Flight to I day

F

flying8764

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2015
Messages
151
Question. Newbie here. If we are traveling by plane to I day, what can we expect for my DS PLebe2B to be reimbursed for his one way ticket? Is there a ceiling?

The other question about flights is how do you get a discounted flight when you are in the USNA? My son does have a military ID from NROTC but if you book online they dont ask for this anywhere.

Thanks for your help!
 
flying8764 said:
Question. Newbie here. If we are traveling by plane to I day, what can we expect for my DS PLebe2B to be reimbursed for his one way ticket? Is there a ceiling?

The other question about flights is how do you get a discounted flight when you are in the USNA? My son does have a military ID from NROTC but if you book online they dont ask for this anywhere.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

I can answer the 2nd question since I worked in the airline industry. You will have to call the airline directly, their 1-800 reservation number will do.
 
Don't know where you are flying from but after trying 3 different airlines we have settled in with Southwest. Their Discount rate is cheaper than any military discount rate we have found and they treat our plebe extremely well. Twice now his pilots have been USNA grads.
 
Did you buy your Plebe's ticket already? We have been waiting until we get the Permission To Report packet. My wife and I bought our flight tickets to I-Day, but we wanted to wait until we saw what was official instruction from USNA for buying our DS Plebe2B ticket. CA-48
 
Brawny77 said:
Don't know where you are flying from but after trying 3 different airlines we have settled in with Southwest. Their Discount rate is cheaper than any military discount rate we have found and they treat our plebe extremely well. Twice now his pilots have been USNA grads.
Click to expand...

Southwest is great and you can change flights without fees which comes in handy more often than you think. Also, a friend of mine recently informed me if you call Southwest directly, they will have special military rates but it depends on the dates. So it's worth it to give them a call and check for the dates you need. Only took me 10 months after graduation to learn about it, but good tip for future use!
 
Southwest is wonderful. When DS went back to USNA last week after break, his original flight was scheduled to leave in the early evening. He called Southwest, they told him if he was willing to take a 5:30 am flight the next morning, they would give him a 35.00 credit towards his next flight. He accepted.
 
Sandydesert said:
Southwest is wonderful. When DS went back to USNA last week after break, his original flight was scheduled to leave in the early evening. He called Southwest, they told him if he was willing to take a 5:30 am flight the next morning, they would give him a 35.00 credit towards his next flight. He accepted.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind words...:)
 
No military discount to get to I-Day. Sorry. But they aren't in the military or on active duty until they take the oath. That being said, Southwest's flights are usually cheaper anyway. We drive a 7 hour round trip to the airport because it's cheaper than flying from our local airport that isn't serviced by Southwest. Something on the order of $650 cheaper. Get their credit card and save up points is what we have been told. We aren't a credit and loan family, but we are part of their frequent flier program.
 
Southwest has always been the best for us. They do not charge for changed flights but do put it in your account for change of flight or future use. They also do not charge for check in baggage. As a Heads Up BWI has a great USO area by the baggage claim for anyone with military ID.
 
flying8764 said:
Question. Newbie here. If we are traveling by plane to I day, what can we expect for my DS PLebe2B to be reimbursed for his one way ticket? Is there a ceiling?

The other question about flights is how do you get a discounted flight when you are in the USNA? My son does have a military ID from NROTC but if you book online they dont ask for this anywhere.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

I spoke with Admissions last week. Flights ARE reimbursed....basic fare. When asked if there is a maximum, I was told that any coach fare is okay. Nickels and dimes will not be scrutinized. Relax. The bean counters will know if the ticket was exorbitant.
 
ktnatalk said:
Plenty of time left. See gauge last year (item 2) on page 4.
https://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/_files/documents/2016/PTR DOCS/3 PTR 2020 Item 3 Important Information Class Of 2020.pdf
Click to expand...
This is an important point as if you use the CTO, they will arrange travel and you pay NOTHING. I did not last year and lost some money as a round trip ticket was cheaper than one way but more than the allowed amount. I had the reimburesement put in my DS's Navy Credit Union account and he enjoyed using those funds for Spring Break!! If I had it to do again, I would have used CTO.

"You must contact the Government Contracted Commercial Travel Office (CTO) at 1-800-235-9184 for any type of airline travel elected. If you elect to have the contracted Commercial Travel Office (CTO) arrange your travel (Block 7 a.), you will be e-mailed an itinerary and e-ticket by approximately 12 June 2016."
 
The reason each candidate MUST contact the CTO when arranging their own airfare is to obtain the government's (airfare) cost from the candidate's home of record to Baltimore/Annapolis. Thus, you are informed on up to how much you get reimbursed. I highly doubt that Admissions processes the travel claims/reimbursements; I would play it safe and get the amount so that you know the minimum amount of reimbursement -- I would not rely on being reimbursed the "regular coach" fare unless it is same/cheaper than the government cost. The Joint Federal Travel Regulations STRICTLY governs these rates. If a few dollars here and there is not a concern...then it is a moot point.
 
Last edited:
Our son is a brand new appointee at USNA so I haven't seen the paperwork yet, but 4 years ago at USAFA when our other son started, the appointee told admissions if you wanted USAFA to make the arrangments (directions in the original appointment letter) OR you could make the arrangements and appointee could turn in the receipt. It is/was the only time they reimbursed for travel and the reimbursement went directly to the cadet (not the parents). There may have been some sort of cap, but USAFA policy flies them into Colorado Springs for I-day and most reasonable people who want a car just fly to Denver and drive so it is hard for me to imagine that a flight to Denver wouldn't be cheaper than Colorado Springs 99% of the time so maybe that's why the pricing didn't seem to be an issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top