United Airlines charges soldier $200 for his 'overweight' military duffel on his way home after 21 months serving in Afghanistan

  • First Lieutenant John Rader had to pay $200 to get his military-issued duffel bag on a United Airlines flight out of El Paso, Texas on Monday
  • United's policy is that active military personnel can travel with up to five bags for free, but each bag must be 70 pounds or lighter
  • Rader had only one bag, but it was apparently over 70 pounds, so he had to pay
  • Some of the things that led to the bags heavy weight included Kevlar, two helmets and boots, all gear necessary for his extended deployment overseas 
  • United later released a statement that it would reimburse Rader's $200 

By Stephanie Haney For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:12 EDT, 17 May 2017 | Updated: 09:01 EDT, 18 May 2017

A National Guardsman was hit with a hefty charge for an overweight bag fee on his return flight from an overseas deployment.

First Lieutenant John Rader had to pay $200 to get his military-issued duffel bag on a United Airlines flight out of El Paso, Texas on Monday, on his way home from serving 21 months in Afghanistan, according to Fox 7. 

United's policy is that active military personnel can travel with up to five bags for free, but each bag must be 70 pounds or lighter. 

First Lieutenant John Rader had to pay $200 to get his military-issued duffel bag on a United Airlines flight out of El Paso, Texas on Monday, on his way home from serving in Afghanistan

First Lieutenant John Rader had to pay $200 to get his military-issued duffel bag on a United Airlines flight out of El Paso, Texas on Monday, on his way home from serving in Afghanistan

United released a statement Tuesday with its regrets over the situation and offered to reimburse Rader the $200 fee as a 'gesture of goodwill'

United released a statement Tuesday with its regrets over the situation and offered to reimburse Rader the $200 fee as a 'gesture of goodwill'

Some of the things that led to the bags heavy weight included Kevlar, two helmets and boots, all gear necessary for his extended deployment overseas.

'I was told point blank that I'd have to pay $200 for the overage or find another bag to siphon stuff off with,' Rader said. 

'Well, I didn't have another bag so I was caught in a bind.'

The soldier paid the fee, but he wasn't happy about it. He said another service member traveling with him also had to pay the fee.  

Some of the things that led to the bags heavy weight included Kevlar, two helmets and boots, all gear necessary for his extended deployment overseas

Some of the things that led to the bags heavy weight included Kevlar, two helmets and boots, all gear necessary for his extended deployment overseas

Rader was initially ordered to serve nine months in Afghanistan, but said he volunteered to extend his deployment by more than double to 21 months.

Rader was initially ordered to serve nine months in Afghanistan, but said he volunteered to extend his deployment by more than double to 21 months. 

Rader was initially ordered to serve nine months in Afghanistan, but said he volunteered to extend his deployment by more than double to 21 months. 

'I just absolutely enjoy the fact that I can serve my country and live my life at the same time,' said Rader. 

In all of his travels with the military, Rader said he's never experienced a situation quite like this one.  

'There was no empathy to the situation. I'm not looking for sympathy, but some form of empathy in the situation. There was none of that. It was just cold. I had to either pay or leave the bag,' he said.

'It became upsetting when all you want to do is get home and you have a $200 charge thrown on top,' Rader said, from his home in Kyle, Texas.

United released a statement Tuesday with its regrets over the situation.

'We are disappointed anytime a customer has an experience that doesn't meet their expectations, and our customer care team is reaching out to this customer to issue a refund for his oversized bag as a gesture of goodwill,' the statement read.

While Rader was pleased at this accommodation, he said what he really wanted was a policy change.

Other airlines have similar policies, but have higher weight limits for military members' bags.

Like United, American Airlines allows up to five bags free for active duty military, but each bag may weight up to 100 pounds. Southwest Airlines waives the two free bags cutoff, but also requires all bags weigh 100 pounds or less. 

'I just want to make sure soldiers are cared for going forward,' he said. 

This is the latest in a series of public scandals that United Airlines has faced within recent weeks.

A Continental Giant rabbit was found dead following a transatlantic flight from London on the airline, and a Kentucky doctor was videotaped being injured as he was forcibly removed by Chicago police from an overbooked flight.

Dr David Dao has reached an undisclosed settlement with the airline.  

While Rader was pleased  that United will be refunding his $200, he said what he really wanted was a policy change to 'make sure soldiers are cared for going forward'

While Rader was pleased  that United will be refunding his $200, he said what he really wanted was a policy change to 'make sure soldiers are cared for going forward'

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Soldier claims United charged him $200 for military duffel

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