More Military Fees Fall - Continental Airlines Waives 3rd Bag Charge

When American Airlines decided not to charge military personnel a fee for checking a third bag Cheapflights noted that it would instructive to see who followed suit. Now we know. Continental Airlines says effective immediately it will waive the fee for a third checked bag for active U.S. military personnel.

Heretofore soldiers, sailors, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel going off to war have had to pay to check that third piece of luggage - often a duffle bag laden with uniforms - as they headed to or from war.

The carrier had previously allowed active-duty service members to check two bags free of charge. Now, it's as many as three.

In waiving the fee, Jim Compton, Continental's Executive Vice President of Marketing said: “We understand the special needs of military travelers.”

Continental's new policy permits military passengers on official orders to check three bags free. Those bags can weigh up to 70 pounds, and be up to 115 liner inches. As for family members, they can check three bags gratis providing those pieces of luggage weigh no more than 70 pounds, and are no more than 62 linear inches. Continental won't impose the fee when family members are traveling with, or without, the military passenger who is on orders. The policy applies to those traveling on official business.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler