[dustballs1]

I would like to suggest that airlines consider waiving baggage fees to disaster volunteers such as Red Cross workers.

Consider that Red Cross workers are sent out solely on the good graces of the donated dollar to areas affected by serious disaster conditions. They are expected to survive on the barest of subsistence amounts to provide absolute stewardship of the cash provided for their means.

The last time I travelled, I was forced to pay $25 in cash to check my bag. In 2008, the fee was waived because I was Red Cross. This time it was not. As a result I only had $8 left to provide for my food and other incidentals for the rest of the day.

That bag I checked contained only items that would benefit my Red Cross work: clothes, toiletries, Red Cross “GO Kit” items unique to the affected disaster area, and emergency snacks and water. I knew I was going to arrive somewhere that might not have running water, electricity, heating, air conditioning, or a bed to sleep on (in six years, I have rarely slept on a bed). The first day I may not get anything to eat other than the on-board meal, if any, due to the time crunch. Sometimes we go straight to work into a 12 hour shift, for which we are well trained and prepared to serve.

Consider that Red Cross volunteers must take unpaid leave to answer the call of duty. The organization’s charter requires them to stand up whenever requested by our government during specific disasters. Volunteers face risks associated with bad air and water quality. They buy extra flashlights and batteries, radios. Their “incidentals” allowances often goes for laundry detergent, first aid items, trail bars, hygiene supplies, meals on the go, and everything else that is not provided to them. When they return, they pay for their own medical care for injuries or hazardous exposures that occurred on their trip. And in 2011, there have been an unprecedented number of natural disasters. If I had gone out every time I were called, the baggage fees alone would have been in the hundreds of dollars.

There is no requirement, NONE, that airlines provide a fee waiver like many do for the military. But it would certainly make it far easier on those of us that answer the call of our country in times of need.