Flying First Class

We were briefed about flying 1st class in uniform. The short answer? We aren't allowed to. Period. Nobody in a USAF uniform is allowed to. And since doolies have to be in uniform to travel, we can't change to civvies and accept the seat. It's pretty clear in the regs. And when we all got the briefing. The same instructions also basically say no business class upgrades unless it's actually urgent business.
 
HeWantsTheBFE said:
We were briefed about flying 1st class in uniform. The short answer? We aren't allowed to. Period. Nobody in a USAF uniform is allowed to. And since doolies have to be in uniform to travel, we can't change to civvies and accept the seat. It's pretty clear in the regs. And when we all got the briefing. The same instructions also basically say no business class upgrades unless it's actually urgent business.
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Again I ask is this a new rule? I see you are a member of 2017.
 
I would submit, and I'm not absolutely certain about this, that whether in uniform or not the upgrade needs to be declined. I don't believe any Federal employee is allowed to accept "gratuities" or "gifts" above a very small nominal value. Something like a Bic pen wold be OK. Anything more is trouble. Not certain this applies to the military, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

I do agree it's pretty stupid unless you're working with defense contractors, etc.
 
kinnem said:
I would submit, and I'm not absolutely certain about this, that whether in uniform or not the upgrade needs to be declined. I don't believe any Federal employee is allowed to accept "gratuities" or "gifts" above a very small nominal value. Something like a Bic pen wold be OK. Anything more is trouble. Not certain this applies to the military, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

I do agree it's pretty stupid unless you're working with defense contractors, etc.
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Something in the value of $25, with some exceptions.
 
Proud mom 2016 said:
5. Air Force personnel may not wear their military uniforms when using frequent flyer miles
to upgrade to business or first class. Thus, even when an upgrade to business or first class
accommodations is legitimate, military personnel should avoid wearing the uniform to
avoid the public perception of the misuse of government travel resources, which generates
unnecessary complaints.

From AFI that I found here
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The most current AFI 36-2903 that I found is dated 18 Jul 2011.

1.4.13. Air Force personnel may not wear their military uniforms when using frequent flyer
miles to upgrade to business or first class. Thus, even when an upgrade to business or first
class accommodations is legitimate, military personnel should avoid wearing the uniform to
avoid the public perception of the misuse of government travel resources, which generates
unnecessary complaints.

This says that you are not allowed to use frequent flyer miles to upgrade. Notice that the second sentence says “should avoid” and not “shall avoid” or "shall not accept" if an upgrade is offered. There is some wiggle room there. Otherwise the whole paragraph would have been written with the simple statement “Air Force personnel shall not fly first class while in uniform." Besides, Cadets are flying on their dime and not the government’s when they go home on leave.
 
USAF463 said:
The most current AFI 36-2903 that I found is dated 18 Jul 2011.

1.4.13. Air Force personnel may not wear their military uniforms when using frequent flyer
miles to upgrade to business or first class. Thus, even when an upgrade to business or first
class accommodations is legitimate, military personnel should avoid wearing the uniform to
avoid the public perception of the misuse of government travel resources, which generates
unnecessary complaints.

This says that you are not allowed to use frequent flyer miles to upgrade. Notice that the second sentence says “should avoid” and not “shall avoid” or "shall not accept" if an upgrade is offered. There is some wiggle room there. Otherwise the whole paragraph would have been written with the simple statement “Air Force personnel shall not fly first class while in uniform." Besides, Cadets are flying on their dime and not the government’s when they go home on leave.
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Thanks for the clarification!
 
Here's what ya do... take a gym bag with sweats & shoes for a carry on. If they upgrade you, into the loo you go and...voila'. You're not in uniform, you're wiping off with a warm towel, using deluxe ear buds, and watching a larger TV monitor from your reclining seat while the flight attendant gives you a foot rub.
 
LineInTheSand said:
Something in the value of $25, with some exceptions.
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I think the rule is that a federal government employee is allowed to accept a gift if that same gift is offered to the public. For instance an upgrade at a hotel, flight, or rental car if enrolled in the companies programs. Or discounts on certain days at amusement parks that offer a public service appreciation. Those values would be above the $25 rule but still allowed. I think? BTW this applies to only civilian federal employees.
 
Stupid rules created by spineless brown nosers but they are the rules. Play by the rules, work to change the rules, or leave. It's just reality.
On a slightly different note, I personally would not pay for an upgrade (points or cash) on a domestic flight that's less than 5 hours long, especially for a healthy 18 year old. It's a complete waste of $$$ IMO. This is coming from someone who works in the airline industry.
 
First of all, it is the rule and reg about which all cadets are briefed.
Second, it is a matter of integrity that the cadet follows that reg, even when no one he/she knows is "looking".
Third, the purpose of the rule is that cadets in uniform flying first class gives the impression that the military is using tax dollars to pay for premium accommodations that the average tax paying US citizen cannot afford.
 
Maplerock said:
Here's what ya do... take a gym bag with sweats & shoes for a carry on. If they upgrade you, into the loo you go and...voila'. You're not in uniform, you're wiping off with a warm towel, using deluxe ear buds, and watching a larger TV monitor from your reclining seat while the flight attendant gives you a foot rub.
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And now the cadet has broken the rule of flying in uniform.
 
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Capri120 said:
First of all, it is the rule and reg about which all cadets are briefed.
Second, it is a matter of integrity that the cadet follows that reg, even when no one he/she knows is "looking".
Third, the purpose of the rule is that cadets in uniform flying first class gives the impression that the military is using tax dollars to pay for premium accommodations that the average tax paying US citizen cannot afford.
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Nobody has mentioned complaints from frequent fliers.

Trust me, those people who are gold/diamond/premier or whatever feel very entitled when it comes to getting a free upgrade to first class. And it is these folks who, IMO, would complain more than the general public about those in uniform sitting in first class. All they see is someone who likely did not pay for the upgrade sitting in "their seat"..and it makes them upset.
 
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Badfinger said:
Capri120 said:
First of all, it is the rule and reg about which all cadets are briefed.
Second, it is a matter of integrity that the cadet follows that reg, even when no one he/she knows is "looking".
Third, the purpose of the rule is that cadets in uniform flying first class gives the impression that the military is using tax dollars to pay for premium accommodations that the average tax paying US citizen cannot afford.
Click to expand...

Nobody has mentioned complaints from frequent fliers.

Trust me, those people who are gold/diamond/premier or whatever feel very entitled when it comes to getting a free upgrade to first class. And it is these folks who, IMO, would complain more than the general public about those in uniform sitting in first class. All they see is someone who likely did not pay for the upgrade sitting in "their seat"..and it makes them upset.
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They do have a case... and they're certainly more entitle to those seats than someone who has yet to pay for his own seat on a commercial plane...
 
Maplerock said:
Here's what ya do... take a gym bag with sweats & shoes for a carry on. If they upgrade you, into the loo you go and...voila'. You're not in uniform, you're wiping off with a warm towel, using deluxe ear buds, and watching a larger TV monitor from your reclining seat while the flight attendant gives you a foot rub.
Click to expand...

Rock; I know it's sunday; it's Easter; probably a pretty quiet day. But you must have been really bored to search the forum to resurrect a thread that is 4 years old. I thought only Jesus was Resurrected on Easter??

All in good fun.
 
Yet another Zombie Thread... still interesting though.
 
It wasn't until after I posted I read back a couple of lines and realized this thread was so old. But, still applicable.
 
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