Delta Airlines welcomes home US troops

5teamparlay · Jun 8, 2011

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/delta_airlines.php

Delta Airlines Charges U.S. Soldiers $2,800 For Excess Baggage
By Jen Doll

Wednesday, Jun 8, 2011 at 11:33 AM
In a move sure to capture the ire of Americans across the country, Delta Airlines has charged American troops returning from Afghanistan via Baltimore Washington International Airport $2,800 ($200 each) in extra baggage fees. Here's video from soldier Robert O'Hair, explaining the situation, with which he is clearly not happy.

According to the soldiers in the video, a military contract between the U.S. and Delta says that four bags should be covered for travel without extra fees. However, this has not been acknowledged by Delta. One soldier who had to pay extra did so for a bag of weapons.

Delta has come forward with a statement apologizing and expressing deep respect and admiration for "the men and women who fight every day for our country." But at the end of the day it's about dollars, it seems...they add, seemingly ignorant to any sort of PR situation, that they will waive extra baggage fees for four bags in first and business class and three in coach. The implication, of course, is that anything extra will be charged for:

Currently, Active Duty U.S. Military Personnel traveling on orders may check up to 4 bags in First/Business class and 3 bags in Coach for free both domestically and internationally. Additionally, to help with the travel process, we allow each bag to weight an extra 20 pounds over the standard allowance. You can read more on this policy on delta.com.
While there's no mention of a specific redress or repayment, Delta says "We are currently looking further into the situation, and will be reaching out to each of [the soldiers] personally to address their concerns and work to correct any issues they have faced."

Tough times for the airline industry, huh?

[via ProducerMatthew]

Someone feel free to post video...

Enfuego · Jun 8, 2011

This is not exactly what they're making it out to be. We (military members) get reimbursed for baggage fees while traveling on orders. So really, they are charging Uncle Sam not the member.

5teamparlay · Jun 8, 2011

If taken on face -- I do like people speaking out on things when they feel taken, props for doing something.

If these charges keep costs down for Joe 6 pack (me) then fine...

Enfuego · Jun 8, 2011

5teamparlay said:
If taken on face -- I do like people speaking out on things when they feel taken, props for doing something.

If these charges keep costs down for Joe 6 pack (me) then fine...

But nothing was taken from them. They simply file it as an expense when they submit their travel voucher. They're complaining that they were charged but not discussing the fact that they get paid back on the voucher. Every military person traveling goes through the same process.

5teamparlay · Jun 8, 2011

Glad our military personal has so much extra cash laying around, they can wait to get it back on expenses...

Props to them for fronting up cash to transport their military gear!!!!

Enfuego · Jun 8, 2011

5teamparlay said:
Glad our military personal has so much extra cash laying around, they can wait to get it back on expenses...

Props to them for fronting up cash to transport their military gear!!!!

News flash 5 team. Those guys returning have been in the desert a long time pulling in salary at tax free and being paid at least $500 extra a month in hazardous fire pay and family separation pay. When you are in the desert, you get paid a but load of money.

Also, they have government travel cards for these expenses. They are not paying out of their pockets for this expense.

KennyB · Jun 8, 2011

Either way it is a fucking. They are either fleecing the military or fleecing the government. These baggage fees are getting out of hand.

SayHeyKid · Jun 8, 2011

The government is paying the extra baggage fees anyway. I agree they are ridiculous, but i'd rather spend my time worrying about the $23.7 trillion banker bailout the taxpayer's are on the hook for instead of $2,800 in bag fees.

Enfuego · Jun 8, 2011

Say Hey Kid said:
The government is paying the extra baggage fees anyway. I agree they are ridiculous, but i'd rather spend my time worrying about the $23.7 trillion banker bailout the taxpayer's are on the hook for instead of $2,800 in bag fees.

Agree with you but for these guys to make a video saying THEY are being charged is ridiculous and they should be ashamed. They are not representing us well by doing stuff like making this stupid video. It's not accurate and not professional.

Seymour · Jun 8, 2011

If I was running Delta I know I would have sent a bill to the government before I had the soldiers pay it whether they get reimbursed the $200 or not - who needs that kind of bad press - and I would not go to Iraq for 50k a month let alone $500 - for 500k I'm in as long Im a cook somewhere in the Greenzone - stay safe Enfuego

CoachCB · Jun 8, 2011

En Fuego, you are correct on the reimbursements. I'm just surprised they were charged at all. I use my military ID all the time when I travel - on or off orders - and never pay for baggage. I bring my snowboard bag to Tahoe every year for free. Regardless of "being on orders", when you are on Leave you are still on orders....

---

DollarDay · Jun 9, 2011

Kenny B said:
Either way it is a fucking. They are either fleecing the military or fleecing the government. These baggage fees are getting out of hand.

Sorry Kenny - but they are not fleecing anybody. Delta, along with all the other majors, allow for 3 FREE bags to all active duty military - regardless of their deployment. They only charge for a 4th bag - of which the govt pays. Their unit, and the soldiers themselves, are NOT out anything.

This is a bunch of BS and bad pub for Delta that shouldn't have happened.

Enfuego · Jun 9, 2011

baccy said:
Sorry Kenny - but they are not fleecing anybody. Delta, along with all the other majors, allow for 3 FREE bags to all active duty military - regardless of their deployment. They only charge for a 4th bag - of which the govt pays. Their unit, and the soldiers themselves, are NOT out anything.

This is a bunch of BS and bad pub for Delta that shouldn't have happened.

100% true and this is from a guy that has deployed three times now. Guys are idiots and give us a bad name.

PlaysnFades · Jun 9, 2011

CoachCB said:
En Fuego, you are correct on the reimbursements. I'm just surprised they were charged at all. I use my military ID all the time when I travel - on or off orders - and never pay for baggage. I bring my snowboard bag to Tahoe every year for free. Regardless of "being on orders", when you are on Leave you are still on orders....

---

I hear ya. I try to get a military discount at the hotels also, sometimes it works but sometimes not. One time to my surprise in the DC area, the hotel was actually charging more money for a room at the government rate then it would for anyone coming in off the street. They basically stick it to Uncle Sam and the taxpayers. But as we know, on official travel orders the government pays for it anyway, just hope they don't make a video about that next, lol.

Betallsports · Jun 9, 2011

Kenny B said:
Either way it is a fucking. They are either fleecing the military or fleecing the government. These baggage fees are getting out of hand.

Fleecing the Gov. for sure

Ever hear when a Large Company with a Gov. Contract charges the Gov. for a Nut and Bolt for like $200
when you can go to Home Depot and by it for a Dollar puff_>>

Betallsports · Jun 9, 2011

Glad to report ................

Oops! Delta drops bag fees for military

Delta Air Lines hastily changed its baggage fees for troops yesterday after a YouTube video showed soldiers complaining that they had to pay $200 apiece to check extra bags as they made their way home from Afghanistan.
The video was posted Tuesday and was viewed almost 200,000 times before it was removed by the person who put it up. By yesterday afternoon, a Facebook page called Boycott Delta for Soldiers had sprung up, and the airline was apologizing.
In the video, titled "Delta Airlines Welcomes Soldiers Home," two Army staff sergeants say their unit was told it would cost $200 apiece to check a fourth bag on a Tuesday morning flight from the Baltimore-Washington airport to Atlanta -- a total bill of more than $2,800.
The government reimburses such costs, which the soldiers may not have known. But they made their displeasure known, and the public-relations damage was done.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/busine...military_TJEWQpthBdt4QDuXMq18JK#ixzz1OnkoOUpA

lax_gunman · Jun 9, 2011

Betallsports said:
Fleecing the Gov. for sure

Ever hear when a Large Company with a Gov. Contract charges the Gov. for a Nut and Bolt for like $200
when you can go to Home Depot and by it for a Dollar puff_>>

I'd love to know how much money I spent buying ATT cards...they really put it to the soldiers

Delta Airlines welcomes home US troops

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