The anti-union, anti-fair elections airline is also apparently
anti-troops.
Delta Airlines was caught this week charging troops returning from Afghanistan an extra $200 each to bring a fourth bag home, forcing one unit to pay more than $2,800 in baggage fees. Evidently, Delta’s policy is to allow troops only three free checked bags, while the soldiers said that their military orders allow them to carry up to four bags free of charge.... Staff Sergeant Robert O’Hair explained what occurred:
We had four bags, and Delta Air Lines only allows three bags. Anything over three bags you have to pay for, even though there’s a contract between the United States government and Delta Air Lines when returning from Afghanistan on military orders, you’re authorized up to four bags. [...] We actually had to end up paying, out of pocket, our own money, to allow that fourth bag to be taken on the plane. [...] For me [the fourth bag] was a weapons case…the tools that I use to protect myself and Afghan citizens while I was deployed in the country.
Delta has apologized for the "inconvenience," and has hastily updated its policy to allow military personnel five bags. But the damage is hard to undo. VoteVets slams the airline:
"Our troops are deployed to war for months at a time - they aren't packing light for a weekend on the beach. Delta shouldn't be sending the signal that it puts profits ahead of the men and women in uniform. They need to immediately stop charging returning troops for bag checks, and fully reimburse those who already have been charged," said Ashwin Madia, an Iraq War Veteran, and Chairman of VoteVets.org.
As did a Veterans of Foreign Wars statement: "A $200 bill for extra baggage by a government-contracted airline is the worst welcome home any soldier could receive...."
This comes on the heels of the news that Delta is the subject of a federal probe because of allegations from the Association of Flight Attendants and International Association of Machinists accusing the airline of "interfering in the elections by pressuring employees to vote against the unions." All in all, a really bad week in PR for the airline.