Delta and the military
 

I saw a parody commercial by Jay Leno the other night in which Delta
is once again castigated for charging baggage fees to returning
troops. But I am not jumping on this bandwagon. I have a feeling
that there is more to the story. My guess is that Delta (and other
airlines as well) has negotiated special rates with the government,
and these rates were settled way in advance. These tarrifs would
include a baggage allowance, and this allowance would have to be
relayed to the returning warriors. So, isn't the military and and the
returning troops at least somewhat complicit in this whole thing for
not following their own rules? I'm just saying.

Delta and the military
 

relayed to the returning warriors. So, isn't the military and and the
returning troops at least somewhat complicit in this whole thing for
not following their own rules? I'm just saying.

Yes. And the rules say that the military reimburses soldiers for any
excess baggage fees they have to pay. But it's so much more fun to
make a snarky video than to try and figure out what's going on. Same
deal as the "Delta hates jews" nonsense.

R's,
John

Delta and the military
 

On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 06:00:46 -0700 (PDT), AE Todd
wrote:

I saw a parody commercial by Jay Leno the other night in which Delta
is once again castigated for charging baggage fees to returning
troops. But I am not jumping on this bandwagon. I have a feeling
that there is more to the story. My guess is that Delta (and other
airlines as well) has negotiated special rates with the government,
and these rates were settled way in advance. These tarrifs would
include a baggage allowance, and this allowance would have to be
relayed to the returning warriors. So, isn't the military and and the
returning troops at least somewhat complicit in this whole thing for
not following their own rules? I'm just saying.

Apparently Delta was correct but the publicity was so bad that they
changed their policy. I heard some people say that those in the
service should be allowed an unlimited number of bags with no weight
limit. This would be impossible.

Delta and the military
 

In message someone claiming
to be Brian typed:

Apparently Delta was correct but the publicity was so bad that they
changed their policy. I heard some people say that those in the
service should be allowed an unlimited number of bags with no weight
limit. This would be impossible.

Keep in mind that this only applies when the soldiers are traveling
under orders. It seems like allowing tax writeoffs might be a better
approach than billing soldiers outright.

Delta and the military
 

On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:38:36 -0700, DevilsPGD
wrote:


Keep in mind that this only applies when the soldiers are traveling
under orders. It seems like allowing tax writeoffs might be a better
approach than billing soldiers outright.

It would have to be as a refundable credit. I'm not sure if there
would be accounting or computer problems to this idea.

Delta and the military
 

On Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:19:04 -0400, Brian
wrote:

On Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:38:36 -0700, DevilsPGD
wrote:


Keep in mind that this only applies when the soldiers are traveling
under orders. It seems like allowing tax writeoffs might be a better
approach than billing soldiers outright.

It would have to be as a refundable credit. I'm not sure if there
would be accounting or computer problems to this idea.

None of that is necessary -- from everything I can tell, the story is
so overblown as to basically be false. Yes, the military's contract
with Delta allows 2 bags, with a specified charge after that. And the
soldiers' orders allowed them to take 4 bags -- meaning they were
eligible for reimbursement for those charges (others have said the
soldiers are given a travel card to directly charge such things). It
sounds like the issue is these soldiers' training on how to travel, or
their inability to follow that training.

Having the basic negotiated fare include 4 bags would be more
expensive for *all* trips, including those that don't require more
than 2.

My company has negotiated rates at various hotels -- sometimes
Internet and parking etc are included, sometimes they're not. If
they're not, and I'm authorized to use them as part of my business
travel, all it means is that's authorized to go on my expense report.

Josh

Delta and the military
 

Brian wrote:

I saw a parody commercial by Jay Leno the other night in which
Delta is once again castigated for charging baggage fees to
returning troops.

Apparently Delta was correct but the publicity was so bad that
they changed their policy. I heard some people say that those
in the service should be allowed an unlimited number of bags with
no weight limit. This would be impossible.

So explain this:

For those troops that are returning home but who know they'll be going
back - why do they have to bring their stuff back with them?

Why can't they leave their guns or armor or other **** there in Iraq /
Afghanistan?

Don't they have lockers or secure storage there where they can leave it?

Delta and the military
 

On 30/06/11 14:15, Fly Guy wrote:
Brian wrote:

I saw a parody commercial by Jay Leno the other night in which
Delta is once again castigated for charging baggage fees to
returning troops.

Apparently Delta was correct but the publicity was so bad that
they changed their policy. I heard some people say that those
in the service should be allowed an unlimited number of bags with
no weight limit. This would be impossible.

So explain this:

For those troops that are returning home but who know they'll be going
back - why do they have to bring their stuff back with them?

Why can't they leave their guns or armor or other **** there in Iraq /
Afghanistan?

Don't they have lockers or secure storage there where they can leave it?

Well one assumes they sign for their equipment at the point of issue.

If they're like every other army in the world the soldiers will have to
either turn their stuff in or justify its loss or pay for it.

But the reality is that they're obviously not bringing their military
equipment home with them. It'll be issued there and returned to stores
there.

Now, what makes you think soldiers always return to the same duty
station when returning to the same area?

Fighting, by its very nature, is mobile.

What they're doing is taking stuff home either as souvenirs or as presents.

--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Delta and the military
 

On Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:15:37 -0400, Fly Guy wrote:

Brian wrote:

I saw a parody commercial by Jay Leno the other night in which Delta
is once again castigated for charging baggage fees to returning
troops.

Apparently Delta was correct but the publicity was so bad that they
changed their policy. I heard some people say that those in the service
should be allowed an unlimited number of bags with no weight limit.
This would be impossible.

So explain this:

For those troops that are returning home but who know they'll be going
back - why do they have to bring their stuff back with them?

Why can't they leave their guns or armor or other **** there in Iraq /
Afghanistan?

Don't they have lockers or secure storage there where they can leave it?

A soldier never knows for sure where he will be posted next.

--
Dave Hatunen, Tucson, Baja Arizona, out where the cacti grow