Air Marshals and FF miles
 

i saw a thread recently about how there is currently a bill in Congress that would allow government employees to keep their FF miles as a benefit. does anyone know if Uncle Sam (hence us the taxpayers) pay for Air Marshals to fly on planes? in other words, are those rev. tickets for which FF miles are generated? or are those seats federally mandated to be 'given' to a Marshal at no cost to the government?

Effectively pay the airline to protect it? Hardly. The airlines will no doubt have to provide the seat(s) for the air marshals.

So there will be no frequent flier miles.

Even if they did earn miles that is the last thing they would want to do on their time off---hop on a plane.

but the ability to give awards to family and friends is nice...

tango- ever heard of a busman's holiday? iirc, it meant a bus driver who went on vacation on a bus. my dad [drove a train] & brother in law [pilot] frequently used their perks for travel..... aside.... i wonder if sky marshalls have the same work rules as flight crew?

That's what I do. Hardly a week goes by without getting on a metal tube-either for work or for fun.

------------------
Not sure where I'm going, but I'm gettting there fast.

Of course they won't get FF miles. They are paid to fly, just like the pilots and FA's. A government employee on government travel is not being paid just to fly, he/she is being paid to fly somewhere and then do work.

Maybe being an air marshall will allow them to fly non-rev on personal travel like those employees also?

The airlines, hotels, etc. may extend those benefits as a courtesy.

I don't know about companion benefits, but I did meet a federal air marshall instructor who said that they always fly free and that frequent flyer miles are not earned for their travel.

-Robert

If I were the airlines, I would let air marshals fly free all the time, even if they are flying for pleasure. An extra safety perk, similar to a police officer living in you neighborhood (although not exactly the same, as they would not be evident as a police car would be).

If that's the case then no Air Marshals can't get FF miles.

Airline doesn't get paid for the air marshal's ticket so they don't get FF points/miles.

Well on a flight I was taking the Air Marshal was sitting next to me and using his boarding pass as a book marker. I stealthy worked for 15 mins to get a good glimse at the area where the FF number and status would be... and it was empty. I'd guess they don't get FF miles. The only thing it had on it was "Premium" which is standard on NW tickets for FC pax.

Just curious, how do you know he is an airmarshal?

Probably was in seat 2B.. with a GPS phone clipped to his belt.. which stayed on for the whole flight?

[Edited to add: and he wasn't drinking liquor?]

[This message has been edited by gleff (edited 01-11-2002).]