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Calling all AvGeeks: 'The Spirit of Delta' is flying once again

Feb. 13, 2021
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4 min read
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Calling all AvGeeks: 'The Spirit of Delta' is flying once again
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For AvGeeks and Delta diehards, yesterday was a monumental day.

On Friday morning, Delta officially created "a new Spirit" to celebrate its employees, paying homage to the airline's first Boeing 767, named The Spirit of Delta.


 

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Ship 3502, an Airbus A350 — one of the airline's new flagship aircraft — is now called the Delta Spirit, and is being dedicated to Delta employees around the world, who demonstrated "continued resilience and indomitable spirit during the coronavirus pandemic."

The idea to rededicate The Spirit of Delta originated in November with Joe McDermott, the managing director of people development and culture in technical operations.

Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

“It’s about resetting as an airline — reflecting where we were and what we’re going to be as we move forward," McDermott said in a statement. "This recognizes the work everyone has put in to guide this airline to successfully emerge stronger and better than before."

This tribute is an exciting new chapter in The Spirit of Delta mythos, which originated in 1982 — a turbulent time of deregulation, surging fuel prices and a weak economy, according to the Delta Museum.

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Photo by Scott Mayerowitz / The Points Guy.

That's when current and former Delta employees and friends of the airline banded together to raise $30 million to purchase the airline's first Boeing 767. Ship 102 was christened The Spirit of Delta on Dec. 15, 1982, nearly four decades ago.

The original Spirit of Delta was retired exactly 15 years ago, on Feb. 12, 2006, following a 12-stop farewell tour. The iconic aircraft now resides at the Delta Museum in Historic Hangar 2.

Two years later, Delta took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR jet, Ship 7101, which was named the Delta Spirit in a nod to the airline's employees and accomplishments. Delta retired its final Boeing 777 in November, an early demise triggered by the onset of the pandemic.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.