Military Hop flights
Nov 15th, 2005 | 09:24 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2005
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Military Hop flights
Someone mentioned an inexpensive way to go to Australia from the USA was via Military Hop flights. I lost the thread. Please let me know the particulars of this type of flight. I am experienced with airline standby and assume it is similar.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Nov 17th, 2005 | 02:36 PM
#2
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 235
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Not familiar with the finer points of military hop flights, but my understanding is that they are only available to military personel, and military reservists.
You should probably direct your enquiry to the USAF if you think you qualify.
There are quite a few US military flights into Christchurch in support of their Antarctic program, so I think that if you qualify your chaces would be quite good.
You should probably direct your enquiry to the USAF if you think you qualify.
There are quite a few US military flights into Christchurch in support of their Antarctic program, so I think that if you qualify your chaces would be quite good.
Nov 18th, 2005 | 02:50 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
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If Geckolips qualified for a "Space A" flight (military hop), he/she would know about it already and wouldn't be asking this question. They are, indeed, for military ID card holders only, and even then have many restrictions.
Space A goes first to active duty military personnel. Dependents, retirees, and others come further down the list. Although as a military retiree I qualify for Space A, I never bother. My time is too precious to spend days hanging around military bases waiting for my name to come to the top of the list. Oh, and when you do get a seat, it might be in a poorly heated cargo plane with no sound insulation, so you need to wear a heavy coat and earplugs. Cheap, but at a price.
Space A goes first to active duty military personnel. Dependents, retirees, and others come further down the list. Although as a military retiree I qualify for Space A, I never bother. My time is too precious to spend days hanging around military bases waiting for my name to come to the top of the list. Oh, and when you do get a seat, it might be in a poorly heated cargo plane with no sound insulation, so you need to wear a heavy coat and earplugs. Cheap, but at a price.
Nov 19th, 2005 | 12:19 AM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
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Let me add a footnote to what I said above:
I may have sounded disparaging about Space A flights, but that was not my intention. For a young married soldier, airman, or sailor on an overseas assignment, that may be the only way he can afford to bring his family back to the US to see their loved ones. Think of how difficult it would be to buy four round trip tickets from Germany to the US on a soldier's salary!
As for me, I can afford to travel on scheduled airlines, so prefer their comfort and convenience. I have been to Australia twice in the last six years, buying my tickets on the internet for my most recent trip.
You can also book internal flights at great savings on the Qantas website. Haven't used Virgin Blue, but I believe you can do the same with them.
I may have sounded disparaging about Space A flights, but that was not my intention. For a young married soldier, airman, or sailor on an overseas assignment, that may be the only way he can afford to bring his family back to the US to see their loved ones. Think of how difficult it would be to buy four round trip tickets from Germany to the US on a soldier's salary!
As for me, I can afford to travel on scheduled airlines, so prefer their comfort and convenience. I have been to Australia twice in the last six years, buying my tickets on the internet for my most recent trip.
You can also book internal flights at great savings on the Qantas website. Haven't used Virgin Blue, but I believe you can do the same with them.
