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[This message has been edited by JonNYC (edited 04-14-2002).]

 

As a Plat earned completely via personal travel, I frequently travel in uniform. As I enjoy meeting folks from all walks of life (the officer recruiter in me) while traveling, I will ocassionlly attempt to companion-upgrade someone whose company I enjoy-even business folks in fancy suits-
Hey, we can do it too!

 

Thanks. Although IMHO, I think you haven't gone far enough in terms of toning-down your confrontational remarks.

Then again, who died and made me moderator.

 

And is giving a serviceperson a companion upgrade somehow going to reduce the chances of them being returned headless to their mommie?

 

Please don't get me wrong, I have no problem with officers in uniform flying First Class, I was just repeating what I think I read. Uncle Sam has some strange rules about employees flying, which have thankfully recently changed.

I don't sit up front very often, but I would have no qualms about giving up by seat for an enlisted man.

Maybe we all could start a new trend!

DD

 

I love hotlancers idea of nobility, Give another FF's seat to a guy in the military. I love the military. My father was retired Air Force. I grew up around the military and I too have considered using the companion upgrade benefit for this purpose. I try and look at the flight load and if I could determine that it was light, I would be happy to help someone into FC. I am new to CO and learning how to deal with ground personel so getting the info I want is sometimes difficult for me.

I agree with other posters that hotlancer if you want to really be noble, give up your seat, if CO allows this. I know that B747 did it on NW several times.

I just envision CO downgrading me and placing another FF in that seat or a non-rev instead of the person I wanted to give it to.

 

I regret that I have but one FC seat to give to my country.

Just a quick comment - It appears that this thread has created a lively debate. I agree with some of the previous comments that this is a personal choice. I am a Plat. Elite and all I really care about is on-time departures and arrivals - if I miss out on an upgrade, so what, I still arrived at my destination.

I would like to stress the fact that today is April 15, 2002. Although I am grateful to live in the USA, I really don't like writing a check for $25,000 to the IRS. I hope we all can take this same energy and passion that is shown in the written remarks on this thread and participate in voicing our concerns about our economy and the state of domestic issues. Again, it does not matter what side of the arguement you are on, you all have the same right to your opinion, I am just suggesting that we should focus some of our energy to things that matter.

To me, receiving a FC upgrade is not all that important. In fact, it is meaningless. Again, I fly over 100,000 miles a year, so far for 2002 I have 65 hotel nights. What is important to each of us should be our concern for the future and that of all Americans, regardless of class - Platinum elite or otherwise.

Now go make it a great day!

 

Having spent three hours at BWI happily chatting with group of Navy recruits in Starbucks, Burger King and at the gate, I can tell you that even if you don't want to give up a precious upgrade, just spend some time chatting. Kind words can go a long way.

I travel frquently, but as a NRSA, so I don't have the opportunity to invite a companion into First, as more often that not, I am sitting at the back.

My girlfriend is now based in Turkey, and used to fly in uniform quite a lot when she was based in Montana, and she used to get funny stares/ripped apart at security/middle seat/general poor treatment. She then flew in uniform in March, and was treated like a queen! A far cry from previous flights. She felt really sad that it takes a vile act of terrorism, for a nation as a whole to recognise the armed forces.

Armed forces do a great job, and they do that great job for very little money. They also spend a great deal of time away from their families. Now before I am flamed by a wrinkle-suited road warrior, who shouts "well I spend a lot of time away from my family too!" remember, people in jobs who travel a lot, usually get rewarded accordingly. How does $20,000 and a nice green uniform sound? Want to trade.

Upgrades are great, and I can fully understand people not wanting to lose their plush seat (well, plush-er, if that is even a word) but at the very least, if you see or talk to someone in uniform, nursing coffee or just hanging around, strike up a conversation, offer them a coffee/read of your newspaper and just play nice.

 

Nice thoughts. Over the years, I've bought enough beers for the sailors and marines that come to NYC every April for "Fleet Week" to fill the fuel tanks of a 747. Maybe more than that. I personally have been very patriotic and pro-military long before September 11-- and I'm sure that's true for many/most here. I've played "tour guide" for many of these great guys (and a few gals)-- mostly they want to tour the bars.

Bad people that most definitely does not make them!

What I was questioning was if I (or anyone) has the right to question someone else who doesn't do the same. And the answer is; of course not! I don't tend to give money to the homeless on the street for example-- in fact, I almost never do. Some people feel great about themselves when they give and would call me heartless. I might say "I'd rather give the money to an organization that insures the money goes to food/shelter." So on and so forth. There are no absolutes, IMHO.

 

John,

Strange isn't it, this forces people only want to go to bars! Have spent many a morning playing pool with your airforce guys in London, trying in vain to explain the rules of cricket!

I didn't mean to infer that America is anti- military, just that they tend to get forgotten about, unless something happens to bring them into view. I can remember going to San Diego just after the Gulf War, and every theme park, bar etc had discounts for people who could produce military ID.

Then a few years pass, and people forget, which is sad. I live in an area with a few bases nearby, both US, British and some combined NATO bases, with people from all over, and I have to say that the US servicemen and women, along with a large Canadian contingent, are an asset to the USA, and the way the vast majority of them conduct themselves, should make you feel proud.

Just hope a few people who didn't realise what an asset the USA has in these folks now do.

P.S. the only weakness in their armour is that they have problems drinking stronger beer, and that can lead to very short evenings drinking!

 

Sounds more arrogant than patriotic. But hey, to each his own. Personally, I'd rather donate blood- and not just for the military.

Welcome to FT.

 

The companion upgrade benefit is my least frequently used Elite perk. I try to comp. upgrade a classmate who is travelling home on the same flight, but that's normally about all the usage I get out of it. It hadn't even occurred to me to upgrade our men and women in uniform; I will endeavor to do so whenever possible, especially if the flight is wide open.

 

OK, I'll let you teach me- I plan on a trip to London in June and you can help me stay up all night. I learned this 2 years ago in Dubai when a few of us visited an Irish bar and we had trouble keeping up with the locals. Of course, 50 days on an aircraft carrier might have had something to do with it. Anyone flying IAH-EWR RT this Friday-Sunday and need a "possible" upgrade? Anything to keep those NW elites down- KIDDING!

 

Lots of people make sacrifices for the betterment of all of us. How about giving one up to a cop, or to a teacher? What about to a public defender or an assistant D.A.?

Selflessness is a good thing. Don't just give it all to the military.

 

I would definitely give a comp. UG to a teacher; the issue is that soldiers in uniform are easily recognizable as such. I wouldn't necessarily know that someone is a teacher or cop just by looking at them.