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I am a retired CWO now working in the oil and gas industry I was flying back from London with a flight change in Newark to Houston. I was in first row of business class sipping a vodka when a solider in camys gets on and heads back to coach. So I asked the flight attendant if it would be OK if I changed seats with that solider in coach. She says, that would be wonderful and don't worry we'll bring you your free drinks which really wasn't a worry to me but fine.

So I sit down in coach next to another oil and gas guy. A lady behind me leans over and says, you just switched seats with that army guy didn't you? I said, no big deal, but she says, I have these drink coupons so let me buy you a drink, what’ll you have? I told her Sky vodka and started to talking to the oil and gas guy. Well apparently she was traveling with a group - all of whom had drink tickets, so not long after we got airborne I had Sky bottles lined up all the way across my seat-back tray. Wouldn't you know the oil and gas guy was a practicing Muslim and didn't drink. So I'm doing my best to get through the Sky when here comes the business class flight attendant with a tumbler full of iced vodak and apologies for taking so long to get to me. Thank the Lord I had a ride at the airport. I never got to talk to the soldier but I figure I owe some grunt a drink after that trip.

You know, I recall years ago when I was at gate taking a flight out that I noticed a guy in fatigues waiting to get on. I talked to him a bit and found out he was returning from overseas duty.

I made up my mind to exchange my first class upgrade for a coach seat so he could travel first and asked the jetway attendant to arrange it.

The airline attendant told me that she could not.Wish I could recall what airline it was.

I was mad on that day and still am.