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As an Active Duty military member I travel a lot. I am stationed overseas and now I travel across the Atlantic for business and pleasure quite frequently. Lately work has been relentless and I needed to take some leave. I found a very cheap price and while I normally fly US-Airways I took the nice price cut and flew American. Now the US government has a deal with airlines with patriotic names, that's how I got turned on to US-Airways, so I've flown American a few times in the continental US. So ticket booked, I started doing some research...
The Internet has allowed those of us that selfishly and shamelessly search for the free and or cheap upgrade to gather and openly discuss ways to find that great seat for a cheap price on several different forums. The more I searched the more I was looking forward to a bump on at least a few of my flights. If anything, I was willing to pay for a small upgrade fee.
I was flying out of Italy and begin my AA flight in Milan (MXP). AA offers computer check-in kiosk upgrades on international flights of 500$ each leg. Springing for the long haul leg of the flight is a great way to get a cheap business class seat. Well, Milan did not offer kiosks for paperless check-ins, so no go on that. Time to ask for a complimentary upgrade due to my active duty status. They said no and told me it would be 3000$ to make my entire itinerary a business ticket and that the cheapest they could do for me. So no go from flight back to the states, which isn't too surprising as it was an Italian based ticketing agency and they had no sympathy.
Some people might think, "why should military people get bumped and special treatment, especially when you live in gorgeous Italy?!". My response to that is, I'm not here by choice... Military members are thrown all over the world away from their family and friends for years on end. We aren't paid very well either. So for my semi-annual self funded trip back to see my mom for mother's day and Christmas shouldn't someone step up and offer us a little extra service for providing services that hopefully prevent another AA flight from slamming into some building? I say yes! Especially if there is an empty seat and some sailor, marine, soldier or airman is crammed back next to the lavatories. Phew... Maybe I should clip that for a separate rant.
So long haul stuck in coach is over with and I land in New York. Next flight is New York to Seattle. I go to the counter at the gate and ask if there are any upgrade available, flash my award winning smile and my military ID. Okay, I'm on the upgrade list... Behind 2 people. Well it's better than nothing. Flight boards and none of us get upgraded, I don't feel so bad because they should some effort this time. Thank you American crew members.
So one way of the trip down and no bump, not looking good. I am the king of the upgrade and I will not be satisfied with coach. I will pout, whore out my military status and ask every different service rep until I get a lie-flat seat! I will not be beat by some struggling national carrier. If British Airways will bump me than what are these guys problem?? Oh wait, it's a large American company on the ropes, you think they are going to change policy and realize customer service matters?? Hell no!
I'm late for the return part of the trip in SFO. I was happy to get a seat on the plane at all. Now, this is the one leg of the trip that I'm pretty sure I could have got bumped on. So I dropped the ball here. It's only a 3 1/2 hour trip to ORD so I wasn't too upset, just happy to make the flight.
NOW, here's where it gets interesting... I'm the first one in line at the gate at ORD. I and the gate attendant my ticket to confirm my seat since I had a late check in at SFO. He says I'm all good to go and I hand him my ID and ask if I can be put on the standby list. He looks at the ID and looks at me then asks why I'm not traveling in uniform. I tell him that it's against the rules to travel internationally on commercial airlines in uniform. It is a security risk and we could be targeted, I didn't make that up. He says he'll see what he can do and I'm the first on the upgrade list. Things are looking great. It's a 9 1/2 hour flight to Brussels and the plane not only has business but also first class. The boarding process begins and I can tell it's not a full flight. They still aren't calling my name and I'm sitting near the desk just waiting for a glance and a nod to call me over. Okay, the last section to board has been called and I walk over to the counter to ask on any updates.
The bomb gets dropped, "AA policy doesn't provide for active duty upgrades on international flights"
HOLY CRAP
I'm staring at my name on the upgrade list thinking what just happened... Speechless, sometimes you can just tell that certain customer service people aren't going to be any help, I avoiding a scene just board the plane. Sure enough, business is at about 65% capacity. Of course, they make you slither past the big lie-flat seats to the jungle that is coach. This little jaunt through FML-ville drives me insane. I find my seat and cram both my carry ons into the overhead and crush some lady's purse. Whatever, she's in coach, it's a knock-off anyways. God when does the beverage cart come through. I always feel awkward ordering double shot drinks but, lets face it, I'm on my way back to another 6 plus months without seeing my family and the whole time I have to sit next to the Moroccan rain man. I tip the flight attendant 5$ and he returns 10 minutes later with another double on the house (he is now referred to as "the redeemer") and proceed to drink heavily like I'm flying first class on a Virgin America flight.
Bottom line is, avoid American Airlines. The in flight service is actually very good, they seem to have a good hiring policy and the employees are very friendly. Of course I do have very good report with flight attendants - one time I basically had a gay British airways steward hand delivering me a new beer ever time I finished my last one- so who knows if it's just me. The planes are old and the seats and entertainment are extremely dated. They charge for beer and wine which most international carriers offer for free. So yes, move along military members... Try US-Airways or Delta (ewwwww, but still more accommodating) for US based carriers or my favorite, Virgin Atlantic or British Airways.