Air marshals who steal seat assignments that were confirmed months in advance and confirmed in writing the morning of the flight make themselves obvious also. It's not just about dress code, but about specific placement in the plane even when other passengers have claimed those seats. I had a "right" to that seat assignment (yes, I know no airline guarantees seat assignments), and an air marshal clearly stole it from me. How much more obvious can they be?

I'm with Bruce...enough about justifying this wasteful nonsense by constant reminders of 9/11 and this is "for our protection". Many a historical despot has enacted regulations of dubious intent with a pledge to "protect" his constituents from some menace.

As customers, we may not be guaranteed anything other than the seat we paid for, but according to Delta's own program rules, we are "entitled" to an upgrade as revenue passengers based on our Elite status, fare paid, and the time remaining to departure. According to company policy, upgrades are to be processed for eligible revenue customers before any non-revenue customers are accomodated with very few exceptions (a must-ride pass being about the only one I know of).

There are two issues here that are problematic. First, we have the whole concept of the air marshall program, its value, and the theft of first class seats by these "marshalls" for the alleged purpose of easy flight deck access, which most reasonable people would translate to mean they just want a nice seat. The merit of this program has been debated endlessly in other threads, so I won't get started on that again. I think my opinion is known.

The second issue revolves around a Delta employee disregarding company policies and procedures to accomodate a non-revenue, non-employee government worker on a free ticket ahead of revenue customers because it suited his personal agenda. If this employee is conducting himself outside company policy, the only appropriate course of action is either discipline or termination and this is regardless of anyone's personal opinion on the air marshall program. An off-duty, dead-heading non-revenue person, whether they work for Delta, another airline or the US Government is not entitled to upgraded accomodations ahead of paying customers who have their own expectation of the upgrade based on their membership program benefits.

As for this "protecting the cockpit" nonsence, kevlar does a better job than any air marshall could, it works for free, and does not steal revenue seats from a public transporation company or its customers. As far as I am concerned, kevlar and alert crew and passengers are all we need.

For starters, I undersatand where you are coming from. I don't agree with the way things happen either.
But, in their defense, I will tell you that they DON'T choose their seats or their flights for that matter. That's all I'll say. It's like blaming a screener for policies he didn't write.
I know there are those on this forum who refuse to cut them any slack, no wonder none of them will speak up. It would be like talking to a wall.

Is this ok with you fastair?????????

And Delta's repsonse is below:

Thank you for sharing the information you posted on flyertalk.com.

Delta's primary concern is to ensure its customers are provided with a
safe and reliable transportation network. You can be sure that Delta
works closely with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and
other government agencies on matters related to security and safety.

As with most areas of civil aviation security, only limited information
can be made public. I hope you will understand that we cannot comment on
your report nor share any details regarding the presence of sky
marshalls onboard our flights, as this could compromise the
effectiveness of the program.

Since your report concerns the performance of non-Delta employees, we
ask that you please direct your comments to the TSA for review and
handling. You can contact them via their Web site at www.tsa.gov, or
send an e-mail to [email protected], or call their toll free number:
1-866-289-9673. Also, I forwarded a copy of your e-mail to our System
Director - Airport Customer Service, as well as the station manager in
Hartford to make them aware of your concerns.

Thanks again for your correspondence. We appreciate your loyalty to
Delta and welcome future opportunities to be of service.

I think we have yet to hear from a real air marshall who is willing to join the board and offer his/her opinions. We have plenty of TSA people over at the security forum, but I dont recall a genuine marshall ever showing up. Perhaps some hostility can be diffused by getting their side of things first hand, but I doubt they will be able to change alot of minds here about their "need" to sit in first class, whether on duty or off. I still maintain a good enough view of the flight deck can be had from the first or second row of coach as from anywhere in FC.

DRB, it looks like DL either misread or ignored your letter (or both). The employee of interest here is the gate agent who did the upgrade...me thinks he does not work for the TSA :) I think some escalation is in order.

I don't think anyone here is saying that the air marshals themselves are big jerks. At least, I'm not saying that. We are saying that the air marshal program confiscates some of the best seats on an aircraft and that the program doesn't live up to its supposed mission of making flying safer. Many people feel less safe knowing there's a gun on board, and especially less safe knowing it's plain as day who's got the gun.


As for dead-heading, well, since it's a secret program, we don't really know whether dead-heading air marshals are allowed to choose their seats and flights. This makes it hard to evaluate whether we should castigate the individual air marshals for taking premium seats when they're not on duty.

Aye DRB, it's perfect!
I don't work for DL, but agree that their response is appropriate (except for mis-interpreting that it was the CSR, not the FAM that you feel violated your entitlements.)

Did anyone think they would confirm or deny the story? If people really believe that DL, or any other carrier would acknowledge this incident in ANY way, no matter how many letters or posts are made about it, they really have no clue.

I understand your frustration, and even more so, I understand the removal of pre-assigned seats to give them the "best" field of view/arc of fire/access to the cockpit, unfortunately, such is life...we all vote, and participation in the TSA's FAM policy in the US is not a volunatry one, so very little can be done by writing DL.

If DL feels that the program is causing them to seek deeper into debt, they should have used this in an application for a loan guarantee, to help offset the effects of 9/11. Last I read, they never even submitted a request and the application date has past. They have their own agenda, and it does not include revenues from the Fed, but from a battle waged in the press instead of the negotiating table with DALPA.

It would have been tough for your congressperson/senator to vote "no" a few years ago while enabling all of this, but that is root of this.

On a side note, and a plug...have you checked out the new UA Premium Transcon service? Pleanty of seats for you, your entire family, and a few FAM's to travel in style :)

Ah, yes. A credit to the profession. Aren't we all safer with a nut case like this on board in posession of a firearm ... calm, deliberate, rational. A giant among people.

Changes my mind about the FAM ...

Best wishes,

Teacher49

I sincerely doubt a real sky marshal would be so stupid as to post this drivel on an IBB, but I've been wrong before.

Anyway, I've copied this thread (and other posts by the same brand new member) and sent them to DHS and asked them to investigate to determine:

(A) Who is impersonating a federal sky marshal; or

(B) If this poster is really a sky marshal, whether they are fit for duty and continued employment.

Just doing my patriotic duty.

Don't feed the troll!

Good thinking.

Wow! It's not merely ballast, it's arrogant ballast! :D

This post represents a real positive contribution to society, perhaps even on the order of MAKEMONEYNOW spammers or perhaps those who practice the much-needed art of snake-oil sales.

On some level, this post is clearly a joke, not unlike the air marshal program which is a joke (albeit an expensive one) on every possible level.

First of all...it is spelled M A R S H A L, not marshall. Don't all you idiots realize that FAMs are on board to re-highjack the plane from the highjackers? Now I have been flying for many years and most you loud mouth wanna-bes are fat, lazy and most often drunk. Can't wait to run into one of you slugs on my next flight.

By the way...thanks for your seat and the deli plate

I want to thank you special for the deli plate...