Puerto Rico to Rota, Spain and Back

Author Message   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1436 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 72.50.45.205 Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2009 - 01:34 pm:    You're right Don. I assume they will continue sending someone to the Terminal for the PatEx flights, as long as these flights continue into Rota. Don't foresee any changes in policy for pax arriving in cargo aircraft. Happy travels!   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5394 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 88.108.13.149 Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2009 - 07:16 am:    Does make sense having one person come to the terminal, rather than having 200 heading out the gate. Know they won't be in step.   Earl Senior Member Username: Myramstein Post Number: 524 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 99.205.122.254 Posted on Sunday, December 06, 2009 - 05:18 am:    If arriving on small flight (i.e. C-17 or such) they do not come to terminal to stamp. At least the last five times I have arrive on C-17s. Did know that the meet and stamp for the Pax Exp flight..due to large volume.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2171 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 79.206.33.8 Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 05:12 pm:    Tony: Great report. lots of details! Thanks for taking the time to write it up and to share it with us. Happy Travels, john   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1435 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 72.50.45.205 Posted on Thursday, December 03, 2009 - 04:55 pm:    Phyllis, As I said, when we arrived we were told first that we needed to go to the Police Station. Then, five minutes later, we were told that the customs person was on board and to forget the police station stamp. I imagine that they will continue doing it with the PatEx, probably due to the amount of people ending their flight at Rota, different than cargo planes, when there's usually 5 to 6 persons. I hope they continue doing it on base, since it saves time and walking. Happy travels!   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2405 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.31.84.196 Posted on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 - 01:03 am:    Tony, the times we have landed in Rota, we us walked around the guy/gal who was having folks sign up. I always have a copy of our return sign up with us, so if the question I could show it. Is the customs person going to be there now that the Pat. flight is flying in there?   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1433 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 74.44.74.184 Posted on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 - 12:43 am:    Martin, Leland is right, I was referring to the shuttle drivers. I understand that it isn't their job to help with luggage, but...come on!... what does it cost to help an elder person with their bags, especially knowing that although retired, he/she served the country as well. But that's the way things are these days, and there ain't much we can do. Happy travels!   Leland Senior Member Username: Leland Post Number: 5394 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.34.15.249 Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 02:12 am:    I think Tony was talking about the shuttle drivers, not taxi. You can tell them you won't give them a tip, but I don't think it will do much good. It's not really their job.   Martin V Smith Advanced Member Username: Mvsusaf Post Number: 238 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 72.76.38.134 Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 10:45 pm:    Tony's excellent trip report again highlights a lack of baggage handling help from taxi drivers at NGU. I think it is time to tell these drivers that a. you want/need help and if not forthcoming tell them in no uncertain terms that is the reason there is no tip. It works in NYC quite well.   Jim Bagley Advanced Member Username: Jim_bagley Post Number: 169 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 76.195.83.90 Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 04:08 pm:    Yes, good report Tony. With your calm demeanor and positive attitude I'm sure you and Nellie took the little unexpected things in stride. I enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you guys in the near future. Jim Bagley   D.B.M UK Senior Member Username: Overlandrover Post Number: 5369 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 88.108.87.27 Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 03:59 pm:    Good report Tony, glad you were able to get over and back on the flights you were hoping to get on. To bad about the hiccup going to Charleston. Like you said, always carry your copy of sign up sheets.   Tony Cabrera Senior Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 1430 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 74.44.74.184 Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 03:47 pm:    Left San Juan PR during the morning of 11/9/2009 and arrived at Norfolk Int'l Airport during the afternoon. Vic Paxton (Vic & Connie) was kind enough to pick us up at the airport and drive us to the Norfolk NAS lodging facility (Gateway's Ely Hall). I had reserved three nights at the facility, just in case we couldn't make the Pat Express the next day. Got a pretty nice suite for $66.00. My impression about Norfolk is that everything is far away and you must have a car, especially if you want to go places to eat. Otherwise, you can use available vending machines and/or call for delivery service (pizzas, chicken, etc.) The shuttle only takes you from lodging facilities to the Terminal and back. By the way, you have to be prepared to place your baggage on the shuttle; no help from the drivers. We were lucky, there were other Spats and a couple of active service personnel, thus helping each other with the luggage. Went to the AMC Terminal at 9:30 a.m. (show time was 4:00 p.m.) and made ourselves present. The AMC Terminal is a pretty nice one with a USO in the premises and a pretty nice caferia. There we met another retiree and his wife, and later on, Jim Bagley also arrived. He introduced himself and we basically spent the whole afternoon talking about different subjects. Jim was on its way to attend a "Pueblo Inglés" session in Spain. Even before showtime, we all had been manifested on the Patriot Express. The flight was excellent. A Ryan International Air commercial chartered 767 with all the "goodies" (hot towels, good food, movies, and a great service). Wife and I were charged a $30.80 fee for the both of us. The flight was only 6 1/2 into Rota NAS. When we arrived, at first we were told to go to the Police Station to get our passports stamped, but 10 minutes later were told that there was no need for that, since they had the customs person on the premises. So, that really saved us some time. One thing to be aware is that they usually make sign-up for your trip back. I told the person that I had already signed up for my trip back, but he insisted that I sign-up again. Careful with that, because that new sign-up cancels the previous one, as it did mine. Good thing I had a copy of the email with the previous information and it was very useful when I reported to the Terminal again for my return trip. On 11/24 we reported to the Rota NAS Terminal to try and make the PatEx back to Norfolk. We kept getting different versions at to the number of space-a seats; 2, 11, 13, 20, and finally 49. There were four retired couples, including us, and a retired person who was alone. We all were a bit concerned because of the unstable pieces of information we were receiving. Good thing there were other flights leaving for Charleston and Bangor, just in case. We were hoping to catch the PatEx back, and finally everyone did; BINGO! Charge back was $54.80 fee for the both of us. Again, a pretty nice flight;longer, but with the same excellent service as in the previous one. I had made a reservation for us at the Navy Lodge at Norfolk, so no problem. After all, we were gonna make our reserved USAIR flights next day from Norfolk to Rochester NY and spend Thanksgiving with our son and family. Not yet my boy!! Due to bad weather (heavy fog), the plane was diverted to the Charlotte International Airport in NC. We arrived in Charlotte after 1:00 am on the 25th and almost everyone had lost their plane or hotel reservations on the 24th, including us. We couldn't take our luggage from the aircraft either, per security reasons, as told by the airport officials. Ryan Air was kind enough to put us in a very nice Marriott Hotel, give each one a $20 food voucher and provide tranportation to and from the hotel. We finally left Charlotte at around 1800 hours on the 25th. When we arrived at made a reservation at the Holiday Inn located off-base at the Military Drive. Pretty nice hotel. Some of the other passengers were staying there also. Cost: $89 for one night. One of the retirees who lives in Norfolk gave us a ride to the hotel. The reservation at the Navy Lodge was charged to my credit card ($68) as a "no show" but I'm working with that to get it resolved. Made changes to my commercial ticket and in addition had to pay $443 for the change. (That's is what space-a is all about; always have to be prepared for the worse). Thank God finally left Norfolk International on Thanksgiving Day arriving in Rochester NY at around 3:00 in the afternoon. Turkey eating wouldn't take place until after six in the evening, so I guess we made it in safe and on time. Still in NY and flying back to PR on Wednesday. Things learned and to watch during the next space-a trip: 1. Don't purchase round-trip air tickets, even if one-way costs you a little more. You can lways be surprised at the end. 2. If Norfolk is your point of departure, rent a car from Hertz at the airport so you are able to move around the place. 3. Always bring your space-a confirmation email. It saved us when we reported to Rota NAS. 4. Don't get upset, mad or anything; be POSITIVE. There's not much you can do. Wife and I took it as a vacation and enjoyed every minute of it. 5. We thank God for meeting these wonderful people (Retired Spats)who really made our day. Elmer Sanderson and his wife Maria from NC, Jim Bagley from Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz from Guam, and Mark Hicks from Norfolk. Also Vic Paxton from Norfolk who helped us when we arrived. A bunch of wonderful guys and gals! This is my trip report, so should you have any questions regarding it or need additional information, please feel free to email me and I will be more than glad to provide it. Happy travels!