Carrier Alters Policy After Seeing Fallout

Realizing it's not good PR to charge luggage fees to soldiers going off to war, Alaska Airlines and regional subsidiary Horizon Air announced Thursday both airlines are waiving service charges on baggage for active members of the US military traveling on orders, allowing them to check up to three pieces of luggage free of charge.

The change follows a similar move by American Airlines... which that airline adopted only after word of the policy reached major news outlets (resulting in the kinds of scathing headlines Alaska Airlines management are no doubt relieved to have avoided.)

In the past, military personnel were allowed two free checked bags.

"We realize soldiers may have more baggage than normal when traveling to or from an overseas deployment, and we want to accommodate and welcome them on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of flight and marketing. "It's a small thing we can do to thank the men and women of our armed forces for all they do for our country."

Each free checked bag may be up to 50 pounds (military duffle bags may be up to 70 pounds) and 115 linear inches.

In July, both Alaska Airlines and Horizon began charging a $25 service fee to check a second bag in all markets, except the state of Alaska. The first checked bag is still free for all passengers.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air together serve 95 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.

FMI: www.alaskaair.com