lunch and given the plaque which I've since lost.

Does the FC designator still show on our records? I've never had an FA mention it recently
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Old Apr 2, 2019, 7:02 am
  #43  
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Delta Colonels

Has any old colonel seen that they have stopped noting you as one in your record?
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Old May 15, 2019, 6:04 am
  #44  
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Originally Posted by Gadot
Has any old colonel seen that they have stopped noting you as one in your record?
Just printed out a boarding card and FLYING COLONEL is printed in bold below my Sky MIles number.

I spoke to reservations a few months ago and the CSR commented that I must be close to or older than her as she remembers those great days gone by.
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Old May 16, 2019, 5:07 pm
  #45  
 
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The type of loyalty we used to see... Did NW have a similar program?
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