Southwest Airlines does NOT offer priority boarding for active duty military UNLESS in uniform.  The problem is, military are told by their Chain of Command make every effort NOT to wear uniform when traveling as it puts them and those around them at risk- it’s called OPSEC or operational security.  This is the same principle behind Air Marshalls not wearing a uniform.

So why does Southwest encourage this “just” to be able to get military priority boarding?  Why should active duty military get priority boarding? Besides the service they do for their country, being on call 24 hours to the Chain of Command at any moment able to deploy in harms way, they also aren’t always given time to pre-plan leave (vacation) months in advance as others may because demands internationally change daily (or by twitter feed ;-). This means the “early check in” option when buying tickets may not be applicable.  Also, they typically live hundreds if not thousands of miles away from their family.  When they get a notice of imminent death or threat to life, they are sent “Red Cross Messages”. This means they are paying a premium to fly out and typically not checking anything in but wearing the clothes on their back and praying they catch their parents or even children’s last breath. Being able to store a carryon is critical as they run from terminal to terminal to catch the next plane.

Two weeks ago that happened to me.  18 years active duty Navy and I get a call that my father may not live the next 24 hours. I’m stationed on the West Coast in Camp Pendleton and my father, 90, lived on the East Coast.  I got to my fathers deathbed 2 hours before he took his last breath. Within 3 days we said our goodbyes, secured his belongings and my brothers who live all over the world and I prepared to return to our duty stations. At 0430 EST I was awoken that my flight had been cancelled. My boarding position was B10. The customer service agent couldn’t assist so I spent $50 on a lyft to get to the terminal. I was booked the last seat- C53. When the gate agent called for “active duty in uniform” myself and 3 other active duty in civilian attire went to the gate and we were turned away.  TURNED AWAY because we are not in uniform- even when showing our active Duty Identification.  We were all in C category and as such, myself and my fellow servicemembers got on last, scrambled into aisles seats and pushed carryons anywhere we could to get on as people stared with the “please don’t sit in the aisle seat next to me” look.  I felt like a beggar.  Having just lost my father, tears streamed down my face with the “what’s next” as I spent the next 6 hours on the direct flight trying to return to my husband and children immobilized on each side by other passengers.

I’ve spoken multiples times to Southwest and asked customer service to review their policy.  They have yet to change anything.  It is imperative they don’t encourage military to break the rules just to get priority boarding. Either follow the same policies as other airlines such as Delta and United and honor those service members willing to lay down their life at a moments notice daily by offering priority boarding.  Or, take the priority boarding in uniform away all together and at least increase operational security for all those flying.