FAMs are "gone"?
 

It has been my observation (what is yours?) that the FAM program has finally decided to change their mission and actually be "undercover."

As I have posted here previously (somewhat extensively), that was *not* the original mission. The idea was that a careful observer could easily identify the FAMs on a flight. But, in my flights over the last six months (?) I have not observed an obvious FAM. And, I just realized, I don't think I have seen a post here about FAMs taking seats for quite some time.

P.S. - It is my belief that we are actually seeing two different changes. One is an intent to be undercover. The other is a significant decrease in the number of FAM operations.

Please don't go jynxing my flights on 11/24 & 11/27 ;)

I haven't noticed any either for a while. They used to be very easy to spot, since they sat in First and boarded before anyone else in First.

me neither... this is a hopeful sign!

I don't think so. It is the last of the year...budget has been expended, so they can't be on as many flights as before. Isn't this what the whistle-blower lawsuit was about?

It's near the start of the Federal fiscal year, which started on October 1.

I think it's because most of us believe the FAMs to be irrelevant and have stopped looking for them. I know I have...

According to a friend of mine, who's brother is a FAM, their mission has always been to be stealthy. I won't post any of the other information he mentioned.

I suspect the people mentioned in this thread might have been other LEOs who just happened to be flying that day.

LEOs don't get free upgrades to first class, carry weapons on planes or anything else. A LEO on a plane is a regular passenger.

Not true. Plenty of LEO's carry firearms on aircraft, federal, state and local. State and local need to complete a flying armed class and have a need to carry.

Many of the FAM's felt that way. But that wasn't policy. See prior threads here where I listed the changes they would need to make (about 5 of them) and it would appear that they did, in fact, make those changes.

Ok, but they're not sitting in first unless they're paying.

The point of this thread is that, compared to five years ago or so, when I would see a FAM sitting in F about every 8 or 9 trips, I haven't seen one in at least two years. A lot of others have said the same, since "spot the FAM" used to be a minor sport with very frequent flyers who were in F a lot.

I absolutely, positively guarantee that the government hasn't started paying for FAMs' seats. No way. They fly for free.

Maybe the airlines' numerous complaints -- including to Congress -- are finally being heard, and the FAMs are being relegated to coach. (Poor babies.) :rolleyes:

Bruce

But how are they going to stop the non-existent terrorists if they are all the way in the back?

Mike

When one is sitting near the back of the plane it is much easier to see everyone else on the plane, even the ones that are not there, and observe all of the nefarious acts that are not happening.