Charging Baggage Fees for the Military Is Simply Wrong
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The airlines are trying to find ways to offset the soaring costs of fuel. One of the changes in the industry is adding fees for luggage. Luggage handling becomes a revenue source. However, there is something fundamentally wrong with charging military personnel these extra fees:
“…Fees for extra bags may be an industry norm, said VFW spokesman Joe Davis, “but we’re asking the airlines to cut military service members a break. You can’t deploy to war with only two bags.”"
link: VFW wants airlines to waive 3rd bag fee for military members
This may mean a bit more work for the airline staff. However, it pales in comparison to placing oneself in Harm’s Way for one’s country. Kudos to Southwest Airlines for waiving this fee for military personnel. It is an example that all airlines should follow - immediately.
Catherine Forsythe
4 Comments
Bryan Price
August 13th, 2008
at 10:56am
One of my sons who got assigned to Alaska after basic had to pay $160 for his third bag, and this was Delta.
My other son just got assigned to Ft. Stewart after being in Stuttgart, Germany for three years. We had to pay for his ticket home (we’re driving distance from Ft. Stewart), which was $3K. My wife got him upgraded to 1st class as well, so that’s good. But we’re now on the hook until the Army pays him back.
R T Mills
August 14th, 2008
at 3:47am
Scraping the bottom of the barrel for cash, the airlines most likely will shortly install “Pay Toilets”..Some have the nerve to want payment for water…..How about coin operated tissue dispensers ???? “What happened to “Fly the friendly sky’s”
Chupper
August 14th, 2008
at 6:49am
Like it or not, airlines are for-profit companies, and they’re all pretty much on the verge of bankruptcy. They can’t simply go waiving fees for various classes of “special” citizens and expect to stay in business. Personally, I think the extra fees are stupid and should all just be rolled into the ticket prices instead of the individual nickel and diming of passengers. But short of that, it’s either raise prices for everyone or make the military pay for the baggage fees, which means we’re all paying for it in our taxes anyway. You can’t blame a private company for trying to stay in business.
Luggage Fees Waived for Military Personnel ~ DogReader
August 15th, 2008
at 3:00pm
[...] the wave of protest concerning the luggage fees charged to the U.S. military personnel, some airlines have responded. For example, Northwest Airlines waived the [...]