Doing the right thing -- under pressure

An update on this week's military baggage fee fiasco.
AirTran, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United said they would start waiving all or most of their baggage fees for active members of the US military on official travel.
And earlier this week, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air dropped their levies to check a third bag for active service members.
What triggered this largess? An outpouring of generosity and patriotism for our guys in uniform perhaps?
Try a protest letter sent by the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the Air Transport Association, which represents the airline industry, asking for a break for service members -- a note that was followed by a few others from a handful of influential members of Congress.
The VFW sent its billet doux in response to a story in the El Paso Times recounting the experience of a pair of Texas Army National Guard Soldiers who were charged for extra baggage as they headed for training before deploying to Iraq later this year.
It's no secret that the this year the airlines have had to raise fares and impose new and higher luggage fees to offset surging fuel costs. But, guys, come on. Slapping baggage fees on folks in uniform preparing for battle? Ever hear of PR?