The CBC has obtained an internal RCMP email from a northern member of the force that suggests other staff could pass as military personnel in order to get a baggage fee discount with airlines in southern Canada.

The CFOne card is part of an appreciation program for members of the Canadian Forces and veterans. It offers discounts on travel, and at restaurants and retailers.

Mounties can join the program, but the special baggage allowances are for military members only.

"Air Canada says, and I quote, 'This offer is available only to qualifying regular and reserve forces and veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces,'" says Doug Langton, who's with the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services that administers the program. "And WestJet says the same thing."

But in an email sent to RCMP staff across Nunavut, a northern Mountie says he managed to flash the CFOne card and get baggage fees waived.

"West Jet took all the bags for my family at no charge, I think it was 5 bags on 3 paid fares. I highly recommend the card to anyone," the member writes.

"They didn't ask which branch of the military I was in, and I didn't offer up the fact that I was Mountie, so that may have worked in my favour, but it can't hurt to try."

Langton says this is the first he has heard of a person using the card to misrepresent themselves as a member of the Canadian Forces.

"I'm not going to comment on the ethics of a particular individual, but ... one could argue if it's not abusing the program, it's abusing somebody's position."

About 600 CFOne cards have been distributed in Northern Canada. It's not clear how many of those belong to members of the RCMP.​

The RCMP says it has no comment at this time and is looking into the matter.