East Coast to the NW in July

Author Message   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6140 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 06:55 pm:    Quonset has small business-type aircraft. They tend not to go too far from home. Flights up and down the east coast, mostly, if I remember correctly.   Jennifer MacDonald Member Username: Jennymominri Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 68.9.221.206 Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 06:51 pm:    I'm not sure why I never really thought of Pease. It must only be a couple hours away. I'll look into it. I know Quonset had space a flights before but I haven't seen an signs of them in ages.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6264 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 06:34 pm:    Generally speaking, the summer months (i.e., times when public schools are on vacation) are not particularly difficult for space-a travel within the continental U.S. It's the trans-oceanic flights that are so popular that Cat VI's don't have much of a chance. Your plan, to try for a flight to Washington State out of McGuire and stay with local friends there in New Jersey if necessary while waiting, sounds workable. Your profile says you live in Rhode Island. Have you tried locating and chatting with the various Air National Guard and reserve bases that would be within a reasonable distance of your home, such as Westover, Stewart, Niagara Falls, Pease, Pittsburgh and maybe even more that I don't think of offhand. If they have training missions scheduled to the west coast (or beyond, with a stop in the northwest) they might be another good bet and certainly you would have much less competition there from flyers with higher priority.   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 6139 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 98.218.147.237 Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 06:31 pm:    Jennifer, as a starting suggestion, and if you have time to be flexible, try watching the Willow Grove schedule. They seem to fly to Whidbey Island once or twice a month. There is no competition for seats there. If they have a flight with one of their C-9s, you're on it. When you get near to your planned departure, say 2-3 weeks out, call the Willow Grove ops office (they don't have a passenger service desk) and explain your predicament. I have always found them to be very helpful. The only downside is getting back to Willow Grove if your car is there. Not insuperable, just a tad difficult.   Jennifer MacDonald Member Username: Jennymominri Post Number: 34 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 68.9.221.206 Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 - 06:25 pm:    I promise I have read everything. I've been reading here for years. We are soon to be grandparents and want to go see our grandson, cross country this summer. Prices from Providence- Portland are pretty bad right now. We are looking at 1300-1500$. I am thinking of gambling on a flight from McGuire to Washington and back. If we get stuck in NJ for a few days that is OK. We have friends to stay with. What do you think the chances are for 3 cat VI's to get from McGuire to the NW in early July. I'm hoping that even though it is summer, we would be going in a less traffic direction