USAirways to let military board first

[SparrowHawk]

Granted it was a different generation, however some of it still holds true. With my Uncles and Dad's generation it was very strange to them for younger people to honor them either with questions or thank you's because most had what I call "John Wayne Syndrome" as in

"Aw shucks it weren't nothin' just doin' my job"

Many today have a similar approach. I few years back in First with two Marines on their way home from Iraq and since there was just the 3 of us in First we started up a conversation about what they did in Iraq. Finally one asked if I had served and I said no but uncle stormed the beach at Omaha on D-Day. I was STUNNED as his reply, "Sir we didn't do anything like that, your Uncle was in a REAL war not this bullshite we did"

So while I'm in total support of the change by US, I'm mindful of the concerns voiced by the military members who are clearly uncomfortable with being singled out for praise. Frankly I think the military is just going to have to adapt and overcome this one. This nation has made up its collective mind that no matter whether we agree with why military forces were placed in harms way or not, we will honor the individual soldier for being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the Freedom & Liberty of the rest of us.

Frankly it seems like the least we can do

 

[US AIRWAYS FAN]

From what my active duty friends have told me, and this spans the various services, they aren't "supposed" to travel in uniform, except for actual deployments, which usually has them traveling as a unit, so this policy (in theory) wouldn't make a difference. Reality, however, says otherwise, and I fully support it.

I've not posted in a very long time only because I've been in Iraq for the past 17 1/2 months. I actually got back in Aug and have not traveled at all since I've been back.

Actually we don't have to travel in uniform if we don't wish to. The only time we are to travel in uniform is when we are traveling with a unit and usually when that happens it's on a chartered flight that has no civilians at all.

I've been in the US Navy over 19 years now. I've noticed that one person in these threads was not happy about the change because he feels that US is allowing the military to go before civilians. Question, how many military people do you ever notice in uniform on your flight? I've not flown on US in a while only because I was deployed. But when I did fly (when I was a chairman) generally I would only see (and it was on occasion) 1 or 2 military personnel in uniform.

I am very thankful that US is giving us this perk. I know when it's time to deploy to Iraq/Afghanistan, it can take (with connections) 2 to 3 days just to get to your final destination with the mix of civilian flights and military flights. Just to know that you can board first and just fall asleep right away is a relief. It's not a fun ordeal for us having to travel back and forth from the middle east.

US was nice enough to extend my chairmen status while I was deployed in the middle east. I didn't fly the entire time due to the fact that I was out protecting my country (I was in Iraq). Since I've been back I've not had to travel. This year I will go from Chairman to dirt and I am okay with that. Being in coach on any US/civilian flight is 100 times better than being on any military aircraft. Heck it feels like luxury.

 

[LD3]

I've not posted in a very long time only because I've been in Iraq for the past 17 1/2 months.

Welcome home!!!

For anyone in CLT, the airport USO is in need of donations to buy gift cards for our men & women serving our country....

 

[Phoenix]

I wish I could remember his name (I believe he had written a book), but I caught part of an interview of an Army officer recently that said basically the same thing when he was asked if people in the military sometimes feel awkward when they are thanked for their service.

Its not a matter of feeling awkward at being thanked as much as it is being awkward at the prospect of being "honored" to the point you are expected to keep your mouth shut about the ridiculous premise that is being applauded.

The inane policy that requires everyone to treat all military the same simply appears on one hand like an attempt to honor the military while it is defunded, pilloried, and corrupted on the other.

Mandatory applause for everyone in the military is like mandating that every ballplayer gets a trophy. Enough already. Military folks that know they don't "deserve a trophy" would be embarrassed and shamed if everyone is lead to smile and nod for them while they are forced up to the front, and meanwhile the soldiers among them that truly deserve honor, have it cheapened or unacknowledged at all.

Sure, the military gets it. If some passengers come up with the idea to let the uniform folks move up, or simply says "thanks for your service", then they won't despise their generosity or expression of gratitude and they can be gracious enough to accept it on behalf of all the folks in uniform, but if folks start to applaud the dear leaders who come up with the novel and most wise mandate to spread the applause around, then count me out. I buy tickets on airlines to get from A to B. I don't need instructions on how to be a part of the great society.

 

[BoeingBoy]

The thread on FT is longer than this one and so far not a single negative comment about the change in military personnel boarding order...well, I guess you could count "Now, as long as the senior officers traveling domestically in class A's don't act smug when they depart DCA, things will go nicely." as a negative post.

The unfortunately sad truth is that if one waits for a military person to be a "true hero" before recognizing their heroism, they may be traveling to their final resting place down below. Any of the sailors, soldiers, grunts, jet jocks, whatever may be a "true hero" the next time he/she sets foot in a hostile situation.

Jim

 

[SparrowHawk]

The thread on FT is longer than this one and so far not a single negative comment about the change in military personnel boarding order...well, I guess you could count "Now, as long as the senior officers traveling domestically in class A's don't act smug when they depart DCA, things will go nicely." as a negative post.

The unfortunately sad truth is that if one waits for a military person to be a "true hero" before recognizing their heroism, they may be traveling to their final resting place down below. Any of the sailors, soldiers, grunts, jet jocks, whatever may be a "true hero" the next time he/she sets foot in a hostile situation.

Jim

Whether any of us want to admit it or not, those of us of a certain age recall all to well the welcome home our troops got during the Viet Nam conflict. Part of this open and public admiration is borne of making certain we don't make the same mistake twice.

I did not serve in the military, however I do have vivid memories. We had the draft lottery back then and prior to my year's lottery coming up my Mom and I had a good long talk about what I was going to do should I "Win" the lottery. I knew no matter what I wasn't going to Canada to avoid the draft, yet I also knew with equal conviction that I wasn't going to fight for the Generals in Viet Nam, General Dynamics, General Electric, General Motors. That left Federal Prison ala Mohammed Ali. I often wonder if al those draft dodgers had decided to stand trial if the conflict would have lasted as long as it did? Would the Government have created "camps" for us?

It was interesting that post Viet Nam the men began to open up about their experiences "In Country" and you could almost always tell who were at the front and who was riding a desk in Saigon. To this very day some when they go fishing or are outdoors STILL wear their Boonie Hat and you get a few belts in them it's like they never left. So for me, saying thank you is a moral absolute. There can be no substitute for welcoming these fine men and women home while they're alive. I just don't want to see another drug/alcohol addled man in PHL with his boonie hat sleeping on a steam vent. If allowing the in uniform military to board first keeps one veteran from coming unglued due to the horrors of war then I'm OK with making is a FAA Rule.

So much is asked and so much is given by these Men & Women. Allowing them to board first would seem to be the very least we could do. Remember everyone of them VOLUNTEERED to protect everyone of us no matter the cost.

As a nation we do a great job of honoring those who paid the ultimate price, The casket draped in the Red White & Blue, the Honor Guard that painstakingly folds the colors into the tight triangle for the widow and her son. The markers that Veterans Organizations place with our flag, The graves perfectly manicured with the greatest of care in our national cemeteries honoring those who've gone before.

All of it is very nice & it's what great nations do. For me though I'd much rather wait a minute longer to allow the active military to board at gate 27 C Concourse then visit one more garden of stone to say thank you.

 

[Phoenix]

Whether any of us want to admit it or not, those of us of a certain age recall all to well the welcome home our troops got during the Viet Nam conflict. Part of this open and public admiration is borne of making certain we don't make the same mistake twice.

I did not serve in the military, however I do have vivid memories. We had the draft lottery back then and prior to my year's lottery coming up my Mom and I had a good long talk about what I was going to do should I "Win" the lottery. I knew no matter what I wasn't going to Canada to avoid the draft, yet I also knew with equal conviction that I wasn't going to fight for the Generals in Viet Nam, General Dynamics, General Electric, General Motors. That left Federal Prison ala Mohammed Ali. I often wonder if al those draft dodgers had decided to stand trial if the conflict would have lasted as long as it did? Would the Government have created "camps" for us?

It was interesting that post Viet Nam the men began to open up about their experiences "In Country" and you could almost always tell who were at the front and who was riding a desk in Saigon. To this very day some when they go fishing or are outdoors STILL wear their Boonie Hat and you get a few belts in them it's like they never left. So for me, saying thank you is a moral absolute. There can be no substitute for welcoming these fine men and women home while they're alive. I just don't want to see another drug/alcohol addled man in PHL with his boonie hat sleeping on a steam vent. If allowing the in uniform military to board first keeps one veteran from coming unglued due to the horrors of war then I'm OK with making is a FAA Rule.

So much is asked and so much is given by these Men & Women. Allowing them to board first would seem to be the very least we could do. Remember everyone of them VOLUNTEERED to protect everyone of us no matter the cost.

As a nation we do a great job of honoring those who paid the ultimate price, The casket draped in the Red White & Blue, the Honor Guard that painstakingly folds the colors into the tight triangle for the widow and her son. The markers that Veterans Organizations place with our flag, The graves perfectly manicured with the greatest of care in our national cemeteries honoring those who've gone before.

All of it is very nice & it's what great nations do. For me though I'd much rather wait a minute longer to allow the active military to board at gate 27 C Concourse then visit one more garden of stone to say thank you.

Members of the military swore an oath to defend the Constitution, not the people or the land (and some folks can still appreciate why). The notion that members of the military would be supportive with the proposal that civilians should applaud leaders who require them to give preference to active military.. it doesn't ring true.

Many citizens have gone to great lengths to appropriately honor members of the military, such as the Patriot Guard. They are leaders in a good cause, and have no need to run ahead of the bus that already left the station.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Members of the military swore an oath to defend the Constitution, not the people or the land (and some folks can still appreciate why). The notion that members of the military would be supportive with the proposal that civilians should applaud leaders who require them to give preference to active military.. it doesn't ring true.

Many citizens have gone to great lengths to appropriately honor members of the military, such as the Patriot Guard. They are leaders in a good cause, and have no need to run ahead of the bus that already left the station.

I'm fully aware of the oath and how it's worded. I'm also aware that the three most powerful words in the English Language are Please & Thank You. If allowing priority boarding is US Airways way of saying "Thank You" then I'm all for it!

It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice.

 

[LD3]

I am not a US mgmnt fan, but holy crap people, they are damned if they do or damned if they don't....

 

[Hula Girl]

I cannot believe what I am reading.

A couple of years ago, I was upgraded to First Class on USAir due to my status as a Platinum member. No big deal but I saw someone in the military headed back to coach and approached the lead FA on how to switch my seat with him. That fat, ignorant, miserable, crammed in her flithy, wrinkled uniform POS looked me up and down and said contemptuously, "I really don't care what you do."

I sat back in my seat and fumed at the nastiness that I witnessed for maybe the 100th time from usair FAs. I contacted my company and don't fly on Usair anymore.

That being said, I fly only on Delta and when they board military first, we all applaud.

I am soooooo sorry that you consider our heroes to be an inconveneince to you, Freedom, honey, but these patriots have more honor in one molecule in their pinkie fingernails than your entire passel of snot nosed brats will ever possess.

And to all of our heroes, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You make me so proud to be an American!!!!

 

[freedom]

I cannot believe what I am reading.

A couple of years ago, I was upgraded to First Class on USAir due to my status as a Platinum member. No big deal but I saw someone in the military headed back to coach and approached the lead FA on how to switch my seat with him. That fat, ignorant, miserable, crammed in her flithy, wrinkled uniform POS looked me up and down and said contemptuously, "I really don't care what you do."

I sat back in my seat and fumed at the nastiness that I witnessed for maybe the 100th time from usair FAs. I contacted my company and don't fly on Usair anymore.

That being said, I fly only on Delta and when they board military first, we all applaud.

I am soooooo sorry that you consider our heroes to be an inconveneince to you, Freedom, honey, but these patriots have more honor in one molecule in their pinkie fingernails than your entire passel of snot nosed brats will ever possess.

And to all of our heroes, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You make me so proud to be an American!!!!

What you offered to do was from your heart and a nice gesture , the FA should have helped you out .

Putting the military before the civilian population in such a public manner as our company is now chosing to do goes against the spirt of our nations demoracy .

If you like the military great , if you hate them that's fine too , but we should not FORCE the. Public to honor them with us .

I like the military so I'm not going to lose sleep over this , but that doesn't make what we are doing right .

 

[SparrowHawk]

What you offered to do was from your heart and a nice gesture , the FA should have helped you out .

Putting the military before the civilian population in such a public manner as our company is now chosing to do goes against the spirt of our nations demoracy .

First, we do not live in a democracy. What we are is a federal Constitutional Republic so that shoots a huge hole in your argument since you don't even know the formof government we have.

If you like the military great , if you hate them that's fine too , but we should not FORCE the. Public to honor them with us .

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Please take not that NOTHING in the Oath of Enlistment supports your claim. Our Military is sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and has nothing to do with the "Spirit of democracy"

I like the military so I'm not going to lose sleep over this , but that doesn't make what we are doing right .

There is case law dating back to 1819 regarding the concept of Corporate Person-hood and the rights afforded a corporation such as free speech and contract law, So legally US Airways is well within their rights as a corporation to establish a policy that could be widely construed as a political statement as well as a nice gesture. Those who don't like the policy are free to work or fly another airline.

People who feel that way are Customers and Employees the airline could easily do without.

 

[freedom]

Sparrow hawk I think it's great that you want to debate this and use case law and emtion appeals etc etc ,but I know where my first loyalite lies and it's to the United Sates of America and our Civilan form of government .

Civilans first , military second .

 

[freedom]

I should also like to add that I am not calling for reversal of this new policy , the negative PR would be bad and hurt our company.

 

[700UW]

You wouldnt have a civilian government if it wasnt for the military. Does Pearl Harbor mean anything to you?

Your way off base, dont like it, move on to another company.