American’s baggage rules pushed into the headlines
American Airlines has been the subject of lots of bad press over charging Army reservists going to active duty additional baggage fees. The airline, through its company spokesman, said it was only following procedure and that eventually the reservists would be reimbursed by the Army for their third bag. American newspapers and blogs roared.
American Airlines is charging troops for their extra baggage, a practice that forces soldiers heading for a war zone in Iraq to try to get reimbursement from the military. One of the country’s largest veterans groups is asking the aviation industry to drop the practice immediately.
Some newspapers claimed that the incident was a rumor. I’m not sure whose payroll they are on, but the reporters got it all wrong or at least the headline writer got it wrong. Obviously the incident took place — no rumor about it. American immediately went into full PR defense mode with the “only following rules” claims.
Eventually, the airline decided to change their policy and not charge our servicemen reporting for duty any excess baggage fees. Bravo! But a bit late.
The carrier’s decision comes more than a week after controversy arose at El Paso International Airport, when a sergeant complained that the airline forced him to pay an excess baggage charge of $100 because he had three bags. A few days later, Joe Davis, spokesman at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, wrote a letter to the Air Transport Association of America, an industry trade group, arguing that the baggage charges were unfair.
The American stance brings into focus how much the airlines take for granted the billions of dollars that the government (taxpayers) have shelled out for their survival.
The other nightmare scenario for American Airlines is that this incident brings the media focus on their overall baggage policies. As long as the population in general is confused about the American first-checked-bag policy and other new excess baggage fees, the airline can continue to sell their tickets with the appearance of similar prices to Continental, Delta and Southwest instead of the real price (for around 50 percent of their passengers) that is $30 more.
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7 Responses to “American’s baggage rules pushed into the headlines”
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Shame on AA for taking on people’s BS. Everybody knows, you take extra luggage, you pay for it. Why aren’t the army different than the rest of us? Tell them to pack lighter, have the military cargo take their excess luggage, or pay for it, like the rest of us.
May I remind you all that the people in the military are there voluntarily… They chose to do this job, so not any more important than millions of us here in the US.
So, now when I travel, I have to make sure I show up really early to make sure I can get my luggage checked in because the military might fill the plane up with the free extra cargo. How nice.
We have to stop idolizing the military, isn’t tax free good enough?
Our soldiers should be able to travel with NO charges for extra baggage. How can these airlines even think of doing this.
As for this moron Filipe, i am sure that you never “voluteered” to go fight for this country. …oh yeah, that would require guts which you definately don’t have. Too bad we can’t send you to Iraq and send you out looking for IED’S.
“volunteered?” I could swear they got paid (and didn’t have to pay taxes on it)… I must be mistaken.
It’s funny how you people get all upset about the airlines. Why not have the Army pay for the extra luggage and problem solved.
You’re right. I’d NEVER go.
There are certain things that are out of a soldier’s control, including where they get sent and when. When a soldier is sent somewhere, there are several contracts that are voided because of government orders, including home leases, some vehicle leases, and taxes. (NO, Felipe, they are not free. They are just given auto-extensions. Try asking a serviceman/servicewoman next time.) This really should include excess baggage. I’m not talking about eight bags for no charge, but one bag is by no means excessive, especially when it means going overseas on military orders. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to waive one excess bag for a soldier on active duty.
My point is that people somehow get against the corporations for wanting to apply the same rules to all people. The headline should NOT be “AA wants to charge soldiers for excess luggage,” but instead it should be “US government refuses to pay for soldiers excess luggage.”
How the people decided it’s the corporations responsibility to take the check, I will never understand. It is NOT, and AA was wrong in backing up.
This is a note to the *******, FELIPE! My husband is in the US ARMY FIGHTING TERRORISTS SO YOU CAN SIT AT HOME ON YOUR FAT ***, MAKING RUDE AND UNTRUE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR MILITARY!!! If you had a brain you would know that soldiers do NOT WANT TO BE GOING OVERSEAS ANY MORE THAN YOU DO!!! WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME HOME ON LEAVE FROM IRAQ, THE AIRLINE CHARGED HIM $150 for is GEAR BAG, JUST TO COME HOME! NEWSFLASH, WE ARE NOT INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY and DID NOT GET A REFUND!!! We also do NOT GET VERY MUCH PAY in THE MILITARY. I am sure that you get plenty taking photos of your friend ROSY PALM. PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ***< BECAUSE WHEN WE GET ATTACKED BY ANOTHER COUNTRY, MY HUSBAND WILL STEP ASIDE AND LET YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU DIE!
Talia:
(1) If your husband didn’t want to go to Iraq, he wouldn’t have joined the military in the first place. So, YES, he’s in it voluntarily.
(2) This is the biggest question that I don’t understand. If the airline charges your husband $150 for his extra luggage, why do you think the airlines have to pay for it and not the US government? Again, you should be saying “The US government didn’t pay for my husbands gear bag from Iraq.” And that was a point.
(3) I don’t even know who Rosy Palm is and I don’t care to know. So I have no idea of what you’re talking about.
(4) FYI, you might not know this, but the US was NOT attacked by “another country.” Iraq had nothing to do with 911, most of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, and they’d been in the US for years.