just caught on the news delta charged soldiers returning from Afghanistan. $3800 in excess baggage charges. govt. contract call for 4 bags but good old delta says only 4 in 1st class or business. (never new there was such a thing for returning GI's) anyway $200 for the 4th bag, which was their weapons case. seems as a couple of the guys had a video of the whole thing and put it on youtube. perhaps it might help if we ship a few hundred airlines exec's over to experience the taliban fights 1st hand

The troops that had to pay the excess baggage fee will get their money back when they file their travel voucher.

That's not the point.
Simply charging them is outrageous!

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:
That's not the point.
Simply charging them is outrageous!

Why? 200 people show up at your restaurant you gonna feed them for free? Show up at your gas station you gonna fill their tank for free?

It is a reimbursable "business" expense and like Jim said, they will get their money back. Why should Delta fly US Government property for free?

I guess I don't find Delta's behavior all that outrageous. The Army should have an agreement with the carriers that allows them to bill the military for these flights instead of the soldier, and the Army should catch up with the GI if he has a bunch of unauthorized stuff, instead of forcing the airlines to play cop on what a soldier carries.

I do find the fact that the US government is shipping soldiers and weaponry on civilian airliners disturbing though. Once upon a time we had military aircraft to fly men around, now we don't...

It would have been one thing if they were flying from a US base to go home on leave, but who takes a weapons case with them on leave in today's no personal weapons allowed army?

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
....... Once upon a time we had military aircraft to fly men around, now we don't...

The extra jet went for ULTRA left winger Nancy Pelosi's personal useage!!!!

It shouldnt have happened. Yes the troops will get their money back eventually. Nobody is showing up expecting anything for free. The government does in fact have this one covered. Military personel who are traveling on orders into or out of a combat zone are allowed 4 bags. This has been the policy in place for a long time. Delta just created a very poor image by not being consistant.

Mike,
Please enlighten us how the government mandated all airlines to allow 4 free bags when traveling on orders. The airlines have their own policies and Delta's was 3 in coach 4 in business/first. Now Delta allows 4 in coach due to this. Was there some kind of directive that all airlines have to allow 4 free bags for someone traveling on orders? That said my opinion is that if you are traveling in uniform/on orders all fees should be waived but I am not going to ding Delta on this one because the agent is following Delta policy which by the way was consistent for the industry.

As a result of that YouTube video that went viral, Delta today changed its bag policy to 4 free bags up to 70 lbs. for military personnel traveling on orders in coach. Delta also changed its policy and is now allowing all military personnel NOT on orders to check 2 free bags up to 50 lbs. even if they are traveling on liesure. All they have to do is to show their military I.D. when they check in. (Until about 2 years ago Delta allowed 10 free bags per military person on orders, but that got a bit out-of-hand, and Delta changed its policy).

And since WHEN should all airlines ship all military checked bags for free, no matter how many? If the government wants to move these guys, their luggage and weapons around on commercial aircraft, then the government should be willing to pay for it. Next we'll be hearing someone suggest that all military should get free tickets from the airlines to fly whenever thay want. As a business owner, would YOU want the government demanding that you give them free services?

The problem is these guys show up with bags and get hit with a 200 dollar out of pocket expendature that they were not expecting and had not paid before. Sort of like us showing up and the airlines telling you that your gun case is oversize and hit you with a 200 dollar extra expense. We see that on here all the time and everyone goes viral over it. These guys are putting their lives on the line for us just like many before them have. Should we not treat them better for it... I think we should. Should Delta have to haul their stuff for free,, of course not, our military should pick up the tab,, how many billions a month are we spending in Afganistan right now?????? You think we could pick up the tab for the gear flown?? Point is these guys may not have been in a position to put that cash up, these guys don't have a lot of spare change....
When I fly, if there are any Gi's in the bar or resturants before I leave I always pick up their tab and pay for them and leave a short note for them,, Thanks for your service to our country,,God Speed,, signed,, a US citizen I guess I am just a proud Uncle of a US Marine pilot with 2 tours of duty in Iraq and have recently seen the sacrifices these soldiers make on our behalf.. Pay It Forward!

quote:

When I fly, if there are any Gi's in the bar or resturants before I leave I always pick up their tab and pay for them and leave a short note for them,, Thanks for your service to our country,,God Speed,, signed,, a US citizen I guess I am just a proud Uncle of a US Marine

I do the same thing but don't leave the note. Just tell the waitress to let them know they are comped. Least I can do for some guy or gal who puts his/her life on the line for us so we may enjoy what we have. And my nephew was in the 'stan and just a grunt...

And personally, I agree with the posters who said it was bad form and worse press for Delta to charge our military men and women extra baggage fees. I know it's business and policy but there are fees I waive every day and policies I break because it is the RIGHT thing to do. Charging some kid to get home is the WRONG thing to do...

Maybe all the airlines the military uses could just keep a running tab and deduct it from the taxes they pay!

The troops shouldn't be charged on the spot, out of their pockets! This should have been prepaid/arraigned when the tickets were purchased.

I agree that the men and women of the military should be kept out of the pay equation. According to Mike Smith above this was already taken care of by the government but I am still waiting for clarification on the government mandate. Yes the right thing to do was to inform the folks with excess baggage about the policy and let it go at that.