Delta Air Lines celebrates passenger who has accumulated 14 million miles
According to statistics maintained by Delta Air Lines, it takes its passengers an average 22 years to fly one million miles. During the past thirty years, one flyer, only identified as Todd O (Delta didn’t disclose his last name), has accumulated more miles than anyone in the airline’s history. He was honored last month by Delta Air Lines after he racked up a record 14 million miles (22,530, 816 km).
Todd hit the impressive milestone on 6th March, on a flight from Zurich to New York. 14 million miles is a lot of distance. Flying from Zurich to New York is a little below 3,800 miles, so hitting 14 million miles would be the equivalent of flying back and forth on that route once every day – every single day for 10 years.
The trip coincided with his birthday, and did Delta ever celebrate in style. Todd was surprised with a custom birthday cake from the flight attendants, who wished him both a happy birthday and congratulated him on becoming Delta’s first “14 Million Miler”.
Delta’s Operations and Customer Centre even sent an ACARS (Aircraft Communication Addressing & Reporting System message (normally reserved for operational updates only), to the flight crew with a message for the crew to make a personalised announcement to celebrate Todd O’s unique accomplishment, which read “Please take a moment to have the crew acknowledge his achievement and wish him a happy birthday…on behalf of the Delta OCC it’s been an honour to help him achieve this milestone.” The message inspired the pilots to make a special congratulatory announcement on the plane.
A lifelong, self –described “av geek”, his first flight on Pan am at age 8 ignited his passion for travel and flying. His dad took the family to a new destination every summer, and Todd then began travelling in earnest as an adult in the 1990’s.
“ I think one of the most amazing things about flying is that in the span of three, seven or ten hours, you can get transported to an environment or a culture that’s completely different or be reconnecting with family and friends thousands of miles away.” He explained.
Call it revenge flying at its best or Todd’s rebound from the pandemic, he jumped from 13 million miles in just 18 months, breaking the 14 million mile barrier on March 6th this year. One would think after a long flight from Zurich to New York and a day involving the 14 Million Mile festivities, he’d be keen to board the next flight home in San Diego. Nope. He retrieved his bag and made his way through the terminal, found his gate and boarded a flight right back to Zurich. 15 million miles is firmly on his sights.
He has a little way to go to overtake Tom Stuker – credited with the ‘most frequent flyer on the planet’ tag. As of July 2022, the car dealerships staff trainer who flies worldwide has accumulated 23 million miles over 12,000 flights, all on United Airlines.
Hospitality Sri Lanka.
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