Whenever I pass through an American airport these days, I feel a frisson of transatlantic culture shock. That is not down to the size of the sodas, the overcrowding of economy class or the intrusive airport security. The issue is the armed forces.

In Europe these days, it is relatively rare even to see anyone in military uniform, far less to venerate them in symbolic terms. US airport crowds, however, are often dotted with fatigues and it is common to hear the airport tannoy declare that “members of the military and their families” can get access to special lounges while travelling. Most striking of all, airlines such as US Airways, American Airlines and Delta routinely allow armed forces personnel to board the aircraft before anyone else, even ahead of first class.

Sometimes this privilege only extends to those in fatigues, but it increasingly covers anyone carrying a military card. (When one airline recently refused to let members of the military in civilian dress board first, this sparked complaints, because defence personnel now often travel without uniforms to deter terrorist attacks.) Either way, the message is clear: even if money, power and platinum points can buy much in America, when it comes to boarding planes, the military goes first.