No free meal for U.S. Military Personnel
 

Yesterday, I took a Delta flight from LAX to HNL. As a U.S. Army Soldier I went home for some much needed R&R. I asked the female flight attendant as I was boarding the airplane if they still offer complimentary free meal to U.S. Military personnel and her response was "NO!" I was quite surprised because in the past Delta did offer free meals to all U.S. Military personnel on all their flights. I know United and American still does as a way to show appreciation to our fine men and women serving in our Armed Forces. I guess Delta Airlines don't appreciate those serving in the U.S. Military who offer their selfless service and sacrifice for our country :(.

Is there a proper way to respond to this without looking like an ah? I am biting my tongue so hard it's bleeding. I hope jw has a proper answer.

Good luck Judge.

As a veteran, I never expected freebies on the airlines. I could pull my own weight. Suck it up soldier. They don't give free meals to firefighters, doctors or cops either.

Judge, since I already have the Red Badge of Courage, I'll take the AH on this one.

I'll take a stab anyway......you choose a good route to use as an example. I worked for NWA in HNL. Obviously, you are talking about a flight that does have a meal as opposed to the many that don't. You are asking for, I'm guessing, for the airline to waive the fee for whatever food you choose to eat. Let's look at the logistics.

When I worked, the meals were free. The flight was catered to exactly the number of passengers that were on the plane. I'm guessing now, they don't cater it that way as some people won't pay for the meal so it would go to waste. In your scenario, the airline would have to guess at how many of the passengers would be military and how much free food they would eat so they would not run out for other passengers nor put on so much that it would go to waste. Then the other passengers will wonder why one field of work gets free meals and not theirs. I mean, why wouldn't a firefighter get free meals? Or a cop? How about a doctor? Or a garbage man? Or a janitor? Is one person more important than another? Using your logic, why stop at meals? Why not offer drinks? Or free luggage (oh yeah, that is offered already when traveling on orders) or why not just give the seat away for free?

I dealt with the traveling military for parts of 3 decades and it seems not to have changed yet and I'm supposing it never will.

I felt unsure about responding to this, not being a US citizen and all, but now the party has started....

Where does the sponging end? When you land do you ask the taxi driver to transport you for free? Hotel? Restaurant meals? Should everything be free? If not, why not? Are restaurants not patriotic because they don't feed you...hotels?

I hate Delta, but even I can't support this. It is ridiculous.