The New York Post ran a story about how Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was caught flying first class. I wanted to discuss the topic of flying first class and the perception of luxury more broadly.
It is being reported that AOC flew American Airlines first class from Austin to New York. She was on AA1405 and it was operated by Boeing. The story is highly sensationalized.
“Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ditched the commoners in coach and cozied up to elites in first class on an American Airlines flight, avoiding the left wing altogether for a spacious seat closer to the cockpit after a weekend of stumping for comrades in the Lone Star state, an eyewitness told The Post.”
A tipster notes that most people didn't realize she was there, as she wore a large mask and covered her face. The witness explains:
“I don’t sense anyone in first class knew she was there or someone of her celebrity was there. She was also pretty incognito.”
The story talks about how AOC is enjoying his life. No government funds were used on this flight, according to an AOC spokesman.
I'm pretty moderate politically. I'm not a fan of many of the policies of AOC, so I'll just leave it at that. With that out of the way, I think it's interesting to discuss whether someone flying first class domestically is even an issue.
I agree with you that the optics are not good. I think they're a lot better than when AOC attended the Met Gala, but I can appreciate that someone who is a person of principle wouldn't want to sit in first class.
I think it's important to be practical sometimes, which is why I want to address this topic. There is nothing about domestic first class that is lavish or luxurious. She will be enjoying that food. The fine things in life are hardly enjoyed by American Airlines in first class.
We don't know how her first class ticket was paid for.
It shouldn't be a big deal that politicians on both sides fly private jets around to campaign rallies, which has a much worse environmental impact than a domestic first class seat?
If you buy a first class ticket for $200 more, you will sit in that seat for four hours. I think my valuation of domestic first class is worth about an extra $50 per hour, so the math checks out. If you're not checking bags, it would be free in first class but not in the economy.
The reality is that first class can be justified on the basis of being productive. Most people can't work in a tight economy. If the person in front of you reclines, you can open your laptop screen. Paying a premium of $50 per hour to sit in a seat where you can have the space to work is just being smart.
I get that the optics aren't necessarily great. It seems a bit much to criticize someone for being in a seat with more room. American Airlines first class is the same as Sprit Airlines.
I sat next to Grace Mugabe in Singapore Airlines first class as she traveled with her team shoveling down champagne and caviar while people in her country were starving. That is a major problem, and disgusts me. I don't think a turkey sandwich on a domestic first class flight is worth the same level of ire.
She went to the Met Gala and was called a hypocrite. I think that is a reasonable conclusion. She is living a lavish lifestyle for flying American Airlines first class. I don't follow.
A big deal is being made of New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez flying American Airlines first class on a domestic flight. I can appreciate how hypocritical her attending the Met Gala is, but I don't feel the same way about a domestic first class flight.
It's not luxurious to fly first class within the United States, but it's just about having a bit more space, which is the difference between being able to stay productive and not. Someone else could have paid for the ticket, or she could have received a complimentary upgrade.
What do you think about domestic first class? Everyone is welcome to sound off, but please be respectful.
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