Classy move in first class

Just thought I'd share, was traveling just now and watched two people in first class give up their seats and switch to coach for two uniformed military personal.
The world still has some good people

The one time I tried flying in uniform the lady at the ticket counter said it wasn't allowed, and that I would have to change into civilian clothes before even going through security. I was in a super-duper hurry and didn't really have time to think anything other than, "Huh, I didn't know it was illegal now to fly in uniform."

Over the next several years whenever I flew I would occasionally see people in uniform in the terminals and I would think, "How the hell did they get through security dressed like that? Don't they know it's illegal?" Then somehow I found out it clearly isn't illegal to fly in a military uniform, but by then I had already been discharged. Could never figure out why that lady forced me to change out of my uniform. My only theory is, this was mere months after 9/11, so maybe the airlines didn't want military members out in plain view or something. Or maybe she was just a b***h and didn't like servicemen.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention, while I was in the bathroom changing out of my uniform, a police officer actually came in and started questioning me, asking me things like where I was going and where I was coming from, and wanting to see my ID and military orders and all that. Weird.

It's not illegal and I'd love to know which airline has such a policy.
I'm guessing the employee was misinformed. What class uniform were you wearing?

Quote: billryan

It's not illegal and I'd love to know which airline has such a policy.
I'm guessing the employee was misinformed. What class uniform were you wearing?

I honestly don't remember which airline, but it was a small airport. You know, the kind where you have to walk out onto the runway and climb the stairs to get into the plane. But it was still one of the major carriers, like United or American or something.

And I was in my BDU's at the time, not the dress uniform, but I've still seen tons of people flying in BDU's.

Quote: billryan

It's not illegal and I'd love to know which airline has such a policy.

In fact, whenever I fly United, the pre-boarding spiel mentions that service members in uniform get some priority (the same as United Plus members, I think) when boarding.

Quote: TigerWu

I honestly don't remember which airline, but it was a small airport. You know, the kind where you have to walk out onto the runway and climb the stairs to get into the plane. But it was still one of the major carriers, like United or American or something.

And I was in my BDU's at the time, not the dress uniform, but I've still seen tons of people flying in BDU's.

She might not have thought you were really in the military and I think it is illegal for a civilian to wear a full uniform. When I was in, we weren't allowed to travel in BDUs, on plane, train or any common carrier. I doubt it was a law, just protocol.

It might have mattered where you were flying to. DCA, for example, had special, nasty rules.

Otherwise, pure speculation would be that the airline didn't want to scare or mislead the other pax as to why you were on board in uniform.

It was never, to my knowledge, a TSA reg. But could have been airline policy.

Some airline personnel may have become mis-informed due to the flurry of orders that were given to military personnel by their commanders to travel in civilian dress. I still remember when I landed in the Gulf Coast Airport and had to take a lengthy twenty-dollar shuttle trip to Biloxi. Upon entering the twelve-seater passenger van, I said one word to the young lady I was sitting next to: "Military?" She replied yes and it turned out that she had been ordered to "go civilian in both dress and luggage" by her commanding officer. She was in transit to a nearby base and would gain access solely by her military id card. I remember feeling at the time that the order was strange, after all, it really didn't fool me and I'm no hyper observant super sleuth.

For movie afficiados I recommend the scene in Taking Chance where a Marine Major refuses to remove anything from his person at the airport screening saying that he is a Marine wearing the uniform of his country and will not remove so much as one medal or shirt or belt buckle.

Note: Taking Chance: Marine major volunteers for escort duty from Dover Delaware Joint Services Mortuary to Middle America Wyoming encountering "America" enroute and getting a new view of his "desk job" values.

Note: I never made it past my 4:30am to 7:00pm sojourn to Fort Hamilton, during which they refused to let me have a meal in the transient mess. So forgive me, but what on earth are BDUs?

Also: Didn't all those company commanders or base commanders who gave such ridiculous 'travel in civilian dress' orders realize that at the various airports all those "civilians" would have to seek out the Military Assistance Desk or USO desk? So much for their civilian 'cover'.

NOTE: Yes, I still hate that lousy and very rude lieutenant who wouldn't let me have a meal when I was ravenous.

BDUs are the utility camo fatigues worn on a daily basis.
Might stand for Battle Dress Utilities or something. It's been a long time.

BDUs are the utility camo fatigues worn on a daily basis.
Might stand for Battle Dress Utilities or something. It's been a long time. They used to be called fatigues.

Forty-five plus years ago when I was a draftee, we had two categories of uniforms: olive-green fatigues (non-camo in the states) and "Class A". The Class A attire consisted of a green jacket (sport coat) and trousers, long-sleeved khaki shirt, and dress shoes. Those were worn year-round, with a summer-option short-sleeved khaki shirt and trousers worn with the same dress shoes but without a jacket. I suppose there may have been a few enlisted folks who had reason to have true "dress" uniforms for ceremonial purposes, but I never met one.

At each of the few stations where I served, we were told NOT to appear in public (off base) while off duty and wearing fatigues. When traveling by commercial airliner, we always wore Class A rather than civilian garb because military in uniform were provided discounted fares for personal travel. I never traveled by air at army expense, but I think that required Class A uniform, also.

My brother was in the Navy. He told me they were not allowed to wear their uniform in pubic.

I cant ever remember seeing anyone in the military in uniform on a plane.

21 1/2 years of service and I cannot recall every being told not to wear the appropriate uniform off base in the United States. "Appropriate" was always dress trousers and a dress shirt (maybe blouse--jacket--and tie, depending on circumstances). They started slacking up and letting more people wear "cammies" (BDU's, whatever) off base later in my career.

My opinion is that it looks less professional.

I wore uniforms on flights more than a few times.

I have flown 40 plus times in the last 12 months - always on Aa and part of the boarding process is active duty military may board first- sometimes they are in uniform sometimes they aren't but I have difintely seen in uniform quite often:
Also I might add that whoever gave up their seat was quite wealthy/ wife had a diamond on that must have been 4-5 carats - all Louis Vuitton carry on and two nannys for 3 kids - was really nice that he gave up seat when his whole family was sitting in first class.
He even missed out on the amazing ravioli they served today

Quote: billryan

BDUs are the utility camo fatigues worn on a daily basis.
Might stand for Battle Dress Utilities or something. It's been a long time. They used to be called fatigues.

BDU = Battle Dress Uniform.

Also been a long time, but that fellow with all the extra stripes wearing a Smokey The Bear hat who greeted me right off the bus on day one was rather memorable, while informing me of this and many other things. Usually punctuated with the term "maggot" with his nose in my eyeball. Like learning the difference between "weapon" and "gun." By running while simultaneously using each hand to dramatically illustrate both parts while shouting out: "This is my weapon, this is my gun. This is for killing, this is for fun..."

And yes, of course. Done similar before, and expect to do so again. My father has described to me what it meant when it was impossible to wait in line or to pay for a drink or a meal or to stand while anyone had a seat when he was home on leave many years ago, and I couldn't possibly look him in the eye in these last years or months (he's 92) if I ever failed to give up my seat.

Are any of you old enough to have worn Khakis?

I'm a military brat and always looked forward to when my Dad switched over to khakis. I guess it was there summer uniform.

Quote: billryan

Are any of you old enough to have worn Khakis?

From my post above:

Quote: Doc

... with a summer-option short-sleeved khaki shirt and trousers worn with the same dress shoes but without a jacket.