The VFW is asking the Air Transport Association to persuade airlines to stop charging excess baggage fees to active military traveling to/from Iraq. It seems that while the first two bags are free for deploying active military, some airlines have charged for third and more bags. American Airlines, for example, was charging $100, and only today agreed to stop making the charge. The ATA says that the military personnel can apply to the government to have the fees reimbursed, but the VFW maintains (and I agree) that these personnel should not have to lay out the money up front and wait for it to be reimbursed.

Sheesh!!!!! What a way to "support our troops"!

I am going to go to the sites of all major airlines and email a request that they waive all baggage fees for actively deploying service members. (Southwest does not charge baggage fees at all - so far.)

By Karen~admin on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 08:29 pm:

You'd think that they'd automatically waive any baggage fees for active duty military personnel. Geez.......

When we flew recently on A.A., on each of our 4 flights, they offered the empty first class seats to the military who were traveling in coach. I thought it was nice to do that. On one flight the flight attendant even *recognized* the 2 men on the PA, stating they were on leave and heading to Iraq.

Off topic, I know, it just seems that if our guys have to be over there, they should catch some breaks over here.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - 10:29 pm:

Good grief. They have to be overseas a LONG time. You'd think that baggage fees would be waived for them.