[JJ_BPK]

Someone needs to wirte their Congress Person(s) and complain...

Airline baggage fees hit soldier flying out of El Paso for training Military re-evaluating policies because of charges, By Chris Roberts / El Paso Times, 07/30/2008


After adding all the extra equipment - boots, foul weather gear, uniforms and the like - required for training before he deploys to Iraq, Staff Sgt. Ashley Serrano had filled three bags. That was one more than American Airlines was willing to let fly without an extra baggage charge of $100.
Many airlines, faced with the rising price of jet fuel and other costs, have instituted luggage fees. And now military officials are having to re-evaluate policy as soldiers, many of whom are at the lower pay grades, are faced with significant charges to haul equipment that is required by their jobs.

Serrano said he was confronted Friday at the El Paso International Airport with a demand for $100 for his third bag, and when he mentioned he was headed for Camp Bowie - where Texas Army National Guard soldiers train before deployment - he said they told him, without a smile, that the Army should have given him a voucher. Serrano's fellow soldier and traveling companion had three extra bags and was charged $300, he said.

"I have flown Southwest, Continental, and when they saw me in uniform, they didn't even ask," Serrano said. "I flew American a couple of times before, but I never had this problem."

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http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_10044818