Troops in Iraq to Get Deals on Flights

[Judi Lynn]

September 30, 2003 E-mail story Print

Troops in Iraq to Get Deals on Flights

From Associated Press


Major airlines are offering discounts to American troops on leave from duty in Iraq after the military's rest and relaxation program was criticized because it does not pay for the troops' travel inside the United States.

Under the first major R&R program since the Vietnam War, the government pays for flights from Iraq to Maryland, at which point the troops must pick up the tab for any domestic travel.

Before Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines this weekend began offering the troops special fares requiring no advance purchase, those put on leave with little notice were faced with expensive last-minute fares.

"What family can afford to pay $2,000 or more for a same-day plane ticket?" said Sherry Billups of Minnesota, whose husband, Steven Baazard, is a 15-year veteran of the National Guard. (snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-flights30sep30,1,4188903.story?coll=la-headlines-world

(Free registration required)

[LiberalVoice]

1. hmmm

maybe the money they save on the flights can be used to pay for there meals while there in the hospitals recooperating.

[SoCalDem]

2. They should fly ..FREE..space available

They all have paperwork proving that they are on 15 day leave from the PATRIOTIC AMERICAN WAR..

Why should the airline profit at all by helpiing them get home for what could be the last time for them??

If they have an empty seat, it should go to a soldier..

[Karenina]

5. ABSOLUTELY.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!! Every airline corp. HQ and ticket outlet should be greeted each morning by patriots who believe "support" consists of more than mouthing rhetoric. These guys were bailed out by 15B in taxpayer money. I'm visualizing 1-100 equipped with handouts detailing the way the *misadministration has screwed those who volunteered to risk life and limb, picketing every airline office carrying signs that demand, TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE! TROOPS FLY FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sandnsea]

3. OH MY GOD!!!!

I can't believe it. I just can't goddamn believe it. What the fucking hell is WRONG with these people??? Compassion? Oh I just dare them to TRY to utter the word compassion next year. Slimy ratass bastards!!!!

[SoCalDem]

4. Some doozies here about the airfare issue

http://news.google.com/news?num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&edition=us&q=+airfare+soldiers&btnG=Search+News


Airfare discounts for soldiers
MSNBC - 8 hours ago
... Before Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines this weekend began offering the troops
special fares requiring no advance purchase, soldiers on vacation with ...
http://www.msnbc.com/news/973651.asp

---

Maine National Guard to help soldiers find airfare for paid leave
WMTW, ME - 12 hours ago
PORTLAND -- The Maine National Guard says it will help families shop around for
the best airfares to get soldiers who are eligible for a two week leave home ...
Maine National Guard to help soldiers find airfare for paid leave - WMTW

http://www.wmtw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1462063&nav=7k6rIFep

---

John Grogan | Toll-collectors will always have Paris
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 2 hours ago
... No, I'm not talking about our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. ... Transportation Authority
sent three - though those poor saps had to pick up their own airfare. ...
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/6893204.htm

---

Some Families Wish R&R Program Came with Airfare
KARE, MN - Sep 27, 2003
... military program that gives troops a few days of home leave. But then they found out the soldiers have to pay part of their airfare. ... Some families wish R&R program came with a ticket - San Jose Mercury News
http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=52747

---

Costly fare of military program unfair, some say
Duluth News Tribune, MN - Sep 27, 2003
... few days of home leave sounded like a good thing to some Minnesota families -- until
they got to the part where the soldiers have to pay part of their airfare. ...

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/6874732.htm

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. Capitalism - Free Market. It's an incentive thing

The soldiers' families have an empowering incentive now to work hard at globally competitive rates so they can save up enough for those airfares!

[sandnsea]

7. The military can put them down near a hub

They sure as hell manage to use airplanes and busses efficiently to get them INTO the military, they can at least manage to put them down at bases around the country and put them on a bus to the nearest airport. From there, the airlines can repay some of those billions of dollars of bailout money by flying these kids home free. Goddamn, I just want to shake the skin off some people right now.