SFGate

Talk about flying solo.

Passengers did a double take on Southwest Flight 896 from Sacramento to Burbank on Thursday when they saw California Gov. Jerry Brown sitting among them – sans entourage – on his first trip to Los Angeles since being sworn in last month.

The Democratic governor was in budget-cutting mode, sitting in an economy seat after he opted not to pay the $16 extra for Southwest’s “business select” seating. That’s not all: Sources say Brown also relishes taking the airline’s senior discount.

Found by CinĂ edh.




  1. Reagan says:

    Congratulations, John! It looks like you finally got yourself a good Governor – once again. You should be very proud of your Mr. Brown.

    :-D

  2. Thomas says:

    And Jimmy Carter had cut down on electricity use at the White House. Whoopie. It’s nothing more than posturing. Oh sure, he might save the State a couple of thousand dollars a year. Perhaps he might even save a hundred thousand dollars a year. However, when your budget shortfall is in the billions, saving $16 by flying coach won’t mean squat. It’s meant to help sell his budget.

  3. brm says:

    This guy is an idiot for not spending $16 of his own money for the upgrade.

    But I agree with him that the taxpayers shouldn’t foot that bill.

  4. Publius says:

    Good on him.

    Getting down with the people is necessary to serve them well. I did not say it is sufficient.

  5. StillWalkingPoint says:

    Target left

  6. MikeN says:

    >This guy is an idiot for not spending $16 of his own money for the upgrade.

    There’s a reason it only costs $16. It doesn’t get you a better seat, just you are earlier to board, and can pick out the seat you want, and then the people who come later will sit right next to you. So the $16 at best guarantees you a window or aisle seat, up front, that’s all.

  7. MikeN says:

    I don’t mind if he wastes an extra ten million a year. It’s a good deal if he cuts spending to balance the budget.

  8. Bhelverson says:

    I imagine that it costs more than a couple of thousand PER FLIGHT in a State airplane.

    I spoke to Jerry Brown during his first term as Governor and for that 30 seconds or so, I felt like I had his full and complete attention. It was a remarkable experience and caused me to think even more highly of Jerry Brown.

    As an aside, Governor Brown was living in a Jesuit Seminary during the 1960s and already knows how to live a life of poverty.

  9. So what says:

    Whats the big deal? Usually he flies high without a plane altogether.

  10. gildersleeve says:

    It’s little things like this that give me the hope that there is an adult in charge of California now. It’s been awhile.

  11. God, Allah and other monikers says:

    Lucky I didn’t crash that one. Whew!

  12. Animby says:

    # 9 Bhelverson said, “Brown was living in a Jesuit Seminary during the 1960s and already knows how to live a life of poverty.” He also dated rock stars. How does either fact help him govern a state in chaos?

    What Thomas said in #2. Especially the part about posturing. By the way: How did the entourage travel? Probably by State-owned Gulfstream from the Executive Terminal…

  13. What? says:

    Brown has my vote for President.

    There are those that talk about hope and change, and there are those that CHANGE.

  14. RexOfRome says:

    It’s called leadership folks. You can’t ask other state employees to cut back if you are riding around like a king.

  15. hpbear149 says:

    i as a senior in HS back in 1992, but i was old enough to vote in the PA primary that year (turned 18 in January of 1992). I actually voted for Jerry Brown over any of the other Dem candidates, since i actually liked his style and platform better. ended up voting for billy boy in the fall, but i was swept by the charm. 1996, i went perot.

  16. Mr, Ed - the Original (with comma) says:

    #16 – an obvious product of a California secondary education.

  17. foobar says:

    Good old fashioned common sense. I’m sure Sarah Palin would approve.

  18. General Tostada says:

    I would suppose the guy actually lives pretty well considering his position, and the ‘ascetic’ posturing is possibly just some kind of political poster that he carries around.

    But then again, maybe if he’s in the habit of it, at least it’s a little example to others in his trade.

    “Show me a priest who actually lives up to the vow of poverty, and I’ll show you a guy with only one suit in his closet.”
    - Lenny Bruce

  19. So what says:

    @15 Sure you can, just see Missouri Gov. Jay I fly free Nixon.



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