Okay--DS received THE phone call from Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA) on March 24. BFE arrived one week later--March 31. Needless to say the whole family had a right nice spring break!! Now the questions are stacking up (at least in dear old mom's head). I understand USAFA will arrange flight to COS but what if we want to travel out as a family a few days early? AFA doesn't (nor do we expect them to) make arrangements for family, too. USNA reimburses cadets for travel expenses after they arrive in Annapolis. Does AFA do anything like that, too? Or do we just buy DS's ticket with ours and eat the expense?
Question about travel to I-day
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falconfamily
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They will reimburse his travel expenses within certain limits, just keep your invoices. If you have not been to Colorado Springs, it is a great trip.
Thanks falconfamily--that makes sense and I really wasn't complaining! DS has been to the academy on several occasions but his father and I have not. We are looking forward to seeing it! In the meantime, I am trying not to obsess over all the details that must be attended to in the next months. DS son just rolls his eyes--he will take care of everything but I can't stand not being involved so much anymore
Thanks falconfamily--that makes sense and I really wasn't complaining! DS has been to the academy on several occasions but his father and I have not. We are looking forward to seeing it! In the meantime, I am trying not to obsess over all the details that must be attended to in the next months. DS son just rolls his eyes--he will take care of everything but I can't stand not being involved so much anymore
There is a lot to take care of--maybe he'll ask for your help at some point! It is hard to let go--I'm still adjusting a year later! haha
FYI, the AFA will reimburse his flight, but to his bank account, not yours.
Knowing that DS has worked so hard and that he's received everything he wanted (and more) makes it a little easier to let him go...he's one contented fella!There is a lot to take care of--maybe he'll ask for your help at some point! It is hard to let go--I'm still adjusting a year later! haha
FYI, the AFA will reimburse his flight, but to his bank account, not yours.
Re: reimbursement to his account...it figures! So, I'm out the money either way--ha ha!!
You could also just have the government provide his ticket. I am driving with DD early as 2nd summer session starts before I-day. I will rent a car while there and pick up DS from the airport in CoS and be with him on I-day. It is my understanding from another parent on this forum or possible FB that you may be able to alter the government provided ticket to coincide better with your travel plans. I haven't tried it personally though.
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Cricket, first welcome and congratulations! If you search through the threads on this forum, you'll see similar questions posted last year, the year before that, and the year before that. Hence, you'll get more information that any one person can post here. Despite that, here's my experience. I bought airfare for my son and wife and me to attend I-Day. I put the receipt for his airfare (about $110.00) in the envelope that he carried with him when he in-processed on I-Day. In later conversations with DS, he said his bank account received the reimbursed amount a few weeks later. (Which he kept, naturally.)
I strongly encourage family to attend I-Day. Also plan on seeing the swearing-in ceremony early the next morning. Booking a hotel room for I-Day is not too tough, BUT if you haven't booked your parents weekend hotel, get on that task today!!!
I strongly encourage family to attend I-Day. Also plan on seeing the swearing-in ceremony early the next morning. Booking a hotel room for I-Day is not too tough, BUT if you haven't booked your parents weekend hotel, get on that task today!!!
scraper
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Cricket congratulations to to all of you. What we did is once my son received his ticket from USAFA we looked at what day we all wanted to go out then he called the airline and changed the the travel dates. Just that easy but you need to look up the family dates first after he gets ticket put them on hold and have him call to change his dates...... it worked for us
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Congrats!!!!
You might be able to make changes to your government ticket, but in our case, we had to pay the upcharge to do so.
My twins were going to the same destination on the same day (duh) but someone who was not paying attention had them on different flights. We paid the upcharge (at that time, maybe $25?) and they flew together. The flight from the Steeler Nation to Dallas was relatively uneventful, but that flight from Dallas into COS - fantastic! Filled with basics-to-be and a blast!
You might be able to make changes to your government ticket, but in our case, we had to pay the upcharge to do so.
My twins were going to the same destination on the same day (duh) but someone who was not paying attention had them on different flights. We paid the upcharge (at that time, maybe $25?) and they flew together. The flight from the Steeler Nation to Dallas was relatively uneventful, but that flight from Dallas into COS - fantastic! Filled with basics-to-be and a blast!
scraper
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An Upcharge could happen but our cadet called American explained and they changed it and of course it may be different today but still worth it I would think........ The flight to and from COS from DFW is always like that on any holiday or break...... I day will be easy if your going a few days early.
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DH... Dear Husband.