“Finally, Some Frequent-Flier Miles”: John Kerry Forced to Fly United Airlines

The Washington Post reported that John Kerry and his entourage were compelled to take a United Airlines commercial flight home from Hawaii after his U.S. Air Force-provided jet broke down on Thursday.

Even the most elite of flyers are sometimes subject to mechanical delays and are forced to seek alternate air carriers which do not recognize a frequent flyer’s hard-earned elite status. Very few frequent flyers, however, are logging miles as quickly as United States Secretary of State John Kerry. According to the most recent State Department figures, Secretary Kerry has flown 519,136 miles and visited 51 countries since being sworn-in in 2013.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reports that Kerry was scheduled to fly home to Washington from Hawaii early Thursday but instead took a commercial United Airlines flight hours later. An electrical problem with the Air Force Boeing 757 grounded the aircraft at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. The mechanical issue came on the last leg of a round-the-world trip that had Kerry making stops in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Australia and the Solomon Islands.

It was not all bad news for Kerry. He was able to secure a first class seat on the UA flight from Honolulu International Airport (HNL), though few would consider first class an upgrade from a private 757.

Kerry is said to have maintained a composure unheard of among delayed air travelers. “Finally, some frequent-flier miles,” Kerry quipped, according to the Post article, upon hearing the news that he would be continuing his journey on a commercial flight.

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