Operation Hero Miles - Where's Us?

[CPRich]

"Americans have donated their unused frequent flyer miles to the Department of Defense to help troops travel home and spend quality time with their loved ones, without worrying about how much it will cost."

http://www.heromiles.org/

"Airlines Currently Accepting Donations:

AirTran
Alaska
American
Delta
Pan Am
Southwest
United"

Someone's missing....

 

[USAirUnited]

Why would be be involved in that program, we don't have seats for own FF memebers during the holiday season. Have you seen the fares for x-mas? Every INTL flight going Transatlantic is full.

 

[Mike W]

The real question should be, If the government didn't have any trouble coming up with the money to send our soldiers to Iraq, why should these heroes have to spend a dime of their own money to come home on a two week R&R?

 

[ITRADE]

Why would be be involved in that program, we don't have seats for own FF memebers during the holiday season. Have you seen the fares for x-mas? Every INTL flight going Transatlantic is full.

#1 these are basically domestic routings - out of BWI, ATL, and one or two other cities (EWR?).

#2 The airlines are cashing the awards at the premium award level (40,000/50,000 miles), not at the 20,000/25,000 mile award level.

#3 Other airlines are not participating. NW flat out declined.

 

[AOG-N-IT]

As a Vet...I would at least like to see an organized effort to allow the employee's to offer a companion pass to these brave young people.

I have seen on other boards where employee's have stepped up to aid a soldier returning from Iraq or Afghanistan....I would be more than eager to offer up half of my annual companion passes to insure that a service member can get back and forth in peace and safety , it's the very least we can offer them in return for their sacrifices for us.

 

[AtlanticBeach]

Despite the decision not to participate in Operation Hero Miles, US employees and frequent flyers have done as much as they can to make life a little more comfortable for our troops. Flying back and forth to BWI, I have seen FA's providing op upgrades, passengers have anonymously used their companion upgrades to move servicemen and women forward, and gate agents quietly provide first class seats if they are aware of presence of active duty military.

It is sobering to watch these brave young people stare out the window of an airplane for long periods of time. I can only imagine their thoughts.

 

[Hula Girl]

It was reported on the Fox News show with Greta Van Susteren that USAirways had just signed on. Cannot find any confirmation though.

 

[usfliboi]

Hula you are correct Northwest is now the standalone carrier. Usairways as of yesterday announced they would participate. But as reported byt the gentlemen who started this program, its not that these airlines dont want to do it , there are legal ramifications involved, and the mainreason were that the lawyers were advising not to do this, so this wasnt scrooge or that "anti WAR" thing many would love to place on our heads.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Were these the same "legal ramifications" that made us the last airline to offer reduced fares to the GI's a while back. Seems some of the other airlines move faster (better lawyers?) and reap the publicity bonanza while we wait till it's a nonevent to step in.

Jim