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Would you donate SkyMiles to a Delta Air Lines employee who goes above and beyond?
Job Well Done certificates are employee recognition slips given annually to Platinum and Diamond Medallions. The member can give one to a Delta employee they feel exceeded expectations.
Delta employees awarded a Job Well Done certificate receive “500 rewards points” — which I’ve been told is worth $5 toward a debit card or Delta items.
Most of us love giving JWD certs to amazing Delta employees. The problem is they’re distributed in such limited quantities: four to Diamond Medallions and two to Platinums.
To make up for it, Delta encourages customers to send Job Well Done emails to recognize great employees. But as I wrote earlier this year, a couple of Delta employees suspect those email messages rarely — if ever — find their ways to the deserving employees.
René makes his own job well done recognition packages that include an Amazon gift card.
But someone recently suggested another way to award Delta folks — in addition to the JWD certs.
Gift SkyMiles to Delta Employees
Reader Eric G. recently told me an interesting idea. He said he’d give SkyMiles to a Delta employee he’d like to reward. For example, 1,000 SkyMiles could be awarded to a Delta person. That deserving employee could redeem the SkyMiles for a $10 award through their employee program.
I love the idea — and think it should be available to all SkyMiles members.
There’d have to be a minimum requirement for gifting i.e. at least 500 SkyMiles. (“Hey, thanks for such a great job today! Here’s fifteen SkyMiles!” Erm, no.) Maybe there’d be a maximum of 1,000 or 2,000 or something. (Accidentally adding an extra zero or two could create a very spendy gift — but certainly make for a happy Delta employee!)
Delta loves their Fly Delta app (someone has to…). So perhaps the “Gifting SkyMiles to a Delta Employee” (working title, of course 🙂 ) feature could be available somewhere in the app. A SkyMiles member would somehow directly deposit the miles into an employee’s account.
This is sort of a broad-strokes idea. I’m sure there are drawbacks and dissents some commenters will tell us about 😉 .
A Better Way to Burn SkyMiles
If Delta really wants people to spend SkyMiles, this is a great and rewarding way they might consider. (Who knows. Maybe they already have.)
But I certainly would gift SkyMiles to exceptional Delta employees. I’m sure as heck not going to spend my points on the SkyZoomMiles experiences that René discussed.
Not everyone will love this idea. But I think donating SkyMiles to Delta employees who can redeem them for something meaningful should at least be an option.
What Do You Think?
Do you like this idea? Or are limited Job Well Done certs enough recognition? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!
— Chris
Featured image photo courtesy of Delta News Hub
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Great idea but need to be sure not to cross the perceived or actual line whereby DL employees are receiving cash (or cash equivalent) tips from DL customers as DL has a no tipping policy.
I haVe used my job well done certs for well deserving attention and assistance.
Sadly I have not received my 2020 package to date!
I love the idea of rewarding excellence with recognition and a small gift of miles.
Sadly, no flying to date 🙁 this year but, hopefully this
Entire kerfuffle will be resolved and we can
book, board , and reward
Great idea, especially for those of us with Silver or Gold status!!
The $1.6 BILLION profit sharing was a good start last year. I’m happy to hear Ed Bastian say that employees should expect no less this year even if they have use some of the Federal guarantees as this “ situation “ was no fault of the employees. I love the idea of gifting SkyMiles, however, you’d have to start somewhere near 25,000 upward to really be beneficial. Although, many Diamond Medallions are against allowing “Non Rev” Delta employees “bump” Medallions for the First Class upgrades, but I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge the contributions of the BEST employees in aviation.
I invest $1K every year in gifts and gift cards for front line employees – airport lounge workers, counter staff, flight attendants, pilots, Uber drivers, hotel staff, etc. The joy it brings is priceless.