ATA 'Reaffirms' Airlines' Support for Our Military

In the wake of the public drubbing Delta airlines got, this week, over stiffing a number of soldiers returning from Afghanistan with at least one too may gear bags, the airline industry is displaying a sudden wave of selfish, uh, selfless patriotism. Mind you, this only happened after some of the soldiers who, collectively, ponied up over $2800 in extra fees... and then took their case to YouTube with a video that, in a number of forms and copies, has received over a half-million views... and counting.

According to the latest release from the Air Transport Association, their member airlines 'are committed to supporting our nation's military. Airlines routinely offer special fares for military personnel and families, accommodate unplanned schedule changes, often enable them to board first, and generally do what they can to show their appreciation. Military personnel traveling on orders typically do so under the General Services Administration ticketing program, where the federal government negotiates rates and conditions for military and government transportation. Working with the GSA, individual airlines have established policies creating special exceptions from certain baggage rules. But like all fare setting and service policy determinations, those decisions are made independently by the individual airlines involved, and several have already announced more accommodating changes.'

How the writer/PR Flak got through all that without gagging over his/her word processor is beyond us...

FMI: www.airlines.org