British PM leads by example: Flies commercial from London to D.C.

I wish more politicians led by example like this. Almost all want their constituents to bear the brunt of all means of savings but still live and travel like kings. Nice to see this story for a change:

Cameron flew commercial to DC!... [thesun.co.uk]

CASH-CONSCIOUS David Cameron flew out to meet President Barack Obama last night on a regular BA flight - astonishing other passengers.

For the first time on a major official visit, the Premier turned down chartering his own plane to make the two-day trip to Washington DC.

And he even spurned First Class tickets to travel in the far cheaper Business Class. The move saved £200,000 in costs, Downing Street officials said.

Passengers were aghast when Mr Cameron and his team of officials boarded the plane to Dulles airport and took seats beside them.

In the past, PMs travelling on long overseas trips have always chartered a Boeing 747 or 767 - at a cost of £300,000 - or used RAF jets.

It is Mr Cameron's latest attempt to lead from the front on sweeping spending cuts across government to pay off Britain's crippling £155billion deficit.

But flying commercial meant meetings in the US capital had to be arranged around the British Airways flight timetable.

And his money-saving drives are a security headache for his police bodyguards. Appearing in public more often may encourage terrorists to launch a chance attack on him, they have argued.

The move was also met with surprise by American officials, where President Obama travels everywhere on Air Force One - his own 2,000 sq ft Boeing 747.

A No10 source said: "When we are asking the country to tighten their belts as much as we are it's very hard to justify hiring big jets to swan around the world.

"It may make his travel a little harder, but the PM believes it's up to him to set an example."

While I commend him I do have to agree that flying coach and taking the tube instead of chartering a jet and a motorcade will result in higher security risks. Hopefully he doesn't get taken out while he is saving them a few pounds.

And also, when Obama, and to be fair other Presidents as well, fly Air Force One it's not just the one plane that goes right? There is also the spare plane that goes with them right incase AF1 breaks down?

Quote from LivninSC : And also, when Obama, and to be fair other Presidents as well, fly Air Force One it's not just the one plane that goes right? There is also the spare plane that goes with them right incase AF1 breaks down?

Correct, 2 identical 747's go.

I have no problem with AF 1, but I do have problems with other members of our gov't and their use (demands) of private jet and/or private military planes.

Nancy Pelosi's abuse of aircraft and crews is well documented.

btw title's misleading
he flew business class, not coach/economy

Quote from LivninSC : While I commend him I do have to agree that flying coach and taking the tube instead of chartering a jet and a motorcade will result in higher security risks. Hopefully he doesn't get taken out while he is saving them a few pounds.

I agree that security is an issue, but if the airports are as safe as everyone claims, getting on to a commercial flight should not be an issue, unless someone wants to spray 3 ounces of shampoo in his eyes. I doubt that someone deranged would even know he was going to be on the flight till he showed up (including the pilot) and that his security detailed had a pretty safe buffer zone around him.

Seriously though, all jobs carry some element of risk...police, teachers, firefighters, cab drivers, etc. If you want the job, you have to accept that your safety isn't absolute. I really applaud any Head of State that says he is willing to put himself at risk to live by example, rather than asking everyone else to sacrafice while he is catered and pampered like a king.

Quote from azianai : btw title's misleading he flew business class, not coach/economy

Point taken. I will change the title. Still infinitely cheaper than chartered.

Maybe he's making up for the 21 grand he claimed as expenses for the mortgage for one of his three homes.

I think this is a poor example to be setting. The whole "chartered flights are bad" thing has become so overblown since the auto-bailout thing. In many positions, a persons time is extremely valuable. Any time spent in the airport/on the runway is a huge waste, and it can be worth it to charter a flight - especially traveling with a bunch of people, security crew, etc. Even before considering security risks, it makes sense for the PM to fly chartered. This was a political move, not a logical move.

EDIT - He flew into farking Dulles instead of DCA, another huge waste of time. For those who are unfamiliar, Dulles is 30 miles away from the white house (just to use a well-known landmark in DC). DCA is under 5 miles away.

Quote from discoverEdeals : I think this is a poor example to be setting. The whole "chartered flights are bad" thing has become so overblown since the auto-bailout thing. In many positions, a persons time is extremely valuable. Any time spent in the airport/on the runway is a huge waste, and it can be worth it to charter a flight - especially traveling with a bunch of people, security crew, etc. Even before considering security risks, it makes sense for the PM to fly chartered. This was a political move, not a logical move.

A political move that saved Britian £200,000 to £300,000. I wish more politicians would do political moves that save the U.S. taxpayers like that as well.

Quote from Hurricane : Cameron flew commercial to DC!... [thesun.co.uk] And he even spurned First Class tickets to travel in the far cheaper Business Class. The move saved £200,000 in costs, Downing Street officials said. [B]Passengers were aghast when Mr Cameron and his team of officials boarded the plane to Dulles airport and took seats beside them. In the past, PMs travelling on long overseas trips have always chartered a Boeing 747 or 767 - at a cost of £300,000 - or used RAF jets.

Quote from discoverEdeals : I think this is a poor example to be setting. The whole "chartered flights are bad" thing has become so overblown since the auto-bailout thing. In many positions, a persons time is extremely valuable. Any time spent in the airport/on the runway is a huge waste, and it can be worth it to charter a flight - especially traveling with a bunch of people, security crew, etc. Even before considering security risks, it makes sense for the PM to fly chartered. This was a political move, not a logical move. EDIT - He flew into farking Dulles instead of DCA, another huge waste of time. For those who are unfamiliar, Dulles is 30 miles away from the white house (just to use a well-known landmark in DC). DCA is under 5 miles away.

Firstly, as most Head of States are purely figure-head, their "time" isn't that valuable IMO. Sorry but it sucks he may have to wait an addition 60 mins and miss a ribbon cutting ceremony in Leeds or a photo-op in downtown London.

Secondly, did BA fly into DCA at the time of his convienence? I go down to the Miami Hurricane games every year and usually fly into West Palm Beach (90 mins away from the stadium) as opposed to Ft. Lauderdale (15 mins from the airport) due specifically to costs and travel times.

Quote from Hurricane : But flying commercial meant meetings in the US capital had to be arranged around the British Airways flight timetable.

[QUOTE=Hurricane;31311170]A political move that saved Britian £200,000 to £300,000. I wish more politicians would do political moves that save the U.S. taxpayers like that as well.
Firstly, as most Head of States are purely figure-head, their "time" isn't that valuable IMO. Sorry but it sucks he may have to wait an addition 60 mins and miss a ribbon cutting ceremony in Leeds or a photo-op in downtown London.


Cameron is the head of the British government not "Head of State."

Quote from Hurricane : Secondly, did BA fly into DCA at the time of his convienence?

DCA is pretty limited, due to security concerns - never mind logistics, as to the types of flights it can take - especially international ones.

1. 1,250 mile perimeter restriction (with some exceptions)
2. The only non-US originating flights come from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa - and from what I've read it took some major haggling on the part of Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz to keep these routes due to security concerns.
3. DCA doesn't have Customs and Border Protection facilities - whereas Dulles does. Since those three (and most other) Canadian airports have pre-clearance facilities, it doesn't matter.

So it would be a giant hassle for a flight from Heathrow to land at DCA.

Quote from Howlader : DCA is pretty limited, due to security concerns - never mind logistics, as to the types of flights it can take - especially international ones. 1. 1,250 mile perimeter restriction (with some exceptions) 2. The only non-US originating flights come from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa - and from what I've read it took some major haggling on the part of Air Canada/Air Canada Jazz to keep these routes due to security concerns. 3. DCA doesn't have Customs and Border Protection facilities - whereas Dulles does. Since those three (and most other) Canadian airports have pre-clearance facilities, it doesn't matter. So it would be a giant hassle for a flight from Heathrow to land at DCA.

A giant hassle for a public flight to land at DCA - which is why a chartered flight would have been perfect.

Quote from discoverEdeals : A giant hassle for a public flight to land at DCA - which is why a chartered flight would have been perfect.

Yeah maybe? But you'd still have CBP issues.

I guess with a charter flight, it wouldn't be that many people - so you could just land the plane, have the CBP agents go on board and do their thing.

Quote from Howlader : Yeah maybe? But you'd still have CBP issues. I guess with a charter flight, it wouldn't be that many people - so you could just land the plane, have the CBP agents go on board and do their thing.

with charters, you have CBP agents there on site for customs.

well, if publicity stunt helps, then let that publicity stunt be.