I got FC a couple of years ago - "flying chicken," as the cabin crew usually calls it. I had been Royal Medallion (yes, I remember) for a while, Gold Medallion after they renamed. My travel agent called Delta and asked for it. No sweat. (I threw a little business their way other than my own flights, but not enough for them to really care about - low five figures a year max.)

This was after the days of free CR access but I thought it might be worth something. Other than yet another luggage tag and a brass-and-wood wall plaque that says "In Recognition of Outstanding Support" (I had to take it out of the box just now to check) with a reproduced Ron Allen signature, it never did a thing for me. The GM tags were more useful, as people who saw them knew that I had to do something to earn them.

Since I do most of my flying on AA these days (mostly better schedules from Boston to Europe and the West Coast; some unhappiness over L fare upgrades) I haven't been keeping up on the FC program. It doesn't surprise me that it's been discontinued. Soon the luggage tags will be a memento to signal the cabin crew that I've been with Delta since "way back when." At that point they'll be good for something again! (I used to have Northeast "yellowbird" lapel pin that did the same whenever an ex-Northeast FA saw it. We got a lot of them to and from Boston after Delta bought NE. They've probably all retired by now.)

Do you think using my old Braniff Club luggage tags would get me more recognition?

A have a few questions in the FC program, if anyone has any info. I know someone who is FC, and he told me it is now worth nothing. It used to give him CRC entry, but no longer. Now the phone number on the card doesn't even work.

1. Is it still be given out? What is the qualification? The guy whom I know flew Delta weekly (or just about) and was an exec in his company, a big Delta customer (probably one of the bigger in Tampa, but rather small in the scheme of companies).

2. What are the benefits now? And in its prime-day?

Thanks.

BizJet

I am a FC and have been for a number of years. It is not worth much anymore except the status of having those letters next to your name in a database and on the manifest.
It used to give you free access to the CRC. Then, that was limited to three years and then that perk went away altogether. I might have some stationary but that's about all.

Did you get upgrades back then similar to the program of FF Miles and now Skymiles? I understand that the membership was extended to individuals who were employees of companies that did a lot of flying on Delta?

I was told that the FC program had been stopped.

I did not get any upgrades due to FC status.
The program may be over or not. It still shows I am a FC on the manifest. I have not asked for any new bag tags lately, maybe that is a way to test the program status.

Am I nuts? (probably )

When the Delta Marketing rep came to my office to present me with my Flying Colonel Membership, he made a really big deal about this is also "A LIFETIME CROWNROOM PASS".

Along came Platinum Medallion and the LIFETIME part on the FC card ended. So much for Delta's promises and misrepresentations.

My question to this group is: Am I the only Flying Colonel that is still upset over this? I wrote to both Leo Mullins and his underwhelming predecessor, Ron Allen. Both told me that they did away with this perk at the "request of members" because the Crown Rooms were getting too crowded. (B.S.)and that "why was I complaining anyway" since I had a Platinum Medallion Card and that got me in.

I answered both of them that I will not always have a Platinum Membership. I really do hope to retire some day, much to Delta's chagrin! Is it too much for a 3 Million Mile Flyer who was Gold Frequent Flyer from year one and Platinum from Year one to expect a little respect from a company that my bosses and I have been giving a hell of a lot of money to for years? Of course, I never received an answer to that question.

In searching back posts from this list (I am new here) I was shocked to see that this topic got so little time. It is all part of a way that Delta does business. Give a little--take away a lot. Like I said in my first post...."Delta only respects and rewards "what we can do for them tomorrow!!!!!"

Here's another 3 MM, been-PM-since-it-was-invented, Flying Colonel that's also upset over this. While I recognize that I have CRC access due to PM status, I'm kind of steamed about the fact that my wife lost CRC access when the FC program went away. Of course, Delta's response was that I could get her a card with 10K miles, but it's still the principle of the thing...

Right after stopping the FC's Crown Room freebie, Delta joined Priority Pass which allows entry into most-not all- CRs.
You gotta love Delta.

Hey guys, at were MM's with "LIFETIME" Silver Medallion Status

Lifetime memberships -- that was partly to blame for PTL's fall from grace. I think you got one free hotel night per year for life for a contribution of $1000 or something like that. Well, they sold too many, and the hotel was permanently overbooked!

What good is lifetime Silver once I retire and only fly a little? I's spoiled, I want the comfort of the Crown Room that Delta got me addicted to. I want availability of First Class that Delta addicted me to. (At least give me a chance!)

Again I say....Delta gives a little and takes away a lot.

This holds up on comments on this site and also the transcript of the www.saveskymiles.com discussions.

Look at the excuses that they come up wit:

Too many people are Elite and want 1st class..lets make it harder on them. (They made us elite and it is our fault we accepted their perks)

Crown Rooms are too crouded...let's bump off our FCs..what did they ever do for us?

At least they dropped the famous---our members asked us to charge them for drinks in the CR shtick.

etc etc etc.

mikey1003 recalls: That happens to be one of my "favorites" and it is now used by several marketing schools to illustrate "fantasy marketing."

Well, they've obviously achieved what they set out to do...I haven't been in a CRC this year, other than ATL, that's been more than 1/3 full. JFK, CVG, MCO, SLC, BOS, LAX, PDX, etc.

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 11-08-2000).]