Singapore??

Author Message   Marea B Senior Member Username: Navywife Post Number: 2228 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 98.82.78.204 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 01:38 am:    Look at flying the opposite way from NJ to Europe via Space A and then flying Commercial from there. Sometimes you can get good deals from Germany or UK to Singapore especially around that time of year. I looked at a ticket from Heathrow to Singapore and it was $900 round trip plus not as long of a flight as well. You might get a cheap ticket to London through an airline as they do have deals in June sometimes.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6329 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 12:51 am:    I just did a web search and found some fascinating info about the "Robocup" competition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RoboCup http://www.robocup2010.org/ At least the competition is in June, not May, so there's a little more time to get on space-a lists, search for other alternatives &/or maybe find a decent airfare.   valerie bransol Member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 10 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 09:48 pm:    No, I wish the Robocup Junior competition did pay, but they don't...You know I never thought about asking anyone for sponsorship. Cherry, there and 4 sets of winners, the NE,SE,NW,SW, My son and his partner won the NE competition. I'm not sure why they don't offer to help but they don't.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6327 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 09:33 pm:    Valerie, your son's win in "the U.S. robotics competition" is awesome. But why on earth is he expected to get himself to Singapore? Isn't there a sponsor who would pay his way (perhaps a company that makes some of the parts he used to build his winning robot -- helping out for the publicity value)? Or doesn't the organization (whatever it is) that runs the competition here in the U.S. provide travel for the winner to the next step in the contest? Or doesn't the international body (whatever it is) do so? Are you sure there is no one or group who will fully or at least partially take care of this?   valerie bransol Member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 9 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 09:23 pm:    You guys are great, Just got back from the grocery store and have alot of reading to do, let me take this all in and then let everyone know what route I'm going to try. I think I may pay for my son's ticket and try to meet him there, if I don't make it I'll have one hell of an adventure I'm sure. My son is 6'4, 300 lbs, playing football for lafayatte this year, I'm sure he can take care of himself!   William Standage Senior Member Username: Charlie13 Post Number: 1078 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 75.172.94.34 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 09:16 pm:    Valerie, As you factor in all your planning, remember that after you depart a West coast base (including Alaska) headed for Japan, you will loose a day on the calander as you cross the international dateline. This could really screw up your plan if you fail to take it into account. A trip to the Far East via space-a is almost always a trip pieced together from a bunch of independent inter-connected on-ways. Good Luck   James Sereyko Senior Member Username: Jimak Post Number: 428 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 66.223.213.151 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 08:18 pm:    Valerie, Sounds like your mind is made up, and it would be hard to tell you on Mother’s Day not to do everything you can to help your son. What a nice thought! At the risk of repeating what we have already said, you are cat VI, just signed up with no seniority, and traveling when the active duty folks are also traveling because schools are out. Having said that we will now do what we can to help you. It is true your best bet to get to McChord is by way of McGuire, and the most flights to Yokota are from Elmendorf. However, there are very few flights from McChord to either Yokota or Elmendorf. You may get lucky and catch one, but the odds are really against it. I think McChord only sent one flight up here (Elmendorf) so far this month. The best way to get to Yokota is through Elmendorf, starting at Travis on Saturdays. There are usually only 19 seats because of a full load of cargo. You will stop over night here and then go on to Yokota on Sunday. Although we sometimes have 54 or so seats from here, and occasionally even an extra flight. Ask Travis pax folks to book you all the way to Yokota as a through – pax so you are ahead of anyone here that is trying to catch that flight. Keep looking at the East coast bases for a flight to Elmendorf or one going on from the East coast to Yokota. Plan the best you can and the rest is a lot of luck. Happy travels.   David Haynes Advanced Member Username: Oldcutterman Post Number: 206 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 71.0.55.122 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 07:21 pm:    Valerie, Fist, welcome to the board. Don't be scared off by the negative comments. The people making them are experienced spats and do know what they are talking about. But you sound like you are ready to try it and I say, go for it. I think most experienced spats that have a choice of departure bases do not decide where they are leaving from until it is time to leave the house. As stated, there is really no way to predict what bases will be sending aircraft where or when. Watch McGuire, Dover, Andrews and even Norfolk when the time comes and go to the one that has flights going west. If you can get to McCord, you can get to Yokota or Travis and,at times, Hickam. And be sure to watch Willow Grove. You are right, once you get to Yokota is fairly easy to get to Singapore. David Haynes   Carole G Intermediate Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 106 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 07:09 pm:    After the last comment, Elmendorf,AK is probably your best chance to get to Yokota. I would not try to get to Yokota from Hawaii.   Jayme Casillas New member Username: Jaymec Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 180.131.239.169 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 07:05 pm:    I'm not sure how much help this will be, but last June we tried to fly stateside from both Kadena and Yokota on the Pat Ex. We were a Cat II and were not able to make the flight. In fact, not even both Cat I families made the flight. It may have been an odd week, but I really, really would not count on the Pat Ex. I'd much rather shoot for going through Alaska or Hawaii personally (which is what we're planning to do here in in a week). We attempted this last summer as well but literally had 3 flights cancelled on us we made it on before giving up. If you can make it to Yokota I know they go to Singapore often. We were actually planning a trip there before we were thrown back by some budgeting problems.   Carole G Intermediate Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 104 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 06:06 pm:    Check Andrews AFB, Charleston AFB, McGuire AFB. They all have flights going to McCord AFB, Washington. I would try to get to McCord to get a flight to Yokota on the Pat Express at Seatac. You would have to check what transportation to use to get to Seatac from McCord on John's space a pages. Hope you make it. Carole   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4438 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 05:49 pm:    Based on current schedules - McGuire, Andrews, Dover, Charleston are possibilities to McChord (near Seattle). Can't determine which location is "Best Bet" as seat availability and pax demand for seats can't be predicted in advance. June? I assumed you were referring to 19-25 May?   valerie bransol Member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 05:39 pm:    Ok, thanks. But where is my best bet to get to seattle from the northeast in June? I really appreciate your help.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4437 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 05:13 pm:    Valerie, There are Pat-ex flights out of Seattle to Yokota twice per week. Will they have seats? Will you get one of those seats? Can't tell. You could also try to reach Yokota through Hawaii via a west coast base such as Travis or North Island. If I were you I'd start sending in my signups as you are already way behind the power curve and it appears that, at best, you'll only have about 10 days seniority on the Space-A register going over (and not much better returning) - probably way behind your traveling peers.   valerie bransol Member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 05:05 pm:    Sorry John, this is all very new to me. I'm really just trying to figure out how hard it is to get to Yokota and are there seats available for my category this time of year to singapore? Thanks, and again sorry for my mistakes!!!   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4436 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:57 pm:    Valerie, I presume you are referring the Flight Schedule Forum on "Dirk's Board" (not my web site - my web site is spacea.net) as the source of the daily flights from Yokota to Singapore? If so, that appears to be correct. I was asking earlier about the source of flights from "Konoto" (a place I wasn't familiar with) but I see that you meant to type "Yokota."   valerie bransol Junior Member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:55 pm:    Yes we both have passports   valerie bransol New member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:50 pm:    John, I looked on your board, it says the Yokota has flights into singapore, I think I'm correct, if not please let me know!   valerie bransol New member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:49 pm:    James, I can drive to other bases. I'm on the border of NJ also. Do you think it would be hard getting seats out of Yokota into Singapore?   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4434 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:47 pm:    Valerie, I'm curious but what's the source of the info regarding the Space-A flights daily from Konoto to Singapore? p.s. Dumb question but you both have passports correct?   valerie bransol New member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:45 pm:    Phil I meant to say Yokota AB!! Sorry about that! BTW, my son and I are willing,ready, and able to take this on, we are just trying to save money as college starts for him soon after the trip, he's going to Lafayette....playing DL football there! Thanks againg for any insight into this! Val   James Sereyko Senior Member Username: Jimak Post Number: 426 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 66.223.213.151 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:43 pm:    Valerie, Phil gave you some very good advice. If you were trying to get to Europe, it might be a different story. But I can only remember the good folks at Stewart going across the Pacific one time this year (March). There just aren’t any direct flights. The other thing you have against you is trying to travel late in May when schools are out. The active duty folks will be trying to take their kids on vacation, and home to see Grandma. You being retired and Cat VI will behind all them when trying to get a seat. Sorry for the bad news – but I recommend you consider the advice you will be getting on these boards.   valerie bransol New member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 04:41 pm:    Phil, I've sort of got a handle of the rules. I do have the money and some extra time, these are just the dates of the competion. I can stay a few extra days. I was just trying to avoid paying two full fare r/t tickets to and from singapore. So now that you know I have the money/time is there anyway possible that you know of? I see that out of Konoto there are flights almost everyday or so into singapore, but how do I get to Konoto? Thanks Val   Phil Doubleman Senior Member Username: Phil Post Number: 1585 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.35.26.65 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 03:34 pm:    Valerie, if you have time, and especially, monetary constraints, you shouldn't even attempt such an adventure. You said that "we need to be in singapore by the 19 late at night or the 20th early in morning, leaving singapore by the 25 in the morning." And you said that it "is way to expensive for me!". You have just broken two very important Space A rules before you even get started. You could very likely (and probably will) find yourself stuck and will have to pay your way back home if you have time constraints. If you have monetary constraints, what will you do if you find yourself in that situation? Think about it.   valerie bransol New member Username: Ninoroxy Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 24.102.160.76 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 02:40 pm:    I live near stewart ANG in newburgh ny. My son won the us robotics competition and qualifed to go to singapore with his robot! Problem is is way to expensive for me! I'm retired, does anyone have any ideas for me and my son as to where and how we would go about this venture, we need to be in singapore by the 19 late at night or the 20th early in morning, leaving singapore by the 25 in the morning. Thanks everyone for your help.