Trying to get home to Mildenhall from...

Author Message   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2744 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 03:31 am:    Melissa: Glad you made it home to the UK safely. Looking forward to your trip report...especially the "lessons learned" portion! Happy travels, John   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 16 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 212.183.140.1 Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 10:15 pm:    I'm so sorry guys! I just got access to update! We did make it home luckily! We got a seat on a c130 friday evening. We got about 20 mins into the flight and they said they had maintenance issues so we had to go back to ramstein. Luckily when we got back they said they fixed it so off we went again. Thank god we made it! Thank you all for being concerned and for all your help! I will post a report in the morning!   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4650 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 04:48 am:    Judy, You can try sending her an email to ask her for an update.   Lyle D. Member Username: Yellowstone Post Number: 46 Registered: 01-2009 Posted From: 98.92.118.72 Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 - 10:24 pm:    We need an update on this young lady's situation. How did it turn out? I am worried for her and we have been left hanging. Judy Miller, wife and grandmother.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2731 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 03:49 pm:    Melissa is clearly in trouble. 1. She and her 3 y/o are in Germany traveling on their Official passports (valid only for the UK). They do not have tourist passports and are not legally in the Schengen region. 2. She is about to enter her final month of pregnancy and not be allowed to fly as of tomorrow. 3. She feels that she is running out of options. What can be done? 1. Immediately contact the US Consulate in Frankfurt (nearest) and explain the situation (ie Illegally in Germany and need to get back to the UK). They may be able to arrange something...even without a tourist passport. 2. Call her physician at Lakenheath Medical Center...explain what's going on. He may authorize commercial flight (beyond tomorrow) or arrange for Medivac to the UK (similar to the pregnant women who are transported to Landsthul for their final month of pregnancy from the Meditranian). 3. Report to the Landsthul Regional Medical Center. Explain her situation. If she can't travel then she may well be having the baby at Landsthul. 4. Fly back from Ramstein to the US (gets her legal again). Best suggestions I can come up with given the situation that she has created for herself. Happy travels, John   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 13 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 80.148.25.170 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 02:55 pm:    I have looked into that as well, haha. The US embassy and Consulates are in Berlin Germany but they are unable to accept passport applications for emergency passports?!?!? Never heard of that before but that is what Im told. I might just have to take my chances tomorrow on a train if nothing comes up at Ramstein. I am told it really just depends on the person you get at the border whether they let you through. And the immigration people at Ramstein said they could stamp me back in if needed to help me get home. So I am told if I am stamped in I have 90 days to go into any EU country. Not sure if its true but I may just have to try it. Not sure what else I can do since tomorrow is my last day of flight ability!   DeeDee Clarke Senior Member Username: Deedee Post Number: 657 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 67.11.180.124 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 12:42 pm:    Solo - That would be my next suggestion too. Melissa - have you gone to the passport office at Ramstein to see if they can help with suggestions on how to quickly get a tourist passport?   Flying Solo +1 Member Username: Mmay Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 88.45.221.3 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 09:14 am:    Would it be possible to contact the nearest US Embassy and see if you can appear in person and they can issue a same-day passport?   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 80.148.25.170 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 03:19 am:    Phil is right....if you have the schengen stamp you are good to go through all the EU countries without getting stopped by the borders but since I live in the UK I dont have a stamp...they will stamp me back out and then they are going to say 'why are you still here?' The only reason I was accepted in was because it was onto a military base. And even there they asked me...what are you doing here when you are stationed in the UK? And I just said Im trying to get home to my base. But renting a car, going by train or ferry, none of thats an option. And im quickly running out of time. I am not sure what to do at this point. No more flights to mildenhall before my deadline of not being able to fly anymore. The last one they had yesterday broke and then they diverted it to Bagram!   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2722 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 04:49 pm:    Phil: Melissa's problem (for France and probably even for Germany) will come into play when she gets "stamped out" of the Schengen region before entry into Great Britain. They should be asking for her tourist passport...not her government passport. She actually should have been denied access into Germany. Happy Travels, John   Allison Elkins Member Username: Allisonrae Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 67.62.93.91 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 04:38 pm:    Melissa, I was on the dover flight. I had a four year old boy with me, and my friend had her infant daughter. We're staying through next week and trying for flights back after the 20th. I'm going straight up to McGuire for my flight (for the past three years it's where i have flown out of with the least amount of stress around that time in june) Hope you guys get back soon!   Phil Doubleman Senior Member Username: Phil Post Number: 1623 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.35.26.65 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 12:57 pm:    I don't understand the trouble with passports in France. When I traveled (by car) from Germany to France or Belgium to France, it was like going from one US state to another (no border crossing).   DeeDee Clarke Senior Member Username: Deedee Post Number: 654 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 67.11.180.124 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 12:55 am:    My understanding is France has cracked down on letting people through with US no-fee passports. I don't know if they care why you are going through France, just that you are. The problem is, you might get through and then again, you might not. There is really no way to know ahead of time if you will be able to enter another country or not.   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 80.148.25.170 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 10:09 pm:    I havent looked too far into it because I was told that I wouldnt be able to get into another country with my no fee passport. Do you know if Belgium would accept it and possibly how much it might cost as a passenger with no car?   steve mccoy Intermediate Member Username: Nuhusker Post Number: 62 Registered: 04-2009 Posted From: 173.27.220.234 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 10:08 pm:    Melissa -- have you considered a ferry to England out of Belgium?   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 80.148.25.170 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 10:04 pm:    DeeDee thanks. Yes we plan to get tourist passports. We just got overseas about 2 months ago so we do plan on getting them asap. I just had to get home to take care of some family issues or I would have waited until I had a tourist passport in case of this disastrous situation. Haha. But a question for you if you happen to know...as far as trying to go through France with my passport, would they let me go if I was going back towards home as opposed to into France to tour? Or would that not make a difference?   DeeDee Clarke Senior Member Username: Deedee Post Number: 653 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 67.11.180.124 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 09:53 pm:    FYI - France won't accept the no-fee passport because it is to be used for trips in conjunction with military orders. Tourist travel is suppose to be done on a tourist passport. I hope all your family members get tourist passports so you can enjoy your time in Europe.   melissa strombelline Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 80.148.25.170 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 08:20 pm:    Just an update for everyone, We are in Ramstein now. We ended up getting a flight from McGuire on Saturday. Hugh, you are right about the c5's lol. First the lav's were broken and they were working on fixing them to get us going and then they found a hydraulic leak so they delayed the flight til the next day. But they had a C17 with 15 seats and I wasnt supposed to get a flight but when I talked to the OIC and explained that my doctors notice said I couldnt fly past this week he bumped me to CAT 1 and said that qualified as an emergency so my son and I got a seat. So my friend at Ramstein picked me up Saturday and I have been with her since then. There was supposed to be a flight on Sunday and again Monday to Mildenhall but theres been a sandstorm wherever the plane is and hasnt been able to get here. But supposedly its supposed to be here tomorrow and Im going to try to get on it again. Ryan Air which is a cheap commercial airline here will not take me because of how far along I am and I cannot get through France for the train or ferry because my passport is MIL issued and they wont accept it for some reason. My husband cant come drive to get me because the MIL didnt issue him a passport at all. So basically I have to count on getting a hop this week or I am gonna be having a baby in Germany! HAHA. But Im hoping for tomorrow. Allison that is so funny...were you on the Seymour Johnson flight? I spoke to a couple ladies at the terminal...I wonder if one of them was you...how was your flight over? Have you made it back home or are you staying a while? Well, thats my update...when I make it home I will post a trip report of my first hop! Thanks so much for everyones help   L Greer New member Username: 141fe Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 81.242.76.116 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:07 am:    There is a weekly flight out of McConnell to Mildenhall early part of the week. Usually has seats available. I know its a bit out of the way to go to the midwest but, just offering the info.   L Greer New member Username: 141fe Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 81.242.76.116 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:02 am:    There is a guaranteed flight first part of each week out of McConnell to Mildenhall for crew rest. almost always has seats available.   Hugh Cannon Advanced Member Username: Dr_mini Post Number: 372 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.73.98.13 Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2010 - 03:58 am:    Melissa, in one post you said there was 73 seats available on a flight...just a word of caution about that FWIW. 73 seats indicate it is a C5 and they are notorious for breaking on the ground and not leaving as scheduled. I never count on flying a C5 until I am on the plane and it is past the half-way point. JMHO. Good luck!   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4587 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 03:48 am:    Bill, Typically a Cat-V cannot travel unaccompanied within CONUS except for the exceptions listed in the Spacea.net FAQ   Breezy Cranford Member Username: Breezy Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 70.174.69.77 Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 01:36 am:    If you don't make the flights try Virgin Atlantic out of Dulles. We tried for 3 days in 07. Were manifested for 3 flights and still never took off. We wound up buying 5 roundtrip tickets to Heathrow from IAD for just under 500 a person. We bought them at 1pm and the flight took off at 1140. OH and we went from Dover to McGuire back to Dover lol, all from NC.   Allison Elkins New member Username: Allisonrae Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 67.62.93.91 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 11:01 pm:    Hey, I think you left the UK the same day as me. I know the day we left Mildenhall there was a Seymore Johnson flight, with a pregnant mother and son. I would say head to McGuire. We have flown every summer space-A and have always gotten out of Mcguire, and the flights we have been on have always gone to Cat 6. Most people there seem to try for Ramstien.   Bill Mathews Senior Member Username: Bill_mathews Post Number: 1221 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.71.47.192 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 07:38 pm:    Can a Cat V fly within CONUS? If so, there is a BWI flight to McGuire tomorrow noonish. From past experience at (told by) BWI, the no show count can be around 20 people...could be 10 could be 30. So the best guess is there will be more than the 19 seats posted available for SpaceA tonight. Hard to tell the # of Cat 6 who are there until you check hair color (may not work for younger retirees)?   melissa strombelline Junior Member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.110.66.232 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 07:24 pm:    Thanks again for more info everyone! Sandor, I dont know if its possible to tell but do you happen to have an incling whether those people were retired cat 6 or did you see a lot of school kids in cat 3? Trying to get a feel for it. but definitely thanks for the heads up on it being packed. However, I have to agree with John D that I may get lucky but wont get anything if I dont go! Its halfway to Mcguire for the flight I want to try for tomorrow so hopefully something will come up! Thanks to all!!   Sandor Ketzis Intermediate Member Username: Siamk Post Number: 145 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 74.107.105.206 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 07:04 pm:    Melissa, We left BWI a couple of hours ago. Frankly, it looked as if there were quite a few people waiting for the flight tonight. Of course, some duty folks might not show, but the USO was jam packed when I left. The luggage room was completely filled. I've not seen any difference in time of day. People hoping for a flight show up whenever there is a flight going out, no matter what time that is. At least, in the Baltimore area, you have several options.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4582 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 06:37 pm:    Melissa, Nobody can predict how likely it would be for you to get 2 of those seats. If you've only been on the list for 2 days then you are very near the bottom of Cat-V. I wouldn't say your chances are good (all depends how many folks show up) but if you are not at a terminal then your chances are zero.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6763 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 06:35 pm:    Melissa, "Being category 5 is that good or bad?" http://spacea.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Space-A_Travel_FAQ#What_are_.22Categ ories.3F_.28CATs.29.22 See spaceas.net for all the other interesting spacea travel items.   DeeDee Clarke Senior Member Username: Deedee Post Number: 648 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 67.11.180.124 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 06:25 pm:    Duty no shows are space required passengers that do not show up for the flight. When they do not show up, their seats can become available for space-a passengers.   melissa strombelline New member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.110.66.232 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 05:30 pm:    What is duty non shows? Being category 5 is that good or bad? It seems low but I have heard that the majority of space a travelers are category 6. Is this true? Theres a flight in charleston tonight that if i leave in a half hour i can make just in time, 3 tomorrow and 2 on saturday. Problem being they seem to be getting cancelled left and right so im worried since theres no other bases there. i think im gonna head to bwi and try for tonight. theres supposedly 19 seats as of now. Any idea how likely I would be to get 2 of those seats? ive only been on the list for 2 days. does it help that the flight is late at night at all or do most people prefer to go at night?   Irwin Rovner Senior Member Username: Irovner Post Number: 424 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 66.32.30.56 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 04:09 pm:    For what it is worth, McDill AFB (FL) has about 1 a week flights direct to Mildenhall. Call ahead to make sure. The risk, of course, is - if you don't get on one, there probably won't be another for some time and you are way out of the way to get to another base. Good luck, Irv   Bill Mathews Senior Member Username: Bill_mathews Post Number: 1218 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.71.47.192 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 03:42 pm:    Head to BWI for tonights flight. Duty non-shows will increase the seat count, usually by 10% another 20. So you look good for tonights flight. Confirmed that BWI has a weekly flight to McGuire on Fridays noonish & Sundays. This will give you a good back up plan if you are able to fly within CONUS. If you can't fly to McGuire on Friday; your backup plan will be to drive a one way Hertz Rental car to McGuire (Office on McGuire is in the BX I believe). This will work... good luck. Then work your way to Mildenhall from Ramstein. Pack under 30# for the Ramstein to Mildenhall flight, as it usually is a small Jet.   Flying Solo +1 Member Username: Mmay Post Number: 12 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 71.215.40.222 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 03:39 pm:    I just did a simple search on a major travel website and came up with the 1K fares. Also by going to the airline's website directly you can often find last-minute deals. The nice part about flying commercial is that you will get home on time and not have to worry about getting a flight to Mildenhall from Ramstein. So if you don't get on at McGuire, that is what I would do.   Mike Schukert Senior Member Username: Mike_s Post Number: 525 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 74.243.10.221 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 02:06 pm:    Melissa: McGuire might be advisable as, if for no other reason, there is reportedly free van service between the terminal and base lodging. Ground transportation can be a major issue when layovers occur, especially when traveling unaccompanied with a kid in tow (not to mention being in late term pregnancy!). Good luck!   melissa strombelline New member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.110.66.232 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 02:06 pm:    There is a flight tomorrow to Rota but it conflicts with the flight to ramstein at mcguire so its gonna be one or the other. there are 2 at mcguire so i figured id shoot there for 2 chances. what airline is it that i can get a flight that cheap??   melissa strombelline New member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.110.66.232 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 02:00 pm:    Thanks for all the advice everyone! 3 out of 5 flights from Charleston today have already been cancelled. They are unsure on the other 2. There are 3 schedulled for tomorrow and 2 Saturday but again they said they have been having problems with the Ramstein flights lately. So I am afraid to risk it as there are no 'back up' bases to get to from there. I think MS is a bit far. I will check it on mapquest though. And yes, I know this is not the prime time to fly. We had some family issues I had to take care of as my husband couldnt. So now I am trying to get home before I cant fly any longer which will be in about a week...yikes I know! I think the best option for me is this...correct me if this is not a good idea... theres a flight from BWI late tonight with 19 proposed seats...I thought i would go try for that even though its pretty unlikely being such a big departure point and not being on the list long. but hey I might get lucky...and if that doesnt work i am already half way to mcguire so I could stay in billiting at andrews overnight and go to mcguires flight tomorrow afternoon which has 73 seats. 73 seats seems like a lot, is that quite a good chance for me? thats also a busy departure point as well i have heard so i am not sure what my chances are. but does that plan sound good or am i just having wishful thinking? Also, if i dont get the flight as well at mcguire with 73 seats theres another flight a couple hours later. no word on how many seats if any yet. Thanks again!   Flying Solo +1 Member Username: Mmay Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 71.215.40.222 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 01:58 pm:    You may also want to check Norfolk to see if you could head to Rota or Sigonella and make your way to Ramstein. Most likely that will make it a long trip, but you could always buy a commerical ticket within Europe. If you can get to Baltimore or D.C., you can get a one way to London Heathrow for around 1K per person. If I were in your shoes, that is what I would do! Especially since you can only fly for another week. Good luck!   Bill Mathews Senior Member Username: Bill_mathews Post Number: 1217 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.71.47.192 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 01:51 pm:    Jackson's flights (not Wed) have been flying to Andrews, McGuire and Ramstein the past weeks. They sometimes now overfly Andrews to McGuire and Ramstein. This routing may not last forever, but best to check it out now. They don't know if they will bypass Andrews until just prior to their departure. I'd head to McGuire if Charleston flights/seats cancel. My guess is you have a higher category, so you should be ok. Seems like BWI does not have many weekend flights. So, head to Charleston, then McGuire or Dover (call ahead) with a one way rental car. Hertz has let us change the one way final destination on the way, by calling them while driving, usually with no added charge. Charleston sometimes have flights up the Coast to Andrews, Dover or McGuire if you can travel in CONUS.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2679 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 01:30 pm:    Melissa: 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 anywhere on the East Coast to Europe 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: "What are my chances?" see JohnD's SpaceA FAQs http://spacea.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Space-A_Travel_FAQ#What_are_my_chanc es_of_getting_seats_on_a_particular_flight_and_how_long_will_I_have_to_wait.3F   John B. Ives Member Username: Jbives Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 161.11.133.16 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 01:24 pm:    Melissa, I believe Jackson, MS flies Jackson-Andrews-Ramstein. How long of a drive would it be for you to Jackson? I think Jackson flights sometimes overfly Andrews direct to Ramstein. I would check with the Jackson, MS Air National Guard unit for flight info. You might luck out. Good luck on the flight and the baby!!!!!   melissa strombelline New member Username: Mlissmelissa Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 75.110.66.232 Posted on Thursday, June 03, 2010 - 12:51 pm:    I am new to the website and space a. I took a space a flight from mildenhall to seymour johnson NC a couple weeks ago. I am now trying to get back home. I was planning to go from Charleston because they have almost daily flights to Ramstein and then I would go from Ramstein to Mildenhall...good plan because there were 5 flights today to Ramstein...well there have been 3 cancellations already! Not to mention the guy added that lately there have been no seats opened up for their Ramstein flights! So I have looked into other bases. So far I see that BWI has a flight late tonight with 19 seats pending (5 hour drive), Andrews has one tomorrow early evening but no word on seat release yet, and Mcguire has a flight tomorrow early evening with 73 seats! Yes 73 seats on a C5. So naturally I feel that Mcguire is my best shot but I hear its a high traffic base and a TON of people try to get to Europe from there. So I am wondering what my chances are and where is the best place to try? Mcguire is about an 8 hour drive for me so naturally I wouldnt want to be disapointed...espcially since I am 8 months pregnant (had to come take care of some family matters in the states) and I have a 3 year old. I can only fly for another week so it is sort of pressing that I get home soon. Commercial flight for my son and I is almost 4k! Insane...anyway, I am cat 5 command sponsered and I have only been on the wait list a couple days so I know my chances arent the greatest. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!