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A Clarification: No First-Class Flying Here

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

A small clarification now: A few weeks ago on this program, Tom Goldman told us that he was about to catch a flight to Denver to cover the NCAA Women's Basketball championships. I joked: By the way, United Airlines, if you're listening, please upgrade Mr. Goldman - our compliments.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: I'm already first-class.

SIMON: In all ways, my friend.

GOLDMAN: Oops, did I say that?

SIMON: But a few listeners didn't quite understand that we were a couple of economy-class guys joking. NPR policy requires staffers to fly coach. We do. In fact, I have been seated in the rear of the plane, right next to the washroom so many times I think they're going to take off the number and just put up a sign that says: Here, Scott. Tom has to file his stories immediately after a game, and he subsists for weeks at a time on cold stadium hot dogs and flat diet soda. He says the only time he's flown first class is on his honeymoon, when a gate agent upgraded Tom and his wife because he thought they were adorable. Well, they still are. So, Tom Goldman didn't and doesn't fly first class - but he's a first class guy. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.
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