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Delta Air Lines introduced some cool (and spendy) additions during the past several months.
We saw new terminals at New York-LaGuardia and LAX in Los Angeles. Plus, both locations opened fantastic Sky Club lounges. (Here’s LAX’s and you can read about LGA’s here.) The airline launched a fleet of A321neos — complete with a resigned First Class seat. Lastly (and certainly least?), Delta acquired nearly three dozen used 737-900ER planes from the Lion Air Group — and plans to retrofit them to current specifications.
But now there may be news for some of Delta’s most loyal customers: refreshed gifts for newly minted Million Milers. And we suspect one of the selections might include an expensive typo. (But certainly hope not!) Here’s what’s up.
UPDATE: If you received a Million Miler gift earlier this year from Delta, you might be able to select something of your choosing. Read more here.
New Million Miler Gifts?
FlyerTalk member “bobf” posted something to celebrate: crossing the Two Million Miler threshold. (Congratulations, bobf!)
Delta offers gifts to SkyMiles members whenever they accumulate a million miles. (Plus, there are other benefits: for example, you receive yearly Diamond Medallion status after raking in 6 million miles during your life.)
bobf included a screenshot of the gift options presented by Delta:
Again, remember bobf earned Two Million Miler status (not to be confused with Medallion elite status). So, these gifts might be uniform across all Million Miler tiers. (Case in point: the Delta Heritage Logos include a “Two Million Miler” inscription. That item would be a hard pass for me. You can probably make your own logo board with Delta items on eBay.)
The Million Miler wine set has two tumblers that look sort of cool. But I’m not sure what brands of wine are included. The model A350 is cool, but no. The ROYCE Executive Overnight Duffel with Delta branding looks nice. But it appears you can have it monogrammed. I wonder if that’s to discourage reselling. (You may call that when René crossed a million miles, he opted for a Tumi bag — then flipped it.)
But here’s where it gets interesting.
A $1250 Delta eGift Card. $1250?! Really? Color me impressed, Delta!
During the pandemic, Delta sent gift cards to new Million Milers. A 1 Million Miler received a $250 Delta eGift Card. A Two Million Miler got a $350 card. We heard a Three Million Miler scored a $500 card.
So, we wonder if that gift card should read “$250.” Or if Delta is getting generous and offering $1250 Delta gift cards. But remember that most Million Milers are probably business travelers with millions of redeemable SkyMiles. Not to mention, a bunch don’t want to get on a plane unless they absolutely must.
We have a message into Delta about the Million Miler gifts and will update this post accordingly with a reply.
Updated: A reader sent us some more detail about their gift selections.
Final Approach
It appears Delta Air Lines refreshed the gift offerings for its Million Miler travelers who cross a(nother) seven-digit threshold. The $1250 Delta eGift card is certainly an intriguing option (at least for Two Million Milers).
Other flyers crossing a Million Million tier this year: what were your choices?
Everyone: which gift do you think is the best?
Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!
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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.
I hit the million mile threshold on at the end of December 2019. Like December 30 or 31. I never received my million mile gift in 2020 because of the pandemic. By the time I went to select the gift, the million mile gifts were suspended.
Same – it took me 3 customer service reach outs over 11 months to finally get a reply. I just got my $250 gift card and tags last month!
Same…I received the tags, but never got a gift or the $250.
Try emailing them at the support address on the new site. I was in the same situation, qualifying for 1MM pre-covid but never selecting a gift. I sent an email yesterday, received a response today, and now can choose between the backpack, wine box, or Delta Heritage logos (no gift card option).
I was sent $250.00 in 2021. No other choice/option.
Thank you!
I just crossed the 1 Million mile threshold in September 2022, I was emailed a $250 gift card. No options to choose anything else.
Thank you!
Try again. I received the gift card AND just selected a gift.
Go through your app, look at Million Miler benefits and a link to choose your gift should be there.
Thanks Sally, I am able to chose the backpack, wine with glasses, or Delta Heritage Logos.
How is it some people get $1000 and some only get $250?
For my first MM, no choice but just a square Tiffany candy bowl etched with Delta logo. Most of the hard earned million miles (900k) was earned on NWA days… then I earned the title of being a charter member of Diamond level that carried on for 8 consecutive years, I reached the 2MM marker in 2017. Back in those days, I was given crappy options to select. Most valuable item was a carry-on suitcase from a luxury brand (maybe Hartman, for about USD400). I promptly gave it away to my relatives.
There will be 5 more years of maintaining Diamond level before I see the 3MM threshold. Just for curiosity sake, what is the age of the youngest MM over at this forum here?
I hit 1MM when I was 41. The first million took 19 years, most years as a Platinum member with no paid international flights.
I hit 1 million miles at 32.
I just crossed 1M and was given a $250 gift card and a plaque. No choices.
Congratulations — and thanks for the data point.
I just past my first 1 million miles on Sunday. I received my offer Monday afternoon. Unfortunately I didn’t snap a picture. Sorry. But, I was offered a wine set with 2 etched glasses. A small leather Royce backpack. A framed display of delta pins. Last but not least, a $1000 delta gift certificate. Also, in the congratulatory email, they stated that my bag tags are on the way. Btw, My $1000 certificate arrived in my email today.
Congrats!
I wonder how I could get the $1, 250 gift card? They sent me a little square glass million dollar like trophy and $250 gift card but I would prefer to have the $1,250. Any thoughts?
@Dan – You got the offer that was given at the time. Don’t expect Delta to retro give anyone anything unless the reach they next MM level this year. In fact, seeing reports on the web of those who earned MM in the past year or so but never selected a gift, do NOT have the option to pick the massive gift card as their choice!
I’ll take the $$$$$
Another 2 years to make 3 and another year for my wife to make 2. Have been Diamond every year since it was started but will have a hard time with MQD this year, need about $10,000 more and am $188,000 short of the AMX waiver so have to see if MR are worth it. Have to decide soon as time is running out. Have a Great rest of year to all readers and Happy Covid free flying. Interesting facts on flight to GUM – SMF ATL ICN GUM on section ATL ICN when they finally allowed us to board after some mixups about visas – we were transiting and didn’t need one but some people at gate in ATL didn’t know. We used GU and were in C+ and after finally boarding we were moved up to M1 and that was great as flight was 14:45. Only bad part was 18 hrs in ICN outbound and 14 back GUN ICN DTW ATL SMF but again on ICN DTW about 13:02 got UG from C+ to M1. I thank God for UG to M1 on those long legs. Fare paid was economy. Club in ICN nice but it closes from 12 MN till 4 am. There is transit lounge with some lie almost flat lounge chairs if you get there early enough. Interesting experience as it earned about 18,386 MQM and $1,522 MQD. SMF ATL SMF was using miles. Like doing MR much better to SIN and thru PVG. Before Covid had some great MR thru SIN and PVG but would be reluctant to go thru PVG now with problems with Covid. In ICN and KAL masks were required but in your seat in M1 with door closed no one is going to be checking on you. Am anxious to make a few more MR but my wife not too excited about that idea. Will see what happens. Blessings to all and safe Covid free travels – have to give a talk on Halloween and my assigned talk was How Not to Die! Get your flu shot and Covid boosters, safer for you and others!
HUGE reduction of benefits for Diamond status 2023. NO FREE CLEAR VERY REDUCED CHOICES
2023 Diamond – Benefits Left to Select
Benefits Left to Select (3)
Delta Sky Club® Membership & Guest Options
Choose the membership level that’s right for you — whether you select an Individual Membership, Executive Membership or Guest Pass option.
Your existing Delta Sky Club membership(s):
Guest Pass (Credit Card Access) – Valid through January 31, 2023
Any new Delta Sky Club selections:
Valid through January 31, 2024
This benefit has sub-options. Selecting this benefit will reveal the sub-options.
Upgrade Certificates
Travel anywhere in complete comfort with your choice of Regional or Global Upgrade Certificates, or a combination of both. Must be booked and flown one year from the date of issuance. Effective February 1, 2022 all newly selected Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates will expire at the end of the Medallion Year associated with that Choice Benefit selection. Certificates are usually issued the day after selection.This benefit has sub-options. Selecting this benefit will reveal the sub-options. Before selecting, please review the guidelines and all policy changes for Certificates effective as of February 1, 2022 to get the most out of your Upgrade Certificatesopens in a new window. Visit My Profileopens in a new window to see your certificate numbers after confirmation.
25,000 Bonus Miles
Add miles that never expire to your account, gift them to another SkyMiles Member or donate them to a SkyWish charity of your choice. This benefit requires additional information. Selecting this benefit will reveal additional fields.
Travel Voucher
Celebrate your Status with a $200 Delta Travel Voucher. Valid 12 months from date issuance
Gold Medallion Status for Recipient You Choose
Give the gift of Status by gifting Gold Medallion Status to anyone you choose. Fields under this benefit may change depending on the selected number of benefit from the counter. Enter your recipient’s information and they will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If the recipient does not have a SkyMiles account, they must join SkyMiles before you are able to gift them Status. This benefit is valid through January 31, 2024.
Now that you’ve made your selections, you’re almost ready to enjoy them. You will have the option to review your benefits before confirmation. You don’t have to select all of your benefits at once and may return to this page to complete your selections by the deadlines shown.
REVIEW AND CONFIRM Choice Benefits Terms And Conditionsopens in a new window
RELATED LINKS
Medallion Benefitsopens in a new window
Upgrade Certificatesopens in a new window
@Patti – CLEAR, per Delta.com as you can see here, is still a perk for DMs. Beyond that, the adjusted DM Choice Benefits have been known for some time. The one recent thing that went away was the Tiffany Gift cards (that I have used in the past) and is no huge loss.
Most folks are picking GU certs or RU certs or club membership with guest privilege’s or simply Skymiles since they never expire (until you do).
With that said – The fact you now have to buy PS to upgrade to D1 with GU certs really stinks but that too has been known for some time now.
At 5 million last year, I got $500 and it took 6 months to get my bag tags.
My buddy just crossed 5 and he promptly got his $500, tags and a lucite cube.
The most difficult change in the Delta system to the Diamond member is the destruction of the Global Certificate new guidlines. They are almost impossible to use. I have tried numerous times to use theses certificates without success. The one time I was able to use the certificate I paid over $1500.00usd to book a Main cabin that brought me to Comfort. I then went on a wait list for Delta One. I could not use the lounge in the Country I was flying back from because I had not cleared for Delta One and the lounge was a partner operated only allowing cleared One customer. I waited at the boarding area until boarding and then I was cleared for One. Delta Global Certificates are not worth the aggravation and now I shop for fares with other airlines saving up to 50%. Domestic service is excellent but International they leave a lot to be desired.
I was in Zurich recently. On the outbound JFK to ZRH flight I was number one on the upgrade list with a premium-economy airfare. There were two seats in Delta One left.
At boarding, it turns out one of the two seats was apparently the designated crew rest seat for pilots. I’ve seen this before but never thought those seats showed up as inventory. The other seat was grabbed by an off-duty pilot. The captain for the flight firmly told the gate agent at JFK that this off-duty pilot “had to have that seat because he is flying back tomorrow.” So there went my upgrade.
On the return ZRH to JFK, I was number one with three seats left. Again, I bought a premium-economy airfare. The flight was delayed three hours. The contracted staff at ZRH didn’t process the upgrade list even though the check-in time had passed and Delta was presumably no longer selling tickets. They claimed the time for processing was reset to the new delayed departure time. I don’t believe that to be true.
Of course, I could never use the lounge at ZRH because the lounge is third-party and Delta only pays for Delta One passengers. At check-in, the contracted staff wouldn’t even give me a lounge invitation even though it was obvious my upgrade would clear at some point before departure.
Then the ZRH to JFK flight was canceled. Complete chaos ensued since Delta has no staff of its own (save for a supervisor) at ZRH.
Long story short, neither global upgrade certificate was used. I have six of them in my account that all expire in early 2023.
Oh yeah, premium-economy on the 767-400 for a short flight (around 6 hours) out of JFK is horrible. The seat width is pathetic and the footrest doesn’t really stay in place. Maybe mine was broken. Catering was economy. Not even elevated wine. No dedicated flight attendant.
Took nearly 90 hours after takeoff for flight attendants to serve drinks and meals. Only one pass of the drink cart. That’s it.
Then the lights came on a full 2 hours before landing with coffee and a pathetic breakfast (some kind of breakfast bread) served another 30 minutes after that. At least they came by twice with coffee.
Premium-economy has to be the biggest scam in the world.
I was looking the other day at November flights to London. I could find premium-economy on Delta and partners for around $1,400. But if I wanted a flight where my global upgrade certificate would clear into Delta One at the time of booking, I had to spend about $2,200 to book a flight on 100% Delta metal with no partner connections.
I just happened to make two million miles yesterday on my flight back to ATL from JNB. I received the congratulatory message, chose the $1,250 gift card, and received it right away.
Nice gift.
WOW!! I hit a million miles at the end of 2019, after 2 big mileage runs. (Wasn’t even looking at the Million Miler possibility.) No comment on board or by email, if anybody even knew this, but I was surprised a week or so later by a plaque and $250 gift card in the mail. And the luggage tag. (I doubt I’ll even make Silver this year, let alone the Platinum I’ve had since the pandemic extensions.) $1250 would have been very nice!!
Congrats!
I hit 3 million a few months ago and received the crystal cube and $500 gift card.
@Christine – 3MM? Wow! Well done (I think)! 😉
Seems like if you hit your Million mile mark earlier in 2022, they are still offering you the gift selection (wine, backpack, plaque of Delta logos) in addition to the $250 GC and bag tags that were already sent.
I hit 2M and my wife hit 1M during the pandemic as well. No gifts, but emails showed up months later stating we could redeem for a gift card. 1M received $250, 2M $350 and a lucite cube. When I hit 1M I was sent a very nice Tumi Alpha carryon and the choices were much better for plat+diamond tiers. This year we have flow up front overseas twice round trip on DL or SkyTeam and am still far away from diamond like a previous post due to the lack of business travel and the slow restart. Sad, been Diamond for 10+ years and will lose it this year, regardless of the 450k MQM’s, short on spend on Reserve too by $90k+. Will look at mileage runs soon to see if there is any hope, but the GU certs were cut in half when you had to buy PS seats….not all planes even have them….?
I’m 3 Million. Never got a thing.