bonzaiflyer

Just curious, anyone have any idea about how many people are currently Diamond Medallion and have a lifetime SkyClub membership? Since DL hasn't offered a lifetime membership for as far back as I can remember, the folks that have one have to be like me from NW or from PA (so prior to '92).

I can't imagine the number would be in the thousands, but I'm just a dumb guy with a bag tag that makes a lot of noise. Remember, I'm talking lifetime members who are also Diamond. I'm sure there might be thousands of lifetime members.

I have a lifetime that I purchased with NW way back in the day, and it kind p*sses me off that one of my Diamond benefits is a free SkyClub membership. I've been lobbying with DL to let me pick another Choice Benefit since the free SkyClub membership does diddlysquat for me. Thus far, it's been a struggle. I've asked if I could gift the membership to someone, or instead of gifting my wife Gold status, let it be Platinum. Can you say brick wall?

hnewman

same boat here.

SuperG1955

Only a PM but have Lifetime SC, DL AMEX Reserve, AMEX Plat. Would like another choice benefit as well.

jdrtravel

I see your point, but to be honest, I think they are already doing you a favor by honoring the lifetime membership. With bankruptcies and buyouts I'm sure they had multiple times when they could have stopped honoring this. Your lifetime membership was not to Sky Club, it was to World Club, which no longer exists.

tartetatin2

Same here. I got my lifetime NW in 2000, and while I am pleased it was not eliminated in the merger, it would be nice to get a little something, maybe a few Sky Club passes to give to family or colleagues.

T2

mbwmbw

How much was a lifetime skyclub membership when they offered it?

tartetatin2

In 2000, it was $1900 with Plat status. I think I worked it out as a 8.5 year payoff.

mbwmbw

Ugh. Wish I knew about that haha.

PersonalFlotationDevice

Mildly off-topic but I bought a 3-year membership (possibly from NW immediately pre full merger) ahead of rumors of rate increases, but before the announcement of the DM club benefit.

I tend post post 150Kish MQM per year which keeps me high with rollover----even now I'll get my MQDs early in the year.

My regret is when I finally step of the constant-travel-train, I'll likely have very little use of additional 3 years of SC that will kick in...oh well. I think my last card's expiration lists 2018?

jacksafar

As a graduation gift when I graduated high school in 1997 I asked my parents for a Lifetime WorldClubs membership. It was one of the smartest purchases ever.

I also bought one for my Partner during the merger right before they stopped selling them. Second smartest purchase ever. I'm Diamond and have been since it started, but it's still quite nice (especially since we live in Seattle and enjoy using the Alaska Boardrooms with our SkyClub Membership).

hockeystl

Same. I asked Jeff Robertson about this during the 2010 DL-FT DO and he claimed this only applied "to a handful" of current DM members so DL never offered an alternative benefit. I was tossed a handful of SC passes as a 1x benefit.

bonzaiflyer

I was told by a reliable source at DL that there are in the neighborhood 40,000 lifetime memberships out there. They have no idea how many of those are Diamond, or for that matter, how many are still alive.

I doubt that there are that many that meet the qualifications of having lifetime, are Diamond, and are alive. As you said, Mr. Robertson said it's just a "handful".

dd1612

A DM with Lifetime SC, DL AMEX Reserve, AMEX Platinum.

Would like additional choice benefits as well.

MSPeconomist

Me too because I have three or four ways to access SCs. Realistically, I know it's not going to happen.

socrates

actually DL couldn't reject Lifetime memberships legally (not that it wouldn't have been a PR nightmare even if they legally could) ...DL merged with NWA including all of it's subsidiaries including NWA WorldClubs Inc (yes that was it's legal name)....the resulting company had to honor each and every obligation of the predecessor companies....doesn't matter that NWA WorldClubs Inc was merged into other parts of DL, would be like changing your name then calling your mortgage company and saying you have a different name and aren't responsible for making payments any longer