Air tickets for Thanksgiving break

yuxi

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Jan 8, 2018
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I’d like to book the airline tickets for my daughter coming home during Thanksgiving break. My understanding is they are off 11/20-11/25 this year. How do we find out what time they are allowed to leave on the 20th? I know they have to be back before 7pm on the 25th.
 
Note that the calendar says "begins LMD". LMD = Last Military Duty.
So, your DD's class schedule for the Fall semester will dictate what time on the 20th she can leave.
Also, if she is a member of D&B, an IC or some other clubs, she may have other "duties" that day or even through the Thanksgiving break.
I would recommend possibly waiting until after the academic year starts so you know her commitments.
 
We learned early on to allow our DD to book her own flights to and from the Academy.
Your soon-to-be-cadet will know their schedule best as well as what transportation is available to get them to/from the airport, sometimes it is "Cadet Taxi".

Our DD has a credit card in her name that is actually my account for this purpose as well as emergencies. Some parents may not trust their DS/DD to be that financially responsible, but we have done this with both daughters (while the oldest was is college several years ago) and have never had a problem of misuse.
 
We learned early on to allow our DD to book her own flights to and from the Academy.
Your soon-to-be-cadet will know their schedule best as well as what transportation is available to get them to/from the airport, sometimes it is "Cadet Taxi".

Our DD has a credit card in her name that is actually my account for this purpose as well as emergencies. Some parents may not trust their DS/DD to be that financially responsible, but we have done this with both daughters (while the oldest was is college several years ago) and have never had a problem of misuse.
Thank you for the good advice!
 
I’d like to book the airline tickets for my daughter coming home during Thanksgiving break. My understanding is they are off 11/20-11/25 this year. How do we find out what time they are allowed to leave on the 20th? I know they have to be back before 7pm on the 25th.

If you use Southwest, you can book and then change if needed very easily. Either way, I would at a minimum book the return flight on Sunday as that is a very busy travel day and you know they have to be back by 7:00pm. Also, typically the last class possible gets out around 3:30pm, so if you know they aren't an IC or going to be in another activity that may require them to stay at USAFA, you are safe to book Tuesday evening.
 
Unless there has been a recent change, cadets can travel home for the Thanksgiving holiday. As always, current cadets will be the best source of information for this.

I would suggest waiting until after the start of the academic year before making reservations. Your cadet will then have information about their schedule and when they are allowed to leave at that point.

I thought they had to stay within 150 miles of USAFA for Thanksgiving?
 
I thought they had to stay within 150 miles of USAFA for Thanksgiving?

Unless they are on some type of "team" that requires them to be there for practice and/or game, almost all of the Cadets go home at Thanksgiving. For Doolies, it will be their first time home since leaving in June. I respectfully disagree with waiting on purchasing tickets for Thanksgiving (especially the return trip on Sunday) as this is an extremely busy time of year for travel. Just another perspective.
 
I would agree with you about the return trip on Sunday as that is the same for all cadets (except the firsties?). However, when they can leave is dependent on their academic schedule and even their squadron, in some cases. I believe someone else mentioned Southwest as a good option for flights. Not only are there no change fees, Southwest also offers a military fare that you can call and book.

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I thought they had to stay within 150 miles of USAFA for Thanksgiving?

Unless they are on some type of "team" that requires them to be there for practice and/or game, almost all of the Cadets go home at Thanksgiving. For Doolies, it will be their first time home since leaving in June. I respectfully disagree with waiting on purchasing tickets for Thanksgiving (especially the return trip on Sunday) as this is an extremely busy time of year for travel. Just another perspective.
 
I thought they had to stay within 150 miles of USAFA for Thanksgiving?
Doolies have to be in uniform if within 150 miles of USAFA and have to fly in uniform, up until Recognition. Perhaps that's the "150 mile" reference.

+1 on booking return flight for Sunday now. Keep in mind the 7pm is reporting time at USAFA. There is a guideline for scheduled arrival time of flights... I recall it being to schedule flights to land in Denver no less that 3 hours before their report back time and for COS land 2 hours before.
 
Thanks everyone! To be on the safe side, I booked her flight coming home on Wednesday morning and returning Denver lunch time on Sunday.
 
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