US Airways

shutterbugC

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
407
DO NOT FLY US AIRWAYS!!!!!!! My son was just charged $200 for overweight baggage cause his ID said Military Reserves. He even showed his orders and that didn't matter!
 
I hope you can appeal that. Since he has orders, he should have been fine. there are PLENTY of reservists under orders. He just got some jerk of an agent.

Save your paperwork, copies of orders, the charge... and WRITE 'em a letter.

My son was traveling in uniform, and some agent in a line started giving him unnecessary static. He was respectful, and explained his orders and seabag(enginnering)/and metal for project. The amazing thing, and what warms my heart about people, is that the rest of the folks in line BEHIND him and those in lines ADJACENT to him started booing the agent and vocalizing that the agent was being unreasonable. ;)

Good luck to you !
 
DO NOT FLY US AIRWAYS!!!!!!! My son was just charged $200 for overweight baggage cause his ID said Military Reserves. He even showed his orders and that didn't matter!

Just because someone has a military ID, reserve or otherwise, and is under orders does not automatically entitle them to the waiver of fees for excess baggage at the counter. He may be able to submit a claim for reimbursement later on a travel voucher. So keep all receipts.

The following is from the Joint Federal Travel Regulations.

B. Accompanied Baggage
1. General. Each carrier’s tariff has its rules for accompanied baggage allowances and charges for excess accompanied baggage. Each traveler should check with individual transportation carriers, prior to travel, about
limitations of baggage weight, and/or size, and/or number of bags allowed.

C. Excess Accompanied Baggage
1. Definition. Accompanied baggage in excess of the weight, size, or number of pieces allowed at no cost to the traveler by a transportation provider, including the first piece of accompanied baggage if there is a charge for the first piece.
2. Traveler Responsibility. The traveler should be financially prepared to pay for excess accompanied baggage.
3. Authorization/Approval. An AO (approving official) may authorize/approve excess accompanied baggage.

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/pdc-archive/reg-chgs/monthly/2010/JFTR/Change 278 (02-01-10).pdf

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103882
 
I only fly Southwest....not because of the latest negative press for US Airways, Delta etc, but because I find the people in those airlines to be very hard to enjoy the company of. You would think companies that have declared bankruptcy multiple times would figure out the customer relations end of things....but you would be wrong.
 
I'm not too quick to fault US Airways, unless they did something wrong here or violated some company policy.

US Airways said:
Exempt from 1st and 2nd checked bag fee
Overweight/oversize fees may still apply (see overweight/oversize tab)

  • All Dividend Miles Preferred members
  • Confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers
  • Active U.S. military on personal travel*
*Active U.S. military personnel policy effective June 10, 2011.

Military personnel who are on active duty status or who have been discharged within seven days qualify for free baggage allowance. Military personnel may check 3 bags free of charge which can exceed 62 inches/157 cm in dimensions (but less than 81 inches/206 cm) and weighs 100 pounds/46 kg or less.

Special rates are not available to personnel on temporary duty orders traveling to or from their temporary duty station. For more information about Military Leave travel, call US Airways at 800-428-4322.

The military passenger must carry valid active duty identification or separation papers.

KP mids are not considered "active duty military" so were you expecting US Airways to classify your son as such, and thus qualify for an overweight allowance that is normally given to active-duty military?

Or was the bag in question actually not overweight?

Although I disagree with US Airways and some of their policies, I can't fault the airline for doing what it says it's gonna do. We have the right to fly a different airline, in most cases.
 
As others have noted it is a matter of the JFTR and individual airline policies on whether to charge for extra baggage. Many will give two free bags to those on active duty; however, many will also charge for overweight bags even if they are within those two "free".

Your son should simply add the fees onto his travel claim when he returns to the Academy. He may or may not get reimbursed.

Would it be nice if every airline allowed those with orders to travel with bags free, yep!
 
He was told by his ATR to turn it in and he wills see what he could do as for reimbursement. I have written US AirWays and explained the situation to them. Hope one of them works.
Just because they are Reserves, as long as they have orders, they should be allowed their baggage. It isn't like they are going on vacation . . . or are they . . . hmmmmm.
 
Fly Delta!!! They were very accommodating for my son flying to Indoc and his bag was no charge, just showed orders!! ...and we were flying with him.

I'm sorry but I think all airlines should have no charge for all luggage for military....common sense...(without military we wouldn't have our freedom!) but I also think it has a lot to do with what agent you get.

I would definitely write usair!!!
 
I only fly Southwest....not because of the latest negative press for US Airways, Delta etc, but because I find the people in those airlines to be very hard to enjoy the company of. You would think companies that have declared bankruptcy multiple times would figure out the customer relations end of things....but you would be wrong.

Agreed.

I make no comment on the fault of US Airways in this current case, but I totally agree that they have the worst customer service on the planet. I once made the mistake of flying on them for an international TA flight, and WOW was that experience horrific. They lost my luggage going and coming back, the planes were delayed going and coming back (due to mnx), and the agents at Philadelphia International were openly hostile towards me. I had similar problems with luggage and hostile gate people while getting stuck in Charlotte a couple of times. Now, I don't care how much more it costs, I pick another carrier. Southwest is great if they are servicing where I need to go. The lack of baggage fees are a huge deal. Of the other "legacy carriers," I don't tend to mind United or American. Their product isn't exactly great, but I haven't had too much trouble with them personally. I've yet to try JetBlue or Virgin America, as they have either a very minimal or no presence at my home airport. I'm hoping that'll change, as I've heard good things.

Overall, I wish that the US-based airlines would focus more on service, and would get rid of those baggage fees. I'd rather pay the fee in my ticket price.

Sad to say, when I fly international, I often look for some of the more reliable foreign airlines even if more expensive. Virgin Atlantic and BA are favorites.
 
I noticed that the original post said the M/N was charged for overweight bags not excess bags. The Website mentions no exemptions for overweight baggage fees, including any military status.

I know it's been 20 ... Cough, cough ... Years since I was a Plebe but attention to detail still applies before we start trashing an airline.
 
Your Reserve ID is valid

Indoc was awesome, at least as an observer.

As far as excess baggage. Active Duty Air Force dont get an exemption from the airlines for overweight/sized luggage. if required we get excess baggage authorized on our orders and then submitt reimbursement for the extra cost. Now I have had plenty of airlines wink when my suitcase was 10lbs over, but Ive had most that dont. The reserve military ID had nothing to do with it.

I have had to step in a couple times when I saw uniformed military arguing with the gate agent. I told the individual to have the orders amended for excess baggage and make the claim, if justified you'll get paid.

Youd think the government contract fare would cover stuff like this given that we're paying the "high Y rate" fare, but thats another rant on government contracts.
 
I have written to US Airways and was told it would take 5-7 working days for them to respond. No phone number for NO Customer Service, just an email address. Waiting to see what they have to say.
I say, NEVER again. I will pay the higher price. My DS was told that if he shipped out from home, he would not be reimbursed. If he shipped out from NY, then the Gov't would pay for his travels. The reason for picking US Airways, they were cheaper. Turned out I was wrong.
 
Was he on sea term duty? Was it the ATR's that arranged the flight, or was this flight arranged by family?

Generally they are not charged when flying on a govt purchased ticket, and run into problems when they fly on a civilian purchased one.....
 
KPmom, didn't know that bit of info re: non/charges depending on who is purchasing it. I know when ds goes out he makes sure the bags are the correct weight and dimensions. He could have been charged for an overweight bag, but whipped out an extra bag to fill part way. He didn't go over the bag limit either. But still everyone MUST look at the fine details re; how many bags, the weights and dimensions.
 
Haven't heard from them yet. Figures.
The flight was scheduled from home since he was at home. It was for his Sea Term and since he had already flown with another airlines and his baggage was not charged for being "Heavy" and I knew that they allow military to have more than 50 lbs in their luggage, I did not even think that not all airlines were alike. I just figured they all followed the same rules. He packed everything in one baggage although he did take his duffel bag and put it in his baggage and a bookbag.
Oh well, still waiting to hear from them. Not holding my breath.
 
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