Delta Ups Baggage Allowance for Military on Orders
Courtesy of reader Audrey, Delta has increased the allowed weight per bag to a whopping 100 pounds per bag.
Effective for travel on or after June 21, 2017, Delta is updating its baggage policy for active U.S. military members traveling on military orders on or after June 21, 2017, regardless of their ticketing date.
Key Changes Summary
Any active U.S. military member traveling on orders, on Delta-marketed/Delta-operated flights, on or after June 21, 2017, is entitled to five free bags up to 100 lbs. each. This applies to travel worldwide in any cabin of service (subject to any applicable embargoes or regional weight restrictions).
Previously, U.S. military traveling on orders were entitled to four free bags up to 70 lbs. each in Delta Comfort+®, Main Cabin or Basic Economy and five free bags up to 70 lbs. each in First Class, Delta Premium Select and Delta One® (subject to any applicable embargoes or regional weight restrictions). The policy for active U.S. military traveling on personal travel remains unchanged.
Personally, I think you are asking for an aching back by loading a single bag to 100 lbs. I have deployed to Iraq twice and know how much we have to pack, but they typically give you four duffle bags or a box and a couple of bags. Never had to load one to 100 lbs. I am guessing that this move is a result of the highly publicized incident where a National Guard Soldier packed everything he had into one bag that came out to over 70 pounds and he was charged. He can claim this on his Travel Voucher so wouldn’t be out and money, but he made a big social media deal out of it. We’ll see if the other airlines follow suit with this, although I wouldn’t expect it to come up a lot. Frankly, Delta increased dimension allowance from 62″ to 80″ overall means a lot more to me, as I have run into that problem when deploying with my box.
Delta did not honor the 100lb policy for me. My bag was 72lbs and I had to try and cram stuff into my carry on and into the other bag. I traveled alone so I had to have the smallest number of bags possible so I could transport them on my own. I was also hassled about not having a passport even though it isn’t required for the location I was headed to since I was on orders. I’m not impressed with their treatment of deploying military.
I am active duty service member in the army traveling on an emergency of my Dad passing and I was told by my chain of command to verify if military member could get extra baggage which is three extra bags for free?