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Thousands more troops on leave from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be able to fly home for free after a little lobbying by U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint.
Kildee, whose district includes parts of Bay County, has convinced Northwest Airlines to participate in the Operation Hero Miles program, a Kildee spokesman said.
The program helps soldiers with high-priced, last-minute travel arrangements, allowing citizens to donate their frequent flier miles to troops flying home on military leave.
The military flies soldiers on leave to airports in Baltimore, Dallas and Atlanta. Operation Hero Miles allows the troops to get free connecting flights to other destinations.
Soldiers were having trouble connecting because Northwest Airlines wasn't participating in the program, which began in October, said Kildee Press Secretary Peter Karafotas.
So the congressman called Northwest President Doug Steenland and convinced him to participate, Karafotas said.
Kildee, a Northwest flier, donated 50,000 of his WorldPerks miles to the program on Tuesday.
WorldPerks members wishing to donate miles can call 1-800-327-2881.
Those wishing to donate miles from other airlines should call the individual airline directly; the military distributes the miles to soldiers on a lottery system, Karafotas said.
In September, the Pentagon started giving soldiers stationed in Iraq two-week leaves in the largest rest and relaxation program since the Vietnam War.
The miles also are a help to soldiers on emergency leave for births, deaths or illness. The military doesn't pay the cost of travel for emergency leaves.
More than 470 soldiers are arriving in the United States every day on leave from fighting overseas.
So far, more than 278 million miles have been donated to the program by the airlines and travelers, enough for more than 11,300 round trip flights, Karafotas said.
Other airlines participating in Operation Hero Miles include: AirTran, Alaska, American, ATA, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest, Northwest, Pan Am, Southwest, United and US Airways.
- Jeff Kart covers the environment and politics for The Times. He can be reached at 894-9639. |
