THE DELTA FIASCO PART I [OF MANY.. I CAN JUST TELL]

To Whom it May Concern:
I redeemed 25,000 skymiles in January of 2001 and received an Award Travel certificate, valid for one coach round trip ticket within the continential US. I did not book a flight using the award certificate, and it expired in January of 2002, by which time, I had shoved it in a drawer somewhere and forgotten about it entirely. Now, three apartments and nearly four years later, I came across it as I was cleaning, and was told by a representative on the phone that it is absolutely worthless -- "it does not exist," he told me, because the records only go back six months. It does exist, however; in fact, I am holding it in my hand as I type, staring at it incredulously, wondering how a corporation the size of Delta could make such a fuss over 25,000 SkyMiles being returned to my account. I recently received a SkyMiles credit card from American Express, and am only asking that my former miles be returned to me so that I can combine them with the miles that remain in my account (the same miles that were there in 2001) and use them towards a flight to Europe, because frankly, there's not much to see in the continental US, and anyway, I'd rather drive. I am flying to London on Virgin Atlantic and with the 12,000 miles in my account, plus the 25,000 miles from the unredeemed (expired, yet perfectly tangible) award certificate, plus the 15,000 I'll earn when I use my card for the first time, plus cash for the rest, I was hoping to get a ticket for a dear friend of mine who is presently in an awful state and needs a vacation more than anyone I've ever known. He is the love of my life and London is where it all began ... we have to get back there. You have to help me! This isn't some bullshit sob story, it's the absolute truth. I earned those miles flying back and forth from Boston to Florida to visit my dad after my parents divorce when I was very young, and damned if I'm not going to put them to good use. I am a loyal and extremely lucrative [potentially] customer with enough experience working in retail and customer service to know that this is not beyond the scope of what your corportation can do for its customers. There are two numbers on the Award Certificate. The first is 00610702603030. The second looks like a serial number and it is 0060915647994. The date of issue is 22 Jan 01; date of expiry is 22 Jan 02. My address at the time was 194 Raleigh Tavern Lane, North Andover, MA 01845. My mother's maiden name is xxxxxxxxx. My cat's name is Morrissey. Please give me back my miles. I know you don't have to, but you have absolutely no idea how much it means to me. This could be a great television commercial. It's all true.

Sincerely,
MT
xxx-xxx-xxxxx

yes, i really did send that letter to Delta. i can't wait until they write back.