Treasury Secretary Yellin flying to Michigan...in Coach

[brooklynite]

Link to tweet

(Embraer jet: 2 X 2 seating)

[spooky3]

1. It's less than a 2 hour flight from DCA. Not

too long to sit in coach.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Short flights often don't have first class.

[brooklynite]

11. An Embraer jet ususally has 9 FC seats (2+1)

[former9thward]

3. Where is her security detail sitting?

She has Secret Service protection.

Additionally, the Secret Service has been directed to protect certain Cabinet-level officials -- including the secretary of Homeland Security and secretary of treasury --


https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/protecting-us-government-leaders-security-analysis/story?id=66258938

I am never impressed when people at that level try to be "regular people". They are not and should not act out the part. No one believes it.

If she really is working by "looking at materials" she can't do it effectively in coach. No one can.

[Ms. Toad]

4. I guess I'm no one, then.

Until I retired, I regularly worked in coach - sometimes on my computer (editing student papers, or contracts when I was doing legal work, rather than teaching law), sometimes with paper and pen. Not sure why you believe it is impossible.

[former9thward]

5. I did not use the word "impossible" now did I?

Why are you putting words in my post that don't exist? Can't you disagree without making up words to attack?

I don't care who you are you can be more effective in business class than coach sitting between two people. If you don't believe that why don't you do all that work in your office in the same amount of space? Also you arrive at your destination for meetings much more refreshed and not catching every disease your seatmates have.

[Ms. Toad]

6. Asserting that "no one can" is pretty close to asserting it is impossible.

Being able to work effectively doesn't mean the setting is ideal, or that I would choose that work setting over any other. It just means I don't waste the time when I am sitting in coach when I can use the time to grade student papers - or to give my clients their money's worth (rather than having them just pay me to sit there for hours)

Business class is considerably more expensive than coach. I don't throw my personal money away on a more comfortable seat (and there is very little additional protection from disease). And when I'm traveling for business I don't charge my clients to fly me business class.

[former9thward]

7. No offense but you are not a high level Cabinet official.

Although you seem to try to compare yourself to one. And you don't have a Secret Service detail. I have never heard a taxpayer making a complaint that senior U.S. officials should save money by flying coach. Maybe you are in a different world.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Your comment: "No one can."

I'm not comparing myself to Yellin - your assertion was that no one can work effectively in coach. Last I checked, I exist - and can (and do) regularly work effectively in coach.

I made no suggestions at all about what Yellin should, or should not, do.

[former9thward]

9. And you deliberately left off the sentence before.

Where I used the word "effectively". If fact you went further and substituted the word "impossible". Everyone can see what you did.

[Ms. Toad]

15. Projection much? You've been putting words in my mouth this entire conversation.

I have made absolutely no comparison between Yellin and me, yet you have repeatedly asserted I am comparing myself to her.

My response is solely to your initial assertion that "no one can" work effectively in coach - which is an assertion that it is impossible for anyone to work effectively in coach.

While your comment "no one can" incluces Yellin in your belief about working in coach, it also includes every other person who ever travels coach on a plane. Asserting that I can, and do, work effectively on a plan is a response to your blanket assertion that working effectively in coach is impossible, no matter who you are.

[Ms. Toad]

14. You didn't say "no high level Cabinet official can." You said "no one can." n/t

[brooklynite]

12. It's not considerably more expensive in that airlines are usually happy to offer upgrades

Delta is the US Govt contract carrier for flights out of Washington. I suspect they'd be happy to if seats were available.

[Ms. Toad]

13. That is not my experience,

unless coach is oversold and there are empty seats in business. (My comments on expense are addressed to my situation - a private citizen traveling for business or pleasure - not to that of a high level government employee.)

[brooklynite]

16. I'm guessing you are also not a medallion passenger.

If First class seats are available (they frequency are) they’re offered to elite (Gold/Platinum/Diamond) frequent fliers. They could also offer them to senior Government officials.

[Ms. Toad]

17. Correct - I'm not -

But the post to which I was referring wasn't an observation that was limited to medallion passengers. It was an assertion that "no one" can work effectively in coach. Not "no medallian passengers." Not "no government official." It was an unqualified "no one."

So my experience about the price differential between coach and business/first class is relevant to why I (personally) work in coach, rather than upgrading.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. Maybe she had to take what was available.

[former9thward]

19. A person who is 5th in the line of succession and who is guarded by the Secret Service does not

"have to take what is available" anymore than Joe Biden does. She can take military aircraft (or other federal non-military aircraft) anytime she wishes and she certainly can go business class on the many regular daily commercial flights between Detroit and DC.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

22. Did you ask her?

[former9thward]

23. No, did you?

I didn't post the OP. Are opinions not allowed here?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

25. No, I'm not privy to her plans.

I see the picture in the OP and I see speculation about why she's sitting there.

[cbdo2007]

27. Probably that giant dude between her and the camera.

[dalton99a]

10. 2017:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/09/steven-mnuchin-honeymoon-plane
Mnuchin Asked to Use $25,000/Hour Government Jet for His Honeymoon
The Treasury secretary wanted a taxpayer-funded plane to charter him and his wife to France, Italy, and Scotland.
By Bess Levin
September 14, 2017

[former9thward]

20. And the request was withdrawn after consulting with the White House.

[WarGamer]

21. The same one who was "surprised by inflation"

When that's like Job #1 of the Fed.

[roamer65]

24. I'd ask for her autograph on a dollar bill.

[musette_sf]

26. I rode in coach with the Speaker SFO-DCA

who then was the Leader. She had the middle seat, too.