Not a big fan of Delta Airlines....screwing our troops!!

[Brad]

I have told them how I feel  

https://www.delta.com/emailus/servlet/EmailUs?cmd=go

DELTA AIRLINES Charging Soldiers returning home for Checked Gear	powered by Aeva

[old2soon]

Well we used to say-maybe they still do-when ya got em by the balls their hearts and minds WILL follow. Ain't fer sure but the military should? have some type of travel section/office/officer that handles that stuff. At the very least that soldier should have about 350% of his money refunded. I'd go for the apology but words are meaningless in this situation. Ah hell-make the refund a 1000% for all that got RIPPED OFF. Duz delta not get that these guys and gals are fighting for their freedom also?? Guess that was a less than smart question. RIDE SAFE.

[Varmintmist]

Well we used to say-maybe they still do-when ya got em by the balls their hearts and minds WILL follow. Ain't fer sure but the military should? have some type of travel section/office/officer that handles that stuff. At the very least that soldier should have about 350% of his money refunded. I'd go for the apology but words are meaningless in this situation. Ah hell-make the refund a 1000% for all that got RIPPED OFF. Duz delta not get that these guys and gals are fighting for their freedom also?? Guess that was a less than smart question. RIDE SAFE.

It was handled, there is a contract that they can each take 4 bags. There should be some job vacancies at Delta today.

[Oss]

would like to see that on the network news tonite

[ArmyValker]

I dropped them a note as well. Thanks for sharing.

[Jess Tolbirt]

i just sent the link to our channel 4 news team...

[Jess from VA]

As a former JAG, I would be hunting up that contract and putting in a claim against Delta for the full amount, plus any penalties if authorized in the contract.  And hunting up a list of the paying soldiers to repay them (though they should be able to include the $200 each on their PCS travel vouchers, hope they got receipts).

[f6rider]

I think you can assume that Delta is doing that to all of the returning troops. Sounds like there is a contract and someone didn't do a good job getting the info to the Delta rank and file.

Sure sounds like these guys will get there money back. 

Management at Delta should be held accountable for  letting all of there people know what the policy is.

I cant help but remember how Vietnam Vets were treated when returning. Those stories have always stuck with me and I am happy that these troops will get there due and get a lot of respect and appreciation, which couldnt be said for the Vietnam Vets

[bassman]

Well we used to say-maybe they still do-when ya got em by the balls their hearts and minds WILL follow. Ain't fer sure but the military should? have some type of travel section/office/officer that handles that stuff. At the very least that soldier should have about 350% of his money refunded. I'd go for the apology but words are meaningless in this situation. Ah hell-make the refund a 1000% for all that got RIPPED OFF. Duz delta not get that these guys and gals are fighting for their freedom also?? Guess that was a less than smart question. RIDE SAFE.

It was handled, there is a contract that they can each take 4 bags. There should be some job vacancies at Delta today.

I think I heard it is 4 bags for first class and three bags for coach....should have moved all the troops to FIRST class and give them the 4 bags free  .....

[designer]

Our orders state how many bags and also states were allowed overweight bags.  SATO (is the military travel agency for troops, and it has an emergency number for problems).  Troops goes over with 3 duffles of clothing and gear and they carry thier weapon.  Only when coming home does small units like that one goes straight home on commercial air.  Emergency leave personnel will also come home on commercial air with a weapons case.  I have mailed 3 or 4 footlockers from theatre with personal and extra uniforms at a cost of $50 each.  I kept the receipts and when we do a travel settlement I turned these in and was reimbursed.  Jess from VA is right on keeping receipts and turning them in.  Delta was good to me all times I returned, going through atlanta I've been bumped to firstclass and treated well. 

Part of my job when in the military was to deploy small units like the one shown in the video.  The unit will load a container that will be shipped prior to the leaving day, the soldiers that opted to carry all there gear home had a choice to either put any extra gear in the container or carry it.  Its a volunteer thing in which it sounds like 14 didn't opt to do that.  DOD will ship the container back to the unit's home base for free.

[T.P.]

Update  http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/afghanistan/on-youtube-soldiers-home-from-war-recount-paying-delta-for-extra-bags-1.146040

[fiddle mike]

I don't understand why the military flies in civilian aircraft.

[x]

I don't understand why the military flies in civilian aircraft.

They don't like webbing on international flights?  Although after flying a Delta economy with 31" seat pitch, webbing might be preferable.
 
Naw, more likely, the new 'outsourced' military is the reason.  Military troops for combat, support roles from cooks to transport all farmed out to contractors.  I suspect Halliburton would be flying the troops if they had planes.  Unca Dick woulda seen to it.

[fiddle mike]

I don't understand why the military flies in civilian aircraft.

They don't like webbing on international flights?  Although after flying a Delta economy with 31" seat pitch, webbing might be preferable.
 
Naw, more likely, the new 'outsourced' military is the reason.  Military troops for combat, support roles from cooks to transport all farmed out to contractors.  I suspect Halliburton would be flying the troops if they had planes.  Unca Dick woulda seen to it.

WTF does Halliburton have to do with troops being carried by civilian aircraft?

 The Delta story was posted three times by outraged FaceBook contacts in the last hour and not a one of them will answer why US military flies in Delta planes, or if Delta has charged troops more than the they charge  civilians for extra bags.  If the rate is the same, nobody is getting screwed.

[x]

I don't understand why the military flies in civilian aircraft.

They don't like webbing on international flights?  Although after flying a Delta economy with 31" seat pitch, webbing might be preferable.
 
Naw, more likely, the new 'outsourced' military is the reason.  Military troops for combat, support roles from cooks to transport all farmed out to contractors.  I suspect Halliburton would be flying the troops if they had planes.  Unca Dick woulda seen to it.

If you don't have an answer, why do you waste ink? 

If you can't understand the answer, why make that obvious?

[Jess from VA]

I don't understand why the military flies in civilian aircraft.

Simply because there are not enough transports (4-engine C141, C5, C17 for overseas flights) available (and not otherwise occupied with mission requirements) to shuttle all the various units to and fro.   And it's cheaper sending people on commercial (ain't no 1st or business class for military, unless gifted by the airline).  50 to 200 seats on contract commercial is still way cheaper than fueling, and paying a flight crew, and food, and adding hours to the aircraft, for a big USAF transport home from Afghanistan.  And believe me, even lousy coach on commercial (which I detest) is usually WAY nicer on the troops than sitting in web seats, or laying under an F111 engine on a pallet (the only space to lay down on the plane), which I did many times.

The general rule is the Mil Air will be used wherever feasible, then commercial, and we have been using commercial since Vietnam, maybe Korea out of Japan.  Before that, us military dogs got to come home in the bottom of big boats.

I traveled overseas and back to Turkey 5 times, always in a 747 commercial (usually around 20 hours of fun, with multiple flight changes).  But most travel in Europe was in C130, C141, C9, and C12 twin turboprop (which I got to fly for 15 minutes -  almost straight and nearly level LOL).  

[Oss]

i remember hearing stories of people in WWII where soldiers and others had passes from A to AAAAA


in order to fly on the civilian transport because it was available fastest.

If I was the CEO of DELTA I would make a commercial apologizing and offering something to each and every soldier inconvenienced, even if it was because they had a chance to ship their belongings for free with DOD and opted to lug their stuff home instead. and even if no soldier ultimately lost a dime because they could put in an expense report

But thats just me  When I first went to work for Dad he taught me when I screw up to admit it before the client even can find out and make it right immediately if not sooner.  I have tried to pass this on to my kids, who are much smarter than me since they will never be attorneys

I am also curious if any other airlines have tried this stunt on our boys and girls in uniform

We all make mistakes, its what we do after that shows the character of the person or organization

[Jess Tolbirt]

we always had to fly standby...

[old2soon]

Hopefully delta now has all of their ducks herded up and going in the correct direction. Sounds like they had a world famous S N A F U. Iffin ya don't know i will not explain it here. As i said in the previous post-words don't mean nuthin. Would be informative to know if ANYONE got shitcanned over this unfortunate turn of events. I'm betting not. Would really prefer in my heart of hearts that this NEVER occurs again. Our military has enough on their plates with out this chit happening again. Again-for all of our young folks at the pointy end of the sword-Thanks And God Bless. RIDE SAFE.

[ArmyValker]

On my Kosovo deployments I flew in a C130... webbing... sucked.

On my Iraq deployment I flew commercial. I put my M249 in the overhead bin. On the way back I flew in a C-17... I think it's luck of the draw, but I'd much rather fly commercial.

I got a really long form letter back from Delta about my "concerns" over this issue. Basically, they're changing a bunch of stuff, but don't admit any wrongdoing.

[Gear Jammer]

Congressman talks Delta baggage-gate, supports soldiers
by Grant Martin (RSS feed) on Jun 8th 2011 at 5:00PM

We've been following the unfolding events in a story that Gadling helped break on Tuesday where a group of soldiers returning from Afghanistan were charged $200 each to check their required luggage on Delta Air Lines.

Since then, the airline has taken several conciliatory measures and even changed their baggage policy, documenting all of the transition over on their blog.

Now, Iowa's representation from the 1st congressional district Bruce Braley has jumped into the fray, issuing the below press release as well as a strongly worded letter (opens in PDF) to Delta's CEO Richard Anderson:
"I'm deeply disappointed by this news that Delta Airlines charged soldiers returning from war such excessive baggage fees. These brave men and women put their lives on the line for our safety and security, and this is no way to welcome them home. I'm calling on Delta to immediately reimburse these soldiers for the extra baggage fees.

"Even if Delta was operating within its current baggage policy, I believe we all have an obligation to returning service members – not just to thank them for their service, but to also ensure that they're not faced with any undue burden on their return.

"Since being elected to Congress, I have logged hundreds of thousands of miles on Delta – the only carrier serving my home airport in Waterloo. If Delta doesn't reimburse these soldiers and reconsider its approach to servicing our troops, I'll have to reconsider using their service."

Though we're certain that the airline is already well on the way to reimbursing the service members, Congressman Braley's support only underscores the importance of the issue. Perhaps he'll also help forge a better relationship between the airlines and the military so that issues like this don't happen in the future.