When I re-read my post a while after posting, I realized that the substance violated my personal rule of saying too much about myself... I prefer anonymity. Therefore, I have deleted it.

That's OK, Prspad... I read it and remember it, and I even think I kept a paper copy of it...

:p

I believe the part about there being a card that will get you onto the plane no-questions-asked. Probably accompanied by a high-level to high-level phone call from Airline A to Airline B to say "Please make this happen."

I don't buy the "unlimited FC" bit. If it's an ops guy flying out to a stranded aircraft or to an aviation accident, it seems that they'd just find a way to get him into any seat. Jump seat or back of the bus - whatever - just get him to the destination any way possible.

The point of a "cut thru the crap" card is that the cardholder makes the decision, jump-seat, coach, etc. Obviously, the person invoking it should use common sense... but the CARDHOLDER would make the call, not a GA.

The card would be a "do what I say, ask questions (and make me accountable) later" card.

All my cards say "Jesus", but I've never gotten a single upgrade to F :(

LOL!! :D ^

:D

Do they look like this?

Way back when, I was working for CO. We had pretty much unlimited travel, but it was always space available.

One of my co-workers was ex-PanAm. He related that they were having a lot of trouble retaining employees (who were probably reading the handwriting on the wall), so all their professional staff were granted unlimited positive space first class no fee privliges. Sort of like what the OP was talking about, but of course only good on one airline.

He said he used it a bit, but it got tiring just flying off to Turkey or some such and not a whole lot of time or money to do anything when he was there.

I thought (but could be wrong) that NTSB/FAA employees traveling to the scene of a crash, basically have this privelege.

God cards
 

I knew a wonderful old guy in the late 70's/early 80's who, late in life, worked in the tasting room of a winery just outside Geyserville, CA. He had flown with Ed Daly and World Airways in VN, plus he had retired from TWA. He did have a gold card with some TWA gibberish on it and he said he could walk up to the counter, show it and get on a plane. Maybe he could and maybe he couldn't, but he was a great guy and it was a great story. He lived to 92 and drove a Porsche Carrera till the day he died... ^