For politicians? Highly unlikely. It would be illegal for both Continental to give, and for the politician to receive anything which has a value attached to it without following special reporting procedures - and an upgrade to a F seat certainly meets the test for value consideration. Offering gifts of value above a certain amount is verboten.

OP: why not just tell us who it was...it shouldn't be a big secret.

Yes, I can attest to this. I work for someone who does receive special service (he does not fly CO).

I know certain celebs who have access to this on AA.

As a registered federal lobbyist I can tell you, you are correct. Anything noted as a "gift" or "perk" would have to have the value reported.

Ciao,
FH

Five Star? It's my understanding that anyone can have this service, if they are willing to pay.

When I worked at DCA seeing Secret Service agents was totally normal and not so secret. Most of them were just escorts/drivers for the party flying, like a Supreme Court Justice and they waited until the flight departed. Others fly with the official but I never saw them travel with a Congressman or Senator.

Of course this was all pre 9-11. I have no idea is the current policy.

I did have Nancy Pelosi come off one of our flights two years ago and she was by herself and the local police met her. No Secret Service.

That's surprising considering shes a UGS at United.

Maybe she had to go to IAH or CLE? UA has 1 x daily to IAH and nada to CLE out of SFO.

when did he become she? OP said HE. :)

I flew IAH-DCA with Kay Bailey Barfington last year ... actually come to think about it, she might be better than Governor Goodhair.

I digress. Although I'm no fan, when I was on the same flight as Hutchinson, she cooled her heels with staff in the same regular old gate area as the guy with a Cowboys jersey and his fat kids going to Washington to see the White House.

She flew F; but I honestly could not detect anything major that was out of the ordinary about how she was treated.

Post 20-22, when referring to Nancy Pelosi.

Doh :D

The Supreme Court is protected by the Supreme Court Police and/or US Marshals, not SS. Just ask Souter about his jogging incident.

Flew with Pelosi in FC on 5/14/07 to DCA, maybe marshal on the plane but she carried her own bags and was met at gate by SS.

Imagine that is little more consistent these days with her being #2 in line for the POTUS.

Pelosi doesn't really fly commercially anymore.

do the senators and congresspeople buy their own tickets when they fly back home on the weekends or does the gov. pick up the tab?

She sure as heck doesn't and she gets outraged when military aircraft are not availbale to her for her private use. She's flying on our dime and its not on CO