FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The British Prime Minister broke protocol big time during his trip to the U.S. - he flew commercial.
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As one British reporter put it, David Cameron was "slumming it in business class" on the flight from London to Washington.
How refreshing. Cameron didn't take his own private jet, he didn't even fly first class. Turns out Cameron is actually walking the walk when it comes to fiscal austerity. Britain, like much of Europe, is in the midst of making drastic cuts to many government programs in order to keep its economy afloat.
Under normal circumstances, Prime Ministers travel on their own planes. They either charter a Boeing 747 or 767 or use military jets. But Downing Street officials say that Cameron's commercial flight saved $300,000. In the grand scheme of things, the amount isn't that significant - but the gesture is huge.
As one British official tells the newspaper The Sun: "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 Prime Minister believes it's up to him to set an example."
Are you listening, Nancy Pelosi?
Of course, having top government officials fly commercial can cause nightmares for security-types. And it's certainly not as convenient. According to The Sun, Cameron's meetings in Washington had to be scheduled around British Airways' schedule.
Never mind all that. It's just great. Imagine the money U.S. taxpayers could save if more of our lawmakers slummed it with the rest of us on commercial airplanes.
Here’s my question to you: Is there a lesson for our politicians in the British prime minister flying commercial to America?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bret writes:
Hey Jack, Perhaps if the politicians flew like us and got to work like us, they may understand "us" a little better. Unfortunately both sides of the aisle have a huge disconnect between them and us and they don't know what it feels like to be a regular person anymore.
Jeff in Minnesota writes:
It all depends, Jack. What about the security of people that ended up on the plane with him? Personally, I wouldn't want to travel with a government official that has a giant target painted on his back like the prime minister of the UK. What would the press be saying if the plane had been attacked? …It makes for great press, but it really was a stupid gesture in my book.
Wendel in Ohio writes:
I'd love to sit next to a politician on a flight. I could ask him if I could borrow a few dollars for a drink without worrying about paying him back. He'll relate.
Dennis writes:
I'd give a month's salary to say, "No breaking in line, Ms. Pelosi. You're in zone 6."
Slumming it in Coach writes:
I am nowhere near being a fan of Nancy Pelosi, but she did sit across the aisle from me in coach on a flight from Reagan National Airport to Minneapolis a couple weeks ago.
John writes:
We should applaud Mr. Cameron. Now only if our pious elected officials would follow suit. If the present security for commercial travel is good for the "common folk," then it should be good for any elected official or government employee. As they say - everyone is replaceable - that is why we have a democracy.
Chris writes:
Absolutely! And since when is business class "slumming it"? Last row of coach, maybe.
Steve writes:
Can we ask Great Britain to take us back and save us from Obama, Reid and Pelosi?