Poll of the Day > This U.S Soldier was UPSET he was charged $200 for his Oversized DUFFLE BAG!!!

(+) Yeah! (+)

First Lt. John Rader, a National Guardsman was hit with a hefty charge for his OVERWEIGHT DUFFLE bag fee on his return flight home from an overseas deployment with UNITED AIRLINES!!

He said he had to be pay $200 extra to get his military issued duffel bag on a UA flight out of El Paso, Texas while on his way home from serving 21 months in Afghanistan.

United's policy is that active military personnel can travel up to 5 bags free but each has to be 70lbs or lighter

Some of the stuff he had in that bag was a Kevlar, 2 helmets and boots, all gear necessary for his extended deployment.

He said "I was told point blank that i'd have to pay $200 for the overage or find another bag to siphon stuff off with. Well, i don't have another bag so i was caught in a bind"

He paid the fee but wasn't happy about it and said another service member travelling with him also had to pay the fee

John said he was supposed to serve only 9 months but volunteered to extend his deployment by more than double.

He says "I just absolutely enjoy the fact that i can serve my country and live my life at the same time"

He's never experienced anything like this before as he was surprised there was no EMPATHY for his situation and the fact that he was FIGHTING for their freedom. He said "There was none of that, it was just cold. I had to either pay or leave the bag. It became upsetting when all you want to do is get home and you have a $200 charge thrown on top."

United released a statement and said "We are disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesn't meet their expectations and our customer care team is reaching out to his customer to issue a refund for his oversized bag as a gesture of goodwill".

Do you think he should have been entitled for a waiver on that surcharge because he's a soldier fighting for his country? let's see what people think

John - Crybaby

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/18/04/4078A58B00000578-4517244-image-a-130_1495076571158.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/18/04/4078A56000000578-4517244-image-a-133_1495076835289.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/18/04/4078A55400000578-4517244-image-a-131_1495076579956.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/18/04/4078A57400000578-4517244-Rader_was_initially_ordered_to_serve_nine_months_in_Afghanistan_-a-11_1495079965830.jpg
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maybe read the policies for your luggage before you go to the airport

he gets 5 free bags

i don't feel sorry that he thinks he deserves even MORE special concessions
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mrduckbear posted...

United's policy is that active military personnel can travel up to 5 bags free but each has to be 70lbs or lighter

That sounds pretty generous and I'd say it makes sense that individual bags cannot be too heavy since workers have to be able to lift it themselves. Granted I was never in the military so honestly do not know how much gear one usually take while on duty. I am surprise he would carry something like a kelvar vest on him. Why isn't that issued from the armoury? Does each active soldier has his/her own personal vest?

Though I guess the workers coulda made an exception. When my Boy Scouts troop was traveling to Hawaii we had our flags inside a 6 feet x 8 inch PVC tube. Technically we were suppose to pay the $200 for an oversize luggage but the workers let it slide.
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united digging their grave even more. Sucks because they were who i used to always fly with : /
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Jen0125 posted...

maybe read the policies for your luggage before you go to the airport

he gets 5 free bags

i don't feel sorry that he thinks he deserves even MORE special concessions

This.
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InfestedAdam posted...

mrduckbear posted...

United's policy is that active military personnel can travel up to 5 bags free but each has to be 70lbs or lighter

That sounds pretty generous and I'd say it makes sense that individual bags cannot be too heavy since workers have to be able to lift it themselves. Granted I was never in the military so honestly do not know how much gear one usually take while on duty. I am surprise he would carry something like a kelvar vest on him. Why isn't that issued from the armoury? Does each active soldier has his/her own personal vest?

Though I guess the workers coulda made an exception. When my Boy Scouts troop was traveling to Hawaii we had our flags inside a 6 feet x 8 inch PVC tube. Technically we were suppose to pay the $200 for an oversize luggage but the workers let it slide.

You can easily fill 5 bags worth of stiff in the military when you travel. Gear gets issued to the individual who has to pack and carry it.
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He was told how to get rid of the fee and didn't do it (nor did he do any research beforehand), so too bad for him.
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XlaxJynx007 posted...

You can easily fill 5 bags worth of stiff in the military when you travel. Gear gets issued to the individual who has to pack and carry it.

I see, thank you for the insight and clarification.
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He shouldn't be traveling on a civilian airline with that kind of gear anyway.

They should have just from a PR stand point
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Muscles posted...

They should have just from a PR stand point

ya know, in all honesty. If they did, no one would have heard a word about it. Kind of screwed up huh?
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yutterh posted...

Muscles posted...

They should have just from a PR stand point

ya know, in all honesty. If they did, no one would have heard a word about it. Kind of screwed up huh?

Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
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yutterh posted...

Muscles posted...

They should have just from a PR stand point

ya know, in all honesty. If they did, no one would have heard a word about it. Kind of screwed up huh?

No PR>bad PR especially with the rest of their bad PR lately
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So how heavy even was the bag? They probably could have let it through if it were like 80. Maybe it's not, but from the description and pictures that bag seems much heavier.

mrduckbear posted...

John - Crybaby

I'm sure he is a hell of a lot tougher than you duckbear
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Red_Frog posted...

So how heavy even was the bag? They probably could have let it through if it were like 80. Maybe it's not, but from the description and pictures that bag seems much heavier.

If by 'Kevlar' he means a vest with the plates (Kevlar typically refers to an ACH), then with that and the 2 helmets that's 35-40 lbs minimum. Then whatever else was in the bag.

Honestly, it's pretty fucking stupid on United's part to quibble when they have so much bad PR at the moment.
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Zeus posted...

Honestly, it's pretty fucking stupid on United's part to quibble when they have so much bad PR at the moment.

They're kinda like Comcast in that regard, they're business model has all but abandoned the concept of customer service because until very recemtly they assumed they could get by without it because they know people need to fly
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Muscles posted...

They should have just from a PR stand point

He said a friend had to pay as well. This is probably not a one time occurrence. If they break policy for one guy why not just ditch the policy all together and let people on with 200 pound bags for free?

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough.
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slacker03150 posted...

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough

Did you read the description of what he had? A lot of it was his military tactigal gear, it may have been large and bulky items he couldn't easily distribute, if he could don't you think he would have done so instead of paying the fee?
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Mead posted...

slacker03150 posted...

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough

Did you read the description of what he had? A lot of it was his military tactigal gear, it may have been large and bulky items he couldn't easily distribute, if he could don't you think he would have done so instead of paying the fee?

He could have redistributed it if he had another bag. The airline is in the right on this one.

Cacciato posted...

Mead posted...

slacker03150 posted...

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough

Did you read the description of what he had? A lot of it was his military tactigal gear, it may have been large and bulky items he couldn't easily distribute, if he could don't you think he would have done so instead of paying the fee?

He could have redistributed it if he had another bag. The airline is in the right on this one.

I guess that is why they are giving him a refund.
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Being a veteran, I don't subscribe to the whole "People should kiss veterans' asses for their service."

Unless they were drafted, which hasn't happened in decades, they served voluntarily. And a large contingent of veterans have never seen a minute of combat. Even those who have served during war time, in hostile parts of the world. Not that people necessarily need to be combat vets to receive thanks and praise, but in my experience I get the impression that when people find out I was in the Army, they assume I've been in combat, which I haven't. This probably holds true for most non-combat vets.

Appreciate when people recognize that I've served, but don't expect special treatment or discounts everywhere I go. Homeboy should've packed better, or distributed his gear into his other bags.
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Mead posted...

Cacciato posted...

Mead posted...

slacker03150 posted...

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough

Did you read the description of what he had? A lot of it was his military tactigal gear, it may have been large and bulky items he couldn't easily distribute, if he could don't you think he would have done so instead of paying the fee?

He could have redistributed it if he had another bag. The airline is in the right on this one.

I guess that is why they are giving him a refund.

It's a PR issue. Doesn't change the fact they're right and he's fuckin stupid and either he should've read the rules or S-1 (HR) person in his unit that booked his flight should've told him.

If he was not traveling for leisure and on return from overseas deployment then absolutely.

If he happened to be visiting grandma or whatnot and happened to be using his duffle as a travel bag then he should be charged.

He was competing his duties to this country. It should have been waived.
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Cacciato posted...

Mead posted...

Cacciato posted...

Mead posted...

slacker03150 posted...

I'm actually on the side of the airline on this one. 5 bags is pretty generous and if he could get all of his stuff into one bag 4 extra bags should be more than enough

Did you read the description of what he had? A lot of it was his military tactigal gear, it may have been large and bulky items he couldn't easily distribute, if he could don't you think he would have done so instead of paying the fee?

He could have redistributed it if he had another bag. The airline is in the right on this one.

I guess that is why they are giving him a refund.

It's a PR issue. Doesn't change the fact they're right and he's fuckin stupid and either he should've read the rules or S-1 (HR) person in his unit that booked his flight should've told him.

I don't agree. This is a situation where they were technically correct but should have just waived the fee but instead were assholes and charged him $200 for a 10 lb variance.

Now they're giving him a refund because people are outraged over the obvious asshole move. Sometimes customer service means giving some leeway in appropriate situations and not adhering to absolutes. That is one of the reasons that customer service representatives exist, so that a human being is there that can actually make decisions about things like this.
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I dunno. I still think he's an idiot. I was issued at lest 4 duffel bags when I was in and this is just shit planning on his part IMO.

On top of that, he's a lieutenant and 200 bucks isn't shit after that long in afghanistan.

On top of that, his orders probably said excess baggage authorized and he should've spoke to someone higher up.

And finally, on top of that, he could claim that shit on his travel voucher so he should stop whining.

The only reason it annoys me is because I've dealt with that situation and he's looking like an idiot to other service members for no good reason.

Mead posted...

Sometimes customer service means giving some leeway in appropriate situations and not adhering to absolutes. That is one of the reasons that customer service representatives exist, so that a human being is there that can actually make decisions about things like this.

I 100% agree. That said I don't think this is one of those times and do not fault those involved for sticking to policy. if it was really only 10 pounds over then throw the boots and the kevlar into a second bag and avoid the charge. He has five free bags and is only using one.

Personally, I would give it to him if he already had 2 or 3 bags and one was a little over, but one? No get out of here with that shit, the guy is playing the vet card and expecting people to accommodate him despite him already getting a pretty sweet discount. If anything be mad at the government for not completely covering the travel costs of their soldiers to go home.
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