Current and former members of the Australian defence force have reacted to news Virgin will give them priority treatment at Australian airports.

And most of them aren’t happy about it.

Dr Roger Shanahan, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute, spent 25 years in the army.

He says the idea is embarrassing.

“I’m still a bit shocked that this kind of Americana could be imported to Australia and the marketing people think it would catch on or be considered as something good,” he told 3AW Mornings.

“I think it’s trite and embarrassing, really.”

He said he’d refuse to take up the offer of priority boarding and expects he wouldn’t be alone.

“Who would want to go first in front of the elderly, parents with young children – they’re the kind of people that need to go on first for practical reasons,” Dr Shanahan said.

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