Our First Attempt at Space A

Author Message   Robert F McNally Junior Member Username: Subs420 Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 76.106.13.165 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 04:53 pm:    Final Report: It has been over 27 years since my last Space A flight that I took on Active Duty. My daughter graduates from college from May 16th and thus loses her military benefits at the end of May. It has been her desire to take a trip to Spain using the Military Hops. My wife and I looked into making this trip as a family in June when our younger daughter is out of high school for the summer, but the flights alone would cost us over $6,000. So my wife and I agreed we should make this a father/daughter trip wedged in between her Student Teaching being completed at the end of April and Graduation weekend May 15 -16. My daughter arrived home the late morning of Thursday April 29th and we quickly loaded up and headed to Dover. I had previously called Dover, BWI and Andrews and had determined my best chance to make Rota was by way of Germany via Dover AFB. They had a roll call scheduled for ~1500 on a C-5 to Spangedahlem. We left the house around 12:30 and due to the Google Map directions was late at arriving Dover AFB. Once we were there we learned that the seats were changed from 72 T to 0F. We checked in and found that our next chance would be later that evening and that the previous Rota flight had been delayed and was a possible option at a moment’s notice. So we took time to go have dinner and returned to spend the entire night at the terminal. We found that the Dover USO was newly remodeled and was very nice and the volunteers there were some of the nicest people there. The one issue I still don’t understand is the no to be checked luggage in the USO. No one is allowed to leave the luggage unattended in the Airport, so it makes little sense that the luggage can’t be brought into the USO. This rule restricts the ability of those who can use the USO from using it. I was okay with it for me, but saw several active duty families struggle with only one member of the family able to go into the USO. On Thursday evening I discovered the sign for the DV (Distinguished Visitors) Room said E-9 and O-6 and above. Being a retired E-9, I inquired and was denied access to the DV Room with the qualifier that the policy had changed and that E-9’s were no longer given access to the room. I was fine with that. The following morning, I spoke to the passenger desk about the flights and the checking in to be present again for our second day and the Airman politely asked if I would like to use the DV Lounge. I explained what happened and he indicated that the room was available to E-9’s. (I also found that E-9’s are able to use the in Charleston AFB and Rota NAS). While at Dover I learned about the pepperd.com website and found it very useful! We spent the next day at Dover and when the flights were changed to 0F due to hazardous materials, it looked bleak on getting to Rota anytime soon. At Dover, the TV screen only shows where the flights are going to directly from Dover and not any of the follow on locations. I saw a flight to Charleston AFB on the screen at Dover and then used pepperd.com and found a flight to Rota from Charleston AFB with a late evening departure. Additionally, Charleston had a flight to Rota the next two days in a row. We decided that our best choice was to fly to Charleston AFB and hope to get the flight to Rota. We caught the C-5 to Charleston with 73 seats available and there were 23 who boarded. Once on the plane, the SGT announce that they were headed to Rota after a stop at Charleston for about 3 hours. Once in Charleston AFB, we saw the screens for the departures and found that they post the follow on destinations. I found it hard to understand the lack of information at the terminal in Dover compared to the information at Charleston AFB. Of course, all of us that wanted a flight to Rota were put on the C-5 and we made it to Rota on Sunday May 2nd. We spent our first night in Spain at the Navy Lodge for $75/night. We completed our trip in and around Spain, see my daughter’s blog at: http://kateandbobgoeurohopping.blogspot.com and returned to Rota for our return trip on Saturday May8th. Once in Rota, we learned that the C-5 from Rota scheduled for Saturday was delayed for repairs and may go on Sunday. We were told to call at 0000 for an update. We made reservations before we left Rota on May 2nd for our return trip for three days. So we checked into the Navy Lodge spent the night there. I called at 0000 and was told the C-5 looks like a go and that we should call again at 0100. So I called again at 0100 and was told that things looked good and it was now scheduled for a 1825 departure and a 1455 Roll Call, but we should call again after 0800. I set the alarm and woke up in time to call the passenger terminal. Indeed, the C-5 was cleared of mechanical issues and was on the schedule as reported at 0100. I went to the Navy lodge Desk and they were fine to check us out of the room we had and hold our second night stay until 1800. With the Roll Call at 1455 and departure at 1825, I figured we would be on the plane by 1800. Well, Roll Call went as scheduled with 72 Seats available and we checked in our luggage. However, the planned boarding time came and went. The issue was the dust plume from the volcano in Iceland was closing airspace again very rapidly. Finally at 1815 we began the boarding process with about 18 travelers which allowed each of us room to stretch out and we lifted of about 30 minutes late. They had to re-route our flight around the plume. We arrived at Dover and processed through customs without any issues. The flight was 1.5 hours longer than originally planned. All in all a very good trip!   Lester Green Advanced Member Username: Rtgreen5 Post Number: 306 Registered: 03-2007 Posted From: 69.143.222.224 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 02:15 am:    KATE: Thanks for the critique of your travels from the prospective of a person who is not versed in the jargon of the military. You did have the option of carrying a backpack if the prospect of lugging a rolling suitcase was not your style, as you seemed to indicate. I don't know if you considered this and there is also a lightweight carrier with wheels which can be lashed to the backpack if you decided to use wheels at some point to relieve the strain on your back. As for missing the monkeys on Gibralter, I would have made the same decision that you made--to stay longer in Barcelona, since your trip to Spain was only about a week. I have been to both places, and I think that Barcelona beats out the monkeys by a mile, especially since you were there anyway. You'll get to Gibralter at some point, I'm sure. Anyway, thanks for your refreshing perspective on your Space A trip and you did it in a detailed and eloquent manner....Best of luck to you in your new career...Sincerely, Lester Green   Robert F McNally New member Username: Subs420 Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 193.152.145.218 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 06:28 pm:    We arrived back in Rota on Saturday, May 8 and are looking to get back to Dover hopefully tomorrow. The person at the Space A counter indicated that one C-5 has repairs on the aft door and may go out tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who has helped us out on this trip!   Edgar Inocentes Senior Member Username: Traveler88 Post Number: 536 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 209.242.132.226 Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 04:47 pm:    Very interesting blog. Great way to bond. My son & I did the same thing 2 years ago when we visited Spain, Italy & Greece. The SPATs we encountered during that trip tried to convince him to consider the military after graduation...but, we can't force them. Although the experience will last both of us a lifetime. Savor it with your daughter before she turns into a pumpkin.   TR Advanced Member Username: Travel_ready Post Number: 219 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 74.192.161.189 Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 10:45 am:    Great blog. "Spangolemstein/Spangleburg" made me laugh.   James E. Kale Advanced Member Username: Jimiam Post Number: 172 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 96.241.136.166 Posted on Wednesday, May 05, 2010 - 07:25 am:    Her blog is great - felt like I was there with you guys. Congratulations on grabbing one last chance at Space A and some excellent dad-daughter time.   Robert F McNally New member Username: Subs420 Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2010 Posted From: 63.255.218.53 Posted on Saturday, May 01, 2010 - 11:48 am:    Background: My daughter graduates from Susquhanna University in two weeks with a BA in Spanish and a Certificate in Seconday Education to teach Spanish. So at the end of May she becomes a pumkin to all her military dependent benifits. Thus our lets go to Spain via Space A. My daughter is blogging our trip and I would encourage you to read and follow a long. When we return, I will follow up with a trip summary. You can find her blog at: http://kateandbobgoeurohopping.blogspot.com/