R 300930Z APR 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0287/09
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF EXCESS BAGGAGE FEES//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/NAVSO P 6034/YMD:19970701//
AMPN/REF A IS THE JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JFTR).//
POC/B. S. IMLER/GYSGT/UNIT:MMIA/-/TEL:DSN 278-9211/EMAIL:BRIAN.IMLER@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO DELEGATE THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY OF PAYMENTS FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE TO THE LOCAL DISBURSING OFFICES FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS.  REF (A) REQUIRES A REQUEST BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY FOR AUTHORIZATION OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE FEES INCURRED DURING A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS) MOVE.
2.  HISTORICALLY, THE MARINE CORPS HAS AUTHORIZED TWO CHECKED BAGS PER TRAVELER, NOT TO EXCEED 70 POUNDS PER PIECE, FOR THOSE PERSONS EXECUTING PCS ORDERS.  RECENT AIRLINE INDUSTRY CHANGES AND EXTREME VARIANCES IN AIRLINE STANDARDS FOR THE ALLOWABLE WEIGHTS AND NUMBER OF CHECKED BAGS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MARINES BEING CHARGED FEES FOR BAGS THAT ARE WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS STANDARDS BUT NOT AIRLINE STANDARDS.  IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT DELAYS IN THE SETTLEMENT OF TRAVEL CLAIMS AND TO FURTHER CLARIFY THE STANDARDS FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE, EFFECTIVE RETROACTIVELY, BEGINNING 1 JAN 09, LOCAL FINANCE/DISBURSING OFFICES ARE DELEGATED APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE CLAIMS THAT ARE WITHIN THE PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED STANDARD OF 2 BAGS PER TRAVELER, NOT TO EXCEED 70 POUNDS PER PIECE.   CLAIMS THAT FALL OUTSIDE OF THE ESTABLISHED STANDARD WILL CONTINUE TO BE FORWARDED THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (MMIA) FOR CONSIDERATION.
3.  ALL CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED VIA AA FORM OR STANDARD NAVAL LETTER FROM THE MEMBER OR THE COMMAND AND MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
     A. COPY OF PCS ORDERS.
     B. REQUEST FROM MARINE STATING NUMBER OF TRAVELERS AND NUMBER OF BAGS TRAVELED WITH.
     C. AIRLINE RECEIPT SHOWING CHARGES FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE.
     D. WEIGHT RECEIPT FROM AIRLINE SHOWING WEIGHTS OF ANY BAGS THAT INCURRED A CHARGE. 
4.  ACTION.  EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY LOCAL DISBURSING/FINANCE OFFICES WILL BEGIN APPROVING ALL CLAIMS FOR EXCESS BAGGAGE THAT FALL WITHIN THE ABOVE PRESCRIBED STANDARDS OF 2 BAGS PER TRAVELER AND NOT EXCEEDING 70 POUNDS PER PIECE.  THIS AUTHORITY IS RETROACTIVE AND BEGAN 1 JAN 09.  ALL OTHER CLAIMS WILL BE SENT TO HQMC (MMIA) FOR APPROVAL.
5.  MEMBERS WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A WAIVER MAY SUBMIT A WAIVER REQUEST THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND TO HQMC (MMIA), 3280 RUSSELL ROAD QUANTICO, VA 22134-5130.
6.  THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH MI/MM/RFF/DFAS-KC.
7.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. C. F. SWAIN, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER MANAGEMENT DIVISION, (ACTING).//