Frequent Flyer Miles Can Be Donated To Soldiers
Soldiers Required To Pay Own Way Home
Posted: 7:55 a.m. EDT October 23, 2003
BALTIMORE -- Give your miles to a GI.
That's the idea from
a Maryland congressman, who wants frequent fliers to donate their
miles to troops on leave. Democratic U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger is dubbing
the program "Operation Hero Miles."
Baltimore-Washington
International airport is the hub for GI's home for a little
R&R from Iraq.
Ruppersberger said donated miles could help the servicemen and -women get the rest of their way home, without having to shell out as much as $1,000 for a plane ticket.
The soldiers who have been granted two weeks of R&R are flown to BWI Airport by the Department of Defense and then required to pay their own way to catch connecting flights to their hometowns all across the country.
Ruppersberger says he is greatly concerned about the financial burden placed on the soldiers trying to spend some quality time with family and friends.
He's
asking airlines to set up a pool for the donated miles.
Delta Airlines started the program where citizens can donate their frequent flyer miles to a "SkyMiles for Heroes" program where soldiers can use them to fly to their hometowns for free, but Delta doesn't fly everywhere these soldiers need to go.
Southwest says they will participate. Other airlines are considering
the proposal.
Congressman Ruppersberger has written a letter to the presidents of the major airlines encouraging them to start similar programs.
"I challenge other airlines to set up their own 'Operation Hero Miles' programs. Our men and women risking their lives serving our country in Iraq deserve our support. You can help American troops travel home to spend quality time with their loved ones without worrying about how much it will cost," Ruppersberger said.
Ruppersberger's staff is donating over 67,000 frequent flyer miles for this cause.
For more information about this issue and links to all of the airlines, go to Ruppersberger's Web site at www.dutch.house.gov.
Baltimore-Washington
International airport is the hub for GI's home for a little
R&R from Iraq.
Ruppersberger said donated miles could help the servicemen and -women get the rest of their way home, without having to shell out as much as $1,000 for a plane ticket.
The soldiers who have been granted two weeks of R&R are flown to BWI Airport by the Department of Defense and then required to pay their own way to catch connecting flights to their hometowns all across the country.
Ruppersberger says he is greatly concerned about the financial burden placed on the soldiers trying to spend some quality time with family and friends.
He's
asking airlines to set up a pool for the donated miles.
Delta Airlines started the program where citizens can donate their frequent flyer miles to a "SkyMiles for Heroes" program where soldiers can use them to fly to their hometowns for free, but Delta doesn't fly everywhere these soldiers need to go.
Southwest says they will participate. Other airlines are considering
the proposal.
Congressman Ruppersberger has written a letter to the presidents of the major airlines encouraging them to start similar programs.
"I challenge other airlines to set up their own 'Operation Hero Miles' programs. Our men and women risking their lives serving our country in Iraq deserve our support. You can help American troops travel home to spend quality time with their loved ones without worrying about how much it will cost," Ruppersberger said.
Ruppersberger's staff is donating over 67,000 frequent flyer miles for this cause.
For more information about this issue and links to all of the airlines, go to Ruppersberger's Web site at www.dutch.house.gov.
Copyright 2003 by Channel3000.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
