Sensitive topic (security related)
 

If I spot air marshalls on the flight, is it appropriate for me to thank them when deboarding?

Interesting question-- while it would be fantastic to thank them my personal feeling is that it is probably not the best to blow their cover considering how sensitive the program is.

If you really want to thank them, I would simply right the thank you on a card and hand it to them.

If you spot them on board you should chastise them for being obvious.

Tell them to get a tailor who knows how to accomodate a shoulder holster under a suit jacket perhaps http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Suck up to the flight attendants instead.

Please don't. Try to catch their eye and give them a slight nod instead. This acknowledges their presence and your appreciation without exposing them.

Regards,
-Bouncer-

[This message has been edited by Bouncer (edited 12-16-2001).]

what if you guessed WRONG, and it is really someone that happened to get through security with a gun.

Or someone that just has a bulge.

And if there happens to be an air marshal on board alongside this random armed person, you've just become a possible accomplice by nodding at him...... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Chances are that you probably DIDN'T spot an air marshal and some random joe is wondering why you are thanking him.

The odds of having a federal air marshal on your flight (unless you are flying to/from DCA) are about the same as winning the lottery.

Just don't nod or wink if you look suspicious or things might get ugly http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I fly to and from DCA quite frequently, and some of the air marshalls are SO obvious they might as well wear signs on their backs. They are often in seat 1D, for instance. They are always on the plane before anyone else boards. The list goes on and on. No self-respecting graduate of terrorist school would have trouble identifying at least one air marshall. But two or three might be on board -- there were at least three on the infamous US Air flight from PIT -- and that's another matter!

Bruce

I flew through DCA last week and the two air marshalls on the US Air flight (1 in 2B, the other in coach) were blatantly obvious.
I sat in 1B and listened to the woman in 2A talk to the air marshall about why he took the job, what its like to be on a plane all day, etc. The air marshall said he didn't really like to fly, but the pay was good...

I flew through DCA last week and the two air marshalls on the US Air flight (1 in 2B, the other in coach) were blatantly obvious.
I sat in 1B and listened to the woman in 2A talk to the air marshall about why he took the job, what its like to be on a plane all day, etc. The air marshall said he didn't really like to fly, but the pay was good...

Up here, we are going to have Mounties riding the skies. I am sure they will have to leave their horses outside the terminal -- considering what they [the horses] did on an AC 747 last week during a transAt [training?] flight -- but those red uniforms are going to be a sure giveaway onboard. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Do they get to keep their miles?

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Middle_Seat

LMAO!!!!