Teachers, public defenders and assistant district attorneys don't wear uniforms that easily identify them in public - otherwise I might consider it. And with respect to your last remark about police officers: these days, most LEO's (law enforcement officers) are upgraded to first class ANYWAY - provided that they are carrying a loaded weapon (as most are). This has been the practice of Continental and many other airlines since 9/11. Further, most LEO's don't wear uniforms on airplanes because they want to appear as inconspicuous as possible - thus giving them an opportunity to thwart a hijacking, etc.

Finally - while I appreciate that there are many who make sacrifices for all of us - there are a few who face greater challenges than others. Not only are those in Afghanistan serving in an enormously dangerous set of circumstances, stateside servicemembers in our climate today stand prepared for deployment at a moments notice (as in our prospective invasion of Iraq, etc.). I don't think that my sister (who is a school teacher) faces quite the same danger of being killed at work as a man or woman in uniform. One thing to remember is that the military is a large organization, and that organization works with extraordinarily dangerous equipment, etc. - in fact, more people get killed in accidents than are killed from enemy fire. Earlier today, another four soldiers were killed in Afghanistan while trying to destroy residual ordnance left behind by fleeing Al-Queda rebels.

[This message has been edited by hotlancer (edited 04-15-2002).]

 

Cops traveling for leisure-- especially from large departments, like NYPD-- are NOT permitted to carry their guns by their departments on airplanes. Nor is there any automatic right for them to carry said firearm at their destination, obviously. Very few municipalities in the US allow off-duty, out-of-state cops to carry their guns automatically-- though many will with a wink and a nod. Attempts to pass a Federal law insuring same have been a dismal failure. Liberals...

I know dozens of cops who have travelled since 9/11 and very, very few of them have been seated in F simply for being a cop (most will identify themselves as such since 9/11,) as good of an idea as I think that might be. None of them would have been permitted by NYPD to carry their guns aboard the plane-- notwithstanding the airline's position on the matter. Your average cop would just never be able to carry a gun on his/her person onto a plane, except in very limited cases on official police business. Feds are a different matter, of course.


[This message has been edited by JonNYC (edited 04-15-2002).]

 

Some notes :

a) When I worked in Law Enforcement, I found that showing my credentials at checkin scored me upgrades about 50% of the time. Things have changed since those days though.

b) Go check out the Great July 4 Upgrade Giveaway.

c) I always check to ensure that all lower elites have been accomodated in First Class before upgrading *random* companions.

d) I flew DTW-CLE on Friday with an off-duty PCFA (his creds looked like US Postal Inspector) aboard. He was seated in coach with what appeared to be his teenage son. I was the only passenger in First. So the upgrade is not always as *automatic* as it used to be.

[This message has been edited by B747-437B (edited 04-15-2002).]

 

With kids these days, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

 

"May God Bless the United States of America -"

interesting topic but what does your god have to do with it?

 

This thread started out about 75% "OMNI"-- now it's a little closer to 100%, IMHO.
Discussing the church/state barrier will only make it more so...
Enough, I think?

 

Yeah I think for the sake of all involved we should truncate this post. Fundamentally, upgrading a uniformed servicemember is a personal choice - but its a choice that can be made.

 

As a Plat elite and a member of the Armed Forces I can assure you that whether or not they are in uniform or shorts and sandals,a non-rev will outrank me no matter how high I rank in the Army or with Onepass.

LT Mileage Schemer (USMA '00)


[This message has been edited by Mileage Schemer (edited 04-15-2002).]

 

 

[b]

How did you make it through plebe summer at the Point in 96' with an attitude like that? Or were you a positive thinker BEFORE you started flying Continental?




[This message has been edited by hotlancer (edited 04-16-2002).]

 

H53Epilot-Of course I did. Just not sure which academy it was at (former USNA exchange cadet/POW)

hotlancer-No 'tude here... just letting you know the "chain of command." Non-revs rank up there with the Commander-in-Chief and God. But I still don't think the latter two could get an upgrade on CO.

 

GREAT THREAD , i'M GOING TO LOOK AT THE GATE NEXT TIME !

 

REALLY!!??

 

Trying to get back to the original thread:

As a Gold Elite, I may get bumped when a Plat upgrades a companion. Those are the rules and that's how it works. If I am not happy about it -- I can try to make Plat for '03.

If you want to upgrade someone (known to you or a stranger) that is absolutely your prerogative. If it's a little old lady, or someone in uniform, or someone who simply has a nice smile -- go for it.

If the Golds and Silvers out there don't like it -- earn platinum.

Just my two cents.

 

I wanna barf every time I see this thread on the top of the list!...nuff said.