European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Til a amp sri e terminal swarming with waiting weary service members. Quot we missed the first flight and came Back a couple of Days later Quot said Caldwell who is a communications officer from Ruppert Weiler a West Germany. Quot there was another flight going a c-141, and we weren t even close to getting on it. And then they cancelled it and everybody went Home. Quot so we were just looking up there saying let s go to Italy. No let s just go anywhere and then a c-9 appeared up there going to Greece. It was 2 . And nobody was there and we got on that  those heading for less sunny skies can catch one of two flights a week heading to England. Strang said As Many As 30 to 150 seats Are sometimes available on the weekend flight. Rhein main averages about 240 passengers each month to Raf Mildenhall England. There Are two trips each week to Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. Although the information Booklet lists an average of Only 25 passengers each month a passenger service desk employee said there Are usually about 15 seats available on the tuesday flight. But whether one goes to Pisa Italy or Lajes Field azores always remember that nothing is guaranteed and everything is subject to change. If a c-9 aeromedical flight neither receives nor delivers patients to a base listed on the schedule the plane might not land at the base and the space a passenger might get the &Quot$10 tour of Europe Quot Strang said. Quot it does t happen very often but it could  these incidents Are unavoidable. But others can be avoided. One Way to prepare for a space a trip is to make sure All paperwork is in order such As leave papers family members passports and visas. Non american dependents often face problems when going to countries such As Turkey if they Are not from a country belonging to the european Community Strang said. He recommends checking with personal affairs before leaving. Calling ahead to the base or country of destination should be done to find out what services Are available to military members. For instance people on leave status in Spain do not have Access to the commissary or base Exchange there Strang said. If flying out of Rhein main do not Park at the passenger terminal parking lot. Cars left there for Long periods of time will be towed away. Instead Park in be designated Long term parking lot which has a shuttle bus making regular stops to the terminal. Strang also suggested that people sign up for five set a. Oak a above the Skyline of Ankara 8 Turkey. Right the City of angry in the azores. Below a Young couple on the Costa brava Spain. Countries instead of one when registering at the passenger service desk. This Way if the flight for Spain is cancelled Greece or Italy might suddenly look like an excellent alternative if the plane is leaving in 45 minutes with 50 empty seats. Another option is to sign up for flights at Ramstein a West Germany which offers flights to a few destinations not available at Rhein main. There is a free shuttle bus Between the two air bases. And after people Register for their flight Strang encourages them to get away and enjoy themselves until their flight s Showtime. Quot Don t waste your leave spending time sitting Here in the terminal because we re under construction and our facilities Are limited and we Don t have a lot of area Quot Strang said. Quot it s just not a real Nice place to spend with your  after arriving at your destination sign up immediately for the return flight. But it does t Hurt to have enough Money on hand to pay for a commercial ticket Home Strang said. Quot there Are so Many variables out there affecting the space a program Quot Strang said. Quot the potential space a passenger really needs to be patient and prepared and understand there Are no guarantees to space available travel. That s the Bottom line. It s a Good Benefit but there s no  a amps Don Tate my favorite place in Europe do you have a favorite place in Europe a a City country Region Street River a place that you vividly remember that you d love to revisit we d like to hear about it. Tell us in 200 words or less about your favorite spot in Europe and what makes it so special for you. The writer of the Best essay will win $200 a for a return trip to that favorite place or a visit to someplace new. The second place Winner will receive $100 the third place Winner a gift certificate for $50 Worth of travel guidebooks from a stars and stripes Bookstore. All taxes on contest prizes Are the responsibility of the Winner the Best essays will be printed in stripes Magazine on june 1. All entries must be received no later than May 20. Essays longer than 200 words will not be considered for prizes nor will essays about hotels or restaurants or places outside Europe. Anyone who holds a . Military id card and is eligible to shop at the Exchange and use the Apo or Fpo May enter except employees of the stars and stripes and their families. Send your essay to stars and stripes Quot my favorite place Quot Apo 09211 or to the International address stars and stripes Quot my favorite place Postrach 111437 d-6100 Darmstadt 11 West Germany. April 18, 1990 stars and stripes travel Europe