I have enjoyed a lifelong love affair with aircraft, flying, and travel. It’s no wonder that when I was first hired by American Airlines in 1992, I felt it was a near perfect match.
 
If you have ever worked for an airline, you probably share a real love of global travel. And whether you have worked as a flight crew member or on the ground, you also know that one of the meaningful rewards from airline employment comes from enjoying travel privileges and employee discounts as a way to reward on-the-job loyalty and outstanding service.
 
Airlines frequently made these basic privileges available to the married spouses of their employees too. Regrettably, however, for many years, same-sex partners were never equally eligible as heterosexual spouses.
 
Fortunately for many of us, times have changed. Over the past couple of decades, American Airlines along with other progressive companies have stepped up to ensure they treat all their employees (and customers) with equal respect and acceptance including their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workforce.
 
When our own LGBT employee group, GLEAM, formed more than 15 years ago, we took special pride in being the nation’s first airline to implement equal domestic partner health benefits in 2000, and later, to ensure employment protections to our transgender employees. These were some of the milestones that have helped the company earn its 100% ranking on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index from the start.
 
In addition, American also was among the first to make sure same-sex partners (and now same-sex spouses too) were treated equally for discounted travel privileges. If we really wanted to see the world, we of course also want to take our partners with us, especially now that I’m enjoying retirement from American and beginning a new chapter in consulting.
 
This year, however, something truly unprecedented happened. This may be the very first occasion that almost an entire industry climbed on board for equal travel privileges for their LGBT workforce and retired employees.
 
On April 1, American Airlines made it official when they told their employees and retirees with domestic partners that in addition to our eligibility for reduced rates on all American and American Eagle flights – we now also will qualify for reduced rates on all of the 86 airlines around the world with which they have a reciprocal agreement. This new policy touches same-sex couples, still working or retired from 86 airlines, to travel on reduced rate tickets to more places across the globe on many of the most popular carriers.
 
Over the past year American worked closely within industry organizations to help secure this airline innovation – all while seeking frequent advice from the leaders of American’s LGBT employee resource group, GLEAM.
 
“The extension of DP travel to all of our existing 86 airline agreements opens many affordable, new doors to see the richness of this culturally diverse planet,” said Edward Dykes, Senior Financial Analyst—AA Purchasing and GLEAM Chairperson. “While there may be destinations whose cultural norms and laws will be at odds with these agreements, and employees should exercise care wherever they go, I always have found the opportunity to travel with that someone special can make a travel experience far more personal and meaningful.”

John Tanzella, President and CEO of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) applauded this breakthrough:  “This remarkable progress in global travel is inspiring to all of us at IGLTA.  We thank our airline and hospitality leaders for staying true to our industry’s commitment to fairness for all.  We hope that many employers will mirror this fairness in the future in all the ways that really matter to us, from equal health benefits to employment non-discrimination policies.”

Years ago, each modest step we made was a simple way to ensure equal respect and treatment in the workplace. I am proud that American Airlines has so long been a pioneer that also inspired many other airlines to start offering LGBT-inclusive employment policies and benefits. I believe this latest development builds on that industry-leading momentum.
 
This signals global fairness for thousands of same-sex couples connected not just with one airline but with dozens more. When we reach an entire industry, then I can honestly believe we are making a lasting impact for all of us.

 Tim Kincaid, EdD, is a former employee of American Airlines as well as co-founder in 1994 of the airline’s first Employee Resource Group, GLEAM.