One thing American Airlines should be commended for is their treatment of U.S. soldiers. I truly debated if I should write about this or not. I don’t want it to look like I did it for anything other than what it was … the right thing to do. But I’m hoping that bringing attention to it just might inspire others to do the same. RELATED: Escorting a Fallen Soldier Home Turned an Ordinary Flight Into the Most Extraordinary Flight of My Life
This happened a while back but here’s the story, which I think is as relevant today as it was then: After getting on a particular flight, I had a bird’s eye view of boarding from seat 1E, a comfortable bulkhead seat on a 757 jet. I always look down into my travel journal once I get on early so I don’t feel the envious eyes of coach passengers. But I perked up when I heard the flight attendant welcome a soldier onboard. I looked up and sure enough, a fully decked-out army man was standing in the aisle.
By the time I talked my conscience into giving up my seat, he was gone. I got up and asked the friendly flight attendant if it would be OK if I switched seats with the soldier, and she almost made me cry when she said, “Really? That is so nice of you, and you will make his day as he is headed to Afghanistan. He had a tear in his eye since he was just saying goodbye to his family.”
Giving up your first-class seat
Then all of a sudden, I became emotional, thinking, What if that was me not being able to see my loved ones for months and quite possibly ever again? I slowly waded through the plane, hoping he wasn’t in a middle seat in the way back, when I spotted him on his cell in 19D (an aisle seat). When I pointed to him he immediately got up, thinking I was headed to the window seat. I said, “You’ve been reassigned to 1E.” He said, “Sorry?” I looked him in the eye and said, “Thank you for serving our country.” The older man seated behind him said, “Are you giving him your first-class seat?” I didn’t want to bring attention to it so I just smiled and nodded, but the man kept saying, “That’s a beautiful thing.” The soldier, you could tell, was a well-mannered 20-something-year-old. He said to me, “Sir, you paid for that seat.” I said, “No, I didn’t, it just cost me a few upgrade certificates.” He extended his hand and looked at me like I was the nicest guy in the world, when in reality, I’m just one of the millions who had taken these brave men and women and their service for granted. Not anymore.
American Airlines flight crew
The flight attendants made me feel like I was Gandhi as they kept offering me free drinks. Then, when another flight attendant found out that I was the guy who had given up his seat, she insisted on refunding the $6 I paid for the turkey and cheese croissant sandwich. I felt terrible because there was another soldier sitting across the aisle from me but I only had one seat to give. I quietly offered to buy him food, but the flight attendant said, “Oh no, we always give soldiers free food.” Now that’s commendable. On top of that, I heard one of the flight attendants, as she kneeled down next to him, say, “Thank you very much for serving our country and doing what you do.” When we landed, the crew made an announcement publicly thanking the soldiers on-board for their service and wishing them luck in Afghanistan and Iraq, and most of the people on the plane clapped.
Bravo, American Airlines.
KEEP READING:
–How American Airlines Treats Our Military
–Escorting a Fallen Soldier Home on My Delta Air Lines Flight Turned an Ordinary Flight Into the Most Extraordinary Flight of My Life
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I flew with American Airlines twice while I was in the Navy. The first time was when I was coming home from boot-camp. I showed my driver’s license at the gate and proceeded down the jetway to the plane. As I walked away the lady at the gate chased me down and asked me to return to the desk. I thought I was in some sort of trouble until she told me she had spotted my military ID as I was putting away my license and she wanted to offer me a seat in first-class. The other time it was a group of six of us coming home from Afghanistan. When we stopped for a layover, (I think in Baltimore), we were admitted to their special members club at the terminal and given free drinks and lunch. They took good care of us at American. Good people there. And very friendly.
I remember one of my times coming back from Iraq. I was with 20 of my shipmates in an airport late at night with an 2 hour layover. So us being sailors we went to the bar of course. There was an older businessman sitting there also. Before we were able to order the businessman told the bar keep that the first round of what ever we wanted was on him.
Only a true American would do this. Sir you are a true American.
Thank you for doing this. I am a solider myself, never had that happen to me, but I’ve heard stories. It is little things like this that let us know the public still supports us, they may not support what we do, but they support us still. Again, thank you, sir.
:)
Thank you for your service soldier; you can have my seat any time :)
This is an incredibly moving story and an awesome thing you did. Hopefully it will inspire more to do the same. Having not seen my fiance for 2 months (he’s about to graduate bootcamp) I can only imagine how much it meant to him to have you recognize the sacrifice he’s making, leaving his family and friends behind for months (or as you said, possibly forever). Cheers.
Well done sir. The goodness of the world is a collection of small gestures and actions by individuals such as yourself. I commend you for your actions and for posting this online. I only hope that your actions will encourage others to do the same.
As you travel more and more, you begin to appreciate all of the things that you have. As an American, I am now MUCH more aware of how lucky and privileged I am to live in this country with all of its perks. Many of these perks are thanks to the brave men and women, such as the soldier you helped out, who put their lives on the line to defend our nation.
A very classy thing to do – hope others will follow suit
No need to debate with yourself. YES, you so should have posted this!
Just read Jeremy’s ‘goosebump’ comment, if you don’t believe me. (Hell, *I* got goosebumps and I’m not even American!)
Bravo for your unselfishness. My hat’s off to you and American.
Thank you for doing this. I got goosebumps reading this. I am glad airlines like American do their part in honoring soldiers. I’ve seen this with other airlines as well. However, it’s nice to see a passenger honor a soldier as well.
Happy Memorial Day to all who have served and sacrificed!
A very classy thing to do, on both your part and American’s part. I’ve always admired American for their treatment of soldiers. A first-class seat is hardly payment enough for their selfless work overseas, but it’s a start, and what goes around comes around. Kudos to you!
A year ago I ‘traded’ seats prior to boarding, with a soldier LAS/LAX. He was a kid heading to a base in California. It wasn’t a big deal for me to give up my seat, but he certainly appreciated it. Many of us take first class for granted. I remember the first time I flew upfront, as will this soldier.
I also always do this. when I get the upgrade.