A Great Story: Returning Soldiers Fly First Class

[tandrjohn]

I don't know if this has already been posted, I couldn't find it via a search. It's a good story. Congratulations to all who gave up their seats! IMO, airlines should make this a common practice if first class seats are available.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest/07/15/first.class.soldiers.ap/index.html

Returning soldiers ride first-class
Travelers switched seats
Thursday, July 15, 2004 Posted: 11:44 AM EDT (1544 GMT)

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- Eight soldiers flying home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R flew in style instead of coach after first-class passengers offered to swap seats with them.

"The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," flight attendant Lorrie Gammon told The Dallas Morning News in Thursday's editions.

The June 29 seat-swap on American Airlines Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago started before boarding, when a businessman approached one of the soldiers and traded his seat.

When the swapping was done, "the other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers," Gammon said.

Another flight attendant, Candi Spradlin, said she was impressed with the acts of good will.

"If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said.

 

[DoeWDW]

Neat story!

 

[powellrj]

great post!

 

[mickeyboat]

My best friend's DH came home on Sunday for 2 weeks R & R. He was upgraded to first class on his flight from Atlanta to Manchester, NH. He was seated next to a 14 year old boy who talked his ear off the entire flight. The parents of the boy came up to David and thanked him for being so nice to their son.

As he walked through the airport, people cheered and clapped and shook his hand. He was embarassed - but good for them!

Denae

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Those First class passengers did a great thing. A wonderful story.

 

[minniecarousel]

Great!

Sounds like fellow passengers are being more helpful than the airlines. I know that a friend of mine was involved in trying to get soldiers inexpensive flights home and was getting little cooperation from the airlines. Her son was injured in Iraq last year and we were all surprised that he couldn't find a cheap fare to fly from DC to one of the 3 major airports in the Bay Area. Yeah, he finally made it home, and no, I don't know how much it finally cost. It just seems like the soldiers should get really cheap fares since they don't have the luxury of booking months in advance.