Delta Airlines Apologizes For Charging Returning Soldiers $2,800 In Baggage Fees

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by Alex Alvarez | 3:21 pm, June 8th, 2011

» 10 comments

Delta Airlines has offered an apology for having charged soldiers heading home from Afghanistan over $2,800 in luggage fees. In a widely-circulated YouTube video that has since “been removed by the user,” Staff Sergeants Robert O’Hair and Fred Hilliker aired their grievances with the airline during their flight from Baltimore to Atlanta on Tuesday. In the video, O’Hair explained that his fourth bag was a weapons case holding a 203 grenade launcher, an M4 rifle and a handgun (not exactly carry-on luggage, basically).

Delta’s manager of social media, a self-described “Army wife,” issued a statement on the airlines’ official blog, sharing that it had decided to change its policy effective immediately and expressing regret over the way the soldiers’ travel arrangements were handled:

After careful consideration, effective immediately, U.S. military personnel traveling on orders in First Class and BusinessElite can check up to five bags at no charge and 4 bags in economy class. This change also adds dependents traveling with active military on orders. Each bag may weigh up to 70 lbs. (32 kg) and measure up to 80 linear inches (203 cm), which offers added flexibility over the standard 50 lbs. and 62 linear inches (157 cm) allotment. Because of weight, balance and space constraints, Delta Connection carriers will accept up to four bags at no charge. You can read the updates to the travel policy on delta.com.

We hope these changes to our policies reflect the true respect we hold for our service men and women and again demonstrate our appreciation as both a company and as individuals who benefit from the freedom our troops defend. We also hope this echoes our commitment to listening, learning, and our continued dedication to constant improvement.

As an Army wife and 12 year Delta employee I also want to take this opportunity to shed some light on the additional ways we work to support U.S. Military personnel and their families throughout the travel process as well as in the community. We are a longstanding supporter military support organizations such as the Fisher House Foundation and United Service Organization.

According to a report from Fox News, the airline also plans to monetarily reimburse the troops for their fees. Take a look:

Army, Baggage Fee, Delta Airlines, Luggage Fee, soldiers, Troops

THE REAL ROYAL KING

The corporate culture at work!
tatboy

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
The corporate culture at work!

This should NEVER have happen. I will NEVER fly Delta again (not that I did in the 1st place, they are terrible). And the fact that she brings into it that she is an “army wife” to save her company makes me even angrier. You should have made sure this didn’t happen on your watch if you are an “army wife”. She should be ashamed and have just left it at “We Svck” and won’t do it again…sorry.”
THE REAL ROYAL KING

tatboy said:
This should NEVER have happen. I will NEVER fly Delta again (not that I did in the 1st place, they are terrible). And the fact that she brings into it that she is an “army wife” to save her company makes me even angrier. You should have made sure this didn’t happen on your watch if you are an “army wife”. She should be ashamed and have just left it at “We Svck” and won’t do it again…sorry.”

The airlines are such huge beneficiaries of government largesse, as it is. Few troops are moved in any manner save and except by private transport carrier. Because of this, we have a law which provides no US carrier can be owned 50% or more by foreign interests and than no foreign carrier can operate point-to-point in the US. So, if I fly internationally on my preferred carrier, Air France, I have to fly Delta to Atlanta, JFK or a couple of other airports to be able to fly Air France. Of course, the situation is similar with Lufthansa, KLM and SAS. The very antithesis of free enterprise, isn’t it?

Remember the closing of the huge DHL facility in Ohio? Devastated Wilmington, Ohio. Why did this happen? DHL was a German limited partnership with some ownership in the German post office. It couldn’t fly point-to-point. So, over 8,000 direct jobs were lost.

All goes to say Delta is merely reflective of the anti-free market atmosphere.

BTW: The laws in question were passed well before President Obama and have been vigorously protected by legislators of both parties.
tatboy

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
The airlines are such huge beneficiaries of government largesse, as it is. Few troops are moved in any manner save and except by private transport carrier. Because of this, we have a law which provides no US carrier can be owned 50% or more by foreign interests and than no foreign carrier can operate point-to-point in the US. So, if I fly internationally on my preferred carrier, Air France, I have to fly Delta to Atlanta, JFK or a couple of other airports to be able to fly Air France. Of course, the situation is similar with Lufthansa, KLM and SAS. The very antithesis of free enterprise, isn’t it? Remember the closing of the huge DHL facility in Ohio? Devastated Wilmington, Ohio. Why did this happen? DHL was a German limited partnership with some ownership in the German post office. It couldn’t fly point-to-point. So, over 8,000 direct jobs were lost. All goes to say Delta is merely reflective of the anti-free market atmosphere. BTW: The laws in question were passed well before President Obama and have been vigorously protected by legislators of both parties.

I like Southwest local and British Air for international (if I can get it).
THE REAL ROYAL KING

tatboy said:
I like Southwest local and British Air for international (if I can get it).

We have a disagreement there. I loathe SWA, at least for business travel, and I have stopped flying BA. Too many industrial actions interrupting service. When it is working, however, BA is wondrous. Incredible service.
Erebys

Really? What do you have against SWA?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ed-Durffee/1311278663 Ed Durffee

I fly only GMC. Im a pilot and I will not go near a stinking airport other than to pick up or drop off someone visiting. If I cant get there in my GMC Truck, I dont want to go. Ohhh and so far it has allowed 27 bags at no additional charge. As for the treatment of our Soldiers, that airline should be banned from ever carrying Military under active duty orders.
MitchT

Does anyone, anywhere, bother to think anymore? It is the responsibility of the employer–the US Govt–to get the troops home from duty. Why should a private company have to foot the bill? Unless they’ve changed the rules big time in the last decade when I was in the Navy, travel expenses are reimbursable by the govt. So these soldiers have damaged a private company for charging them for something they will be reimbursed for? And no one in the media asks the question “why didn’t the government handle this right?

From Fox article ” [Staf Sgt.] O’Hair said their military orders stated that each soldier was allowed to check up to four bags free of charge. But the Delta agent told the soldiers they would have to pay for the fourth bag.”

“Defense Department spokeswoman Cynthia Smith noted that airlines are in their right to charge for excess baggage, “even for service members.” She said Delta had been allowing four free bags for first-class and business flights, and three free bags for active-duty military members flying coach.”

So the paperwork was messed up by the Feds, and this is somehow Delta’s fault? Yes, let’s have them run my healthcare!!!!!!

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/09/army-welcomes-delta-policy-shift-on-extra-baggage-fees
Snidely

I haven’t flown Delta in many years, and never will if I have anything to say about it. At one time they were the best, though.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Becket/100002621364744 Joseph Becket

That is awful news, the least they could do is give them free baggage transportation! Delta is a great company, but like many nationwide businesses it can
have some weak spots. I was surfing the internet and I found this
site where people can vent about poor customer service or products
they received… it can get really funny. I would recommend you to
check it out here.