I just looked in my DAL file and I still have a couple of these cards. It's too bad they stopped the program, but I guess those cards I have are now collector's items. Maybe I should sell them on e-bay (although I've never actually been to their site) or how about if we get Cholula to start the bidding right here for them at, let's say, $10,000?!?

The only benefit I ever saw from these Above & Beyond cards was a higher boarding priority when flying stand-by... NOT reason enough to break my back!

DL has instituted a new program where employees earn points for various achievements. These points can then be converted into "stuff"... The idea appeals to me. Let's just see if it works... I'm a few points short of a toaster!!!

I was once told that when I write a letter and mention the DL person by name, they got a free DL positve space pass. Is this still true?

Far from true... We get what is called an S2B pass that helps climb up the non-rev line at the airport for one day. Believe me, it's nothing to hang in the tree...

Traveller, that's exactly what I had heard as well. They said that DL personnel could bump up from NR status.
So much for that myth I guess....

My neighbor who works for DL told me that... he worked at the check in counter now he works in a Crown Room... this was a few years ago, it could possible be different now.

How many Above & Beyond cards did you receive by NOT breaking your back? Since most employees would have had a difficult time discerning which of their customers actually had the cards and were inclined to use them, I doubt any DL employee ever broke their back in the hopes of being rewarded with that form of recognition. IMHO, those employees who consistently received them were the ones who at least tried to break their back for each and every customer. They were motivated by their desire to provide quality service, not in a selfish attempt to accumulate accolades. For me, that was the beauty of the program.

Hopefully, I have misinterpreted your comments.

Good point DLFan, I never gave these out to a FA who just did their jobs. I handed them out quite often to res agents on the phone, gate agents, FAs who did something extra special for me. I bet I never gave one out to DL Purser, especially with that attitude (or how I too perceived her attitude in this thread).

All of The responses DL Purser gives seem slightly odd, sometimes Floris-ish in a weird way,. Whatever happened to our other resident DL FA... I can't remember her name.. was FoPaa or something?

As I posted in this thread earlier,I always rewarded DL's Excellent Front-line Employees with my Above and Beyond cards and the people I gave them too were always very appreciative of receiving them, they must have meant something to them.

You did.

I've gotten more than my fair share of A&B Cards in addition to letters of appreciation... All of which have come as a result of my love for my work and the people I meet on my flights.

My only point in making the "not reason enough to break my back" comment was to point out that the REWARD for receiving a A&B Card IS NOT going to make someone go out of their way to receive one...

Please take a moment to read my response to DLfan... Guess I should take a crash course in basic writing.

What do you mean by "odd"?

What is Floris-ish?

Forgive me DeltaPurser, we used to have another DL FA on this board whose input was more...technical in nature? I guess I just grew accustomed to the posting styles of he other DL employees that have posted here. I should have said "Different" instead of "odd".

The FLoris comment was me being a bit cheeky.

It truly was thing of beauty to see the smile of recognition that showed up on a Delta employee's face when you handed them one of these cards AFTER they went above and beyond. "Positive reinforcement reinforces positively"-Pavlov*

As an aside- I sat next to a senior Delta FA last week, and in conversation, she mentioned that that good old fashioned letter still works-the recipient gets great recognition and a one time top priority pass for standyby (vs other NRSA's, not us) for them and thier companion. Evidently these passes are like gold dust, especially to those who are more junior, more motivated, and less jaded by their seniors. To quote Rod Serling "Imagine if you will...." the last truly unmotivated, least caring (very old, senior) flight attendant you flew with being bumped, yes bumped, by the flight attendant about whom you wrote a great letter. And now this crusty, senior, non-caring, unmotivated, burned out person (or captain) has to wait for the next flight, while your heroine (or hero) leaves them standing at the gate.

Here's to positive re-inforcement.

Dallas49er, in case no one else has done this yet...welcome to FT and the DL forum. Hope you will continue to share your insights here, as I note you've had your butt in a Delta seat for a mile or two. ^