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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If you can’t produce a line segment of where in the UCMJ you just look silly stating anything but a thank you. After traveling while in the military in uniform i have upgraded my seat almost everytime to include flying with my C.O. and 1st sgt. and upgrading to a better seat than theirs with no complaints….think before you speak
US ARMY TANKER 19K, way to take a statement of good will toward a soldier and attempt to ruin it by stating your status. Before you attempt to retaliate, I am a 13B and have been in military for 8 years and have a few deployments under my belt and recently returned from Afghanistan.
I knew what was going on when I joined and fully accepted the low pay/high stress. I don’t expect any handouts or thank you from anyone for what I do. The small gestures of gratitude from the nonmilitary population are although greatly appreciated. They are showing you in their own way that they appreciate all the sacrifices you and other soldiers encounter to ensure their safety. So someone giving me their upgrade or secretly paying for my burger at burger king is big deal to me. I always offer my combat patch to anyone who does something like this.
The guys who are just out of training are just as deserving of any gratitude that a soldier who has been in for years deserves. These people made a choice to join a service that could and probably will send them to a combat zone. They also made this choice in a time of current conflict. To me I respect them for just doing that.
From reading your post you seem to be a soldier who may need to reconsider their choice to serve. The military is not for everyone especially those who would publicly bring embarrassment to the uniform. From reading your post I am embarrassed to call you a fellow soldier.
13B Soldier
My husband has deployed multiple times, twice in two years. He’s also a 13B. He always feels uncomfortable when someone thanks him for his service. He refuses if someone offers to pay for a meal or drink. In his words he’s “just doing my job”, but I know deep down he appreciates it. I’m proud of our soldiers, but ones like 19K grate on my nerves. You should have done your homework before signing that contract. This life is not glamorous by any means. When your times up, get out. Think you can find a better job with better benefits in this economy? Back to the article at hand…I thank everyone who is or has served our country and anyone who has ever done a good deed for a soldier. The little things mean a lot!
wife of a 13B
King Of Battle
I have a different story. I had supported a group of 12 soldiers for their tour in Kanahar, Afghanistan 2 years ago. I sent lots of 40 plus pound packages to all of them. For Christmas, unknown to them since it was a surprise, we mailed them a tree with all the trimmings, 50 wrapped gifts and 60 lbs of home made Christmas cookies. They loved it and shared it with all their buds. A few weeks ago I was at a convention and got invited by them to visit them at Ft Campbell for the weekend. I had a great time finally meeting them. I was staying with one of them and their family on base and had a blast. He had been deployed numerous times, and is scheduled to be deployed again this year. Before I left I gave him my new 80 gig IPOD loaded with 5500 songs. He was thrilled to death. I know he will be taking that with him on his next tour. It was the perfect weekend for me and I treasure the time spent with them.
I had a simular experience with American Airlines. I was on my way home for leave from Iraq. There were 6 of us together waiting to get on the plane at
LAX one of the flight attendents cam over and asked all of us for our names. When she did this I was think she was going to make an annoucement. But as we started to board she called us up one by one and gave us our first class ticket.
From a soldier who is currently deployed I would just like to say thank you to the man who did this.
i am currently in afganistan and although you think thats its nice to put a soldier on blast and make although you think its nice to give up your seat most of us really dont care cuz were eather happy or pissed off about were we are going and most of the time the only time were in uniform on a plane is when were comeing and going from country or the new guy just got out of basic and if you think saying thank you to a guy fresh out of basic is being kind hearted well thats retarted cuz he or shes only been in for maybe 18 weeks to maybe a little over a year and they havent done anything but sighn a paper and get yelled at. and on the other hand when you are in uniform the only place people are nice to you is at the airport like your keeping the airport safe or something maybe if a s vest went off in a grocery store people would be nice there and offer to pay for soldiers food that their buying for their family with the low end pay we get. well people how about you join and see how it feels for every other person in the airport tell you thank you for your service it gets really annoying but keep being the cavilian you are and puting soldiers on the spot light when its not neccasary and thank you airlines for haveing the policy state that people in uniform will not pay and if possible get the open upgraded seat
U.S ARMY TANKER 19K
Wow… We don’t call 19K’s “DATs” for nothing.
Way to show your ignorance and make the rest of us look like complete fools.
Sincerely,
an 88M (HET Driver). Hauling the DATs and their equipment around since 1994.
You can’t make some people happy, you’re upset beacause someone just out of basic/ait is thanked, are they not worthy because they haven’t been deployed yet? What about the soldier who has served their country for 10-20 years but never left they be appreciated? As a Vet married to a Vet, sister in law to a Vet, neice to multiple Vets and cousin to 6 and friend to manybcurrently serving i say to you just say Thank you or say nothing at all. You never know who has given up a seat or why. I currently work for American and I want to say that it was a proud moment for me when a gate agent told us that there were 2 seats available in first but wanted to see if we would be willing to give the seats to a soldier and his dog, withouht hesitation she heard 3 resounding yes’s. I have seen entire waiting areas give a standing ovation to a soldier retuning home afted months in a hospital, should we have all just turned our heads. I’m going to stop here because I’m beginning to rant, my mind is spinning so fast all Ican think is that Iwish you were here so Icould talk/shake some since in to you
the longest run on sentence ever! go back to school and quit speaking your twisted selfish thought and trying to pass them off for all soldiers. take what you can get and pass it on.
I am a military cadet. I work with the U.S. Army, and sometimes I can get mistaken for a soldier. I was taking my flight back home from California to Illinois (Authorized to wear uniform on this trip FULL GARRISON ACU). A soldier (U.S. Army) was coming down the isle, as he was also on his return flight home, He transferred flights at Sac International from his duty station overseas.. I stood up and shook his hand, thanked him, in confusion he said “Brother, no need to thank me. We have the same job, my man.”. I slowly replied ” I am a cadet, Sergeant. My duties are just a bit different.”. He smiled and continued to his seat about two rows behind me. Next thing I know, he is at the back talking to the flight attendant, and I hear over the speaker “All servicemen and women, AND cadets, Thank you for your service to this beautiful country.”. The soldier continued to my seat, handed me his Combat Flag and said “I won’t be needing this anymore. Take care of our nation. Hooah.”. I cried just a bit. After we landed, he sat down with me and we chatted until the bus came to pick us up. Turned out, he lived about 25 miles away from my hometown. Although this was quite a few years ago, it was emotionally impacting. Flying is so much different now. Thank you, all Servicemen, and Women.
And yes, it was on Cadet hours. Once I returned home, I had to drop off my bags, and head straight to Frankfurt Army Reserve installation (I believe) to establish a new cadet program on behalf of my program. All in all, I ended up back in California, but that flight was civi’s only. I just wanted to make that clear to anyone who may question, and our PID patches are nothing like the US Army. Our Name tapes are different, Unit patches bluntly state what program I work for, and my rank is obvious to not be Active Duty/Reserve. I hope that clears up any questionable Elements.
I’ve been in this Soldier’s same position a few times. Going back to Afghan on Thanksgiving day for my 3rd one year trip, I was down in the dumps a bit and it surely made my day and made me hold my chin a little higher that there are people who still care.
Thank you, Team USAWTFM.
i had someone give up their first class seat for me when i boarded a plane, it was the nicest gesture anyone has done for me. so i can personally relate to this.
You do know we’ve been explicitly ordered not to fly first class in uniform..? We get in trouble for using our own frequent flyer miles to upgrade.
Ordered by who? I’ve flown to a lot of places in the last 10 and never heard of such thing.
I haven’t either… especially since we don’t have the choice of not wearing ACUs back and forth to deployments. He’s just being a hater.
According to UCMJ code we are not authorized to travel first class while in uniform. Although we appreciate these gestures, it may give the wrong impression to other people (the government spending extra money flying us first class, etc).
Most military turn a blind eye to this code though, per as in this case, the upgrade was “free”.
Please cite this “code.”
AFI 36-2903 18 JULY 2011 11
1.4.9. While in civilian attire. Do not mix or wear military unique uniform items with
civilian clothes; for example, rank insignia, cap devices, badges, and other US or Air Force
insignia, devices, buttons, etc. Exception: Tie tacks and lapel pens are authorized when
wearing business attire.
1.4.10. When wearing combinations of uniform items not specifically prescribed in this AFI.
1.4.11. When uniform items do not meet Air Force specifications.
1.4.12. When off base eating at restaurants where most diners wear business attire or at
establishments that operate primarily to serve alcohol, do not wear utility uniforms such as
ABUs, BDUs, etc., or the flight duty uniform.
1.4.13. Air Force personnel may not wear their military uniforms when using frequent flyer
miles to upgrade to business or first class. Thus, even when an upgrade to business or first
class accommodations is legitimate, military personnel should avoid wearing the uniform to
avoid the public perception of the misuse of government travel resources, which generates
unnecessary complaints.
Im calling bullcity on this one. 10 years in service and I havent heard anything about this until I read your comment today.
pretty sure you’ve got your information wrong, never heard of anything like that at all. Unless you’re talking about flying on orders, when the gov. pays for you’re ticket, then you shouldn’t be flying first class, as you won’t get paid back for that extra expense, otherwise, you should be good to go.
My husband works for the Army IG…there is no rule against flying 1st class in uniform…only rule is that it can not be paid for by the government. It is fine for the airline to upgrade you or another passenger.
keep your seat