United Airlines Doesn't Love American Soldiers

I've been sitting on this story for a while, but now that Veteran's Day is around the corner, and the holiday season is kicking off, I thought I'd share with the greater world my trip home from Iraq in June 2008.

I had just finished out-processing at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was about to fly home and see my wife and family for the first time. I was out of uniform, but I had the typical crew cut, two giant Army duffle bags, and military ID ready-to-show should the need arise.

I'm a tall man, and, before Iraq I used to be an avid traveler and had earned "premium" status on United. That doesn't mean much beyond the occasional cut in line and a free upgrade to Economy plus. As a tall guy whose also remarkably cheap, economy plus suited my just fine.

I approach the check-in counter. There is a large woman typing away. She asks for my flight information. She checks my bags. She explains they are overweight and I give her a copy of my deployment orders showing that the government will cover the cost of the large bags. Then I ask if there's any space in the exit rows.

She types. "No, no room."

"Well then could I get an upgrade with my Premium card?" I hand her the card. She runs it through the system a few times.

"You're not a Premium member," she explains.

"I am," I assure.

"Well have you flown United Airlines in the past year?"

"I've been in Iraq for the past year."

"So then you haven't flown United in a year and your membership was canceled."

At that point, it felt great to be back in the United States after spending a year in Iraq. I was glad I had just defended this woman, and the policies of United Airlines from terror abroad. I did not want to argue. I did not want to do anything but go home, so I took my back seat and started collecting miles all over again.

Admittedly, I haven't pursued the fact that United Airlines cancels US Troops frequent flyer miles beyond bitching about it to my friends, and so I'm really just as culpable as they are. But the utter lack of giving-a-shit the woman displayed still sizzles my bacon a year later.

There's a plus here though. I have three hours to waste at my gate and spend a good part of it at a restaurant where I have a few beers and strike up a conversation with the guy next to me. He's a fine guy, just a guy waiting for his flight. He does airline interior design--which is a profession I didn't even know existed--but after working for a larger company for a bit he struck out on his own and is now his own boss trying to make ends meet.

After an hour or so, we get to me and what I'm doing there and I explain I'm on my flight home from Iraq. The stranger, Scott was his name, buys my drinks and my meal outright. I thank him, and he thanks me and says its the least he could do. He didn't have to do it, and I didn't deserve it, but it was a moment in my life I'll never forget.

Happy Veteran's Day. Thanks for all that have served and all that will.