An Extra Bag? No Problem, Soldier
I guess that the airlines' old policy of charging military service members for the extra bags they need to check as they head off to deployments wasn't working out too well. One by one, airlines are rescinding such requirements, the Associated Press reports.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
The rescinded price should be inclusive of Department of Defense (DOD) employees on official travel. The airlines are essentially debiting DOD accounts, in all cases.
US Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:41 AMWhy does any DOD civilian need 3 bags full??
dan ketter Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 5:10 PMDan - Why does any DOD civilian need 3 bags full??
A training trip, for example. He/she might be carrying books, supplies. It may not happen often, true enough. There might be one or two folks who abuse the system,I agree. But the negative exceptions should not define the entire department. The greater point is that the soldier is either PCS'ing or TDY'ing (meaning the DOD is footing the tab). Military travel represnts a token portion of the entire DOD ravel budget for a fiscal year. It just seems like DOD should negotiate a better deal for the taxpayers.
US Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:43 AMUS I agree, with a little forthought books training material etc the items should have been shipped bu UPS not via airlines.
As to a better rate, I've travel many times at the government rate and it was always more expensive than if I booked it myself. So relying on our crack gov't procurement folks really isn't an answer
dan ketter Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:29 PM"So relying on our crack gov't procurement folks really isn't an answer"
Not fair. Kind of like comparing oranges to grapefruit. They are both citrus but....
Dan do you buy you tickets with full exchange and return rights? I know I don't, but the tickets you get at Government rates have this privelege. Also do you buy your tickets far in advance? The earlier you buy the cheaper they are. Unless you take a chance hoping for last minute deals.
I am flying next week for the Government. If I were to buy my ticket today it would be $1239, the Government cost $667! Now if I bought that ticket two months ago it would be cheaper, but I have never known two months in advance that I have to travel. I was lucky this time to know about the travel two weeks in advance!
Sometimes you can get a ticket cheaper, and sometimes you would pay a lot more than the Government. Know your facts.
Laura Posted Friday, August 22, 2008 6:51 AM