Airline Baggage Fees

[Crazy8]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]United Airlines exempts "active U.S. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]military personnel and/or a dependant with ID and traveling on orders" from paying baggage fees. Does this mean they actually want to see PCS or TDY orders? Has anyone successfully avoided paying baggage fees while on leave?[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

I flew to Jax for house hunting (not on orders) a couple weeks ago and Continental and U.S. Airways waived the baggage fees because I was active duty. They actually went out of their way to ask if I was active duty, I didn't even have to fish for it. It was really nice.

 

[navy09]

That's an odd rule. Anyone actually on PCS/TDY orders could just claim and get paid back for the bag fee anyway.

Doubt they check. You could try to convince your command you're conducting some form of "official biz" while on leave and get no cost TAD orders...

 

[SWCS242]

I have had them ask for my orders twice, but didn't actually know how to read them, so they just waived the fees.

I have never had to pay checked baggage fees when I use my military ID at check in.

 

[DanMa1156]

When I wasn't in uniform going back to Annapolis from Jax, I showed them my training orders and they waived my fees for baggage. The girl in our group who did not have a copy of her orders had to pay for her bags... If I recall correctly, it was Delta Airlines.

 

[RadicalDude]

I've used leave papers succesfully multiple times.

 

[Lawman]

If you look at a set of PCS orders they specifically state what the government has given you permission to move. Your Seabag/Duffle is actually exempt from any weight restrictions when traveling on PCS orders. Not so when just general leasure travel.

However as with many "discounts" this is going to very greatly on who your dealing with at the ticket counter. Many times just saying "Active duty" with my haircut is enough for some people when others want to see a copy of every document I could possibly have.

 

[redmidgrl]

Every time. Leave papers are essentially your orders during your leave period. Unfortunately, I don't have a haircut that would lead anyone to ask, bump me to first class, or get any other special treatment... lucky bastards

~Red

 

[A4sForever]

....Unfortunately, I don't have a haircut that would .... bump me to first class, or get any other special treatment...

Then you shoulda' flown w/ me ... I'd have given you a haircut & moved you to First/Business ....

 

[Gatordev]

When I wasn't in uniform going back to Annapolis from Jax, I showed them my training orders and they waived my fees for baggage. The girl in our group who did not have a copy of her orders had to pay for her bags... If I recall correctly, it was Delta Airlines.

I've flown Delta a couple of times the last few months (not really by choice) and always with flight gear in a kit bag. Each time, they've asked to see an ID, but that's it. If I had to choose, I'd fly Continental as much as I can, as they don't care if you're on orders, just if you're active duty.

The kiosks won't always know how to handle the baggage, but the person there can help. The gouge for Delta is if it tries to charge you if you've put a bag in the system (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't), just back out and put "0 bags" and then go up to the counter and they'll hook you up.

 

[A4sForever]

I've flown Delta a couple of times the last few months (not really by choice) .....

Doesn't really matter anymore in the U.S. airline industry whether it's by 'choice' or not ...

Why???

WE OWN YOU.
That's why ...

 

[Gatordev]

Doesn't really matter anymore in the U.S. airline industry whether it's by 'choice' or not ...

Why???

WE OWN YOU.
That's why ...

Despite the lack of...well...anything, it actually wasn't too bad, though they were all pretty short trips. It's just soooo much easier to get miles w/ my Continental account when flying Continental, and their customer service always does me right.

 

[A4sForever]

.... when flying Continental, their customer service always does me right.

Roger that; BUT:

" ... Then you shoulda' flown w/ me ... I'd have given you a haircut & moved you to First/Business .... "

Even if you didn't 'need' a haircut ... :icon_wink

 

[FlyBoyd]

For Frontier...

Don't prepay online for bags. I haven't paid for bags just by stating I am military and showing my ID upon request. They were happy to accommodate me. This time of year may be tougher as there are more holiday travelers than PCD/TAD travelers.

 

[A4sForever]

....This time of year may be tougher...

THIS time of the year ... I always rode a P-3 back from whereever-I-was-to-wherever-I-wanted-to-be ....

And had a GREAT time in the cockpit w/ the crew, too ...