Delta charged returning GIs $2,800 in bags fees

Delta Airlines is apologizing to 34 U.S. Army troops who just returned from Afghanistan.

The reason? They had to pay some $2,800 in baggage fees, reports Steve Higgins of CBS affiliate WGCL in Atlanta.

In a video posted on YouTube, one solider says, "Not happy, not happy at all. We had a little issue with the bags this morning."

Most of the GIs, it seems, had four bags.

Another soldier said in the video, "Delta only allows three for free in coach, "and anything over three bags, you have to pay for, even though there's a contract between the U.S. government and Delta Airlines."

The soldiers say their orders allow them to bring four bags on board -- for free.

A military spokeswoman told WGCL any extra baggage fees assessed by an airline will be reimbursed by the government, depending on the troops' orders.

Delta later issued a statement saying, "We would like to publicly apologize for any miscommunication ... as well as any inconvenience we may have caused." The carrier promises to "reach out" to the soldiers involved to "address their concerns."

Delta's statement also said active duty military personnel are allowed to check three bags for free in coach and four in first or business class, but the posted policy on the Delta website clearly states they are allowed to check four free bags in coach and five in first or business: 

In the YouTube video, one of the soldiers says his fourth bag had "a weapons case holding my grenade launcher and a 9 millimeter, the tools that I used to protect myself and the Afghan citizens while I was deployed in the country."

Another solider adds, "Good business model, Delta. We're actually happy to be back in America."

Some troops told CBS WGCL the military personnel in the video will be in lots of hot water when their superiors find out about the YouTube clip.