{"id":76972,"date":"2024-06-04T16:17:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T16:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/06\/04\/which-airlines-offer-key-benefits-for-troops-theres-a-chart-for-that\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:24:17","slug":"which-airlines-offer-key-benefits-for-troops-theres-a-chart-for-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/mil-money\/2024\/06\/04\/which-airlines-offer-key-benefits-for-troops-theres-a-chart-for-that\/","title":{"rendered":"Which airlines offer key benefits for troops? There\u2019s a chart for that"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new government tool aims to clarify the benefits troops and their families can receive from America\u2019s 10 largest airlines to make their air travel easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s \u201cSupport Our Troops\u201d dashboard<\/a> offers a chart comparing each airline\u2019s policies on fee waivers, free luggage and refunds for <\/b>military families during personal travel<\/a>, or when travel plans change because of a military order. Four companies \u2014 Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Spirit <\/a>Airlines \u2014 offer some combination of those perks, according to the chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways and United<\/a> Airlines are also included in the roundup <\/b>but have not committed to provide current troops and their families with additional benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to the CEOs of these 10 largest airlines, urging them to improve their military travel benefits and publicize them more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department \u201cappreciates that carriers currently provide active duty service members and their families various military travel benefits,\u201d Buttigieg wrote. \u201cHowever, these benefits are not consistently detailed in carriers\u2019 public-facing customer service plans, resulting in many service members being unaware of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The travel benefits \u201coften do not fully address the needs of service members who may need to cancel or change personal travel plans due to military directives,\u201d Buttigieg added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the letter, Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier stepped up their existing commitments to troops and families, according to the Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six others \u2014 Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue and United \u2014 declined to make \u201cclear and enforceable\u201d promises of extra benefits, the department said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airlines are required to stick to the benefits outlined in their customer service plans, including commitments to care for service members and their families. The department pledges to hold airlines accountable if they fail to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To build the new \u201cSupport Our Troops\u201d dashboard, DOT and Pentagon officials collaborated to evaluate airlines on four basic commitments the government believes are the top priorities for troops and families on the go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n