Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg invited The Washington Post on a United Airlines flight with him from Washington Dulles to Denver and ended up in a middle seat on a Boeing 777-200 in economy class. Along the way we learn of many of his in-flight preferences…and his plans to make this “the period when we did the biggest expansion in passenger rights since deregulation.”
In-Flight Commentary From Pete Buttigieg On United Airlines
A fascinating story by Hannah Sampson of the WaPo provides us with a trip report from a flight with Secretary Buttigieg from IAD-DEN on a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 (UA1366).
Buttigieg hosted Sampson for a story on his plan to improve air rights for passengers, but the story is intertwined with anecdotes from his flight and his own travel preferences. Those include:
- Broken Wi-Fi (I had to laugh…that’s the #2 complaint I hear about United after the poor in-flight food and yet I’ve racked up a long streak of flights in which the wi-fi has worked very well)
- His favorite in-flight snack is the stroopwafel, but since that is not in the current United line-up he chose an apple-mango bar (and was told that choice had run out and ultimately had to settle on a chocolate quinoa snack)
- “Passengers in a middle seat should get both armrests” (that becomes tricker on a 777 in which middle seat passengers in the center section share an armrest)
- He prefers his window shade “more up than down. … I can sleep even with it up. I respect that some people need it to be dark.”
- On this flight, he ended up in the middle seat of the middle section (the 777 has a 3-4-3 layout in economy)
- But he prefers a window seat (“Ordinarily, window seat. Unless it’s a long flight, in which case aisle.”)
- “He can wax poetic about the restaurants and shops at O’Hare” and is a frequent-flier junkie
- “The longer the flight the better”
- He dreamed of being a pilot as a kid and proposed to his husband at Chicago O’Hare Airport
He buys economy class tickets and is often upgraded, but turns down the upgrades (he gives them to his tallest staff member) and flies in coach.
“I’m not going to learn that much about passenger protection if I’m sitting up in first class.”
His biggest travel pet pet peeve?
“Feet. Feet belong on the ground. Under the seat in front of you. … Shoes are on. If you have socks, socks should remain on.”
Amen!
On recline:
“If you’re behind somebody who reclines, you also have the opportunity to recline. But what’s not okay is a sudden dramatic recline, especially during a mealtime.”
I’d go further and say you have an absolute right to recline except during meal times, when the person behind you can request you not to recline and you must respect that request, even if you are skipping the meal and trying to sleep.
All this surrounds the backdrop of Buttigieg’s overarching goal:
“I really want this to be known as the period when we did the biggest expansion in passenger rights since deregulation, and I think we can hit that mark.”
That remains a work in progress, like the Wi-Fi on his United flight.
image: @secretarypete / Instagram
And I always thought of him as a power bottom.
What does his sexuality have to do with any of this? Grow Up
It’s quite literally the only reason he has the job.
Same with the Intersectional Press Secretary.
And the VP
I’m gay and I have to agree with JH here. The mayor of a town smaller than Waco, TX or Rochester, MN.
Sure he was at McKinsey but he didn’t even make associate partner, much less partner. It’s not like he was some stellar corporate guy.
I have nothing against him and he seems smart but he’s not done much to distinguish himself in his career aside from being the gay guy in a democratic primary.
I don’t know, maybe running for President of the United States, winning a primary and having millions of US voters across the United States might have had something to do with it.
Would you like to compare Buttigieg’s resume to ANY Trump Cabinet member? Not to mention cabinet members that lasted more than 2 years?
He is competent, even if you don’t agree with his policies. That he is homosexual is just the icing on the political cake.
He’s not in the middle, he’s on the “bottom” – get it?
No offense to power bottoms of course.
FWIW my reply was to Proschwit.
I figured, good sir, as was mine.
Everything. Why do you think he has this role?
@ cairns
Well he knows an Independent from a Democrat, as you do not. Buttigieg is a Rhodes Scholar, and not a racist homophobic vacuous individual that you are. Pathetic.
That’s right. That person is the kind who could give Asians a bad name. How would s/he feel if others tease him /her about his/her race as he/she teases the Transport Secretary about his sexual orientation ?
H/eSh/e would not care because s/he/e is not a whiny little bitch like you.
This kind of insidious homophobia is disgusting.
I thank god everyday for not being an American living in the US which such overspread bigotry, clichés, hatred, insinuations and toxic masculinity atmosphere.
We will be fine without you.
We need more rational honorable citizens like you sir.
United “Megabus” 777-200s have always had the most issues with Wifi ime, much more so than any other of their aircraft (which are mostly reliable now, except the 777-300ERs which I’ve still found to be hit or miss)
She didn’t “end up” there, she clearly made it for herself.
Oh, and the name of the United snitch is Laura Ranta.
Please Pete can we make proper footwear and foot placement mandatory?
Pete would be the better candidate for the Democratic nomination as opposed to Joe.
I may not agree with Pete’s politics, but Pete is aware, alert, excellent communicator, articulates his views, etc.
Joe gives voters concern, apprehension, & anxiety.
Joe could force those straddling the fence to vote for “Fake News”, even if convicted.
I knew he was a good guy but didn’t realize just how good. He’s on the front lines trying to make things better for us. That’s not all that common in D.C.. I hope he runs for president again. If this is any indication of his drive and philosophy he’d be amazing.
I get your sarcasm.
No sarcasm. Since everything I said was completely accurate why would you think that? The guy is clearly trying to make things better for us. Why would you prefer otherwise?
Slow clap for Mayor Pete. He’s like, what, 4 feet tall? Heck, a middle seat in row 38 of an AA 737MAX is as spacious for him as domestic first class is for me. Was that mean? Well, when you do publicity stunts in order to virtue signal, you’ll get crap from me. Especially a guy who is infamous for spending $55000 of tax money last year alone on personal trips. Don’t fall for this excrement.
And yes, he got the job for being gay. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even been a delegate at the 2020 DNC (remotely, of course).
To clarify…Mayor Pete spent $55k+ of tax money for personal trips on PRIVATE jets. To be fair, it was since 2021, not just last year. But still….
https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/pete-buttigieg-has-spent-55k-in-tax-dollars-on-private-jet-travel-since-2021-report-says-department-of-transportation-secretary
That makes me angry, too!
From your own article
“Buttigieg’s travel expenses of $58,882 were relatively small compared to his predecessor, Elaine Chao, who spent nearly $99,000.”
Makes me angry that you could trust anything printed from that Sinclair Broadcasting station which is about as honest and truthful as Fox News.
Didn’t even bother to read that article did you?
“The majority of times the FAA aircraft was used actually saved taxpayers money, including in instances that were required for exceptional scheduling needs.”
He is doing an excellent job. He know what it is like from the Consumer standpoint and long with the national system. The last Sec of transport had a conflict of interest with her family China shipping company
Don’t forget the secretary before last, who resigned in disgrace after only flying first class or in a private jet.
Standing up for airline passengers means bailing out the airlines every 10 years.
This is a fair point. Take a look at Canada which has strong pax rights, we only have two airlines as the rest cannot keep afloat.
Of those 2, one is propped up by the government and both airlines a deep in collusion with each other.
That said, as a Canadian pax who’s had the benefit of the protections, they are appreciated to a degree.
@Terry…if passengers want more….they can pay for whatever they need. Why is these issues for the US Gov’t to control? Except for Delta just about every airline is losing money and a HUGE factor is the amount of time/fuel waste because ATC is understaffed. Let’s focus on costing the airlines more while they drown. Eventually..as usual there will be bailouts and tax payers will pay anyway…it is a stupid and vicious cycle. If we want flying to have deeper and deeper govt control…we should go back to regulating air travel.. I hear the food was wonderful, the crashes were plenty and the cost was 10x higher.
Would any of our grandparents believe us if you told them 50 years ago this guy and the VP got their jobs because they both became famous for s#cking c#ck? And that only one is female? Oh how the world has changed.
Sure they heard about Nero in history books but for the most part these things weren’t discussed until the 80’s when some guy F’s a monkey and they started rotting away.
Did 5th grade let out early?
Did your 5th grade teacher or your uncle suck you off for Ice Cream? Obviously you liked it enough to keep taking c#ck in your life and keep trying to justify it as normal.
Dave,
Our grandparents would not have believed a president that suggested grabbing women by the pu$$y could have been elected either. These are indeed different times
I agree, instead they elected a President 4 times whose wife enjoyed eating p#ssy. Only difference is the press at that time refused to expose it.
Imagine the hair she was spitting out!
You made me snort out my wine. Hey Eleanor was just fine. And hubby was having an affair with someone. I found the letters in a burned house, years later in my neighborhood!
The man makes me sick. A failed junior mayor, a “hit all the buttons” DEI nominee (homo, etc.) and one who really knows nothing about transportation. I wish we could nominate a true transportation/airline/etc. professional for such a role- not someone who clicks a color, sexual or otherwise social marker. It’s an incredibly important position and it needs someone of stature who can do more than sit in a coach seat and whine about an armrest. Much less a male who takes weeks off to “breastfeed”.
Obama was right- to paraphrase; Biden can screw virtually anything up.
And he has.
Oh he knows a lot about trains, his ass has taken more than a few. Luckily for him he was born a couple decades too late, otherwise he would have rotten away with the monkey disease.
Rumor has it he prefers the slimline seats, with less padding, for flying over the Colorado mountains and the turbulence.
Interesting piece. Pete seems to enjoy the job of transportation secretary. I think I would too. Though I think it’s entirely reasonable that he fly paid J when he’s working. I know it’s all for show and optics, but I think Cabinet members flying commercial should have the extra space to work in-flight.
Yikes. Never realized Matt’s audience was so dominated by resentful old gas bags who never knew success, so now they have to spew bile online and blame ‘DEI’ – whatever that means- for their own failure in life. So funny that an article about an airplane would trigger such a deluge of hate about *checks comments again* anything but. The worms ! The eat your brain
You want their definition of DEI (which they’ll never admit even to themselves) is when mediocre or less than mediocre white cis men aren’t getting all the good jobs.
Sounds like ET is a ‘ol gasbag who’s got a worm in his brain. He professes to not know what DEI means. Or even more sadly, maybe he really doesn’t.
Go to the ER ET. They can help.
At least I hope so.
@ cairns
You are the racist homophobic vitriolic vacuous gas bag he is referring to. Try to keep up. I know that’s difficult for you but please try. You waste everyone’s time.
Nice article giving him bonus points for being good guy. Would have voted for him over Biden, but Rep.
I might have also. Democrat here.
To rule the people, he must walk among them.
Oh give it up Maryland. Most of us aren’t afraid (as you obviously are) t0 say we’ve had a homosexual experience.
I don’t dislike Butterbutt because he’s gay. It’s the fact that he uses it to take advantage of losers like you and does so well at it. You think he deserves an advantage because he takes it up the bum.
I don’t.
HaHaHaHaHaHa. So you’re saying a ridiculously smart person, a Rhodes Scholar, a military intelligence officer got the job, from taking an advantage? Please stop your foolishness it is unbecoming. Re-read your earlier comments. And good night!
“Ridiculously smart” LOL
Chi Hsuan,
His roommate was Colin Jost. I’m certain ridiculous attics occurred. Seriously he is intelligent and could be pulling in the dough from many corporations. ps I admire your wit & intelligence so Wtf do I know.
Maryland,
I wasn’t trying to insult you, and I appreciate that you like my commentary. Quite frankly, this blog would not be nearly as enjoyable without disagreements and people with which to argue.
I was just making light of his supposed intelligence. I have heard this talked about frequently, that he is a very smart guy with all sorts of academic accomplishments. Yet I just don’t see it in practice. He does not strike me as particularly bright or articulate. I have not heard of any major accomplishments in his political career that differentiate him above a typical bureaucrat or politician.
So I cannot help but laugh in bewilderment when I see these bizarre, sycophantic panegyrics like Stuart’s that praise him as the modern Abraham Lincoln. He is not a great communicator, nor has he shown any vision or innovative thinking. He is a typical democrat whose hype is entirely driven by the dinosaur media, and largely because of his sexual orientation.
Read the whole article, and maybe you’ll be a little less angry.
The secretary did, however, more often opt for commercial travel. He used commercial aircraft for 57 trips or 82.6%.
…
“The exceptions have been when the Department’s career ethics officials, who have served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, determined that the use of a 9-seat FAA aircraft would be either more cost effective or should be approved for exceptional scheduling or security reasons. The majority of times the FAA aircraft was used actually saved taxpayers money, including in instances that were required for exceptional scheduling needs.”
I guess this is your blog and your rules, but honestly some of the comments allowed here are truly profane and uncalled for, but hey I chose to click and can choose not to read in the future
I want to puke after reading the hateful drivel here, most of it is worst than the comments you read on the Post.
Agreed.
Pete is one of the most admirable men and politicians I have ever witnessed in my life. I am astounded at his ability to communicate and be amongst us in a way that is reaching and inclusive.
He knew well what he was doing running for President in 2020. He gained a profile for a political future he deserves. While most come with baggage and hate, he came with a vision and intellect. He knew exactly what this would lead to, where he is now, and his future positioning as the face of American politics in the coming decades.
Trump can posture all he wants. He is not the future. He is a blink in history and win or lose in November will be forgotten over time. Pete, he is different. He is the Abraham Lincoln of our modern times.
That’s really funny. Thanks for the laugh.
@ Stuart
Well said. The future and Buttigieg can bring redemption to a world I am often lost to recognize.
He is the Abraham Lincoln of our times? Really?
OK, you forgot your medication again, makes sense now
I think Stuart has been self medicating from his liquor cabinet. One would have to before writing something that silly.
Or he’s a better troll than me.
I guess homophobia and racism aren’t anything to be ashamed of anymore — both by those spewing it, and by sites like this one tolerating it. How sad.
We don’t censor opinions we disagree with, comrade. Sorry…
What is it with Aarons and being fascists lmao
I agree all opinions should be allowed, but the Dave Edwards comment that if he was around 20 years earlier he would have died off with the monkey virus was just stunning in how disgusting he is. That’s far beyond “allowing differing opinions”, and I’m only assuming you’re leaving the most disgusting of comments here because any engagement must be good engagement in your book.
Grow some skin and get over it.
Agree with censorship but why the communist insinuation ?
Also Dave Edward’s’ Uncle comments are particularly vile.
I guess the article in The Guardian yesterday is too sophisticated for the children leaving childish comments on this thread. It was about him taking on hidden fees that the airlines apply. He is an extremely well educated, well rounded individual that articulates his abilities in action and verse…….Listen, watch and learn. Be apart of the solution not just a mud slinger.
Can we have this guy running for the president instead of Biden, please?
Fudge packer 2024
“He buys economy class tickets and is often upgraded, but turns down the upgrades”
If he is going to turn down the upgrades anyhow, he should be crediting his UA flights to some other * Alliance program.