Should Australian airlines acknowledge members of our armed forces?
By David Flynn, November 5 2018
TALKING POINT | "Thank you for your service”. Anybody who has flown on US domestic airlines will be familiar with this refrain, made in acknowledgement of veterans before a flight and usually accompanied by priority boarding.
Moves to introduce a similar salute on Australian airlines are gathering momentum, with Virgin Australia joining a Federal Government campaign to recognise defence force members and Qantas facing predictable pressure to follow suit.
The government scheme would see members of Australia's armed forces receive a discount card and lapel pin so that participating businesses can offer discounts or benefits to veterans (putting aside that in Australia we traditionally use the term veterans to describe retired members of the armed services).
"We acknowledge the important contribution veterans have made to keeping our country safe and the role they play in our community," said Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti in launching Virgin's initiative over the weekend.
"Once the veterans have their cards and lapel pins, they will simply need to present them during the boarding process to be given priority boarding and be recognised on board."
Defence Industry Minister Steve Ciobo said it "would be terrific" if Qantas matched Virgin's pledge, although Veterans Affairs minister Darren Chester allowed that "Australians, by nature, tend to keep their light under a bushel. Some would be happy to get on the plane without anyone knowing they are there."
A spokesperson for Qantas said the airline had the "utmost respect for current and former defence force personnel” and special announcements were made on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day."
"[But] we’re conscious that we carry a lot of exceptional people every day, including veterans, police, paramedics, nurses, firefighters and others, and so we find it difficult to single out a particular group as part of the boarding process [with the exception of passengers with special needs]."
However, this afternoon Virgin Australia issued a statement in response to public backlash which indicated the airline was reconsidering its decision.
"We are very mindful of the response that our announcement about recognising people who have served in defence has had today. It was a gesture genuinely done to pay respects to those who have served our country," the airline said.
"Over the coming months, we will consult with community groups and our own team members who have served in defence to determine the best way forward. If this process determines that public acknowledgement of their service through optional priority boarding or any announcement is not appropriate, then we will certainly be respectful of that."
Should Australian airlines adopt this US-style plan to recognise and honour servicemen and servicewomen on every flight? Vote in our online poll and have your say in the Comments section below.
Readers are reminded to keep their comments on topic, to add value to the conversation and to be respectful of others, even if you disagree with their opinion.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
25 Oct 2017
Total posts 62
Veterans/Defence personnel are humble enough not wanting this kind of attention everytime they get on a plane.
29 Jan 2015
Total posts 41
Plus it could become a security risk. the initial comment made was correct. Ambulance drivers, fire fighters, etc.... where does it all end?
10 Jan 2018
Total posts 9
I don't know why people are vehemently against this. Surely it is a GOOD THING to give honour to our veterans that fight away from home and put their lives on the line. Why? So that we can write and post articles like this without redress (called freedom of speech) . I don't see a problem with it. So when the airlines make the announcement for boarding, allow the veterans the right to say no. Give them the choice to be humble and not take that privilege away from them. Yes we need to do other things for them in practical ways like jobs, medical care etc. But this is another good thing added to the bunch of good things we can do. I wonder if the issues people raise against is more reflective about them than the issue itself....now watch the knives come out...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2011
Total posts 148
This type of behaviour is no becoming of Australians. It is not representative of the egalitarian society to single out a particular group of people in our community. We show a deep amount of respect on remembrance day and ANZAC Day, which would really be better backed up with money and initiatives to be provided to support our defence force personnel rather than the lip service and frankly cringe worthy display of fawning that isn't a part of Australian culture.
10 Jan 2018
Total posts 9
tm_ smile - we must also remember that it because of people like this we can have an egalitarian society as you say. People who put their lives on the line for our freedom should be acknowledged. Why not? I know they don't do what they do for this type of accolade but let's respect them yes with practical help but also things like this help as well. They do it in the USA and like it. there is no embarrassment, it is just something they do and everyone runs with it. But let me also add this "Are we as egalitarian as you say?" We like to talk egalitarian but why do we have 1st or business class or lounges for people like that? That s not egalitarian. But they earnt the privilege....and so do our soldiers...
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 68
If vets are acknowledged, should we not do the same for cops/ambos/firies/nurses/etc?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
Totally agree. I'm a cancer survivor. Should the amazing doctors and nurses who saved my life and countless others also get recognised? What about my accountant who saved me thousands in tax this last year? Everyone has something to offer and this move by VA reeks of opportunistic PR and nothing more.
10 Jan 2018
Total posts 9
Hi Alex...I don't want to downplay your cancer situation but this is just the normal course of life that people face. In one shape or form we will have some kind of health issue...and those you mention like doctors etc are part of society. I see the bigger picture as this....people who serve in the armed forces give up something like potentially their lives, to fight on our behalf against foreign invasion. If they (and others) did not exist then our way of life and freedom that we have is highly threatened. In other words the fire fighters, accountants, doctors and anyone else you want to throw in there could not do their jobs properly...and you and I would not be able to have this type of conversation. Why? I know this as I have lived in some of these countries over the years and see the conditions these type of people and the ordinary people lived under...me...I'm all for it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Aug 2016
Total posts 13
I think most veterans and defence force personnel would not want the attention. Why not acknowledge their service by Qantas and Virgin giving them access to a business class lounge or upgrading them if upgrades available. It gives the recognition but in a more private and respectful way.
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
Why not? Because many of the airline Lounges are already very full. And you want them to be even busier!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 13
Very well articulated brisflyer. I totally agree. Make the recognition something tangible and of benefit.
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 319
Then the airlines would also need to give equal recognition to current and past Police, Fire & Ambulance workers, SES volunteers, and others who risk their lives in the service of the community. The airline Lounges aren't that busy, eh? Consider the consequences.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 125
Vets are at federal level and would apply across the country, the rest is at state level though.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
Why does state or federal make any difference?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2015
Total posts 52
I've always kind of admired the way American airlines do this but I didn't think it would work in Australia - we are cut from a different cloth.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 249
What’s new! You can’t do anything these days without people spreading their opposition and negativity through online platforms.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Apr 2011
Total posts 106
The Government should be putting more resources into the welfare of ex-service personnel rather than supporting this type of fluff. I suspect many Australians will consider this yet another example of 'creeping Americanism'. What's next, the National Anthem & hands on hearts before each major sporting event?
01 Nov 2018
Total posts 81
Well said
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
04 Oct 2017
Total posts 4
Agreed. The jarring thing in the states is you have these empty acknowledgements at every opportunity whilst the cities are full of veterans living on the streets and no one seems to care less....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 372
This move by Virgin Australia is nothing more than jingoistic, nationalistic nonsense. This is Australia, not America. I really hope VA do a back flip on this.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 108
Well this has backfired big time on VA. Nice, I agree with you, I live in the USA and have to endure listening to this nonsense before every flight. Happy to see 73% said a slap in the face NO to VA.
20 May 2015
Total posts 581
Jingoism is typically defined as extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy. How, pray tell, is merely thanking servicemembers for their service "extreme patriotism" and how does it have any connection whatsoever to aggressive, warlike foreign policy? It is a completely apolitical thing to say. "Thank you for your service" =/= "I entirely approve of those unnecessary and aggressive wars the politicians are throwing you and your friends into."
And of course you bring up the looming spectre of America, but bipartisan majorities of Americans are actually against jingoistic foreign policies. Yet they still believe in thanking servicemembers as a civic norm. Such gratitude, therefore, should be understood not as an outgrowth of jingoism, but as something that exists in spite of whatever foreign policy dementia is being excreted from DC.
29 Jan 2015
Total posts 41
"How, pray tell, is merely thanking servicemembers for their service "extreme patriotism" ... It's politically correct marketing drivel. And on reflection, I suppose a Virgin company is more likely to be susceptible to that.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2012
Total posts 177
17 Oct 2017
Total posts 16
Go to any domestic flight and it’s clear already that Qantas cannot organise priority boarding for the current PAX who are meant to. If priority boarding actually worked as advertised then by all means do it. Until they can figure that out though there is no point.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 973
Gees this is so left of field for VA, I really wonder who thought of this idea maybe a new CEO from America?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
Sadly it was probably listening to Scomo who started this conversation to try and give the govt. 'a win' and a 'feelgood' story. Sadly his tin ear missed the spot again.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1424
My experience in the US is the terminal makes general announcements about veterans but on the boarding calls I have heard; it it current personnel on duty i.e. going to or from work, which is more part of an enterprise agreement. That has been my experience on AA
22 May 2015
Total posts 11
We don’t need or want acknowledgement, and many, like myself, aren’t allowed it due to security reasons. I have only flown once in uniform with 2 other men. We received special acknowledgment from the crew, and we were given a Qantas lapel pin.
This is a nice gesture from Virgin, but the issue at large is the fact the government has passed the buck to the corporate world to avoid financial and moral responsibly in areas of concern such as PTSD, drug trials etc...
The backlash is towards the government but corporates such as Virgin have been caught in the crossfire as it appears they are kissing arse to a certain group for their own acknowledgment.
09 Mar 2015
Total posts 33
My father is a veteran, formerly with the Army, and he tells me he appreciates the gesture but doesn't want to be singled out for special recognition, and certainly doesn't want to have priority boarding and be seen to be "pushing in" ahead of his fellow travellers. I think this attitude would be common to most servicemen.
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 197
I am SO disappointed at the results of the poll. I travel to the US quite frequently and am impressed by that "favour" done over there. The military are "loathed" by the left here until the invasion is imminent. At that point they will complain at the lack of preparedness , caused, naturally, by the other mob.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
08 Jun 2018
Total posts 91
Readosunnycoast “until the invasion is imminent”????????? I’ve got to ask. Who is going to invade Australia? Really? New Zealand? Fiji? If there’s one problem we don’t have to face in Australia it’s imminent invasion.
01 Nov 2018
Total posts 81
Ohhh please give me a break, first off whose going to attack Australia, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, perhaps our neighbour Indonesia. Look let's face it, if China wants to take over this country, they will do it with ease. First off their military personnel is way more powerful than ours, their weaponry is far more advanced than ours including their jet fighter's, if Indonesia wanted to take over this country they would of done it years ago. Ohh and aren't Russian Migs more agile than the American jet fighters
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 47
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Apr 2017
Total posts 134
There's a multitude of reasons I don't like this, or want this to happen. Full disclosure - I'm from a military family though have never served myself.
- Anything that makes plane travel more like the US is not welcome. Qantas tried to serve me just one glass of coke the other day instead of a full can. Not having it!
- No one should ever be told or forced to participate in respecting someone they don't. Or if you do respect someone, you should be able to express that personally, not be forced to acknowledge. I just spent 3 weeks in North Korea, and I got tired of having to listen to "thanks to Kim Il-Sung..." everywhere I went. Same deal when travelling the US when even at theme parks you stand up to thank the troops or whatever.
- Nationalism is not in Australia's culture. We aren't America. While it goes without saying we love our country and I'm sure everybody here respects our troops, most Australians don't blindly respect things such as a flag. Our patriotism is much more restrained and we don't like to shout about it. I do not think anybody here really wants to become like America in other regards either (suggest tipping in restaurants or taking shoes off at security! :p)
- Our vets are awesome and humble. They are deserving of benefits for the job they did/do. By all means give them priority boarding, discounts, whatever they deserve it. But they should be between the company and the individual, not everyone else who's strapped into a seat.
- Safety announcement, captain giving their spiel after takeoff - airlines should be actively trying to cut down on the number of word said on board so people can get to their destination in peace!
I'm sure some of this contradicts itself, and I don't actually feel that strongly about this, but find it interesting and it would possibly affect which airline I choose to fly. Feel bad for VA, they couldn't really have predicted it would backfire so spectacularly.Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jan 2018
Total posts 11
Actually I think they could have seen it being out of step
Virgin Atlantic Airways - Flying Club
11 Apr 2011
Total posts 30
Veterans should be recognised for their service. However I don't believe singling out veterans for acknowledgement before flights is the correct way of doing this.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
07 Dec 2014
Total posts 173
I'm not a fan of this either ... however if VA wanted to do it without making a fuss they could just add veterans in with the Platinum/Gold members priority boarding. I'm not advocating that, just saying that it gives a 'perk' without singling them out. Surely they could also grant booking discounts - don't they already have that for other groups of people?
09 Jul 2012
Total posts 25
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
Americans just love to hero worship not just service people but everyone. I saw a clip on Facebook the other day where a female bus drive noticed a lost kid and stopped to help. Great thing for her to do but the fawning and the hero worshipping comments were sickening to this Aussie.
01 Aug 2018
Total posts 4
From an ex crew perspective, I think that Qantas' statement nailed it on the head AND I agree with others here who say its far too 'american', and that ultimately, we are losing far more ADF personnel to suicide than we are in combat - so more money on support services and less on lawyers trying to prove some poor bugger doesn't have TPD.
01 Nov 2018
Total posts 81
Really, no disrespect here, I take my hat off to our war veterans but this is just far fetched, Christ Jesus this country is becoming a real suck hole to the American's, whatever they do we must copy. Did any politicians like offer them free access to say a VIP lounge, or say even a free flight a year etc. To be honest I don't think most veterans would want this. So do others in our armed forces eg police get a welcome and goodbye salute as well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2013
Total posts 204
Absolutely not! Where will it end? What about Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Paramedics, etc, etc, etc? I don't see why we have to continuously become more and more Americanised. Unsurprising that this push is being driven by Murdoch media.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Feb 2011
Total posts 12
I thought is was a nice gesture from Virgin Australia, I have also seen it often in the USA and it seems to be unobtrusive. Being a retired Police Officer and ex serviceman I believe this belongs with the Services, no other job is inherently as dangerous and comes with a real risk of death, for usually a lot less pay than any of the other jobs mentioned.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
I think the stats might show that the police are at far greater risk of injury, including psychological and death on a daily basis compared to our service people.
20 May 2015
Total posts 581
For one thing, I'm absolutely shocked that this is considered a big deal. Why is this controversial in any way? For that matter I don't think choosing not to make such announcements should be controversial either, but why is the issue of whether or not our servicemembers should be given a special discount of perk by a private business somehow a big deal in the first place?
Finally, one of the arguments I saw in the comments is that we shouldn't be doing this because "nationalism isn't part of Australian culture." That's a self-contradictory statement. The proposition that there is such a thing as 'Australian culture' is by definition an affirmation of nationalism. Nationalism is simply the position that there are natural political units, typically bound together by shared history/culture/geography/political & civic norms, and sometimes ethnicity, called 'nations.' The concept of a national identity or a national culture is nationalist by definition.
Not to mention, acknowledging servicemembers is not an endorsement of any particular direction in foreign policy, so I don't think this has any genuine political valence at all. Foreign policy is decided by politicians, not servicemembers, and if you feel displeasure over certain foreign policy positions then you shouldn't take out your anger upon those who served.
I think I know what this is really about. Its about a reflexive anti-Americanism, a disdain of anything that "feels" culturally conservative (in the "Moral Foundations Theory" sense, i.e. anything that seems to appeal to the purity/loyalty/authority instincts) even when it is apolitical in nature, and all of these feelings being aggravated by the fact that the previous US Presidential Election was won by the Giant Douche rather than by the Turd Sandwich.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2017
Total posts 50
just do something real, give gold, pt status. i dont mind.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2014
Total posts 112
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
No. Let individual pilots make an announcement. As did Captain Richard de Crispigny when I was on QF2 back from London a few years ago. Veterans of WW1 returning from France were on board and the Captain made a very respectful announcement whilst in flight. On landing in Sydney he had arranged for the five gentlemen to be seated at the aerobridge just outside the aircraft and departing PAX had a chance to just shake their hands and say thank you. A very kind, respectful act by the Captain and QF. Something like this stays in the mind.
20 May 2015
Total posts 581
Captain de Crispigny's gesture was indeed an exceptionally tasteful and respectful one. I do think this is a far better war way to respect our veterans than simple rote announcements.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 92
QF
04 Apr 2014
Total posts 209
That’s correct. They must be active duty and in uniform. No special treatment for veterans.
17 Apr 2016
Total posts 15
No! Recognition of our service personnel should be generous, willingly given, and provided by the Government on behalf of the Nation. I only served as a National Serviceman, but I have five members in my close family who are presently serving. None of them would welcome being singled out for recognition in this way.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2017
Total posts 15
As ex-military, I'd rather more was done along the lines of mental health support services, financial assistance and reintegration into a different workplace environment that doesn't rely on a chain of command, etc.
I, and others, don't need a specious announcement from an organisation that doesn't understand the circumstances of service or the reasons we do it. The thought is nice, but I personally appreciate firefighters, ambulance officers, police, SES, etc, as well...just not politicians :)
Now they could stand to lose some of their travel privileges :)....
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
18 Jan 2017
Total posts 10
Wow, lot of heavy reading here folks and many opinions. As a Veteran I always wear my lapel pin with pride. Should someone recognize it usually another member of the forces, usually you've made a mate!
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jan 2017
Total posts 65
Instead of veterans I think the airlines should acknowledge when a politician is flying at tax payers expense. Maybe even set up a special lounge for such people. Oh, and offer them free upgrades and priority boarding.
QFF
03 Sep 2014
Total posts 16
no disrespect to any Veterans, however this is just a Virgin "try hard" stunt aimed to get attention and polarise opinions
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 29
I do understand the idea of recognising the service for Australia, but there are plenty of other services, such as SES, CFS, ambos, nurses among others, that serve the country.
Allegedly there are even politicians that claim to be serving Australia. However that might be an urban legend.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 595
As someone who has worked very closely with military personelle I need to ask why do they need any special treatment anywhere?
09 Aug 2011
Total posts 4
IMHO Australian Veterans, particularly wounded Vets (like the Invictus participants) are not given the recognition they deserve by way of reduced fees and costs on a whole range of services, especially government services and public acknowledgment. Having said that it's also definitely NOT the Aussie way to publicly announce "thank you for your service" which sounds empty and silly and very 'Merican.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
28 Feb 2017
Total posts 14
VA...Virgin Australia or Veterans Affairs? Most veterans I know would be embarrassed being singled out in public. As others have posted, give them Gold or Platinum status or say two free flights per year. That then becomes a "Thank you for your service" acknowledgment. This would cost VA money but would be a greater PR exercise than this nonsense.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
12 Nov 2017
Total posts 20
Nationalistic garbage, as bad as Abbot reintroducing knighthoods. There are too any deserving people in this world that could be mentioned, and whom contribute daily to this nation much more than service people will ever do so. JB, this is an idiotic decision and you deserve the flak you are receiving.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
17 Apr 2014
Total posts 16
NO. As has been stated many times above, they are part of the greater community who protect us (both here and overseas) from danger and preserve our way of life. Soldiers, Ambos, Doctors, Police, Fireees, the list is endless. The whole thing has been started as a political points scoring exercise and it should be recognised for being just that. ALL of the above people and many more are the ones that we already acknowledge for doing such a wonderful job. VA move on, you are wrong on this one.
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