Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?
Jun 26, 2013, 9:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: DL DM Hilton Diamond WN A List
Posts: 65
Flying Colonel - Does Anybody Remember?
In viewing a recent thread about MM status, it made me reflect on my Flying Colonel status.
I remember the day I found out. My travel agent (??) called me and told me a DL district manager in TYS had invited us out to his office, for coffee and my FC award. It consisted of a plaque (I have no idea where it is now) and net bag tags and a membership ID. And apparently, you had to be nominated by a travel agent and approved (??) by DL.
How times have changed. No DL marketing office in TYS anymore. The DL district mgr took an early out.
And of course, the Flying Colonel concept is gone. I really wonder how many DL employees even know what we are talking about.
I'd be curious:
Who here is a former FC? I received mine in 1996. And if you are FC, how did you receive your award?
I remember the day I found out. My travel agent (??) called me and told me a DL district manager in TYS had invited us out to his office, for coffee and my FC award. It consisted of a plaque (I have no idea where it is now) and net bag tags and a membership ID. And apparently, you had to be nominated by a travel agent and approved (??) by DL.
How times have changed. No DL marketing office in TYS anymore. The DL district mgr took an early out.
And of course, the Flying Colonel concept is gone. I really wonder how many DL employees even know what we are talking about.
I'd be curious:
Who here is a former FC? I received mine in 1996. And if you are FC, how did you receive your award?
Jun 26, 2013, 10:06 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
There have been reports on this forum that the occasional DL frontline employee remarks on a pax's FC status, so that information must still be retained in the system and displayed at least sometimes. It's a shame they just dumped it. Didn't that happen in 1997? So OP you got in just in time.
Jun 26, 2013, 12:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Everywhere....
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 463
Jun 26, 2013, 1:05 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, Delta AMEX Reserve, Ritz-Carlton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 272
My father-in-law is/was a Flying Colonel. I get the distinct impression he still thinks it is the only way of being recognized as a FF at Delta. I don't have the heart to tell him it is kind of meaningless at this point.
Jun 26, 2013, 2:30 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Posts: 92
The Flying Colonel program came with a bag tag and free Crown Room membership, nothing else. Had nothing to do with how much one flew, given to people by Delta Marketing who they felt could send business their way. In the late 80's I once was seated next to guy fresh out of college who was a Flying Colonel, he told me he went to school with a guy who worked in the Marketing Division @ Delta and he had sent him the tag/letter--guy had only flown Delta twice before in his life.
Remember the Delta Marketing Mgr for my region calling / inviting me to lunch when I reached my First MM back in the early 90's ... presented me with tags/letter from the CEO ect ... long gone by the time I reached 2MM & 3MM.
Remember the Delta Marketing Mgr for my region calling / inviting me to lunch when I reached my First MM back in the early 90's ... presented me with tags/letter from the CEO ect ... long gone by the time I reached 2MM & 3MM.
Jun 27, 2013, 5:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Hilton, United, Gold DL
Posts: 993
Jun 29, 2013, 9:09 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL DM, SPG PLAT, MARR GOLD
Posts: 36
In viewing a recent thread about MM status, it made me reflect on my Flying Colonel status.
I remember the day I found out. My travel agent (??) called me and told me a DL district manager in TYS had invited us out to his office, for coffee and my FC award. It consisted of a plaque (I have no idea where it is now) and net bag tags and a membership ID. And apparently, you had to be nominated by a travel agent and approved (??) by DL.
How times have changed. No DL marketing office in TYS anymore. The DL district mgr took an early out.
And of course, the Flying Colonel concept is gone. I really wonder how many DL employees even know what we are talking about.
I'd be curious:
Who here is a former FC? I received mine in 1996. And if you are FC, how did you receive your award?
I remember the day I found out. My travel agent (??) called me and told me a DL district manager in TYS had invited us out to his office, for coffee and my FC award. It consisted of a plaque (I have no idea where it is now) and net bag tags and a membership ID. And apparently, you had to be nominated by a travel agent and approved (??) by DL.
How times have changed. No DL marketing office in TYS anymore. The DL district mgr took an early out.
And of course, the Flying Colonel concept is gone. I really wonder how many DL employees even know what we are talking about.
I'd be curious:
Who here is a former FC? I received mine in 1996. And if you are FC, how did you receive your award?
Aug 5, 2013, 11:12 am
#13
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Ormond Beach, FL USA
Programs: Delta Flying Colonel, Lifetime Silver Medallion, Million Miler
Posts: 621
Flying Colonel
I was wondering if this program/honor still existed. In the early 90's I was given that status and have a nice plaque signed by Ronald Allen, CEO and Board Chairman. Originally this status gave you lifetime entry to the lounges as well.
Are there any other FC's here?
Are there any other FC's here?
Aug 5, 2013, 11:20 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
There are lots. DL discontinued the program long ago. But somewhere buried deep in their ancient creaky IT your status is still recorded. And once in a while someone on FT reports that an agent who has been around long enough to remember the FCs comments on a passenger's FC status.
Sadly, it will get you nothing nowadays.
Sadly, it will get you nothing nowadays.
Aug 5, 2013, 12:05 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: AGS
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 581