Delta Million Miles threshold: worth hitting it on DL metal?
Aug 6, 2018, 8:21 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: PBI
Programs: DL DM 2.4MM
Posts: 300
My experience has been somewhat different. My wife and I both hit 1MM within a few months of each other.
My wife hit it on a flight departing FLL and a group of delta staff in suits tracked us down in the lounge. They provided a bottle of champagne, fruit plate and card signed by the local team.
I hit 1MM on a flight from DTW-NRT. When I landed in NRT there was a team on the ground with a sign. They handed me a fun card signed by the ground staff that had handmade origami animals attached to it. They were pleasant and all thanked me for my loyalty.
In both cases we were really impressed.
My wife hit it on a flight departing FLL and a group of delta staff in suits tracked us down in the lounge. They provided a bottle of champagne, fruit plate and card signed by the local team.
I hit 1MM on a flight from DTW-NRT. When I landed in NRT there was a team on the ground with a sign. They handed me a fun card signed by the ground staff that had handmade origami animals attached to it. They were pleasant and all thanked me for my loyalty.
In both cases we were really impressed.
Aug 6, 2018, 8:44 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,227
The pilots will put the plane on autopilot and all come out toast to you and then teach you the MM handshake created by CE Woolman. Said handshake can be used with any DL employee to get anything you desire. Want to delay a flight, you got it. Want a PDB on a short turn...you got it. WF but didn't BF...you got it. Want to bring an emotional support giraffe...you got it. Want some shena just to keep it interesting...you got it.
/Sarcasm (in case you couldn't tell)
/Sarcasm (in case you couldn't tell)
Aug 6, 2018, 8:45 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
I suspect given the feedback I have gotten it is more than 100 to 1, but just a guess. I have been on 2 flights recently and the FA said they have only seen a few and only 3 at 5MM or greater. Not sure though.
Aug 6, 2018, 8:56 am
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,407
I've met a DL 7 MMer a couple times, the same guy. He was at a DL DO (IIRC the big ATL one and maybe some other smaller event) and then on the "last" DC-9 flight.
Despite DL upgrade priority orderings, some FAs seem to be more impressed by MMers than DMs.
Despite DL upgrade priority orderings, some FAs seem to be more impressed by MMers than DMs.
Aug 6, 2018, 9:28 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Aug 6, 2018, 9:34 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
Aug 6, 2018, 9:53 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: DL Diamond 1MM, AS MVP, SW ALP and CP, b6 Mosaic, UA Silver, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 223
I hit 1MM this summer on JFK-SAN. A friend on the flight mentioned it to the crew and they made me the perfect gift to celebrate:
A mini bottle of prosecco, wrapped in a puke bag with a few plastic wings on the outside and a handwritten note on a ripped piece of the manifest from all the crew.
I cherish it to this day. 🤣🤣🤣
A mini bottle of prosecco, wrapped in a puke bag with a few plastic wings on the outside and a handwritten note on a ripped piece of the manifest from all the crew.
I cherish it to this day. 🤣🤣🤣
Aug 6, 2018, 10:04 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 148
I think it depends on the day and the airport if they have time for you. I hit 1mm on a sunday connecting in NRT and DTW. In NRT, they had a sign and escorted me through immigration, and into the lounge's "vip" room, which is just a normal room. I was one of 3 hitting million miles that day in NRT. We were all in the lounge and they gave us chocolates and toasted with champagne. although none of us drank haha. And then later on a slow Sunday in DTW, a flight operations dude picked me up off of the ramp, and showed me around the airport in a porshe. It was all pretty cool, they even gave me a million mile water bottle.
Aug 6, 2018, 10:13 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Aug 6, 2018, 10:16 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,234
I think in the end, I would not worry about recognition. (Really, it is that big of a deal). In the overall scheme of
things the only one who cares is you. As it has been pointed out, million miles is just not that big of a thing these days.
things the only one who cares is you. As it has been pointed out, million miles is just not that big of a thing these days.
Aug 6, 2018, 10:23 am
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Aug 6, 2018, 10:29 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
One other thing to consider, most of the people hitting 1MM are not actually flying 1MM butt-in-seat miles. A huge chunk of that is coming from MQM bonus on J/F tickets plus I would assume a healthy chunk of those guys are getting amex MQM boosts.
Aug 6, 2018, 11:17 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
I wish that was the case for me. Mostly BIS. ~5% AMEX and about ~10% J/F mostly NW in the 90s. The rest a BIS. My butt has hurt for a long time. :-)
Aug 6, 2018, 11:21 am
#29
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SDF
Programs: DL:360/DM/6 MMer; Bonvoy: Lifetime Titanium 10+M pts, 3100+ nights;
Posts: 1,441
- No frontline recognition at 1 MM.
- No frontline recognition at 2 MM.
- No frontline recognition at 3 MM.
- No frontline recognition at 4 MM.
- No frontline recognition at 5 MM.
Aug 6, 2018, 11:24 am
#30
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,407