ON YESTERDAYS NW FLIGHT 696 FROM DFW TO DTW I GAVE UP MY FC SEAT TO A UNIFORMED SERVICE MAN. I HAD GOTTEN AN UNEXPECTED UPGRADE AT THE GATE. I HAVE ALSO INVITED A UNIFORMED SERVICEMAN ABOARD INTO FIRST CLASS ON A COMPANION UPGRADE. ARE ANY ELITES AS PATRIOTIC AS ME. ALL ELITES SHOULD GIVE UP THE FC SEAT TO A UNIFORM SERVICEMAN AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR AND TRY TO GET ONE UPGRADED INTO FC AS A COMPANION WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY.

[This message has been edited by UGLY FIREMAN (edited 04-13-2002).]

 

You know it is interesting that you should write about this. Just a few months ago I was returning from Chicago to San Diego on a 737-800 with about 70 uniformed sailors who had just graduated from Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I was seated up front & went back and asked one service member if he would like to take my seat - who declined after asking his unit leader - who told him that it wouldn't be fair unless ALL 70 of them could come up front.

I found it both too bad and amusing at the same time. Has anyone else had this experience?

JTB

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"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been,and there you will forever long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

[This message has been edited by hotlancer (edited 04-13-2002).]

 

I think about the companion upgrade option at the gate alot. Nice people, military, old ladies, etc. Then I think about Golds and Silvers who are waiting for the upgrade at the gate and I don't want to take their seat from them so I haven't tried to upgrade anyone.

 

I believe that it is "against the rules" for an officer in uniform to travel in First Class (or BF). I thing it gives the impression of favoritism.

DD

 

What if, due to overbooking, there's only a seat available in F and it's either that or take a coach flight the next day?

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daniel baker -- [email protected]
Reliable, fast, and unmoderated forums at ITYT.

 

Its not against the rules, in fact military members are authorized to use their miles earned on govt travel to upgrade. I can tell you that it would make a young sailor/airman/marine's day if you upgraded them, they're not likely to fly first class often on their $18,000 a year salary and they really are doing a lot for their country without much recognition. Someone bought my helo crew breakfast two weeks ago at a local airport where we had stopped after an all night search and rescue case and I can tell you we are all still talking about it!

 

I have mixed opinions on this thread. dallasflyer makes an excellent point: some people behind us in the upgrade hierarchy have flown up to 74,999 miles last year with CO, so why should I kill their upgrade...

Secondly, whatever compels someone to post in all-caps or to say arrogant things like "ARE ANY ELITES AS PATRIOTIC AS ME" should probably be militantly opposed.

Finally, I agree that service{men,women} are doing us all a great favor. If an F seat would otherwise fly empty, or if you're giving up your own seat to upgrade this person, by all means, upgrade them, bravo... Otherwise I'd be slightly concerned for Mr. Gold Elite who misses his upgrade...

 

I'm more concerned about a young serviceman coming home to mommie in a box without his head than mr gold or silver elite. Go see the movie BLACKHAWK DOWN the young man in the movie that died with the RPG round stuck in his stomach grew up in Pennsylvaina across the street from my father.

[This message has been edited by UGLY FIREMAN (edited 04-13-2002).]

 

As a Platinum Elite - if I were to elect to upgrade a servicemember in uniform - I would have no qualms with bumping a Gold or Silver Elite member - it wouldn't matter who I elected to upgrade as my companion quite candidly. My Platinum status "outranks" that Gold or Silver member and if I choose to upgrade a uniformed Naval officer (or service member from another branch) - that is my privilege as someone who is at the top of the frequent flyer organizational pyramid.

If a Silver or Gold has a problem with my decision - let them spend the time and money with the carrier that I have (and become Platinum) and then my decision won't affect them. Frankly, I don't care what they think.

May God Bless the United States of America -

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"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been,and there you will forever long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

200 nights/200 legs a year

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

 

When upgrading a stranger, it's certainly the case that a Platinum Companion outranks a Gold and a Gold Companion outranks a Silver. There's no dispuiting this or that the Platinum is considered a better customer than the Gold.

That said, we all know that upgrading a random stranger that you see in the gate area or in the back of the plane is not consistent with the spirit of the companion upgrade policy.

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daniel baker -- [email protected]
Reliable, fast, and unmoderated forums at ITYT.

 

DBaker: As an individual who went through the process of obtaining a commission in the United States Navy (and was twice rejected for medical reasons), I have no qualms with inviting a military officer in uniform to join me in the first class cabin - none whatsoever. The background evaluations & qualifications for a commission in the United States military (a commission directly authorized by the President of the United States) are very rigorous (anyone who has ever been vetted after completing the standard questionaire for National Security Positions can attest to this).

To all those of the belief that he or she (the uniformed servicemember) is a stranger -I pity you. They may be strangers to you but they are not to me. Candidly, any American Sailor, Soldier, Coastguardsman or Marine is a friend of mine as far as I am concerned. He or she is providing a very valuable service on behalf of all of us and as a small token of my appreciation, I would be delighted to help that individual in any way possible. It saddens me to know that you and others would take a position that while that person may be good enough to die for their country in your stead he or she wouldn't be good enough to sit beside you on a short trip from Cleveland to Newark.

These are extraordinary times that we live in & certainly I see no problem rendering servicemembers any assistance we can possibly manage. I would encourage everyone reading this post to take any opportunity they can to help our men and women in uniform - regardless of the circumstances. If nothing else, it might help you gain a fuller understanding of the fact that they are there serving you - a freedom-loving citizen of the United States of America.

With respect to the comments posted by our friend at Rice University, I do respect his right and the rights of those others who would choose to do nothing. I respect the rights of those who would sit idly by while men and women in uniform (en route to what may very well be their last stateside duty station before an overseas deployment) make what might be one last flight in coach before making the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Let us never forget that the freedoms we enjoy (including the freedom to travel WHEN we please & WHERE we please) are guaranteed only as long as we have individuals willing to fight & die to ensure their preservation.

If you were the mother or father of one of those American servicemembers killed in Afghanistan - how would you feel if the last letter you received from your son or daughter closed with the this paragraph:

"P.S. - Mom, tell Dad that a funny thing happened the other day. Some really nice guy I didn't even know in a fancy suit invited me to join him in first class on my last flight stateside before going overseas. Believe me, the food in first class on Continental was a heck of a lot better than it was on the military charter plane over here. I have always thought that corporate types were selfish & conceited but this guy was really cool and fun to talk to for 3 hours. Most of all, it made me feel proud to know that what we are doing is appreciated at home. Love to you both - Mike"

Wouldn't you be a bit happier knowing that your son or daughter was treated to the very finest comforts of American hospitality before going on to a hostile land from which he would never return? Further - wouldn't you feel better knowing that someone your son or daughter didn't even know took the time to make that possible out of respect for the uniform that your son or daughter was wearing?

How do you know that by helping a random servicemember upgrade as your companion - that it won't be his or her very LAST segment on an American airline? You don't. Think about that the next time you are cleared for first class and see servicemembers in uniform getting ready to board in the aisles behind you. You very well might be the LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD in a position to do something really special for them. Whether you choose to do it is up to you.

May God Bless the United States of America

JTB

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"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been,and there you will forever long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

200 nights/200 legs a year


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

 

Thankfully, on NW, Silver Elites outrank companions of Gold and Platinum Elites in the upgrade hierarchy, so people like me don't have to worry about Plats who think nothing of taking away our upgrades in order to satisfy their urge to be a good Samaritan. (I fail to see how taking something away from someone in order to give it to someone else makes one a good Samaritan.)

Another reason to choose NW over CO.

Edited to add: Hotlancer, if you REALLY want to be noble, why not give up your OWN upgrade to the uniformed service member instead of taking an upgrade away from someone else?

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

 

And of course, who could forget

This here thread is particularly asinine IMHO. I'm shamelessly patriotic (despite having grown up in New York,) but I think this is a personal decision, not particularly common and the whole "sent home to mommy in a box without a head thing" is really unnecessary.

I personally have executed the ultimate act of FFer patriotism-- I switched to American Airlines-- freeing up my Plat upgrade seat for those who serve so bravely...

 

Why would I care to read your reference to Northwest on the Continental board? Further, the remarks you made are highly irrelevant and wholly insensitive - particularly during this trying time in our country's history. The fact that you prefer Northwest over Continental is only evidence of the fact that you have questionable taste.

KGruendel, do you honestly prefer Northwest to Continental or do you just prefer the NW upgrade program (as far as companion upgrade order is concerned) and wish that Continental would adopt it? As long as you have taken us off topic - and for what it is worth, I agree with you. It doesn't seem fair that a Continental Platinum travelling with a Silver Elite has his or her status lowered to Silver while a Platinum travelling with a companion with no status is allowed to maintain Platinum status. Quite honestly, that scenario is almost as frustrating to me as the snide remarks you made about "the good samaritan". I was incensed at your comment suggesting that I "offer my seat instead of denying another elite their upgrade" - THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID ON THE REFERENCED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO HOUSTON ! Didn't you read my response to the first post? Or did you just read what you wanted to read? In any event, I got carried away with my response to your mischaracterization of my good intentions (deliberate or otherwise) - but later realized that you probably don't understand the difference between healthy skepticism and corrosive cynicism & consequently chose to edit my other remarks because I realized they were beyond the pale of civility - I certainly don't want to sound as angry and cynical as some others out there. My apologies & thanks to JonNYC for pointing out my oversight.

For what its worth, I agree that the reference to the headless body sent home to mom was a little over the top (no pun intended) but I agree with the thrust of the original post (although the "are any elites as patriotic as me" rubbed me the wrong way, I believe that uglyman is good intentioned -although I think he would be better served by adopting a more attractive handle). In the final analysis, the decision to upgrade a servicemember as your companion is a personal one.

JTB


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"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been,and there you will forever long to return." Leonardo da Vinci

200 nights/200 legs a year


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

 

Well, I found his post to be informative, and well within the posting rules for this forum (i.e. he discussed a stated difference between the NW and CO FF programs).

I can't say the same for this string, especially your reply to the previous post. This string started somewhat on topic, but has now drifted off into one resembling the political stylings of Rocky 4.