A gift card worth paying $200 for

In the manufactured spending world the goal is to pay as little as possible for a gift card versus the dollar value on the card. So paying $200 extra for a card with limited liquidation potential probably doesn’t make a ton of sense. And yet I just did precisely that. For a Delta Air Lines gift card (via eBay) no less.

Purchase our Limited Edition Gift Card — a rare gift made from a retired DC-9. Terms Apply. https://t.co/ml8e71WT5R pic.twitter.com/RLBACJD2Qp

— Delta (@Delta) November 18, 2015

The gift card in question, on sale via eBay, is special because is is manufactured from the aluminum of a DC-9-50 which flew for Allegheny Airlines, Eastern Airlines, Northwest Airlines and, finally, Delta Air Lines before being retired. It was delivered to Allegheny on 28 August 1975 as N920VJ and then to Eastern on 16 November 1978 as N401EA and finally retired on 5 January 2013 having carried that same registration for 30-plus years. The gift cards are manufactured from sections of the fuselage and tail, each with unique wear patterns and colors. Other pieces of the plane were used as part of the Delta One reception area recently opened at LAX. Only 2500 of the gift cards are available (well, 2497 as of right now).

The cards are made from aluminum cut from various locations on the DC-9’s fuselage and tail.  Due to the authentic nature of the materials, slight variations may occur, including physical imperfections from natural wear and tear of the aircraft.  As a result each card will be unique in color(s), texture, and thickness and may look slightly different from the card pictured in this listing’s photos.  The front of the card you receive may be white, blue, red, gray, multicolored, or metallic in color, and the back will be metallic in color.  Each card will be protected with a clear-coat sealant.

This is decidedly not a smart manufactured spending play. But it is a pretty damn cool piece of aviation history and AvGeek fun.