MAC flights?

Question

Anybody ever taken one (Army)? What was it like?
Please only respond if you have had experience with a flight.

I just would like to know experience. Is it loud? How many people are generaly on a flight? Are there layovers? How kid friendly are they?

To candy (the first responder) sorry that wasnt me that you spoke with the other day. Thanks for all info though

Answer 1

i have taken many flights i have been on c-9 nightingale's that were nice and c-17's that had regular plane seats that were ok but cramped to c-130's which are miserable for long flights
my worst experience was taking c-130's into bagram afghanistan when they get there they seem to go straight down when they clear the mountains

my best and most relieved flight was a c-17 out of bagdad they had regular airline seats but were a little cramped and close together those seats dont seem to bad after sleeping on the concrete around bagdad airport for a few days

Answer 2

Well it depends. If you are taking a hop on a military plane the seats are different and it can be louder. I've been told though that as long as it's not full you have more room to stretch out.

We hopped from Germany to the States and back but that was on a charter flight - so it was a regular airplane/flight with a movie, etc. On the way to the States they offered child friendly meals but not on the way back. Children are allowed as dod dependants just like everyone else - however depending on the flight/airplane/crew they may or may not have appropriate movies and meals. Therefore, I would be sure to pack a backpack with coloring books, game boy, dvd player, movies, crayons, toys, books to read, etc for your kiddos. Snacks things like that.

Price wise they are awesome! If you are on a military flight I'm not sure on the price, if you are on a charter flight there is a minimal price involved which may be different for each leg of the flight but it's very little comapred to "normal" flights.

As far as getting on it depends on the catagory you are (sometimes if hubby is deployed you may be a higher cat then if he's not - need orders or a memo from his commander). Try to travel at off times - not on holidays, when school's out, etc. You will also want to be manifested all the way through to your destination - you can still get bumped but won't have to go through ALL of it every time you do.

Unless the rules have changed, you can NOT mac flight in the States without your sponsor. Only to and from overseas if you are stationed overseas. Can't mac flight without him/her unless they are deployed and you have a copy of orders/memo.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

entirely too many variables to accurate give you an idea.

I have flown on cargo planes where the only seats were the webbed ones, I have flown on what may as welll be a commercial airline, complete with Flight Attendants, I have flown on MEDEVAC planes where half the interior is taken up by stretcher patients. I have been fed a boxed lunch, I have been served full meals, I have had nothing but a stale granola bar that was lying in the bottom of my purse.

I have been too cold and too hot. I have gotten earplugs which did nothing to deaden the noise.

Only the Patriot Express flights for people on Orders are what I would call Family friendly. Within CONUS, family members may only fly Space A if their Sponsor( the military member) is flying with them.

Answer 4

For non-active duty, MAC flights are not something I would recommend. Most of these flights are for on planes for transport of vehicles, supplies and military members. The tend to be noisy, with a lot of vibrations. There are no flight attendants and they can be cold. There are a few (very few) that are used to transport military families to and from bases in Europe and Japan that are like civilian airlines, but these are not the norm. As a family member, you would have a lower priority level and could easily be bumped off the flight at any leg of the trip. These planes also can be diverted or delayed, so anyone using them to travel should have a lot of flexability in thier schedul as well as extra money to pay for hotels if you get stuck and the very real possiblity of needing to buy last minute tickets on a commercial carrier to get back home. In all honesty, unless you have military orders to use the flights (for a move or to get medical attention..the only reasons I know of for dependents to use these flights) I would skip them and watch for the next fare war between airlines...doubly true if you are flying with young kids.

Answer 5

husband did coming back from the USA to his base in the UK and ended up being bumped and sent off to Germany where he sat for 5 days.

what do you need to know?

regards

OK as for kid friendly I would say a HUGE NOPE................and to be honest unless you have no other way of getting to your destination then look at the cheap flights, as a family flying then you are really bottom of the list for getting on the flight..........like I said hubby is fairly high [ish] up and got bumped for 5 days and what we spent in hotel and food for him to be in Germany we might as well got a cheap ticket in the first place. at least he would have wasted 5 days of leave stuck in the middle of no where trying to get back to work. I would say that MAC flights are best for some one that has NO time scale to work within.......sorry hope this helps a bit.......just had a thought are you the lady I spoke to the other day about the flights and getting to your ex in Hawaii???

Answer 6

i've taken several with my husband and without and each time with 2 children. we've heard horror stories but never experienced any the crew are awesome, friendly and were extremely helpful especially on my last flight without my husband, i think it all depends on where your going, i've been flying back and forth from hawaii where we are stationed, the only thing i can say is that its free, so take what you can while its free, good luck!!!!

Answer 7

In some ways it was nice. In some ways it wasn't.

I was able to go around the world for nothing. But I spent ALOT of time waiting in airports for the next available flight.

They are great at getting you over oceans and across continents. But don't expect to get your exact destinations.