A Freaking Disgrace--Airlines Charging TROOPS baggage fees??? WTH!

Ladybug09 · Aug 13th, 2008, 01:31 PM

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

From Deborah Feyerick
CNN

(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," said Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis.
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.

Watch how troops are getting hit with fees »
"If you have a family at home and you stand at that airline counter and you have three bags in your hand, and they say you can't get on board unless you pay $100 up front right now, what are you going to do?" Davis said.
American Airlines, and others reached by CNN, say troops are allowed heavier and bigger bags and can check two for free, unlike commercial travelers.
Troops are allowed 190 pounds each free of charge, American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said, adding: "If they pay, they get reimbursed, so at the end, they don't pay a dime."
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That's not a good answer, the VFW's Davis said.
"These young troops are going to war," he said. "There's a lot more on their mind than to have to worry or try to remember to get a hundred dollars reimbursed to them when they get into a war zone."
The military usually issues vouchers authorizing extra baggage before a flight, but troops must pay up front if they don't have one.
And though reimbursement is likely, pending approval, as with any business expense, it is not guaranteed.

The Air Transport Association says it supports the troops, but baggage policies are "made independently by the individual airlines."
The association says it has no plans to ask for an across-the-board waiver for U.S. service members.

Jahpson · Aug 13th, 2008, 01:42 PM

that is really desperate of the airlines.

and what is the point of letting them pay only to be reimbursed? ridiculousness.

twin53 · Aug 13th, 2008, 01:48 PM

i just heard this on the radio this morning! disgraceful!

candace117 · Aug 13th, 2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahpson

that is really desperate of the airlines.

and what is the point of letting them pay only to be reimbursed? ridiculousness.

anytime a Soldier is on a type of orders, they file a travel voucher at the end and get reimbursed for their costs. Idea being that if the Army is going to send you somewhere on official travel, it should be 'free' to you. Unfortunately you have to pay for everything up front via your own personal credit card or the Government travel card, but you do get reimbursed. You can see where this is going...

Ladybug09 · Aug 13th, 2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candace117

anytime a Soldier is on a type of orders, they file a travel voucher at the end and get reimbursed for their costs. Idea being that if the Army is going to send you somewhere on official travel, it should be 'free' to you. Unfortunately you have to pay for everything up front via your own personal credit card or the Government travel card, but you do get reimbursed. You can see where this is going...

Candace, that is a good pic of you. You look different there.

fatefullotus · Aug 13th, 2008, 03:31 PM

Absolutely disgraceful.

Roo · Aug 13th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybug09

Candace, that is a good pic of you. You look different there.

It's her hair. Is it not FAB!!!?

candace117 · Aug 13th, 2008, 06:56 PM

OMG YOU GUYS...thank you

We are actually semi-dealing with this issue right now...
to me there is a difference between having to worry about reimbursables on a deployment, versus a regular TDY trip. On a deployment, one shouldn't have to worry about such trivial matters.

Ladybug09 · Aug 13th, 2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roo

It's her hair. Is it not FAB!!!?

socalgem · Aug 13th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Airlines have always done this, the only time I know of them not charging is if you are on emergency leave w/ orders and sometimes regular transfer orders. It all depends on who you talk to and how your orders are done.

I think it should be free all the time.

candace117 · Aug 14th, 2008, 12:55 AM

^Before this whole 'we are going to nickel and dime every passenger for every damn bag' thing that started recently, excess baggage allowances were routine, and what with Carlson Wagonlit's contracted airfare for troops...they are not supposed to be able to change the rules and start charging us for baggage when that wasn't in the contract. Though, in the future, I'd not be surprised if they negotiate the fee into newer contracts. grr.

socalgem · Aug 14th, 2008, 01:17 AM

^I have friends and family members in the military, and it is amazing how little respect they get from companies. Charging them for excess baggage while they are deploying is not cool at all.

candace117 · Aug 14th, 2008, 01:47 AM

Just the general crap from society at large sometimes gets frustrating - but like I tell my boss, "I can't pick and choose the Americans I protect..."

Roo · Aug 14th, 2008, 03:05 AM

The airlines announced earlier tonight they are now going to waive these fees.

GirlFriday · Aug 14th, 2008, 06:12 AM

I'm glad that they will waive the fees. Having been in the military myself and being a current military spouse, we've been out thousands of dollars in moving expenses when we move overseas. The last time it took us about 6 months to get $9,000 back. That $9,000 came out of our pocket, and depending on the person's rank, they might not be able to afford that. The military's not always so slow to pay back though. Where my husband is based, the base is notorious for being very late on reimbursements.

It would really help if airlines would waive the fee. Kind of like a nice military discount.

Aug 13th, 2008, 01:31 PM	#1
Ladybug09 So Sweet! Location: Born in the USA	A Freaking Disgrace--Airlines Charging TROOPS baggage fees??? WTH! http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/08/13...age/index.html From Deborah Feyerick CNN (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," said Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis. 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. Watch how troops are getting hit with fees » "If you have a family at home and you stand at that airline counter and you have three bags in your hand, and they say you can't get on board unless you pay $100 up front right now, what are you going to do?" Davis said. American Airlines, and others reached by CNN, say troops are allowed heavier and bigger bags and can check two for free, unlike commercial travelers. Troops are allowed 190 pounds each free of charge, American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said, adding: "If they pay, they get reimbursed, so at the end, they don't pay a dime." Don't Miss <LI _extended="true">Airline fees wreak havoc on team budgets How to avoid four new airline fees That's not a good answer, the VFW's Davis said. "These young troops are going to war," he said. "There's a lot more on their mind than to have to worry or try to remember to get a hundred dollars reimbursed to them when they get into a war zone." The military usually issues vouchers authorizing extra baggage before a flight, but troops must pay up front if they don't have one. And though reimbursement is likely, pending approval, as with any business expense, it is not guaranteed. The Air Transport Association says it supports the troops, but baggage policies are "made independently by the individual airlines." The association says it has no plans to ask for an across-the-board waiver for U.S. service members. __________________ Ladybug

Aug 13th, 2008, 01:42 PM	#2
Jahpson Member Location: The Playground	that is really desperate of the airlines. and what is the point of letting them pay only to be reimbursed? ridiculousness. __________________ Amazingly Sophisticated Happy Holidays to all my TPF friends!

Aug 13th, 2008, 03:31 PM	#6
fatefullotus Building a rainbow Location: New York, NY	Absolutely disgraceful. __________________ My little time-passer project: UrbanGirlChronicles Take a peek at my shoes? (shoes on pages: 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26)

Aug 13th, 2008, 06:56 PM	#8
candace117 Pirate Trash Location: Hardcorvallis	OMG YOU GUYS...thank you We are actually semi-dealing with this issue right now... to me there is a difference between having to worry about reimbursables on a deployment, versus a regular TDY trip. On a deployment, one shouldn't have to worry about such trivial matters. __________________ "With so much drama in the L-B-C, it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double G."

Aug 13th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#10
socalgem Because I can... Location: California	Airlines have always done this, the only time I know of them not charging is if you are on emergency leave w/ orders and sometimes regular transfer orders. It all depends on who you talk to and how your orders are done. I think it should be free all the time. __________________ Life is too short to drink cheap champagne.

Aug 13th, 2008, 01:48 PM	#3
twin53 Member Location: Georgia	i just heard this on the radio this morning! disgraceful!

Aug 14th, 2008, 12:55 AM	#11
candace117 Pirate Trash Location: Hardcorvallis	^Before this whole 'we are going to nickel and dime every passenger for every damn bag' thing that started recently, excess baggage allowances were routine, and what with Carlson Wagonlit's contracted airfare for troops...they are not supposed to be able to change the rules and start charging us for baggage when that wasn't in the contract. Though, in the future, I'd not be surprised if they negotiate the fee into newer contracts. grr. __________________ "With so much drama in the L-B-C, it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double G."

Aug 14th, 2008, 01:17 AM	#12
socalgem Because I can... Location: California	^I have friends and family members in the military, and it is amazing how little respect they get from companies. Charging them for excess baggage while they are deploying is not cool at all. __________________ Life is too short to drink cheap champagne.

Aug 14th, 2008, 01:47 AM	#13
candace117 Pirate Trash Location: Hardcorvallis	Just the general crap from society at large sometimes gets frustrating - but like I tell my boss, "I can't pick and choose the Americans I protect..." __________________ "With so much drama in the L-B-C, it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double G." Last edited by candace117; Aug 14th, 2008 at 01:56 AM.

Aug 14th, 2008, 03:05 AM	#14
Roo Up to the Minute Mod Location: Rue Roo	The airlines announced earlier tonight they are now going to waive these fees. __________________ " We are the first nation in the history of the world to go to the poorhouse in an automobile." -- WILL ROGERS

Aug 14th, 2008, 06:12 AM	#15
GirlFriday Member	I'm glad that they will waive the fees. Having been in the military myself and being a current military spouse, we've been out thousands of dollars in moving expenses when we move overseas. The last time it took us about 6 months to get $9,000 back. That $9,000 came out of our pocket, and depending on the person's rank, they might not be able to afford that. The military's not always so slow to pay back though. Where my husband is based, the base is notorious for being very late on reimbursements. It would really help if airlines would waive the fee. Kind of like a nice military discount.