Information is PRE-COVID and all places should be contacted to assure availability, wait time and protocol
Who do I call for travel arrangements?
Here is an Official USAF BMT repost:
Don't be fooled by all the graduation travel sites on the web. BMT Family Travel is the only Official BMT travel site and is located on JBSA-Lackland and employs DoD personnel. They guarantee that the hotels in their program offer the lowest possible public rates from Wed-Sun. Avis car rentals start at $22. 100% of their profits go to the MWR fund that supports airmen programs. BMT Family Travel serves only the family and friends coming to the BMT graduations. Call them at 1-855-676-4574 or book online at the link below.
https://www.jbsatravel.com/FandF/Lackland/homeFF.aspx
Note: As recommended by Lackland BMT. This company is an Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) facility so they also support Morale Welfare & Recreation (MWR) activities on military bases worldwide through their sales!
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R.V., Plane, Train or Automobile?
Traveling:
Taxi Service:
Yellow Checker (210) 222-2222
You will need to call the gate and let them know.
Valley Hi Gate (210) 671-1457
Luke Ease Gate (210) 671-7333
RV:
Here is a
suggestion for those
families who travel with a
Recreational Vehicle. There
is a Family campground on
base:
http://militarycampgrounds.us/texas/lackland-afb-famcamp
Flying:
You can ask one question
and get 100 answers. BMT
suggests that we not
purchase our flights until
after WOT 4 because by this
time we will have had time
to speak with our AB to find
out how he/she is doing in
PT, Inspections and other
areas that they must pass.
This puts us in a pickle
because the longer we wait
the higher the prices go.
With that being said,
graduation date is based on
the fact that they stay on
track and are doing well and
without injury, illness or
being recycled, graduation
should be 7.5 weeks from
when they arrived at BMT.
BMT suggests that we
purchase insurance, however
the insurance is based on
injury or accident to the
person flying or perhaps in
the party, not for the AB.
Here are some things that
we've learned. Tickets are
cheaper on Mon & Tues.
Southwest does not charge
for the first bag. Southwest
is easier to change the
ticket with the least amount
of extra fees. Do what is
right for your family and
your budget.
Auto:
Lackland is located on
the west side of San
Antonio. Take Exit 4 from
Interstate 410 West and
enter through the Airman's
Gate. The gate is open 24
hours a day. All vehicles
must have current
registration and insurance.
If you're renting make sure
to check that the tags are
on. Before leaving check
with your personal insurance
company to see if you're
covered for a rental car and
then make sure to take a
copy with you so that you
don't have to purchase
theirs.
Rental Car:
To Rent or Not to
Rent. Taxi fare will be
about $50 from the airport
to the base.
From Teddy: copied this off of an insurance company's page, could be helpful: When you rent a car, it can be hard to know if you need rental insurance coverage. For some drivers it's a necessity, and for others it's a redundant expense.
If you have solid car, health, and homeowners/renters coverage, you can probably decline the extra protection and save a fair amount of cash. But if you're less than optimally insured, you may want to add rental car insurance.
Know your current coverage's
Check your car insurance policy or call your insurance company to find out which coverage's extend to your rental car. The limits and deductibles on your policy still apply to your rental car so long as you drive it for personal use. If it's a commercial or business rental, your personal car insurance coverage may not apply.
If you'll be paying for the rental with a credit card, check with your credit card company to see what additional rental car coverage is provided. Call the number on the back of the card you use to pay for the rental before buying extra protection. Copied this off of an insurance companies page, could be helpful: When you rent a car, it can be hard to know if you need rental insurance coverage. For some drivers it's a necessity, and for others it's a redundant expense.
Note from Tricia: yes, it is ideal to rent a car ..... but if you are in a situation where you cannot seem to rent a car (no credit card, can't afford the "hold" they would put on your debit card or just not "old enough" to get a decent rental rate) then fear not, you can take a taxi to get to and from the airport and then on Saturday there is a shuttle bus that takes people to the USO downtown where you can spend the day on the Riverwalk and they bring you back, too. So if your situation does not allow you to rent a car, there is still fun to be had off base. The weekend that we were there, my son's friend's mom needed a ride from the airport to the base, we went and picked her up to help them out. Then we got to take the reunion pictures for them Thursday evening (she had missed the coin ceremony) It was still her BEST HUG EVER! After the boys had to be back for accountability, we also drove her to her hotel.
Bus:
Greyhound is the major
traveling bus service for
San Antonio, Texas. San
Antonio borders Lackland Air
Force Base. The
Greyhound Bus station is
located at 500 N St. Mary's
Street, San Antonio, Texas.
Save 15% when you book your
tickets online.
Train:
Amtrak provides services
to San Antonio, Texas. The
train station is located at
350 Hoefgen Street, San
Antonio, Texas. You may be
able to contact a taxi,
shuttle or rental car for
pick up.
