A-Day

Skip2020

Skip2020

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
32
On A-Day weekend I know you get them on Saturday and you take them back that evening. On Sunday what time do you pick them up and take them back to West Point? Trying to decide if we should buy returning tickets on Sunday night or Monday morning.
 
Skip2020 said:
On A-Day weekend I know you get them on Saturday and you take them back that evening. On Sunday what time do you pick them up and take them back to West Point? Trying to decide if we should buy returning tickets on Sunday night or Monday morning.
Click to expand...
Pickup on Sunday starts early - about 6:00 AM. I don't recall the return time on Sunday exactly, but the driving factor for many is that classes start on Monday and Plebes often want to get back earlier than required prepare.

We had brunch, did some shopping and walked around a bit, and got him back in the early afternoon with plenty of time to catch a late afternoon flight out of Newark.

Of course you have to be flexible. Each company may have slightly different requirements and some Plebes will have duties that conflict with free time.
 
jl123 said:
Pickup on Sunday starts early - about 6:00 AM. I don't recall the return time on Sunday exactly, but the driving factor for many is that classes start on Monday and Plebes often want to get back earlier than required prepare.

We had brunch, did some shopping and walked around a bit, and got him back in the early afternoon with plenty of time to catch a late afternoon flight out of Newark.

Of course you have to be flexible. Each company may have slightly different requirements and some Plebes will have duties that conflict with free time.
Click to expand...
Thank you! What is the drive time from Newark to West Point?
 
Skip2020 said:
Thank you! What is the drive time from Newark to West Point?
Click to expand...
65 miles, about 1.25 - 1.5 hours, with non-rush hour traffic. I usually use 2 hours for planning purposes. A Sunday afternoon should not a problem. I also prefer using I-78 - Garden State Parkway - Palisades Parkway, even though it adds a few miles.

Rush hour is a different. Arriving at Newark late afternoon/early evening
 
There is no “best way” from any airport to West Point other than Waze or another traffic app. I make the drive from the airports back and forth on a regular basis (several times a month) and use a traffic app every time.
 
Skip2020 said:
On A-Day weekend I know you get them on Saturday and you take them back that evening. On Sunday what time do you pick them up and take them back to West Point? Trying to decide if we should buy returning tickets on Sunday night or Monday morning.
Click to expand...

Probably best to buy returning tickets Sunday night. We took my DD out to lunch and then Target in Newburgh. We dropped her off at West Point at about 1pm. You will want to let your cadet have most of the afternoon to rest and get ready for the first day of classes the next day.
 
Remember that the Sunday is the day before the academic year starts and while 1700 may be the latest they can return, it is probably best to drop them in the early afternoon so they can get settled and prepare for the first day of class. The Thayer Method is still used and they will have homework the night before the first class day.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
There is no “best way” from any airport to West Point other than Waze or another traffic app. I make the drive from the airports back and forth on a regular basis (several times a month) and use a traffic app every time.
Click to expand...
Flying into Westchester is life changing, quick drive up to WP, but often it is bank account changing, too. I always price it, and a couple of times it has been comparable. Really small airport, you are in your rental car in no time. (not taking into consideration the car shortage). just a thought.
 
Goat 965 said:
Flying into Westchester is life changing, quick drive up to WP, but often it is bank account changing, too. I always price it, and a couple of times it has been comparable. Really small airport, you are in your rental car in no time. (not taking into consideration the car shortage). just a thought.
Click to expand...
Newburgh (SWF) is very close, but airfares tend to be higher and service less frequent. I know some people will use Albany (ALB), and some even Boston or Bradley (BDL).
 
UHBlackhawk said:
Newburgh (SWF) is very close, but airfares tend to be higher and service less frequent. I know some people will use Albany (ALB), and some even Boston or Bradley (BDL).
Click to expand...
All of this being said, I was just looking at air for Ring weekend. It is cheaper to fly into Westchester this time!! BUT, no rental cars available for those dates, and even if they were, they would be more than the air. Thinking flying into Bradley, and borrowing relatives car to drive to Post. There are moving parts that were not in play pre Covid, no doubt.
 
Be prepared to be doing laundry on Sunday. Your Cadet will likely present a well fermented laundry bag to you. It wasn’t a big deal for us, we did it at the laundromat in HF. Ice cream shop is conveniently located there !
 
Goat 965 said:
All of this being said, I was just looking at air for Ring weekend. It is cheaper to fly into Westchester this time!! BUT, no rental cars available for those dates, and even if they were, they would be more than the air. Thinking flying into Bradley, and borrowing relatives car to drive to Post. There are moving parts that were not in play pre Covid, no doubt.
Click to expand...
For those going to LGA/JFK figure about $25 in bridge tolls.
EWR, I think about $5-10 depending on how you travel. You can avoid them but it’s probably 15 minutes more.
 
Has the official A-Day date been announced yet? I’m assuming it’ll be August 15 but haven’t seen any confirmation of that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top