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Airlines differ on baggage fees for troops

Military personnel traveling on official orders will not have to pay new fees for checked baggage in most instances, although the airlines are not exempting other government employees on official business from the fees, according to information provided by provided by the General Services Administration.

A spot-check of airlines shows service members traveling on leave would still have to pay baggage fees if airlines charge them. To receive waivers on the fees when traveling on contract fares — official government business — service members should also provide identification.

Not all airlines have begun charging baggage fees, and most charge only for the second and subsequent bags. But American and United have begun charging $15 for the first bag checked; US Airways has announced it will do the same starting July 9.

American Airlines is exempting civilian government employees and service members on government fares on domestic flights from the fee to check a first bag, and from the $25 fee for an additional bag. But travel on American’s commercial fares “may be” subject to fees for the first and second checked bag, GSA notes.

United and US Airways do not exempt government travelers on fees for the first bag, but do waive the fees for service members on travel orders. Troops also are exempt from the airlines’ $25 fee for the second bag.

Most airlines that charge fees for the second checked bag, ranging from $10 to $25, exempt military personnel on official travel. But JetBlue and Midwest do not exempt any government travelers from their baggage fee of $20 for the second bag.

The government will reimburse expenses related to checked bags for people on official travel, so troops should keep their receipts if they pay such fees.

More information is available on the GSA Web site.

Officials also advise checking with individual airlines, agency travel management centers or commercial travel offices for details on their baggage policies.