Delta Air Lines is honoring its 100th year of flight with a celebration that goes beyond aircraft, routes, and milestones. It is spotlighting the heart of travel—kindness. This year, the airline has launched Centennial Cheer, a program designed to recognize 100,000 acts of kindness from travelers and employees during the bustling holiday season. With travel numbers soaring and airports busier than ever, Delta hopes to create a chain reaction of goodwill that strengthens connections across the globe.
A Century of Flight Grounded in Care
Since its first flight in 1925, Delta has grown into one of the world’s leading carriers. Its century-long journey reflects constant innovation, customer-focused service, and a commitment to community. As Delta marks this rare milestone, it is choosing to celebrate not with grand displays, but with a message that resonates deeply: kindness makes travel better. This approach aligns with the airline’s long-standing mission to put people first, especially during the end-of-year travel rush.
Centennial Cheer: Inspiring 100,000 Acts of Kindness
The Centennial Cheer program runs from December 4 through January 5, a period known for both heavy travel and heightened stress. Delta aims to shift the atmosphere by encouraging supportive interactions among passengers and employees. The effort focuses on highlighting moments that often go unnoticed—helping a fellow traveler, sharing personal items, or offering encouraging words in a long line.
Delta employees will observe these moments and reward travelers with Holiday Medallion cards. These tokens symbolize appreciation and reflect Delta’s belief that kindness should be celebrated, not overlooked. The cards serve as both recognition and an invitation for travelers to keep the chain of goodwill going throughout their journey.
How the Holiday Medallion Cards Work
Holiday Medallion cards are at the center of the Centennial Cheer initiative. These cards are given at employees’ discretion when they witness a kind gesture. The cards offer travelers access to special gifts created exclusively for Delta’s 100-year celebration.
These gifts may include:
- Centennial Gift Sets featuring commemorative items that highlight Delta’s historic journey.
- Limited-edition trading cards celebrating aviation heritage.
- A $500 Delta Gift Card, usable toward future trips, upgrades, and travel extras.
Each reward reinforces Delta’s desire to make acts of kindness meaningful, memorable, and appreciated.
A Program That Includes Both Travelers and Employees
While travelers receive Holiday Medallion cards, Delta’s most loyal customers are also part of the celebration. Medallion Members—including Delta 360°, Diamond, and Platinum tiers—will receive special Job Well Done certificates. These certificates allow them to recognize Delta employees who go above and beyond in service.
More than 40,000 members will receive these certificates during their holiday travel. This move turns appreciation into a two-way exchange, strengthening the bond between Delta’s workforce and the millions of people they serve each year.
Creating a Ripple Effect Across the Skies
Centennial Cheer is designed to spark a ripple effect far beyond airport gates. When one traveler performs an act of kindness, it often encourages others to do the same. With thousands of flights each day, the potential impact is enormous. During one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, Delta hopes this shift in tone will bring comfort, calm, and warmth to crowded terminals and aircraft cabins.
The initiative also offers a gentle reminder that travel is more than logistics. It is a shared human experience, filled with moments where empathy can turn a stressful day into a positive memory.
Encouraging Travelers to Share Their Stories
Delta is inviting travelers to share stories of kindness they witness during the season. Whether it is a helpful gesture in a security line or a comforting word during a delay, these stories help strengthen the message behind Centennial Cheer. They inspire others and reinforce that meaningful interactions happen when people choose compassion.
This digital storytelling element also helps extend the program beyond airports, allowing the public to be part of the celebration.
Honoring a Legacy and Looking Ahead
Reaching 100 years is a rare aviation accomplishment. Delta is using this moment to honor its past while shaping its future. From advancements in sustainability to investments in technology and customer experience, the airline continues to evolve. Yet its core value remains the same: people come first.
Centennial Cheer reflects that legacy. It acknowledges that while aircraft and systems are essential, it is the human element that leaves the deepest impression on travelers.
A Future Built on Connection
As Delta prepares for its next century, the Centennial Cheer program sets the tone. It shows that even simple acts can transform the travel experience. By encouraging kindness in airports and onboard flights, Delta hopes to inspire a global community of travelers who carry empathy with them—long after the holiday season ends.
In its 100th year, Delta Air Lines is celebrating more than flight. It is celebrating people, compassion, and the shared journey that brings the world closer together—one kind act at a time.
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