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 am so jealous cause I remember how I was greeted when I came back from Viet Nam. I remember how the leftists treated me and I will NEVER forget. I am glad our current soldiers get treated better but that’s subject to change. Whenever the left thinks they can gain a political advantage they’ll change in a heartbeat. I can’t tell you the depth of my feeling toward the left of America.
Feels great doesn’t it. I’ve been doing it since 2004 the same year my son joined the Army. As an Executive Platinum on AA, I used to get a lot of upgrades. I know the solders appreciate it Thanks to you all.
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I think this story is great, but is it fair? Would the author give up his seat for a law enforcement officer? A firefighter? All noble professions and they also put themselves in harm’s way just like soldiers. I know I’m going to get hateful responses, but these boys knew their fate when they chose their job.
And you’re a disrespectful jerk. As an AF vet, the daughter, granddaughter, niece and sister of vets, I would like to kindly remind you that it’s the soldier that affords you the rights you have today, so show some respect.
In February of 1970 I was on, a now out of business for years, Northeast Yellow Bird flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia having just returned from Vietnam. It was a red-eye flight, not overcrowded and I fell asleep almost immediately upon boarding. I slept right through the stopover in Chicago and when I awoke I found myself laying across seats, covered with a blanket and a pillow under my head. The stewardess’ on the flight had adopted me and done what they could to make me comfortable on my trip home. Keep in mind, this was at a time when our military soldiers were looked at differently than they are now. Now over 40 years later I still remember this simple act of kindness.
As a vet and a FA, I take special care of all the soldiers on any of my flights. It’s an honor and privilege to look after my brothers and sisters as they are traveling to or from their families.
Love it – very well done and hopefully it is something others will do as well. ;)
This happens to me everytime i get on a plane in uniform. Ive also been put on the plane first. Security also gives me a lot of leeway (Probably not the best idea). It makes me feel good that people would do this for me and all my battlebuddies!
This story made my day! Sometimes in our rush to get from here to there we can forget how big of an impact a seemingly small gesture of kindness in the lives of others. A real sincere and classy that you did!
As a mother of two sons and grandson who have served their country with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I would like to give a heartfelt “Thank You” to those who treat our Military men and women with the Respect and Honor they so Deserve. I think giving up a first class seat to a soldier returning from or going to a deployment in a war zone is an wonderful act of kindness. It was difficult saying goodbye to my sons and grandson more times then I want to remember, knowing they were going off to war and praying to God they would come home safe. Any act of kindness to our Soldiers is appreciated by those of us that love them, and I Thank You from the bottom of my heart. My way of giving back is to personally thank Soldiers in uniform in the airport for their Service to our Country. I have never met an ungrateful Soldier. To all our active Military and Veterans reading this……”Thank You For Your Service to Our Country”. God Bless each and every one of you and your families.
I remember the first time I got moved up to first class.. I could NEVER afford to sit in first class especially on a soldier’s paycheck. I also had a man insist on buying my lunch while I waited to switch planes.. I never really know what to say other than thank you. I will never forget the people that treat me so well, and although it can be a little embarrassing with everyone clapping and what not, I really don’t think I have ever felt so much joy in my heart. THANK YOU. I promise every soldier appreciates the little things.
As a soldier who has been in this situation before I thank you. Civilians often don’t realize what we go through in saying goodbye to the people we love, and how much the little things can mean.
im a retired Marine. i still wear my dogtags under my shirt almost daily. once when i was flying from CVG to LAX, i had to go through the metal detector and remove my tags. at the end of the line, the DHS guard noticed them, picked them up, read them, snapped to attention and saluted, saying “thank you for your service SIR!”
i couldnt hold the OHHRA! back
thank you for posting this. my husband is a U.S. soldier currently deployed in the middle east. Before marrying him, i was quite unfamilar with the life of a soldier. Many Americans are detached from the reality of those who serve our country. I appreciate your acknowledgement of the sacrifice they make so that we all can live the lives we are accustomed to.