Our 1st space a trip!

Author Message   Dorothy Howell New member Username: Marinewife1023 Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 71.22.62.71 Posted on Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 07:29 pm:    We took a KC135 to Colorado Springs. And, yes, John I know that the name changed. Thanks. Joe, I think I will put in a ICE comment about what happened. I am sure it will not get to far, but I will write one up. Dennis, we are those kind of travellers who just want to relax and enjoy the ride. No stress!!!! We just roll with the punches.   Dennis Van Order Member Username: Denniskent Post Number: 15 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 192.31.106.34 Posted on Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 02:42 pm:    Good report, sounds like you approached the whole trip with the proper attitude, that is not always easy with kids. With the wrong attitude the entire trip can go sour in a hurry.   Joe Lippo Advanced Member Username: Momojoe Post Number: 341 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 138.163.106.72 Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2009 - 04:36 pm:    I am surprised and disappointed to read that you had a bad experience in NAS North Island. Hopefully this was an isolated incident as I have had nothing but good experiences there. If you haven't already, please fill out at customer service form and outline your concerns to the powers that be. Failing that, an e-mail to the CO or the Command Master Chief of the base will usually get some attention. I wonder what has happened in NASNI...haven't been there in a while.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2177 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 79.206.22.95 Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2009 - 04:44 am:    Dorothy: Thanks for writing up your trip report and sharing your adventures with us. What type of plane were you on? BTW, Air Mobility Command (AMC) is the new name for MAC (Military Airlify Commands) flights. Happy travels John   Dorothy Howell New member Username: Marinewife1023 Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 71.22.62.71 Posted on Saturday, December 05, 2009 - 10:33 pm:    PR~Only 15 seats were taken on the flight to Colorado. I was told only 10 seats were taken to Hawaii. The flight was GREAT!!!! Being that it was our first MAC flight we were a little nervous, but should have not been. The crew was great as was the box lunch (a turkey sandwich, apple, fruit juice, water, chips, fruit cup, and rice krispie treat.). Since we had to be at the air terminal at 4am, our daughter was a little cranky by the time we got going on the plane. The load master offered us a cot in the rear of the plane. She and hubby slept for three hours there and I caught a nap on the seats. They even gave us some nice thick blankets and pillows. We made to Colorado springs in about 6 hours. The only issue we ran into was that the terminal was closed because it was a Sunday, so nobody was there to help us. Lucky my cousin is best friends with someone who is stationed at Peterson, so we didn’t have to figure out to get off the base so that they could pick us up. (Peterson has very strict rules on who is allowed on base.) Also, the one person who was there wanted us out of there 15 minutes after we had landed. Mind you we just arrive from HAWAII where it was 75 when we left. It was 30 in Colorado! We had very limited winter gear just coats. LOL! We left the terminal to stand in the VERY cold outside. BURRRR! When my cousin arrived to get (about 15mins after standing in the cold) us, her friend was very upset about us getting kick to the curb. He later said that he spoke to the person in charged and he reassured him and us that it would never happen again. We enjoyed our mini vacay in Colorado, and took a commercial flight to San Diego to visit some friends. We were hoping to catch a MAC flight back to Hawaii, but had no luck. Only one flight was posted that left Cali to Hickam on Monday November 30th from NAS North Island and it only had 5 seats. The people who worked the check-in desk (civilians) where really rude. They were unhappy that so many people showed up for the flight. Apparently the computers were offline and had been for several weeks, so no sign up list were available unless you did it in person. They really didn’t want to deal with us spaceaers at all, but took our information and bashed people for over packing. LOL We wanted for roll call to come and it never did. Then after 30 mins passed they announced that the available seats went from 5 to 25. YES! Everyone rejoiced! Then 30 more mins passed, and the man came back to say that were no seats available because they (I’m guessing the crew) didn’t want to deal with Space-a on this flight. (he really did say that!) What?!?! Oh well. Good thing that Hawaiian Air offered Military discounts!!! We made it home to Hawaii the next day. Now that we understand better how this all works were are going to definitely do this again!!!   PR Senior Member Username: Pretzlaff Post Number: 1461 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 67.190.52.82 Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 01:39 pm:    Dorothy-- I was thinking of taking that flight from Colorado Springs to Hawaii, and then returning with it. I was afraid of the Thanksgiving rush, tho, returning. How many of the reported 20 available seats were taken coming back to Colorado Springs?   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6192 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 05:13 am:    Dorothy, Interested in how this works out.Let's hear by a trip report at completion.Good luck.   Dorothy Howell New member Username: Marinewife1023 Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 74.61.174.176 Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 01:04 am:    Well, we (my AD Marine husband, my 2 year old daughter, and I)are taking our first space flight. We had "planned" on a flight from Hickam>>Travis>>March. From that point we were going to stay with some friends that are stationed at MCRD San Diego and travel commercial to Colorado Springs. Well, I got a pleasant surprised when I logged on to this site to check out flights from Hickam and found a direct flight to Colorado Springs! YAYAY us!! I was also smart and made sure we purchased refundable tickets for the commercial flight. So, I will let ya'll know how this works out for us.