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Most major U.S. carriers waive baggage fees for up to two bags for military members traveling under orders, Mr. Lisicki said. However, a $100 fee for checking a third bag appears to be the industry norm, except for first-class passengers or elite frequent fliers.
US Airways allows military personnel with identification free luggage up to 100 pounds, and Delta allows two bags up to 70 pounds in the cargo hold, as does Northwest.
It seems to me, AMR is just catching up with everybody else.
That being said, I don't think any of them should charge them.
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Fly The Contract & Nothing More
There is a great thread on airliners.net about this. AMR is doing the right thing, and they actually waive a lot of fee's for the soldiers. Airlines are not a charity, this is a business, and we all need to make money.
Gerald Arpey has a better arm than Tom Brady, and with 80,000 people vs. 47, they have a much better chance of scoring....oh wait...I thought you said AMR vs. PATRIOTS....
There is a great thread on airliners.net about this. AMR is doing the right thing, and they actually waive a lot of fee's for the soldiers. Airlines are not a charity, this is a business, and we all need to make money.
It was explained the service men are reimbursed from the military. I wish they could find a way to include this in the cost of the ticket for these guys. I am not impressed with the way this is set up.
However since the government is paying, they certainly should not be given a free ride, heck this is the same government taxing the hell out of the airlines.
AAflyer
If the above is too hard to understand for some of you internet "debaters" Servicemen should NOT pay, the US government SHOULD pay!
Travelling on orders means you would usually get reimbursed for expeneses.
However, there are many expenses, such as rental cars, long distance calls, etc which are not automatically reimbursed. These expenses must be pre-approved in the written orders...and excess baggage is one of those.
If the military unit sent a guy on a mission which requires a bunch of gear but did not authorize the baggage expense, then they screwed up, not AA.
My big gripe with the government travel system is that YOU the individual pay most costs up front, usually on a personal credit card. After it's all said and done, you file a travel claim and wait 4-20+ weeks to get reimbursed by the government...all the while eating the interest. On average, they owe me about $2K on any given day.
I've traveled a lot on military orders and I always made sure the "excess baggage allowed" was on them.
Ironically, of all the times I flown civilian while on military orders, I was only charged one time that I can remember. I do not remember who the carrier was.
Travelling on orders means you would usually get reimbursed for expeneses.
However, there are many expenses, such as rental cars, long distance calls, etc which are not automatically reimbursed. These expenses must be pre-approved in the written orders...and excess baggage is one of those.
If the military unit sent a guy on a mission which requires a bunch of gear but did not authorize the baggage expense, then they screwed up, not AA.
My big gripe with the government travel system is that YOU the individual pay most costs up front, usually on a personal credit card. After it's all said and done, you file a travel claim and wait 4-20+ weeks to get reimbursed by the government...all the while eating the interest. On average, they owe me about $2K on any given day.
Rickair7777 -
Has it been awhile since you have traveled on military orders? I ask this because recently the military travel system has undergone a revamp that made omprovements by leaps and bounds over the *old* system.
Practically all travel has to be done on a gov't credit card and the reimbursement usually only takes days instead of weeks like the old system. Also - there is no more of the middle man; meaning that the bill doesn't come to you anymore and then you have to pay the credit card. The bill is paid directly from the gov't and then you are sent by electronic allotment that balance. All billeting, travel (rental car to plane ticket) and incidental expenses that are official (like extra baggage costs) would be charged to the credit card.
AMR vs Patriotism
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