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.