American Airlines Will Waive Third Excess Bag Fee for Military Personnel
August 13 2008 - 2:12PM
PR Newswire (US)
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of the
many efforts American Airlines makes to support our active and
veteran U.S. military personnel, fees for a third checked bag will
now be waived for active service members. Fees for first and second
checked bags have always been waived. "We always understood that
soldiers traveling on duty were reimbursed by the military for the
fees on required excess baggage. However, after recently hearing of
the burden the military reimbursement process put on soldiers
traveling to war zones, the choice for us to forgo payment for a
third checked bag from the Department of Defense was clear," said
Tom Del Valle, American's Senior Vice President -- Airport
Services. American Airlines is, and has been, the leading airline
in supporting active service members. The previous policy allowed
active military personnel, traveling on duty, to travel with up to
190 pounds of luggage at no charge, including a 100 pound checked
bag, a 50 pound checked bag, and a 40 pound carry-on bag. Only one
other airline waives first and second bag fees for off- duty,
active service members, and no airline allows as much free baggage
by weight as American Airlines. The new waiver policy for military
personnel begins immediately. American Airlines will work closely
with the Department of Defense on issues such as this in the
future. American Airlines supports more than 29 separate veterans
or active military initiatives, including -- Snowball Express, IBOT
wheelchairs, Medal of Honor Society, free charter flights for
Adaptive Sports, and Seats for Soldiers. American has implemented
special reduced fares with added flexibility and special boarding
privileges for active-duty military members and their families
traveling on leave or furlough for the past five years. In
addition, U.S. military women and men are welcomed at Admirals Club
facilities when traveling on emergency or R&R leave from their
overseas duties. "We appreciate and marvel at the bravery and
sacrifice our military personnel exhibit daily," Del Valle said.
"Anything we can do to support them and honor them is a top
priority for American Airlines." American Airlines has long been a
company where military men and women begin and thrive in their
civilian careers after serving the United States. Those employees
have constant input into our programs for military personnel, and
their opinions and ideas were solicited on the topic of excess
military baggage. DATASOURCE: American Airlines CONTACT: Tim
Wagner, Corporate Communications of American Airlines,
+1-817-967-1577, Web site: http://www.aa.com/
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