DALLAS — American Airlines has ended its policy of extending special fares to passengers who must book a last-minute flight because of a relative’s death.
The move brings American in line with the policy at merger partner US Airways, which does not offer bereavement fares.
Walk-up prices tend to be the highest on any airline, putting family members in a bind when a relative far away dies or becomes seriously ill.
American didn’t have a specific discount for bereavement travel, but it had a different fare class that could produce a lower price than the traveler might otherwise find.
In a statement Wednesday, American said that it was making the change “to have a single, consistent program for American and US Airways.” It said that customers can buy changeable and refundable tickets, and they can apply future reservations to a last-minute flight and be eligible to waive the fee — usually $200 for a domestic flight — for changing their itinerary.
United Airlines said that it offers a bereavement discount of 5 percent off the lowest available rate when the ticket is issued. Delta Air Lines did not respond to messages but says on its website that that it “offers additional flexibility on the best published fare” in such cases, if seats are available. Southwest Airlines and Virgin America said they don’t offer bereavement fares.
Consumer advocates have said that travelers can sometimes find lower prices than the airlines’ bereavement fares. Delta suggests as much on its website, saying that “lower promotional fares may be available” on the website or through its reservations center
Two “Going Green” recycling events will be held in March: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at Waianae High School, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 22, at Farrington High School.
Among the items accepted: computers, printers, TVs, batteries, usable clothing, household items, used cooking oil, scrap metal, appliances, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, cellphones, ink cartridges, incandescent light bulbs swapped for CFLs, used eyeglasses and hearing aids, HI-5 and beverage containers. Canned goods for the Hawaii Foodbank and pet food/items also will be accepted.
For more information or for the free towing of unwanted cars, call Rene Mansho at 291-6151 or email renemansho@hawaii.rr.com.
Taken from today’s Kokua Line column in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
Retiree News received this notice of a Military Science Instructor (NCO) position at the University of Hawaii from several sources, include the Office of Veterans Service.
My name is Bill Fox and I am a Recruiter on the Army ROTC Contract.
I would like to request your assistance with any referrals you may have for the following position. We are currently seeking retired or recently honorably separated Army Active Component (IRR), Reserve, or National Guard Army NCOs.
AVAILABLE POSITION: The available position is a Military Science Instructor (NCO) position at the University of Hawaii.
Please have any candidates give me a call at their earliest convenience if you know of any NCOs that may be interested in being considered for this position.
Bill Fox Engility Recruiter – Mission Support Team (West) HQ, 8th Bde (ROTC) 32nd Division Dr., Bldg. 11D14, Box 339500, MS 83 Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433 Office: (253) 967-9302 Blackberry: (253) 343-8434 bill.fox@EngilityCorp.comThe Department of Education just issued a great video about tsunami awareness that everyone should view. The video covers local and distant tsunamis with actions required for each. The last third of the video covers how schools handle with students during tsunami warnings. This page of the Department of Education’s website includes important information about school emergency drills, tsunami-zone schools, and emergency information for parents (and grandparents). There is an emergency brochure in 15 languages and you can print these brochures off the website. View the video at http://ow.ly/u0gGg
Last year, Stephen Lum of the department’s Public Affairs Office completed a photo gallery recognizing the eighteen individuals who served as Hawai‘i’s adjutants general through the years. Each photo includes short biography of officer. This photo gallery is in the hallway outside the Adjutant General’s office here at the State Headquarters.
Special thanks to Steve for another superb job.
To share Steve’s hard work, we will post one of the photos each week. This week’s photo features Hawai‘i’s eighteenth and current Adjutant General, Major General Darryll D.M. Wong.
click on photograph to enlarge
The Department of the Army’s attempt to steal mission and equipment from the Army National Guard continues. As the wars draw down, the drive to keep missions and strength has the adjutants general and Congress involved. The following article is from the National Guard of the United States (NGAUS) weekly e-newsletter.
Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, is seeking the signatures of his Senate colleagues on a letter asking Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to resolve the squabble between the Army and the Army National Guard over force structure and aviation assets for the Guard that will likely be part of the fiscal 2015 budget request.
“We are confident that a resolution can be reached,” the letter states, but threatens congressional action if discussions fail to find an answer.
The letter is addressing a proposal by the Army to reduce the Guard end strength to 315,000 and remove much of the force’s aviation fleet, including all AH-64 Apache helicopters. The Army Guard wants a force of 350,000 and to retain its rotary-wing aircraft.
“This shortsighted approach creates unnecessary risk to our national security at the expense of incredibly capable attack aviation assets in the Army National Guard,” the letter continues.
Hagel is asked to find an answer that “fully takes into account national security needs as well as state domestic response obligations.”
Without a solution, the senators tell Hagel, “Congress will look for ways to ensure that the Total Army is balanced in ways that meet our nation’s security interests, now and in the future, that take into account Total Army requirements, capabilities and costs.”
The lawmakers say they would also prevent the transfer and retirement of the aviation force.
The senators note the investment made in the Guard to create an operational and necessary force, saying, “To squander these investments would be an incredibly shortsighted mistake.”
Our Hawai‘i Army and Air National Guard members on statutory tours at the National Guard Bureau have formed Team 808. Team 808 members get together periodically to keep the Aloha Spirit alive. Their social events often include visiting Hawaii National Guard members.
Hawai‘i Army Guard members
Stoddard Binder Michael Caraang William Crawford Chad Daniels Pamela Ellison Onesimo Francisco Kory Gacono Roy Macaraeg Thomas Mitchell Eric Oh Daniel Padello Adrian Schnobrich Tracy Tobias Soliman Valdez Laura WheelerHawai‘i Air Guard members:
Kelly Machado Carissa Maxson Shirley Raguindin Raquel Ramos Francisco Santos Victor Talamoa Maria Tatekawa LeeAnn Uehara Roselina Weldon James Wornall Brett “Doogie” Wyrick Chief Ramos promised updates on their activities.Thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email”: Lester Leung, Don Charisma
It’s easy to love these funny-looking planes just for their sheer weirdness. But many of them were built to prove a point or to advance the science of aerodynamics. Read more http://ow.ly/tTFhR
The DoD space-available travel program – also known as “Space-A travel” – was created to enhance the lives of uniformed services personnel. It authorizes leisure-travel uniformed services passengers to utilize surplus DoD aircraft seats after duty passengers and cargo have been accommodated.
Retired uniformed services members are given the privilege in recognition of their military career. It’s important to understand that mission changes occur and space-a travel is exactly that: space-available. It’s also vital that you have a backup plan or at least have plenty of time and patience and resources to pay for any travel delays or changes. For retirees, it’s also wise to avoid peak travel periods such as spring break, summer vacation, and the winter year-end holidays. Obviously, during school breaks, there’s a peak in active duty space-a family travel. Most flights are offered either through the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC), with the Navy also offering Space-A opportunities. For transoceanic military flights as well as chartered flights, there’s often a small fee charged ($17.50 – $35 per leg), but most other flights are free unless you choose to purchase an in-flight meal.
For more information, consult AMC’s webpage at: http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/ as well as the webpages and Facebook pages of each AMC terminal.
For greater ease, a mobile app (MilSpaceA app for iOS and Android, $3.99 one-time) is also available. It contains most AMC Grams (AMC terminal local information) as well as billeting, car rental, dining, and BX/PX/NEX info, links to air terminals’ webpages, USO info, and other local area information. It was designed by an Air Force retiree and is updated remotely on a weekly basis. http://www.takeahop.com/app
With a little forethought, a backup plan, and a lot of positive attitude, retirees can use this hard-earned privilege to enjoy some great travel opportunities.
Taken from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs Retired Activities Office (RAO) Newsletter.
The Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. YCA has come a long way since the first class in 1994. Background work setting up the program started prior to 1994. There have been 39 classes that graduated 3,450 cadets. These graduates moved on to higher education, the military and other employment opportunities.
The Youth Challenge Academy is having a dinner to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Mark your calendars. Retiree News will update this event with more information as it becomes available.
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2014 Time: starting at 1800 Place: Hale Koa Hotel 2055 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825Last week, your webmaster visited the Hawai‘i Air National Guard facilities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. If you haven’t visited the fighter compound area in the last year or so, the amount of construction going on will overwhelm you. All the new facilities meet environmental standards and most will be electrically self-sustaining. Finally – new facilities!
As luck would have it, the next day, Gordon Lau emailed Retiree News two very old photographs from the 1960s. Gordon said he got the digital photographs from Ed Lee, another HIANG retiree who worked on the fighter maintenance complex for many years.
The first photograph shows the 154th hanger under construction. Missing is the supply building, the berm around the flight line, and many other things. The old Sea Breeze – now Sam Choy’s is not there.
The second shows an aerial view of the compound, probably after the 1962 facility dedication. You can see how the F-102s parked on the flight line at an angle. Security was minimal – no fences anywhere.
But then again, it was over 50 years ago….
click on the photographs to enlarge
Thanks to Gordon for sharing these photographs. He lives in Meadowdale Washington, moving there after retiring from the HIANG where he served as a loadmaster with the 204th Airlift Squadron. If you Tweet – check Gordon @islandr76.
Air Force Magazine is the magazine of the Air Force Association. The magazine is a monthly paper and electronic magazine. Read the February issue http://ow.ly/tGA6r
US News and World Report, February 3: Medicare won’t pay for your eyeglasses, hearing aids, dental care or many other services many elderly people need. Read more http://ow.ly/tFotB
