hdroadglide
BoM x 2, BoY 2011
Two U.S. soldiers returning from a deployment in Afghanistan said Delta Air Lines charged them $200 each for extra bags for their connecting flight from Baltimore to Atlanta.
While on board Delta Air Lines flight 1625 Tuesday morning, Staff Sgts. Fred Hilliker and Robert OHair shot a video laying out their case. In the video, which was posted on YouTube, the soldiers say they are authorized to check as many as four bags, free of charge, on their return trip from Afghanistan.
Filming while in their seats, Hilliker opens the video by saying he and the other 33 members of his unit were told in Baltimore that they were only authorized to check three bags for free.
Just back from Afghanistan yesterday, Hilliker says in the video, ... on an 18-hour layover, we had a little issue with the bags this morning.
He soon turns the camera on OHair to explain further. Interview style, they note that their orders authorize them to carry four bags, and talk of having to pay out of pocket, despite an existing contract between the airline and the government.
How much did we pay? asks Hilliker.
Over $2,800, and theres only 34 of us, OHair replies.
OHair said his fourth bag was a weapons case, which includes his M4 rifle, a grenade launcher and a 9mm pistol the tools that I use to protect myself and Afghan citizens while I was deployed, OHair said.
The soldiers may have been misinformed about the contract as it relates to traveling active duty military personnel.
Active military personnel flying in coach on travel orders are only allowed to check three bags free of charge, Delta said on its website. Active military traveling in first or business class may check up to four bags for free.
A Delta spokeswoman who only identifies herself on a company blog as Rachel R., further wrote:
In the case of todays situation, we would like to publicly apologize to those service men and women for any miscommunication regarding our current policies as well as any inconvenience we may have caused. We are currently looking further into the situation, and will be reaching out to each of them personally to address their concerns and work to correct any issues they have faced.
According to an Army database, Hilliker and OHair are deployed with the 95th Infantry Division, a Reserve unit in Georgia. They say in the video that they were ultimately bound for Fort Polk, Louisiana.
as an aside, how many returning servicemen are gonna be flying first or business class?????
While on board Delta Air Lines flight 1625 Tuesday morning, Staff Sgts. Fred Hilliker and Robert OHair shot a video laying out their case. In the video, which was posted on YouTube, the soldiers say they are authorized to check as many as four bags, free of charge, on their return trip from Afghanistan.
Filming while in their seats, Hilliker opens the video by saying he and the other 33 members of his unit were told in Baltimore that they were only authorized to check three bags for free.
Just back from Afghanistan yesterday, Hilliker says in the video, ... on an 18-hour layover, we had a little issue with the bags this morning.
He soon turns the camera on OHair to explain further. Interview style, they note that their orders authorize them to carry four bags, and talk of having to pay out of pocket, despite an existing contract between the airline and the government.
How much did we pay? asks Hilliker.
Over $2,800, and theres only 34 of us, OHair replies.
OHair said his fourth bag was a weapons case, which includes his M4 rifle, a grenade launcher and a 9mm pistol the tools that I use to protect myself and Afghan citizens while I was deployed, OHair said.
The soldiers may have been misinformed about the contract as it relates to traveling active duty military personnel.
Active military personnel flying in coach on travel orders are only allowed to check three bags free of charge, Delta said on its website. Active military traveling in first or business class may check up to four bags for free.
A Delta spokeswoman who only identifies herself on a company blog as Rachel R., further wrote:
In the case of todays situation, we would like to publicly apologize to those service men and women for any miscommunication regarding our current policies as well as any inconvenience we may have caused. We are currently looking further into the situation, and will be reaching out to each of them personally to address their concerns and work to correct any issues they have faced.
According to an Army database, Hilliker and OHair are deployed with the 95th Infantry Division, a Reserve unit in Georgia. They say in the video that they were ultimately bound for Fort Polk, Louisiana.
as an aside, how many returning servicemen are gonna be flying first or business class?????