Comments on: Airline scoop from a person whose ass has gone numb on the best of them

By: Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:13:48 +0000

Hi Dave;
Military Sealift Command is Part of the Navy, but the Merchant Marine has a strong union. If my flight landed anywhere out side of the US after 10pm local, by regulation I was required to go to a Hotel and finish my travel the next morning. They cared about my well being. (Very few knew this rule also)
When I was active duty I had 17 Military and 44 Civ’s working for me. I knew all the Military regs. but the Civ’s rules,. I had to learn their Manual to deal with them.

By: Philly

Philly — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:28:46 +0000

Now )that_ was a worthwhile reading of the manual, Paul. Wish the DoD had equivilant langauage. I once had to rebook a flight I was taking for the Air Force because the airline had a promo that gave everyone free business class to a cerain destination … yeah, it was that bad … and under the Joint Travel Rgs, no Federal Employee culd be booked on an offical ticket in a class higher than coach. Cost the government something like $130 to rebook on a different fare class … just to make sure I sat in back. Of course when I got to the flight I showed my miles card and got as free upgrade anyway … upgrades, if the gov, doesn’t pay for them are legal, but booking in a higher class isn’tn even if it’s free.

You know, the JTR’s are a major reason I’m retired. I might still be working at my last government job except for being treated like a criminal living in substandard hotels when required to travel … the job iyself was wonderful and rewarding, the pay? Not shabby, the way we were trated on business travel … thanks but no thanks.

One thing that _is_ in the JTR (check first people) is that active duty and fed emplotees going overseas or back are aithorized 1 night in a US ‘gateway’ city coming or going … break up the trip. Not one person in a thoudand I would guess yakes advantage of this, but if the reg says you can, you can

By: John in Austria

John in Austria — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:45:11 +0000

Thanks Dave, A very interesting read. I’ve bookmarked the Airline Information page. Couple on there I didn’t know that flew from Europe – EVA Air and Cathay Pacific. Looks like I will have an option next time besides Lufthansa.

By: Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:17:27 +0000

Hi Dave;
Boy, do I remember airline seats; when I was sailing for Military Sealift Command I had to make two round trips from San Francisco to some port in Asia to meet my ship
During my spare time on flights from the beginning I read the C.M.P.I, (CivMarPer.Inst.) or government manual for employment. I found a section that stated that all CivMars. (Seamen) were to fly Business Class on all flights over 10 hours in duration.
If you took the cash travel advance you got just enough money to book coach. Yet any flight to Asia will be well in excess of 10 hours. Yet if you paid your own way, then filed a claim for your business class ticket later, and attached a copy of the instruction to the claim, you were not so cheerfully reimbursed the full amount. And after I learned that I never sat in coach again. Big soft seat and good food is the way to go, if it’s free!