Trapav8r

I know there are several threads on family travel. I searched most of them to find some answers, but no success. I am trying to fly my wife and 7 month old out to HNL for the end of my double DH trip in August.

Does anyone have expertise in maximizing our time together and minimizing the cost? Here are some of the questions I am trying to answer, and would appreciate any help or ideas.

1. Is ID90 worth the hassle, or should I try to use some of my Delta/NW miles.

2. Is ID90 a standby/non-rev ticket or is it confirmed travel?

2. Is HNL-ANC considered an international DH (i.e. can I use hotel in lieu of international DH??)

3. For how many nights will FedEx pay on the end of a trip?

4. We are both in the AF Reserves, are there any military deals on lessening the cost of travel to HNL? We looked into the Hale Koa, but apparently they are booked.

5. Will FDX pay for a DH ticket within 72 hours of the end of the trip, or is it 3 calendar days? (i.e. trip ends 1318Z on Sunday, will they pay for a ticket that starts at 2100Z on Wednesday?)

6. Any other help with ideas on travel would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Trap

A300_Driver

As far as #5 goes, right out of the Contract, Paragraph 8.C.3.4.d:
Travel claimed as a deviation expense must begin or end
within 3 days of the scheduled assignment to/from which
the pilot is deviating (e.g. scheduled deadhead, trip or Rday)
and must proceed to the intended destination of the
deviation with no greater than a 24 hour delay enroute,
domestically, and a 48 hour delay enroute internationally.
Which seems to give you more leeway than 72 hours, BUT it might be worth an email to the Contract folks.

4A2B

Hope this helps, answers within the quote.

hyperone

1. Not to me- I use my NW miles whenever I can.
2. Stby, not confirmed seat when I used them years ago.
2b. Yes. CBA chap.1.B.2. Try using the Word version of the contract and just doing a word search (such as "international") whenever you are looking for answers like this.
3. CBA Chap.8.C.3.d.ii.2.(a). Can expense up to 3 nights at hotel in lieu of scheduled D/H ticket. You can also ask your ACP for more nights if the ticket expense allows it (good luck with that one in today's climate). Or, you can expense one night without sacrificing your ticket.
4. There are several Army and Navy bases with beach cottages. Check online for those.
5. I checked with Crew Travel Audit and have been told twice by two different people it is 3 CALENDAR days, not 72 hours.
6. Check with the military MWR's for deals on rental equipment, etc. around the Hawaiian Islands. Have fun.

MaydayMark

I have done exactly what you are trying to do ... I used a First Class Global Travel ticket to HNL (deviation at the end of a trip) and had the wife/kid use NWA miles, I joined them enroute in MSP (I jumpseated home at the end of the vacation with the family, sat between 2 large guys in coach). It worked out well for us. ..

Several Thoughts:

- NWA wouldn't upgrade my family for First Class, they said they considered it an international leg. They wouldn't let me (us) use the First Class Lounge, they said they considered it a domestic leg ... bad deal!*?

- We stayed at the Hale Koa, nice place, too bad that won't work out for you (we stumbled in to other FDX guys in the elevator). Even if you don't stay there, there is a "Travel Agency" in the lobby of the Hale Koa, I suspect you could call them and use their services even if you aren't a hotel guest? They have Island Bus Tours (including Pearl Harbor), bicycle tours (we did one, great fun) and info about staying on other Islands (maybe in other military facilities like the Hale Koa?). If you end up staying a reasonable distance from the Hale Koa, they have really good meal buffets and a nice outdoor bar by the pool. I recommend both.

- I have frequently used ID90's for family vacation domestic travel with good success but Hawaii loads are quite heavy some times of year, I didn't want to risk it.

- (Probably since 9/11?) There is now a military gate guard that checks ID's prior to driving up to the lobby of the Hale Koa. I couldn't help but notice that after the Army E-3 checked and returned my ID, he didn't salute me? I asked him about it and he replied, "I don't salute Naval officers because they don't show me any respect." I asked for his ID and his supervisor and called the base XO to express my bewilderment!*? I'll bet that problem has been fixed?

No doubt there's more gouge, I'll write more later if I can think of it.


Regards ... Mark

Time Off

Keep checking with the Hale Koa, they do get last minute cancellations. I had to cancel at the last minute last year, and they even returned my deposit.

CrustyFDX

Check out Bellows Air Force Station. I've heard it's nice

DLax85

Best beach cottage on Oahu is run by the USAF at Bellows --- it's on the windward side.

It's actually run by the 15th Services Squadron, 15th Airlift Wing, out of Hickam.

Most of the cottages have been renovated --- they have a shoppette, gas station, golf range, equipment rental and it's the best body/boggie boarding beach on the island.

You can hear the waves break at night from your cottage.

Only one downside --- always walk the beach/talk to the life guards, each day, to see if the Portugese Man-O-War are out.

If you get stung, the local remedy is a little vinegar and benadryl.

This really isn't a big issue --- just something you need to know/avoid when you do visit Bellows.

It's my favorite beach on the island.

A'o Aloha!

SeeDub

How, where or who do we need to talk to to purchase ID90s?

MaydayMark

Global Travel has the details and issues tickets (not usually while you wait though, so you need to do a little bit of advance planning).

In the old days, the ID90 details were in the green screen "DISCOUNT TRAVEL" BB section.