Delta changed its baggage policy for military personnel traveling on orders after massive criticism this week over extra charges for a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
Now AirTran is taking things a step further, waiving all baggage fees for military members traveling on duty.
“We make an exception to our checked baggage policy for members of the military who are traveling on active duty orders. As long as each piece of baggage does not exceed 100 pounds in weight and 80 inches in size, [military members] will be exempt from baggage charges, and will not be subject to excess, oversized, or overweight baggage charges,” AirTran said in a statement Thursday night.
It is the same as Southwest's policy, AirTran said. The previous policy was three free checked bags.
The baggage controversy began after a video was posted on YouTube about a group of soldiers being charged $200 per person for a fourth bag on their Delta flight from Baltimore to Atlanta on Tuesday. The group paid a total of $2,800. The video has since been removed.
Delta announced its policy change Wednesday, increasing the free checked baggage allotment for U.S. military traveling on orders in economy class to four. In first and business class, the allotment is up to five bags. Each bag may weigh up to 70 pounds and 80 inches in size, the statement said.
--Staff writers Mike Morris and Kelly Yamanouchi contributed to this article.
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