Originally Posted by Coastiejoe
Bruce,
Like you, I can only go with the info that has been provided with to me. I have it in writing. Does that make it true or 100% percent correct. No, it does not. That is like saying "I saw it on the net, it must be true".
I do appreciate the fact that you don't attack me though. Seriously, no sarcasm is meant. The fact you can question my statement and be mature in doing so is a reflection of your character. In the beginning I know the seats were not paid for. Early on the Airlines were able to write the tickets off. Is it the same as cash, no. But it is better than nothing. Maybe some of the Airlines are still that way.
Let's stay in the realm of facts, not what someone told you. Whomever told you that airlines receive any revenue for FAM seats was incorrect. They were making it up. Completely, categorically, FALSE.
As Bruce said, airline execs have testified under oath that they receive no revenue for those seats.
The federal government can only spend money when Congress (and the President) authorize and appropriate money. In the case of seats for marshals, Congress has done neither. The law provides that marshals fly free in the seats of their choice, and that's the law as of this morning.
Just for grins, add up what you think "C class fare" runs on average (keeping in mind that you guys are over-represented on long-haul widebodies and DCA flights) and multiply it by the number of daily marshal flights. You know the numbers of marshals (as do I) so we don't need to go into specifics here.
Multiply that estimate by 365 and then ask yourself: "Would the airline execs be so pissed about transporting us if they were being paid "C class fare" for each and every ticket??"
The obvious answer is "NO." The airline execs would want more of you guys on each flight, and they'd upgrade the seats and meal offerings (benefitting all of us) if that were the case.
But it just ain't so.