Cat III Best bets to Europe?

Author Message   Lynn Breckenridge New member Username: Lbreck Post Number: 2 Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 71.191.39.131 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 08:52 pm:    Thanks everyone. Given operational security I didn't want to give too many specifics about the flights I'm looking at and shooting for on a specific day, but given the knowns vs unknowns and my limited leave time, I think I'm gonna try BWI. Wish me luck!   Lisa Damiano Member Username: Traveler83 Post Number: 29 Registered: 03-2010 Posted From: 149.101.1.120 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 06:44 pm:    Lynn, In my opinion your best bet is to try for days where several flights are scheduled to depart (from any base) or when a PatEx flight is going out (like the BWI flights). My husband and I are Cat III and live in DC, and we have have been 3 for 3 on Space A trips - twice out of Dover to Ramstein and Spangdahlem, and once out of Norfolk to Naples. If you're trying to get to Germany, we like Dover because they generally have several flights each day, so even if some get cancelled, there are usually others going. Of course, on our last trip (trying to leave 5/28/2010), we arrived at Dover expecting 3 evening flights to Ramstein and all three were cancelled. We ended up staying overnight in Dover and getting out the next day to Spangdahlem (you can read my trip report in the Trip Report forum). Since the Pat Ex flights from BWI (and Norfolk) are passenger planes, we would have DEFINITELY tried for one in lieu of a Dover C-5 IF they left on Friday or Saturday. They have been leaving on Monday-Wednesday since I've been checking, and that didn't work for our schedules. With all that said, on all of our trips we have had unexpected challenges pop up, and so we always have contingency plans in case the flights don't work out the way we want them to. For example, on our first trip we flew out of Norfolk and wanted to go to Italy. In case we didn't make it on the Naples flight, we brought an extra bag of clothes in the car appropriate for Iceland and Spain because there were supposed to be flights to those places as well (this was in 2004). On our most recent trip, we had an extra bag with clothes for the 80 degree Spain weather in the event we went to Rota instead of Germany. Good luck! Lisa   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 813 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 108.99.87.198 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 05:26 pm:    Being solo does help. Last fall I hoped back from Ramstein. They had one seat left for the flight back to McGuire. I was the lucky winner! I got on before many higher cats that had family members. Pack light! Be flexible. Hang around terminal. You will fine.   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 812 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 108.99.87.198 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 05:21 pm:    Lynn, as a CAT III and solo, should not be a huge problem out of Dover, McGuire, Andrews or Charleston. But, with those words just spoken, watch you get stuck at one of those places. I have flown to/from Europe as a solo CAT VI in the summer. Did it last July to from Rota and had no problem. Flew from WP to Rota. The last few Rota and Ramstein flights out of Wright Patterson have gone out with empty seats not used by any CAT. The Ramstein flight from Andrews (starts at Jackson, MS) over flies Andrews sometimes. Hopefully you should be able to get on it when it does stop in Andrews. You can call terminal and see how things look; but, best to show up in person.   George B Johnston Jr Intermediate Member Username: Gbjohnstonjr Post Number: 52 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 74.178.207.53 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:08 pm:    I'm cat VI but I've always been lucky at BWI. But, with Andrews, Dover, and BWI closeby your best bet is to be flexible. Last July I started in Jacksonville, went to Charleston, found nothing there for a few days, so I went to Dover, got out of there the next day to Rota, and after a day there to Ramstein. BWI has had lots of space A seats recently, but I haven't seen enough Last Category Moved posts to see if there is a backlog. As a Cat III I think it's worth a try for you. Being solo always helps as often the people ahead of you may be families who can't leave without several seats.   Lynn Breckenridge New member Username: Lbreck Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 166.137.9.245 Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 03:05 pm:    I'm a Cat III traveling alone, trying to get to Europe from the DC area. Looking at the options for leaving, is it better to try for a more obscure flight (Lajes) out of Andrews, or Ramstein out of BWI? I'd rather go to ramstein, but I hear BWI is difficult for everyone. Is this true for cat 3? In that case, Andrews might be better, but they don't project how many seats available. What would you do?