All Service men/women homebound should fly first class
Posted: December 11th, 2008, 6:13 pm
I live in California but work in Texas. I fly regularly to and from. While on my way home last time I was in First class and noticed three servicemen boarding the plane, two each alone and one with his wife (I assume). I also noticed that there were three empty First class seats. One next to me, and two others.
So, I asked the flight attendant" Hey, if these seats are open why don't we let the guys in uniform sit up here". Her reply was" Oh No! we cant do that" Why Not! I asked. ( I thought it would be a slam dunk, it seeemed such the right thing to do) guess not. She said that they can't move people to first class unless they pay for it. I got real close to her and said " They've been fighting a war in the stinkin' desert, you know that thing they talk about on the news every night. How much more do you want them to pay? Another guy behind me said "No shit, just let em sit up here". The lady felt out numbered and went and got one of the pilots.
The pilot asked me what the problem was and I explained what I said to the stewaresss and even he said "No were not allowed to do that". So I said "O.K. then you go get one of those guys and tell them that I'll switch seats with him". "We can't let you do that sir". "Bullshit! I paid for this seat and if I want to give it to someone else what the hell do you care". About this time the rest of First class has gotten behind me and are telling them to move the guys up front. So they relented and went and got the two guys in uniform and moved them to the two single seats. I said " Hey, there is one more guy back there not in uniform and he's with his wife, tell them to come up here and I'll sit where they are sitting". (remember, one of the open seats was next to me.) So they did and I switched with them. I had nobody next to me in the row so it was just as good and the seat I gave up as far as I was concerned.
I got a few claps and cheers while I was walking rearward to my seat but that's not why I did it. I just wanted to make a point and it didn't seem right to say let them sit here "as long as it's not in my seat". I think this should be S.O.P. when there are open seats in first class. Just my opinion.
Bill.
So, I asked the flight attendant" Hey, if these seats are open why don't we let the guys in uniform sit up here". Her reply was" Oh No! we cant do that" Why Not! I asked. ( I thought it would be a slam dunk, it seeemed such the right thing to do) guess not. She said that they can't move people to first class unless they pay for it. I got real close to her and said " They've been fighting a war in the stinkin' desert, you know that thing they talk about on the news every night. How much more do you want them to pay? Another guy behind me said "No shit, just let em sit up here". The lady felt out numbered and went and got one of the pilots.
The pilot asked me what the problem was and I explained what I said to the stewaresss and even he said "No were not allowed to do that". So I said "O.K. then you go get one of those guys and tell them that I'll switch seats with him". "We can't let you do that sir". "Bullshit! I paid for this seat and if I want to give it to someone else what the hell do you care". About this time the rest of First class has gotten behind me and are telling them to move the guys up front. So they relented and went and got the two guys in uniform and moved them to the two single seats. I said " Hey, there is one more guy back there not in uniform and he's with his wife, tell them to come up here and I'll sit where they are sitting". (remember, one of the open seats was next to me.) So they did and I switched with them. I had nobody next to me in the row so it was just as good and the seat I gave up as far as I was concerned.
I got a few claps and cheers while I was walking rearward to my seat but that's not why I did it. I just wanted to make a point and it didn't seem right to say let them sit here "as long as it's not in my seat". I think this should be S.O.P. when there are open seats in first class. Just my opinion.
Bill.