Ahhh… an Air and a spare.
Senators fly on military aircraft anyway. He doesn’t need to do anything special here.
Don’t we have more important things to worry about? Obama is not president yet, he doesn’t need AF1.
< checking to make sure that I posted my OP in IMHO…yep. >
Isn’t Great Debates the forum for worrying about More Important Things?
Yah, but the people are very tedious there.
Ok, one word answer then: No. 
No, Senator Obama should pay for a seat on a commercial flight just like everyone else does when there’s a need to get there now for a funeral. He’s not yet entitled to fly on AF1, not should he use any military aircraft for personal reasons.
If he really wants to, he can use a chartered flight to minimize his security risk but he should absolutely not use any tax-payer funded aircraft for this personal trip.
Not to make too much light of it, But it would be an Epic PWNED moment, when they ask for proof of death, to whip out the New York Times, point to the headline and say “how’s that for proof byotches”.
Nitpick: When the President flies on Marine aircraft, that helicopter is designated Marine One. This is well known.
When the President flies on a Navy aircraft, that plane is designated Navy One - which has happened exactly one time.
There’s no need for him to fly on AF1 because AF1 isn’t about safety alone, it’s about being in touch with the US Gov’t and being able to act at C-in-C. He doesn’t need that. But, as the President elect he does need safety for his travel and I’m sure the Secret Service will help arrange the proper transportation.
Then he can take a chartered flight with his SS detail in tow…:dubious:
OK, I’ll bite. Obama pays for his ticket on a commercial flight. His Secret Service detail will use tax dollars to fly aboard the same aircraft. But in order to do so, the commercial airline will have to involuntary bump a considerable number of passengers. Then there’s all the extra security precautions needed to be taken for the aircraft, including protection, inspections, etc. And all those passengers who remain on board will have to be doubly screened, all at tax payer’s expense. Of course, there’s all that extra goodwill the commercial airline will have to pay out to all those passengers who are involuntary bumped, reservations changed, plans disrupted, etc.
It’s more cost effective and much better customer service to all potentially involved to use the Obama campaign plane, regardless of whether it’s paid with campaign funds, private donations, or even tax dollars. And if that’s not available, a military aircraft at taxpayer’s expense or not is fine with me.
Not exactly… if for some reason, the President’s on a Navy plane, it’s “Navy One”, and if he ends up on an Army helicopter, it would be “Army One”.
I’m also pretty sure that if for some reason, he was on United Flight 732 to London, he’d be on “Executive One”, which is the call sign for a commercial plane with him on board.
Just so long as he doesn’t deadhead in a jump seat on a FedEx cargo flight. Tom Hanks did that in a movie once, and it didn’t end well.
And when he rides in the Wienermobile, it is similarly designated Oscar Mayer One. The number of times this has happened is classified.
You saw that in the Henry Ford museum, right? 
Regardless of his actual status, as future POTUS he deserves to be protected from the crazies.
I’ve seen the [Marine, I think] helicopter protocol once for Bill Clinton in New Jersey; there were four of them, and when Clinton left, two choppers went in one direction, with the other two peeling off in two other directions.
The whole spectacle was supremely cool.
You mean that wasn’t the designation for Bush’s limo?
Damn…
My presidential vehicle has a first name,
It’s O-S-C-A-R.
My presidential vehicle has a second name,
It’s M-A-Y-E-R.
Oh, I love to ride it every day,
And if you ask me, why I’ll say…
Oscar Mayer has a way with leaders of the U.S.A.
Again, I’ve seen AF1 land many times. I’ve never seen another version of it arrive. I’d expect an E4 to accompany the President’s plane overseas.
As to the OP. Obama gets Secret Service protection now so any plane he rents is effectively “President Elect one”. However, it’s still his nickle. Air Force One is not a limo to be lent out at taxpayer expense for funerals. It serves the President and if it is used by someone else then it is not available. Unlike a limo-pool there are finite numbers of them.