Trying to get to Texas..HELP.

Author Message   Mike Schukert Senior Member Username: Mike_s Post Number: 511 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 74.243.17.157 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 09:50 pm:    Diana: Although your status as a Cat IV traveler offers advantages not enjoyed by CAT V & VI travelers, it could be nullified by the fact that you are "new to space-a" and will be traveling in an unaccompanied status with three kids in tow. Given the possibility that you could be caught unprepared emotionally and financially if your hoped-for flights are cancelled or delayed, especially the CONUS connections, my advice would be for you to try to get manifested on the Ramstein-to-BWI Patriot Express, and purchase discount tickets (e.g., Southwest Airlines) from BWI to Dallas.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2631 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 05:52 pm:    Diana: Welcome to the Board! If you have not yet done so, please familiarize yourself with JohnD's SpaceA Pages (link top left), the general layout of this site and the Search Function (magnifying glass at top center) of this site. Nearly all questions can be answered from those three sources. Having read thru the FAQs is a great start and I would suggest reading thru the other sections on JohnD's site as well. In relation to your proposed trip, traveling SpaceA to/from Spangdahlem (or anywhere in Europe) to Texas in the summer will be very challenging. We try to avoid the Summer (15 May to 15 Sep) as this is typically one of the busiest times (Christmas (15 Dec-10 Jan) being the other) with a lot of competition for spacea. Please ensure that you are prepared to spend more time in terminals than you can imagine. Also be prepared for additional food, lodging and expensive, last minute commercial tickets should you be time restrained upon your attempted return. As stated often on this site, experienced SPATS avoid Christmas and Summer travel whenever possible. In sum, can it be done??..Yes, Just be mentally prepared for things to not go as smoothly as you might be expecting...and be pleasantly surprised when they work out. Happy travels, John PS: Many of the Ramstein to Andrews fights are Medivac Flights with wounded soldiers on board (they may or may not take SPATS). You might want to consider taking anything to the CONUS and try to get from there to Texas.The return thru Andrews should be ok.   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 157 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 05:22 pm:    Diane, Scott has flights to Texas today, tomorrow and Sunday. Good luck   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 156 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 05:19 pm:    Good Luck, Diane Good idea to take first flight available. Then you can see where to try for to get to Texas.   diana New member Username: Momadiona Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 80.187.103.97 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 01:56 pm:    Sorry typo I meant to say thanks "Stanford". And Carole they canceled that flight for the 5th time.   diana New member Username: Momadiona Post Number: 4 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 80.187.103.97 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 01:53 pm:    Thanks Stanley I talked to the lady at Scott and she advised that I go to Andrews because they often go to Scott. So I am going to do Ramstein>Andrews>Scott>Texas. Thats alot but it beats driving 10-18hrs. I will let you all know how it goes I will do this starting Sun.   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 154 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 12:48 pm:    The flight schedule for Spangdahlem shows a flight going to Dover and continuing on to Robert Gray on Saturday. Talk to the pax reps at Spangdahlem. Good luck!   Stanford W. Johnsey Advanced Member Username: Swjohnsey Post Number: 284 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 75.0.252.210 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 12:42 pm:    You won't find many (any) flights to Robert Gray. They aren't exactly Space A friendly. Look from something to San Antonio (Kelly/Lackland or Randolph) or to Scott AFB. From Scott you can get the medivac flight to SA or even to Robert Gray.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6709 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 12:32 pm:    diana, Since you are Cat IV you can travel to and within CONUS.This means that you will be able to exercise more choices on flight destinations to CONUS although you may have to make your trip in more than one leg.You may have to take a flight to a first destination and then another to a closer one to your final destination.Make sure you are signed up and have all the necessary documents on hand.Be sure that you request your final destinaion is entered on your boarding pass when you are selected for the flight.   diana New member Username: Momadiona Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 80.187.111.227 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 10:43 am:    Thank you!They said I am category 4 and my husband will be deployed for 6mths.   rinaldo Senior Member Username: Rinaldo Post Number: 1067 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 10:38 am:    Welcome to the board Diana, I would suggest that you read JohnD's FAQ at the top of the page. We need to know what Category you are? How long has your husband been deployed?   diana New member Username: Momadiona Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 80.187.111.227 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 09:48 am:    I am in Spangdahlem and I have been trying to get on the flight to Robert Gray but they have canceled this flight 5x's. I am new to space a and I am traveling with my 3 kids. My question to you expertise is should I go to Ramstein and get on the flight to Andrews and wait on a flight into Texas (husband is deployed)or should I wait on a flight from either Spang or Ramstein into Texas?