COMMERCIAL TRAVEL GUIDELINES ​

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Each year we have cadets & parents who never communicate with us their intent to fly and need ground transportation. Or wait until the day before to communicate. We are not mind readers. If a cadet shows up at the airport without our prior knowledge it will be your responsibility to provide your own transportation to the base. The distance from the airport to Fort Custer is 111.9 miles making it a large UBER, Lyft, or taxi charge. Please do not do this to your child. Plan, prepare, and communicate.  ​
Flying to the Training:
Flying to the Training: Transportation for cadets arriving via commercial air is the responsibility of the parent. We suggest that you only purchase refundable airfare should you need to cancel your flight in the future. Cadets planning to arrive by air MUST email the Transportation Form (located on the event details, training attachments section of Magellan.) to the Transportation Officer, LCDR Lisa Stoyanovich  by 1 May, the earlier the better. Best Practices
   ● Wait for Approval: Do not book travel until the cadet’s training registration has been officially approved.
    ● Flexible Ticketing: We advise against purchasing non-refundable tickets. Travel plans can change, and any modifications or ticket cancellations can be costly. Please note that the Sea Cadet program does not cover these additional expenses.
     ● Know the Details: Carefully review the training information and the specific travel details provided. It's crucial to adhere to the precise arrival and departure times and locations given.
     ● Have a Backup Plan: Be aware that training events may be subject to unforeseen cancellations. It's essential to have a backup plan. If a cadet cannot continue the training due to illness, injury, or other reasons, they cannot stay on-site. Parents or a designated emergency contact must be ready to pick up their cadet, if necessary.
Cadets are not considered confirmed air travelers with transportation to training from the airport, until the following steps have been completed:
1. Complete the Transportation Form and forward it to the Transportation Officer. The Transportation Officer, LCDR Lisa Stoyanovich will verify that the cadet they have been Approved (training fee & NSCTNG001 completed and uploaded in Magellan) for a training.
2. When requested, send, or forward the Airline travel itinerary to LCDR Lisa Stoyanovich at [email protected].
3. The Cadet has received a phone call from LCDR Lisa Stoyanovich (586-201-4638). Please ensure that the cell phone the cadet will be traveling with is in their possession, her phone number has been added to their contacts, and can receive calls between 08 - 25 May 2024.
4. The Cadet’s parent/guardian has spoken with LCDR Stoyanovich. Please do not call until LCDR Stoyanovich (Unless cadet is traveling under the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor Program) has spoken to your cadet and asked for a parent/guardian to call her.
​The above four (4) steps MUST be completed for cadets to be confirmed for air travel, and transportation to and from the airport.
We are providing a charter bus to take cadets and adult volunteers to the base. There are only fifty-five seats available, and they will go to the first fifty-five confirmed cadets and adult volunteers.
Each year we have cadets & parents who never communicate with us their intent to fly and need ground transportation. Or wait until the day before to communicate. We are not mind readers. If a cadet shows up at the airport without our prior knowledge it will be your responsibility to provide your own transportation to the base. The distance from the airport to Fort Custer is 111.9 miles making it a large UBER, Lyft, or taxi charge.
Please do not do this to your child. Plan, prepare, and communicate. If there are questions regarding flights or air transportation, please call, text, or email LCDR Stoyanovich BEFORE making flight reservations. 
    Must fly into DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT (Romulus, MI). This is the only airport that we provide transportation to and from. The flight should arrive after 0900 (9:00 am) and before 1300 (1:00 pm) on Saturday 22 June 2024. Departure for all cadets is after 1430 (2:30 pm) on Saturday, 29 June 2024. (Best if the flight leaves at 1500 or later). 
   We suggest that you only purchase refundable airfare should you need to cancel your flight in the future.
      Delays and cancellations happen when flying. Try to avoid layovers if possible. It is recommended that you avoid using third party booking agents (Flights.com, Travelocity, etc.). It is difficult to get refunds or change bookings easily when you use these sites, and the airline has no responsibility to the passenger in terms of missed connections or canceled flights. Book from the airline.
 Upon flight arrival cadet(s) will text or call LCDR Stoyanovich. Instructions on how and where to proceed will be given and will depend upon where she is located at the airport at that time. There are two terminals at DTW. Delta flights use the McNamara Terminal, and all other airlines use the North Terminal. She may be traveling between terminals.
​When sending the Transportation form and flight itinerary forms, label the subject area in the following manner, last name of cadet, first initial and name of form, i.e.: Johnson, E transportation or Smith, L Itinerary. If siblings are traveling that have the same first initial, please use the full first name. For example: Miller, Jason Transportation and Miller, Jessica Transportation. 
When forwarding the Flight Itinerary to LCDR Stoyanovich be sure it includes the airline, all flight numbers, airports, and the times and dates for layovers. 
Once approved for training by the COTC, save LCDR Stoyanovich’s phone number in your phone and your cadet’s phone. If she needs to reach you for any reason it will then show up as contact. Most people will not answer a number they do not recognize and will ignore it. Phone calls are made starting after 22 May. Please understand that sometimes only a few calls can be completed a day depending upon whether LCDR Stoyanovich needs to wait for call backs or whether calls are completed on the first try. Be patient, everyone will receive a call prior to Memorial Day. 
LCDR Stoyanovich will follow all flights and make appropriate and necessary arrangements in the event of missed flights or delays. 
Cadets will travel in civilian clothes while traveling on a commercial air carrier. Cadets will carry their Sea Cadet ID card, training documents, cell phone, ensure it is fully charged, and cell phone charger with them during travel. 
Cadets will call home after they have been met by the Transportation Officer. Cadets will be driven to the base by our chartered bus. It is a 2-hour drive from the airport to the base.
Cadets should plan to bring at least $20 for meals while traveling to training. In addition, please include travel money for the return trip in a sealed envelope along with the cadet’s travel documents. No more than $50 for the return trip. 
​ If your flight arrives early in the morning you will have to wait until all the cadets have arrived to board the bus for the trip to the base. You may bring a book, electronic device, or snacks for this wait period. All electronic devices and food will be turned in during check in at FCCT. 
Some airlines do not charge a baggage fee for a sea bag if traveling with orders. Ask your airline. Cadets must bring their own bed sheets; however, this training will provide a blanket for use during the training if needed. Boots are a heavy item; we suggest wearing them on the plane and pack your running shoes instead. In addition to the sea bag, you may carry on a backpack. No suitcases.                   

    LCDR Stoyanovich

​Unaccompanied Minor Program 
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO FLY YOUR CADET AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR, YOU MUST CONTACT LCDR STOYANOVICH PRIOR TO BOOKING THE AIRLINE TICKETS,  It can create difficult logistical situations when a cadet flies as an unaccompanied minor. Some airlines may require it due to age, LCDR Stoyanovich will discuss your cadet’s situation with you prior to booking.

​ What is the “Unaccompanied Minor Program”? Each Airline has their own definition and cost. I have listed a few below but you should always refer to the airline’s website for details. American Airlines: “For safety, we require children aged 5 – 14 traveling alone to use our unaccompanied minor service. For children aged 15 – 17, this service is optional. We charge a $150 unaccompanied service fee (plus tax, where applicable) each way, in addition to the ticket price. This fee covers additional siblings on the same flight”. https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/unaccompaniedminors.jsp Delta: “we require children aged 8-14 traveling alone to use our unaccompanied minor program. The fee is $150 each way. For children aged 15-17 have the option of flying using the unaccompanied minor program or fly as a standard passenger provided, they have a valid ID”. https://www.delta.com/us/en/children-infant-travel/unaccompanied-minor-program Southwest Airlines: “Children ages five through 11 traveling without an accompanying adult must travel as Unaccompanied Minors (UMs) on Southwest Airlines. Unaccompanied Minors are not monitored continuously throughout the travel. Only children with sufficient maturity to travel with limited adult supervision may travel as an Unaccompanied Minor on Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines will charge $50 each way ($100 roundtrip) in addition to the air fare per child for Unaccompanied Minors to travel”. Children 12 and older are allowed to travel independently as Young Travelers. https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/unaccompanied_minors_terms_and_conditions_faq .html United Airlines: “Children ages 5-14 (as of the travel date) who travel without a parent, a legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years old are considered unaccompanied minors and are required to use our unaccompanied minor service. Unaccompanied minor service is not available for children ages 15 and older. Young adults ages 15 to 17 may travel alone on any United- or United Express-operated flight. A service charge of $150 for each direction of travel will apply for using the unaccompanied minor service”. https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/minors/ Travel Arrival Guidance: 

SAFE TRAVEL IS PART OF GOOD TRAINING