STORM2K

This is an outrage

Troops pay baggage fees on way to war zones
Commercial airlines charge troops fees for military kits

VFW asks industry to enact across-the-board waiver for military personnel

American Airlines says troops are allowed heavier, bigger bags

Reimbursement is available but can require forms filled out in war zones


(CNN) -- Some airlines are charging U.S. soldiers extra baggage fees to take their military kits with them as they set off for war.


Some U.S. airlines give military personnel a break on baggage fees, but others levy surcharges.

Military personnel carry large, heavy kit bags containing boots, clothing and gear. In the past few months, airlines have instituted fees for all travelers ranging from $15 for one bag to $250 for a third bag.

"What we want to do is nip this in the bud by exempting the military personnel who are traveling under orders from having to pay a fee on their third bag," Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis said.

The VFW sent a letter to the Air Transport Association of America, the aviation industry's umbrella group, asking that U.S. troops be exempt from any extra baggage fees.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/08/13/tr ... index.html

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/a ... aspx?guid={93CE3BCF-B206-48E8-8D72-3F0E64077D2C}&dist=hppr

American Airlines Will Waive Third Excess Bag Fee for Military Personnel

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug 13, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- As part of the many efforts American Airlines makes to support our active and veteran U.S. military personnel, fees for a third checked bag will now be waived for active service members. Fees for first and second checked bags have always been waived.
"We always understood that soldiers traveling on duty were reimbursed by the military for the fees on required excess baggage. However, after recently hearing of the burden the military reimbursement process put on soldiers traveling to war zones, the choice for us to forgo payment for a third checked bag from the Department of Defense was clear," said Tom Del Valle, American's Senior Vice President -- Airport Services ....

Well, bully for American Airlines. It took a negative article that caught them with their pants down to do something.

lurker_from_nc wrote:http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/american-airlines-waive-third-excess/story.aspx?guid={93CE3BCF-B206-48E8-8D72-3F0E64077D2C}&dist=hppr

American Airlines Will Waive Third Excess Bag Fee for Military Personnel

Well, thank goodness! I certainly hope that no airlines will continue this practice.

~DeeBee

I can't believe any airline in this country would even consider charging our active military personell a fee for their baggage when they are on active duty on the way to or from a war zone!!!

Why shoudl the government get a free ride on baggage fees? The soldiers shouldn't have to pay, but their employer should.

gtalum wrote:Why shoudl the government get a free ride on baggage fees? The soldiers shouldn't have to pay, but their employer should.

I think the problem was the paperwork to be reimbursed for the extra baggage. They could file for reimbursement, but since they were in war zones it was often difficult. Plus, other airlines, Southwest and Continental, do not charge extra baggage fees.

I know that several lines don't charge the baggage fees. If the military doesn't want to pay baggage fees, they should stick to the airlines that don't charge them. Forcing airlines to make exemptions for soldiers traveling for duty, through the use of a PR campaign, is an abuse of government power.

gtalum wrote:I know that several lines don't charge the baggage fees. If the military doesn't want to pay baggage fees, they should stick to the airlines that don't charge them. Forcing airlines to make exemptions for soldiers traveling for duty, through the use of a PR campaign, is an abuse of government power.

Matter of opinion I guess. When you realize the gear a solider going into the war zone carries those baggage fees can add up to a hefty little sum. I don't think its right. It also depends on where the airline flies to, not all fly into the same hub.

The government won't have to force them so there's no foundation to your abuse of power claim. Public opinion should take care of the issue quite well

More good PR for AA.

When it comes down to it, the military should be paying for the fees just like you or I would have to.

The military paying for it IS you and I paying for it

mf_dolphin wrote:The military paying for it IS you and I paying for it

Right. So this is just a stealth tax increase on the rest of us.

gtalum wrote:

mf_dolphin wrote:The military paying for it IS you and I paying for it

Right. So this is just a stealth tax increase on the rest of us.

Ding!!! Give the man a prize. Airline are in so much trouble right now that they will try anything. Although, the right way to handle this would be for the Airlines to charge the government directly and leave the soldiers out of it.

gtalum wrote:

mf_dolphin wrote:The military paying for it IS you and I paying for it

Right. So this is just a stealth tax increase on the rest of us.

Yep and we all have our freedom because of the soldiers, saliors and airmen paid for by those stealth taxes. Be greatful.

paperwork in the US Govt could take months.... trust me.

Most airlines if you travel in uniform will waive the fees for extra baggage. I can't travel in uniform, but because of my ID I can get the fee waived if I'm travelling on orders to come down to Keesler.

In some instances, soldiers get upgraded to First Class no questions asked. I have seen people sitting in first class give up their seats for the military.

gtalum wrote:I know that several lines don't charge the baggage fees. If the military doesn't want to pay baggage fees, they should stick to the airlines that don't charge them. Forcing airlines to make exemptions for soldiers traveling for duty, through the use of a PR campaign, is an abuse of government power.

no, it's really called capitalism

the government expressed their displeasure. If AA did not relent, they risked losing the business of that customer, and potentially many sympathetic customer.

When I do not get service I like, I relly others not to go to that business. No different from the government here

Derek, I agree, in principle. However, the government already has a tool to make demands in that when people fly on government business, they do it via airline contract. If the government wants free luggage fees, they should have negotiated it into their contract. Government airline contracts are generally negotiated monthly, so it's not like they didn't know about these fees. The government instead took the lazy route and negotiated a contract with luggage fees, then used the press to force the airline to comply with their demands. Fortunately, AA will be able to recover these costs in next month's government contract.