The Free Big Trip. (Read 13,998 times)

Gary,
The picture you posted was only only 113kb.  It would take ten of them to make around 1 megabyte which is the max size for a picture upload on the forum.

Image Shack also has a button to click if you forgot your password.  If they have to send you an email with your password reminder or a password RESET instruction, you probably remember your email password to check your email while on the road.

Have a great trip and take lots of pictures.

Pat P.

This is the MD-11 that flies once a week from AMC Baltimore to Ramstein AB, Germany then onto  Incirlik AB, Turkey. This is taken at the gate at Ramstein.

    

The above is a video my wife took yesterday of a railroad bridge in the tarus mountains of Turkey.
This bridge was in the James Bond Movie,,,,"Skyfall"

This is an interesting story. Two pages long but I think an interesting read if you plan a trip in near future.


Trip Report: Travel to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey by Military Space-A

Port Ludlow to Baltimore Airport, Air Mobility Command (AMC) Terminal:
Rocket Transportation pickets us at home and transported us to Seattle/Tacoma Airport about 6:45AM. We packed as light as we could. The ride was nice and pleasant and our drive was very nice.

At the airport we zipped through baggage check in, and security. Belinda always has it worked the night before with printed boarding passes, and usually always tries to book first class which makes a real difference. We were there extra early so enjoyed the Alaska VIP Lounge. Free food, snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi.

Because of Belinda’s new ankle and knee injury I ensure she gets taken to the distant departure gate by wheel chair. Less pains and aggravations the less pain pills she has to take and that’s her goal to use few pain medications and hopefully one day needs none. She does not like to be seen in a wheel chair, but it sure lessons her pain and the need to take the pain meds. About 1:15PM we got
Paged that the Belinda’s assisted transportation had arrived so we took the elevator down to meet it and we were taken out to the Alaska Airlines Boeing Jet to fly us to Washington D.C. Take-off was at 2:00Pm and we were on time. Alaska Airlines is always on time. Take-off was smooth and nice. Flying across the Country most of the states were covered by clouds. Landed at D.C after dark. I was only able to take a few photos.

No problem getting our baggage and our Limo Drive met us right outside the door. Loaded our bags and drove us to the Embassy Suites near the Baltimore Airport. Drive took about 1 hour and the luxury town car waver smooth and comfortable. Belinda even napped some.

Spent a pretty good night at the Embassy Suites and it was free as my Belinda use her travel Honors Points.
We met up with our old friends Rick & Patti Williamsons and had a fantastic diner at a place they picked called “The Elkridge Furnace Inn” in the local area. Food was and atmosphere was fantastic. The check was over two hundred dollars and there was a debate as to who was going to pick-up the check. Rick and Patti insisted they pay as did Belinda and I. We tried to work out a 50/50 split but they still insisted. They plan a trip out to see us and stay at our home so we settled and let them cover the diner.

Our 1st Class flight from Seattle to D.C was free also as I used 100,000 air miles of the 146,000 I saved up over the past two years.

Baltimore to Ramstein Air Base, Germany:
The hotel shuttle bus took us to the Baltimore Air Mobility Command (AMC) Terminal at 12:30AM and we waited in a long line to check in. I had Belinda go sit down while I waited in line. There were 147 space-a seats listed. When I checked seat ranking was in the low 70”s. As retired military we fly Cat-VI. Emergency Leaves, Activity, Dependents traveling alone, and reservists fly higher priority. As more and more stragglers trickled in we kept moving down the list further and further. At 3:00AM the final calls were made as that was the cut off or “Show Time.” Belinda and I were 143 & 144 out of 147 seats. About a dozen folks did not make the flight.

One young couple had a cat in a soft carry container like a very large purse. The AMC discovered it at the baggage check and told them if they did not have a hardened pet carrier container they would be bumped off the flight. With time ticking away the AMC military agent called the young man a taxi. The taxi was there quick, took him to Wal-Mart, waited outside, he purchased his pet carrier, and returned to the terminal with only a few minutes to spare. That cost him almost $90.00 for not reading the printed requirement before traveling.

After our seat assignment boarding passes were issued we were went to the baggage check in. Then from there into the TSA security check lines. Belinda was walking with her cane and we were directed to the short line and put up front. Passed through with just a small bit of hassle. Kept getting different directions from different TSA members. One told me I did not need to take my computer out of my back-pack and then another said yes, so I did. Then the computer was in another protective bag and I asked out of this bag also and the TSA member said no it’s ok. Just a few feet down the line I was asked if that was a computer case and when I said yes I was told to remove the computer so I did. Just as I was about to shove the computer through the X-ray another said you and stick your computer back inside that protective cover to prevent scratches, so I did. I was thinking to myself, “These TSA folks just don’t know what they are doing.”
Then it was Belinda’s turn. The x-ray picked up her medical equipment so the pulled her over to the side and emptied out her carryon bag and check it all. Took five minutes and was kind of laughable but the TSA guy was a real nice gentleman, kind, caring, and polite.

The Boeing 777-800 was packed full with military equipment and troops going to Kuwait. There was 147 space-a people so I don’t know how many troops were onboard. Taxi out seemed like a long time and then the take-off roll was quite long and I wondered if we could be abit over weight and used the entire runway. The guy next to me was watching his watch and after we broke ground he said take-off was 47 seconds. The Boeing 777-800 is a very wide body jet. Three seats on each side and four across the middle. We were seated in the middle two seats in the middle section. Belinda does not like that. I don’t care for it also. Feels like a cattle car all restricted. But it was a free flight and all I paid for was our meals at $36.00 for the both of us and someone said part of that was airport tax. Maybe is and maybe not. The flight across the Atlantic Ocean was 9 hours. Flew up the east coast over some Canadian Islands then across the ocean then over Ireland, Scotland, England, France, and on into Ramstein Germany which looked and felt like Port Ludlow, WA with the rains.

Soon as we got off the plane, passports stamped, and through Customs I sent Belinda across the street to Billeting to see if they had any rooms. Only a few rooms were left, and she got one. I got our baggage and check the with customer service counter about or listing for Incirlik, Turkey. Just like AMC Baltimore the computer had dropped our sign up, but I had my computer print out from April 12th and showed it to them and the added us back in effective April 12th. Never hurts to recheck things.
Met up with Belinda at Billeting Office as she was getting our room assigned. Timing was perfect. We got our room, diner, and then a Taxi ride to our billeting building. When I emptied my shirt pocket all I had was my Military ID, Travel Documents, and just my Passport. Damn did panic set in! Belinda is always the calm one and we looked and look.
I then called the PAX Terminal Customer Service where I last used these items. Sure enough the young Sgt had forgotten to include Belinda’s passport when she handed me back all the items. I should have inventoried it all to make sure I got it all back. Won’t take that for granted ever again. We will pick it up tomorrow.
Got to Ramstein Inn’s main building in the morning after a good night’s rest. We were lucky enough to get a new room assigned after waiting over an hour for one to free up. It was on the 8th floor overlooking the aircraft flightline. After the room was settled I picked up Belinda’s passport and we took our luggage up to our new room. Then we went to lunch.
After lunch we headed into the mall Shops and Base Exchange to pick-up a few need items. It was then that the rumor I heard was proven true. I tried to buy a can of foot spray power and when I showed my Retired USAF ID Card I was asked, “Sir Do you have a German tax form?” I replied, “What are you talking about, what the heck is that?” I was informed by the Base Exchange cashier that if I was not active duty that I needed one to purchase anything that was not food. So the debate was on, and kicked into high gear. I explained to him, “I spent 24 years in the United States Air Force and 4 of those years were done at Sembach Air Base, West Germany watching the Russians and keeping them on the other side of the Iron Curtain.” All he could say was, “I’m sorry, I understand, but it’s something our governments agreed to.” So I then asked, “OK where do I get one of these German tax forms, and why do I need one on a United States Air Base?” He replied, “At most German Government buildings downtown, you buy one and it allows you to pay German Sales Tax.” I said I’m only here over night and have no car, and now you’re telling me I have to pay for a German Tax Form so I can pay more German tax?”.” I then reminded him of the Berlin Wall and how it divided Berlin and how it came down, and now Germany is a whole country again, because of the United States and NATO.” Again his response was the same. By this time I was getting quite a bit agitated and I added, “Look, I’m not trying to purchase cuckoo clocks and beer steins, it’s just a can of damn foot spray!” He then looked around and nobody was near us and said, “OK Sir, just this one time because it’s a type of medication.” Transaction was completed and I was out of there and back out in the mall where the German Shops were. I watched Belinda purchased a few items in one of the shops, so I figured the German Shops were different. I wanted a few post cards to mail to friends, so I went into a shop. I picked out some postcards and two small cartons of nonfat milk to use to take some medications later back in the room. When I got up to the casher register I was asked the same thing, “You’re retired, do you have your tax form?” I explained, “My wife just purchased some stuff in another store in the mall and was not asked for any darn German Tax Form!” He replied, “They should have and are required to by our two Governments.” I was now getting pretty mad and said, “This is just six damn post cards for my grandchildren and two small milks, I’ll pay the damn German Tax on it while on this United States Air Base.” A young military wife was nearby and overheard the heated debate. She whipped out her credit card and offered to pay for the cards and milk. I thanked her and then gave her cash dollars in return plus a bit more.
After the shopping was done I stopped at the German car rental office in the mall. I informed them that my wife and I were on our way to Incirlik, Turkey to visit family. That on our return trip my wife and I planned a week vacation in Germany, as both of us had served in Germany with the United States Armed Forces. Then I heard, “So, you are retired from the military.” “I sure am, and I was assigned to Sembach Air Base only 15 miles from Ramstein” was my reply. They then asked about my tax form so I replied, “This is not a good subject with me.” They then said I could not rent from their office on base but that they would drive me to their office off base to get a rental car and then get us back on base when the rental was over. I said “It’s a deal; see you on our return trip from Turkey.”

Later that evening I was telling Belinda, “You know, the Germans started WWII, we won WWII, we rebuilt their railroads, bridges, roads, schools, factories, and supplied them with food and fuel after WWII, and protected Western Europe from the Communist Russia. When the Berlin Wall went up we saved West Berlin.” It’s something we all need to remember.

Belinda and I spent our last night in the Ramstein Inn and had a buffet Breakfast. Checked out of the Inn and walked across the street to the Ramstein AMC Terminal to wait for our mission flight to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. While sitting here we are watching two parents sitting next to each with their faces buried in iPhones or some other electronic crap, while their 3 children run around wild. Seem to see this more and more.

Our mission flight was called, we processed through German Customs and got our passports stamped for exit, and boarded the MD-11 jet that is called the “Patriot Express.”

Ramstein Air Base, Germany to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey:
Our air transportation was provided by World Airlines flying a McDonald Douglas MD-11 painted all white. The aircraft was half filled with U.S Army Troops headed to the middle-east, a few Air Force Troops, and some dependent Families. We checked in early and our documents were checked. The supervisor asked first for our clearance letter then our passports. As we got ready to taxi out the pilot announced we would be delayed for some high priority military cargo. Belinda remarked, “The highest priority cargo ever onboard is the Troops.” I agreed.
When I looked for my seat belt I found a very expensive watch. I figured whoever was sitting in this seat when it landed two hours ago lost it. I gave it to the flight attendant with the seat location. Shortly I heard the pilot announce that a watch was found in seat number 37F and it could be identified and claimed up front, if not claimed it would remain onboard. Hopefully it will go into the airline’s lost and found and the owner will get it back someday.
The flight time between Ramstein AB, Germany and Incirlik AB, Turkey was 3 hours and we flew at 37,000 feet and cruised between 550 & 600 mph most of the flight. Took some photos during the flight but the aircraft’s window was scratched and foggy.
We touched down at Incirlik Air Base just at sundown and parked on the flightline. An airman came onboard the aircraft and gave a briefing and announced, “Colonels, GS’s, and the Price family may deplane the aircraft now!” We picked up our carryon bags and hit the door. It was a little over a 100 yard walk to the terminal. We walked slowly and the combat troops caught up with us and a very nice NCO asked as they passed us, “Like me to carry one of your bags?” I responded, “No thanks I can manage.” Then just for fun I said, “You can carry my wife” as she walked along with her cane. A few of us chuckled. These troops were headed to Kurdistan, and many had EOD on their uniforms. EOD stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, a very tense, stressful, and dangerous job. Glad we could provide a little humor for them at this, their second to last stop.
Went through Turkish Customs and got out passports stamped, picked up our checked baggage, and was met by our Son-in-law Chris, and Daughter Corrine. Then it was only a short drive to their home for hugs and kisses with our granddaughters.

Yes indeed - the SOFA agreements are definitely an obstacle.  When I was TDY to Germany as a GS-11 Civilian and later as a GS-12 I had to get my orders stamped to enable my buying anything on the base - especially anything from the Exchange system.  Now off base was no problem with any purchase - other than I discovered that my Governmant Charge card was not accepted!  That suprised me!  I was paying for a meal and the purchase was not accepted by the restaurant - NOT the banking system.  They did not like ANY Government caredit cards!  I could go to the nearest ATM and get cash - then pay for anything!  That was in Germany, and we still had the Government  issued American Express card.  When we changed over to the Bank America Card it was not as bad. 
When I went to Korea I had to have a SOFA card issued to me to buy anything in their BX as well.  Pat will remember that!  Even though I was TDY with orders I still had to abide with SOFA.  Now my retiree card could get me on any base - but to purchase anything or get medical attention I needed that SOFA card with me.

MArv

I'm finding that its the same here at Incirlik Air Base.
I can exchange dollars for lira at Finance and buy coffee at Starbucks on base and that's it.
Daughter buys what we want on base and uses our Visa.

I'm surprised, parts of Turkey are very nice like the Tarus Mountains we were in. One road to a castle was pretty rough. A very big thing is before you take a day trip you need to use the restroom because what is off base in not that user friendly.