NewsLetter

NEWSLETTER #2 – June, 2026

“June is busting out all over as stated in the famous song by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein !! in 1958. This month plans are being made for travel and vacations during the coming summer months. This was an active month for Eastern Airlines with summer travel and great deals throughout the Eastern system. And, as we recall June of 1972 was the month that Eastern introduced the “If You Had Wings” theme exhibit at the newly opened Disney World.

#1 - If You Had Wings opened to the public in June 1972, when Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was eight months old. It was the first new attraction that wasn't merely delayed a few weeks from the October 1971 grand opening. For fifteen years, If You Had Wings hosted millions of Magic Kingdom visitors - spinning them through a loud and happening tour of various vacation spots serviced by Eastern Airlines, the attraction's sponsor and the official airline of WDW from 1970 to 1987. The ride accomplished its task free of charge (during an era when, until 1980, most Kingdom rides required separate admission tickets) and often with less than a minute's wait.

In June 1987, If You Had Wings saw its last guests. Eastern had withdrawn its WDW sponsorship due to financial problems, which called for several changes to the attraction. Its next incarnation, called If You Could Fly, opened later that month. If You Could Fly was just an "alternate" version of its former self ... the ride was physically much the same but the old music and references to Eastern were missing. The song lacked the charm of the original and invited disappointing comparisons. If You Could Fly closed in January 1989. After that, almost everything visually inherent to If You Had Wings and If You Could Fly was destroyed and removed from the building's interior as trash. By the time Dreamflight (sponsored by Delta Airlines) opened there in June 1989, If You Had Wings was a memory with another attraction built around its track. A funhouse of excitement, warmth and innocence was lost to the unrelenting march of progress. If that sounds melodramatic, spare yourself further irritation and find another website!

I might add to the above, my very good childhood friend, Raymond Nau was Eastern’s first on-site representative at WDW. I miss you, Raymond. Ray passed away last year.

#2 – I had the pleasure to take my Boeing 757 prior to my trip over to the Maintenance Hangar for a Landing Gear check. A crew had written up the landing gear with a problem I don’t remember now. However, I had the experience of raising the gear while on the ground. I always thought what would happen if I reached over and yanked that Gear Handle to the up position while sitting on the ground. Well, now I had my chance. The lead mechanic asked if I would sit in my seat in the cockpit and raise the handle when given the word. Sure, I was still a little anxious about doing this, but he assured me the aircraft was positioned off the concrete floor and resting on jacks at strategic spots beneath the aircraft.

“OK, Captain, GEAR UP,’ said the maintenance man down below. Holding my breath, I reached for the Gear Handle and gave it an upward motion tug – still holding my breath. I could hear the sounds of retraction as all three gears came up into the fuselage, the doors closed and the gear warning lights went out. The maintenance guys took note of the retraction and if there was any problem. I could not see my beautiful Boeing 757 perched above the floor in an awkward sort of way. However, she performed as she was supposed to and maintenance recorded their findings and signed off the successful gear retraction test.

#3 - Eastern Airlines' "Operation Bootstrap" (c. 1964) was a massive, successful corporate overhaul initiated by CEO Floyd Hall to reverse $70 million in debt and declining service. The initiative modernized Eastern through intensive rebranding (introducing the "hockey stick" livery), improved on-time performance, and employee incentives (green stamps) to boost efficiency and revenue.

I remember in Atlanta our campaign was to outboard Delta, our fiercest competition, which we did. We were all given lapel pins of a boot indicating we had pulled ourselves up by the bootstrap. The company held a picnic for all EAL employees at a nearby lake and fun was had by all.

#4 – Employee Pass riding…… We hope this is all you need to know about retiree pass riding…

Welcome to the retirees of: Alitalia, Aloha, ATA, Braniff, BWIA, Colgan, Eastern, ExpressJet, FedEx, Mexicana, Olympic, Reeve, PanAm, Sabena, Swiss Air, TWA, and Varig.

ARPB office Hours: Mon – Fri 0930 -1700 EST

2026 Holiday Hours:

January 01 - New Year's Day – closed
April 03 - Good Friday - open from 0930 - 1300 EST
April 05 - Easter - closed
May 25 - Memorial Day – closed
July 04 - Independence Day – closed
September 07 - Labor Day – closed
November 26 - Thanksgiving Day - closed
December 25 - Christmas Day - closed

Click-on "Participating Airlines" tab for information on the airlines who offer travel benefits to Retirees.

Click- on "What's New" tab for any updates, changes on eligibility, or for new airlines offering travel benefits.

Click-on "General Info" tab for them to find the information needed to email your pass request to us.

TO ORDER PASSES: Call 1-786-534-7168 or 1-800-266-6738 Mon-Fri 0930-1700 EST

Or….. E-mail airlineretirees@hotmail.com

NOTE: All passes are electronic (e-ticket).
Please request your pass 1-2 business days prior to outbound travel date.
If you have an emergency, you can get a pass within 2 hours of departure time, on most airlines.

You may e-mail us at any time for specific fare information: airlineretirees@hotmail.com

TO REGISTER -

Please email airlineretirees@hotmail.com with the following information.

Retiree's full name:
Last Name
First Name
Middle Name
Date of birth
Airline Retired and employee #
Spouse's full name (if applicable)
Last
First
Middle
Date of birth

Registration fee is $65 per person payable by credit card. $130 total for retiree/spouse.

If you would like to register Parents and/or Dependent Children (age 16-23) to be allowed to travel independently, without the retiree, we will need:

Parent's full name, date of birth, relationship to retiree
Child's Name full name, date of birth, relationship to retiree

$65 registration fee applies per child or parent.
Credit Card#
Expiration date
Security code
Cardholder's Name
mailing address to mail Travel ID Card to you.

Please allow 10-15 business days to process and receive travel card.

Regards, ARPB Enrollment

Well, this may not be everything you need to know, but it is the basics, at least. As you interview, consider your options. When you are hired at either an express or mainline airline as a pilot or flight attendant, one of your benefits is the opportunity to non-rev or pass ride. In most cases, your new airline will allow you to travel both domestically and internationally. Obviously, salary, base location, insurance, etc. are vital, but being able to travel to those vacation spots all over the globe is a wonderful benefit.

Pass riding is a privilege. It’s been many years since I attended or taught a new-hire orientation course, but while many of the rules on etiquette and dress have been amended, one fact remains rock solid; when you are pass riding, you are a representative of your airline. Pass riding is a privilege not an entitlement or right and should be regarded appropriately. There are very few rules when riding the airline for free (or at greatly reduced rates) but those rules must be respected and observed. I recently had a conversation with one of our chief pilots and asked him about pass riding violations. He told me that his office processes at least one violation per month, which normally results in the employee’s loss of pass privileges. Don’t let that happen to you and your family. Most guidelines are common sense, but each air carrier’s rules and guidelines may differ.

Travel Eligibility. As a pilot or flight attendant, you are eligible for travel. One of the first things you will do as a new employee, and probably each time you travel, is to sign (usually electronically) the airline’s “Authorization and Consent Agreement” which states that you will abide by the airline’s rules and guidelines concerning employee travel. Additional eligible travelers normally includes retirees, spouses, domestic partners, and qualified children. The rules differ for children, but generally eligible are dependent children up to the age of 19 and dependent children who are students up to age 23. Typically, parents and parents-in-law may be eligible to share your pass benefits. It is essential that you explain the rules and regulations of successful pass riding to your dependents. A few hard and fast rules are:

1. Employee Passes (including companion passes) may not be sold, purchased, or exchanged for goods or services.

2. Eligible pass travelers may not use their privileges for business-related travel.

3. You may not hold a non-revenue pass and a confirmed (paid) ticket for the same flight.

4. Falsifying travel information is a violation of pass policy.

Companion (Buddy) P<!--[if gte vml 1]> !blob:https://mail.yahoo.com/8edc0ae2-2656-452d-a676-078fe43a1181!asses. Everyone has heard of buddy passes. Many, though not all, airlines offer the employee a set number of travel passes for friends and extended family. If you choose to use your companion passes, make sure your companion knows the rules. It is especially critical that your “buddy” knows that he/she will probably be the last one to board the aircraft. Employees, retirees, spouses, children – well, everyone – will be allowed to board before your companion. Most pass riding violations stem from “buddies” who acted out, and/or didn’t know the rules. Believe me, yelling at a gate agent, or a flight attendant will bring a lot of unwanted attention to you, the employee.

List for your flight. Everyone hired at the express or mainline carriers receive a new-hire orientation where (hopefully) the vacation pass riding rules for the airline are covered. Each airline differs on how passes are issued, but most have an online portal which allows the employee to list for the flight on which they intend to travel. This is probably your first step: Check your airline’s employee travel website and determine how the flight is booked. If the flight is booked full, your chances are slim but therein lies the first rule: Pick a flight, and list. ONCE. At most airlines it is a rule violation to list yourself for multiple flights during the day. It is also unfair to your fellow employees. At my airline, if you are bumped from your first flight, you are rolled over to the next and move ahead of the non-revs listed for that flight. It goes without saying that you must be physically present at the gate for your flight. Each airline differs on how employees are queued for boarding. Date of hire, first come-first served, or time of check-in, are all methods used to determine your place in line.

At the Gate. You’ll need a boarding pass to get through security unless you are able to access the Known Crew Member portal. At the gate, please realize that the agents are busy, usually short-staffed, and do this job all day, every day. Most will welcome you checking in and letting them know you are in the gate area, ONCE, please only ONCE. Afterward, wait for your name to be called. Hovering around the podium will not help your chances. Please be considerate of both the agents and the paying passengers that make all of this possible. While it won’t help your chances of getting on the flight, it never hurts to carry a few Starbucks gift cards to give an agent who really looks like he/she needs a cup of coffee. (The Starbucks gift cards are also a great thing to carry to give service men/women you see in the airport.)

Employee dress.

This is where controversy normally begins. My opinion of conservative dress may not match yours, so the airline has guidelines. Recently, United Airlines received some very negative publicity for refusing to allow two teenage girls to board wearing leggings that did not conform to the airline’s dress code. Absent from the national story was the fact that the two girls were pass riding and indeed did not meet the dress code. The secret to successful pass riding is to blend in. Gone are the days when non-revs were required to wear a coat and tie, but there are many of us who remember those days. A friend recently told me a story about pass riding on Eastern Airlines (now defunct). He was in Nassau, walking to the airplane after being cleared to board in temperatures above 95°F. He removed his required suit coat but before climbing the stairs to the Boeing 727, the agent told him to please put his coat back on prior to boarding. Yes, those days are gone, but a few general guidelines remain. Most airlines do not allow wearing swimwear, sleepwear, or underwear as outerwear. A clean, well-groomed and tasteful appearance is a good general rule. There are different requirements when riding in business or first class. If your intended flight has a first-class cabin (with a few open seats) it’s a good idea to consider business casual dress. Some airlines allow first class travel in jeans, but many do not. Also, as a pilot or flight attendant, many times you’ll have the option for a jump seat. Dress requirements may differ for jump seat travel.

Onboard the aircraft. After receiving your boarding pass, move as quickly as possible onto the aircraft. Non-revs are normally boarded last so there will be some urgency to board and settle into your seat for that on-time departure. Unfortunately, by the time you board, the overhead space will likely be taken. Be prepared to have your luggage gate checked. Do not expect the flight attendants to find a place to stow your luggage. Pack lightly (if possible). There is always the space under the seat. (I know – yeah right.) In today’s technological age, the flight attendants may know where the employees are sitting but not always. If there is a meal served, a very polite, “Do you have enough,” will tip off the flight attendant that you are non-rev. The customers come first.

Introducing yourself to the flight crew. This has recently become a contentious subject within the various airlines’ web boards. Not long ago it was reported that a captain stated, “Please do not stick your head into the cockpit to introduce yourself. I’m busy, and don’t really care.” My first thought would be, That’s a little harsh. Most airlines subscribe to a threat and error management training module. It’s been proven that in a time of emergency an external resource (like a pilot in the back) may be an important asset. My personal rule-of-thumb is this: If I’m qualified on the aircraft I’m boarding, I introduce myself, otherwise I just take my seat.

The opportunities for travel as an airline employee are unparalleled. You and your family should take every vacation trip possible and see everything imaginable. It doesn’t take long to review your airline’s travel guidelines, and it is a good idea to do so. Remember, pass travel is a privilege, not a right. Smart, courteous behavior will guarantee a long career of great pass riding experiences. ACN

#7 – Wonder Dog

Eastern Airlines Retiree Association

Kate McIver ·nsetrooSdp3f0Mif74g0rat cctf8a806214i2c98chm1gh0546ti775h0c4 ·

Remembering Wonder Dog at Eastern Airlines | Greensboro, NC

Titles are generated by AI from Meta

(For some reason, I am unable to preface my previous post with comments!)

In the early 1970s I was a college student in Greensboro. I enjoyed watching airplanes, and sometimes drove out to our city’s airport, where I could sit on an open-air observation deck (25-cents), study my schoolwork, and watch airplanes (is it any wonder that I would one day end up working at this same airport?!)

I was quite familiar with Wonder Dog, who had been adopted by the Eastern Airlines rampers, and had free rein of the terminal and tarmac. W.D. was scared of nothing. This was before the era of jetways, and whenever a jet arrived, he would casually stroll to the lowered stairs . . . where flight attendants brought him leftover meals (he was partial to first-class steak).

I once heard an arriving pilot (on my FAA radio) ask the Control Tower: “Could someone please move the dog so we can park?”

W.D. and Eastern Airlines are now long gone, but many of us still fondly remember both

#8 – Eastern Airlines Retiree Association Reunion ??? Is it time to consider an Eastern Family Reunion? Are there enough of us still around and able to attend a REUNION ??? Where? Miami, Atlanta, New York, Tampa, Savannah, Jacksonville, Boston ??? When? These are just the thoughts of your Editor. Register yours on this site or the Facebook website.

#9 – EARA Chapters….. Again, just the thoughts of your Editor. The Silverliners have many Chapters for all non-active and active Flight Attendants. Retired Eastern Pilots Association (REPA) had Chapters at one time. Is it time to consider Chapters for EARA? There once were Chapters.

#10 - We (The Newsletter) need news from you to share in these monthly newsletters. Why not send your thoughts, memories and experiences and requests to us via Facebook or on the EARA website? We’ll do the rest.

Thanks for reading……..
Neal Holland, Editor.