Billy House/Media General News Service
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WASHINGTON -- Attempting to stem a national furor, American Airlines announced that it would stop charging extra-luggage fees for active military personnel. Now a Tampa Bay area congressman wants to ensure that other airlines put an end to the practice.
American Airlines has been criticized in recent days by the national media and online as being unpatriotic for charging two soldiers from Texas $100 and $300 for their extra duffel bags loaded with military gear.
GOP Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, joined by Democratic Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, wrote Thursday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Air Transport Association of America urging the fees be eliminated.
Young, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee, wants to see such pledges from all the airlines.
“Though we sympathize with the airline industry's needs to cut costs and raise revenues, doing so on the backs of those who seek to protect us is ill-conceived,” Young and Klein wrote to Gates and James C. May, president and chief executive officer of the Air Transport Association of America.
The two lawmakers point out that airlines already waive the fee for first-class passengers and some frequent flyers. Given that, they say it should not be difficult to ask that the airlines waive the fee for members of our military “who are on their way to or from service.”
In addition, Young and Klein want Gates to scrap the military's policy of reimbursing military personnel for baggage fees.
“If the airlines refuse to waive baggage fees at the check-in desk, we would like to suggest that you develop a system to bill directly to the Department of Defense so that soldiers going to war don't have to concern themselves with whether or not their reimbursements went through,” they wrote.
“We know you understand the financial burden that service members and their families often face. They may not have the extra money to cover the fees up front,” they wrote. “We believe that our service members have more important concerns than paying baggage fees, keeping track of receipts, and hoping for an eventual reimbursement.”
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell could not immediately comment on the letter from Young and Klein but said, “It's good to see American Airlines has done the right thing. Hopefully, the other airlines will follow suit.”
American charges no fees on flights to war zones, such as flights under military charter to Iraq or Afghanistan. Under a Defense Department contract, American also transports soldiers, typically to and from military bases, according to news reports.
The El Paso Times reported on July 30 that American Airlines had charged Army Staff Sgt Ashley Serrano $100 for a third checked bag, even though the baggage contained military equipment required for combat.
The resulting flap led American to announce Wednesday that it will end fees for a third piece of checked luggage for military personnel on duty.
“We always understood that soldiers traveling on duty were reimbursed by the military for the fees on required excess baggage,” said Tom Del Valle, American's senior vice president for airport services.
However, he said, after recently hearing of the burden the military reimbursement process put on soldiers traveling to war zones, “the choice for us to forgo payment for a third checked bag from the Department of Defense was clear.”
Del Valle said the previous policy allowed active military personnel, traveling on duty, to travel with up to 190 pounds of luggage at no charge, including a 100 pound checked bag, a 50 pound checked bag, and a 40 pound carry-on bag.
“The new waiver policy for military personnel begins immediately. American Airlines will work closely with the Department of Defense on issues such as this in the future,” Del Valle said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673, or bhouse@ mediageneral.com.
American Airlines has been criticized in recent days by the national media and online as being unpatriotic for charging two soldiers from Texas $100 and $300 for their extra duffel bags loaded with military gear.
GOP Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, joined by Democratic Rep. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, wrote Thursday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the Air Transport Association of America urging the fees be eliminated.
Young, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Defense subcommittee, wants to see such pledges from all the airlines.
“Though we sympathize with the airline industry's needs to cut costs and raise revenues, doing so on the backs of those who seek to protect us is ill-conceived,” Young and Klein wrote to Gates and James C. May, president and chief executive officer of the Air Transport Association of America.
The two lawmakers point out that airlines already waive the fee for first-class passengers and some frequent flyers. Given that, they say it should not be difficult to ask that the airlines waive the fee for members of our military “who are on their way to or from service.”
In addition, Young and Klein want Gates to scrap the military's policy of reimbursing military personnel for baggage fees.
“If the airlines refuse to waive baggage fees at the check-in desk, we would like to suggest that you develop a system to bill directly to the Department of Defense so that soldiers going to war don't have to concern themselves with whether or not their reimbursements went through,” they wrote.
“We know you understand the financial burden that service members and their families often face. They may not have the extra money to cover the fees up front,” they wrote. “We believe that our service members have more important concerns than paying baggage fees, keeping track of receipts, and hoping for an eventual reimbursement.”
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell could not immediately comment on the letter from Young and Klein but said, “It's good to see American Airlines has done the right thing. Hopefully, the other airlines will follow suit.”
American charges no fees on flights to war zones, such as flights under military charter to Iraq or Afghanistan. Under a Defense Department contract, American also transports soldiers, typically to and from military bases, according to news reports.
The El Paso Times reported on July 30 that American Airlines had charged Army Staff Sgt Ashley Serrano $100 for a third checked bag, even though the baggage contained military equipment required for combat.
The resulting flap led American to announce Wednesday that it will end fees for a third piece of checked luggage for military personnel on duty.
“We always understood that soldiers traveling on duty were reimbursed by the military for the fees on required excess baggage,” said Tom Del Valle, American's senior vice president for airport services.
However, he said, after recently hearing of the burden the military reimbursement process put on soldiers traveling to war zones, “the choice for us to forgo payment for a third checked bag from the Department of Defense was clear.”
Del Valle said the previous policy allowed active military personnel, traveling on duty, to travel with up to 190 pounds of luggage at no charge, including a 100 pound checked bag, a 50 pound checked bag, and a 40 pound carry-on bag.
“The new waiver policy for military personnel begins immediately. American Airlines will work closely with the Department of Defense on issues such as this in the future,” Del Valle said.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673, or bhouse@ mediageneral.com.