American Airlines charging troops extra baggage fees on way to war zones.
American Airlines charging troops extra baggage fees on way to war zones.
American Airlines is charging U.S. soldiers high baggage fees — often amounting to several hundred dollars — to take their military luggage with them when they are flying off to war. American has defended the practice, saying that the Pentagon usually reimburses the troops later. CNN reports:
“These young troops are going to war,” [Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis] said. “There’s a lot more on their mind than to have to worry or try to remember to get a hundred dollars reimbursed to them when they get into a war zone.”
The military usually issues vouchers authorizing extra baggage before a flight, but troops must pay up front if they don’t have one.
And though reimbursement is likely, pending approval, as with any business expense, it is not guaranteed.
The VFW is now pushing the airline to exempt U.S. troops from these fees.
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29 Responses to “American Airlines charging troops extra baggage fees on way to war zones.”
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I'm surprised Halliburton hasn't created their own "Halliburton Airlines" to really put the squeeze on.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:15 pmI think it is disgusting that companies are looking to make a profit on war related activities during wartime (the validity of the war doesn't matter in this discussion, so don't even go there.) Used to be that companies would put Country first.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:17 pmAmerican Airlines, profiting the Un-American way.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:17 pmcreusa1
And they should return the money they took to the government, stupid troll.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pmWhy shouldn't American airlines cash in on this war like so many Bush crony capitalists do? Why should they care any more in reality about the troops than the fair weather patriots of the right?
August 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pmNext, the airlines will be charging the families extra to fly the coffins home in their cargo holds...
August 13th, 2008 at 7:22 pmAnd why wouldn't a Texas-based airline try to make a few extra bucks, they are just doing what any of Dubya's butt-hole buddies do.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pmBut, I heard on the news last night that they are giving them a discounted extra charge rate!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:26 pmcreusa1 Says:
American Airlines has contributed to the campaign of Barack Obama. Will he return the money?
Were you born an idiot or did your mother drop you on your head?
August 13th, 2008 at 7:26 pmcreusa1 Says:
Too late on this story. American Airlines has already agreed to waive those fees.
It's just too bad that it took intense media pressure to get them to do the right thing.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:27 pmAn unAmerican Fascist Corporation...would you expect anything else?
August 13th, 2008 at 7:27 pmThis is nothing new for the USofC (United States of Corporations). Anyone who has worked for the Government or has been in the military will have fond memories of that windfall called "Per Diem." Invariably when Congress would approve an increase in Per Diem Travel rates to aid the poor Government employee the hotel rates, car-rental rates, air fares, and the cost of meals went up. The raise sure as hell wasn't for the lowly traveler but the corporate leaches got a nice bonus.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:29 pmcreusa1 Says:
You mean Obama won’t return the money? That’s very disappointing.
How much was it, had to be under $40,000. How much did Johnny Boy get from the,m? Will he return his?
How about his over $1,000,000 from the oil industry, will he return that?
Or all his advisors who are lobbyists and making millions of dollars off their ties to McCain. Anything wrong there, Sport?
Your posts aren't worthy of any Posting Points. No McCain Bobblehead for you. Sorry.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pmThe Pentagon reimburses? Guess who funds the Pentagon. All of us via taxes. Thanks a million (or is it a trillion) AA!
August 13th, 2008 at 7:37 pmIs there a War Profiteering: How You Can Get on it Too instruction manual that Halliburton, Blackwater, the oil companies, etc. have for anyone with deep enough pockets to get their hands on? Because if you can swallow your courage to charge troops for an extra dufflebag, you're one sure-step closer to a career in the RNC! I wonder if the RNC has a gold stamp program for these things? Because if you can rise in the ranks of the government with a degree from any bum-fu(k Bible University, they have to keep track of these things.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:38 pmcreusa1 Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s very disappointing.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Same line you've heard every time you've dropped your drawers ...
August 13th, 2008 at 7:39 pmBack in the day, if it didn't fit into one duffel bag -- you didn't need it.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:41 pmYep, outsourcing sure works great GOP! Morons.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pmAnd this is the way that Bush "supports" our troops. Simply pitiful. Only in Bush's United Snakes of Moronica: Land of the thieves. Home of the slaves.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pmOh, come on, TP. This is yesterday's news.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:11 pmtime to leave the flak jacket and extra ammo at home. they say Baghdad is as safe as downtown Detroit.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pmThree outrages in a row.......my blood pressure is spiking. I'm gonna watch the olympics and drink some wine.
See ya tomorrow.
Damn, is beach volleyball a real "sport" now?
August 13th, 2008 at 9:27 pmTime for some cartoons.
And though reimbursement is likely, pending approval, as with any business expense, it is not guaranteed.
Not only that, it's not easy for families on a budget to come up with an extra few hundred dollars even if it will be reimbursed later. What makes this so disgusting is the fact that this whole war was about corporate interests in the first place.
creusa1 said:
Too late on this story. American Airlines has already agreed to waive those fees.
How is it too late when this has already occured? Idiot!
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pmBringing up Obama into a discussion about American Airlines charging extra fees to US soldiers has got to be one of the stupidest, most irrelevant non-points I've read at ThinkProgress.
And I've read a lot of moronic comments by these 23%ers...
August 13th, 2008 at 11:36 pm.
... Because nothing says "support the troops" like extra charges for the vests they had to buy and take with them...
.
August 14th, 2008 at 12:40 amtime to leave the flak jacket and extra ammo at home. they say Baghdad is as safe as downtown Detroit.
I think they forgot to mention that Baghdad has "Devil's Night" 24/7/365 & 366 on leap years. And it's only half as bad inside the Green Zone when the natives are restless!
August 14th, 2008 at 1:19 amPeople, read the link provided above. This charge was for the third piece of checked luggage; they were already waving the fee for the first two that the rest of us have to pay. And even though the government was reimbursing them for the third piece, AA has stated that they will waive that fee as well.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:25 amthe American (Airlines) way:
Profits before patriotism!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:29 amThis wasn't as big of a deal as the media wass making it.
Military members are already given breaks in the sense that their second checked item is free and their weight allowance is higher. Civilians aren't so lucky. If the military folks have a third bag, they pay (usually with their government credit card, not out of pocket) and then get reimbursed after their trip when they file their travel voucher. No biggie.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:43 am