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Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 13, 2014 9:40:37 GMT -5
I posted this on the poll thread as well: I was informed that in a management meeting yesterday, they were told the calls for interviews and travel are still in progress this week and to please.... wait for it.... be patient.
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Post by moopigsdad on Nov 13, 2014 9:59:56 GMT -5
I posted this on the poll thread as well: I was informed that in a management meeting yesterday, they were told the calls for interviews and travel are still in progress this week and to please.... wait for it.... be patient. I would like to add a few quotes about patience here: "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." Aristole “Patience, grasshopper," said Maia. "Good things come to those who wait." "I always thought that was 'Good things come to those who do the wave,'" said Simon. "No wonder I've been so confused all my life.” Cassandra Clare from "City of Glass" In the meantime, having patience is like watching paint dry, eventually it will dry and eventually you won't need any more patience. Be well until then folks!
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Post by ok1956 on Nov 13, 2014 12:15:00 GMT -5
I posted this on the poll thread as well: I was informed that in a management meeting yesterday, they were told the calls for interviews and travel are still in progress this week and to please.... wait for it.... be patient. Thank you for the info!
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Post by moopigsdad on Nov 13, 2014 14:05:19 GMT -5
I can tell you that CWT SATO flight scheduler was very nice. The fare was a full fare price (Fed. Gov't discount) but it allowed me to get an "Exit Aisle" seat at no additional cost. In that I am a taller guy, this was great news for me. The SATO people didn't book the "Exit Aisle" seat, but I could go in after I had my reservation number from the airline and change my seat. I was willing to pay for the upgrade myself, but Delta offered it at no charge to me. It was great news. I am flying in and out the same day (something I have done for ALJ Hearings all over the U.S. as a representative for years, so no big deal.) I was offered to stay the night prior at the Federal Government's expenses, but I declined it in favor of nonstop/direct flights rather than stay over with long layovers. It worked out well for me.
This morning when I was sent the TAN email from SSA telling me to use a worse airport farther from my home, but I called the office back and SSA said I could use any airport within a distance from my home. So, if it happens to you, don't be afraid to check back with SSA after you receive your email.
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Post by Who Me? on Nov 13, 2014 15:58:11 GMT -5
Yes, my flight scheduler was very nice and understanding. Unfortunately, most of the flights from my airport were booked solid. Not the best flight schedule, but there is nothing I can do.
As Tony Soprano, from the HBO series, would say: "wadda you gonna do?"
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Post by 71stretch on Nov 13, 2014 22:26:59 GMT -5
I can tell you that CWT SATO flight scheduler was very nice. The fare was a full fare price (Fed. Gov't discount) but it allowed me to get an "Exit Aisle" seat at no additional cost. In that I am a taller guy, this was great news for me. The SATO people didn't book the "Exit Aisle" seat, but I could go in after I had my reservation number from the airline and change my seat. I was willing to pay for the upgrade myself, but Delta offered it at no charge to me. It was great news. I am flying in and out the same day (something I have done for ALJ Hearings all over the U.S. as a representative for years, so no big deal.) I was offered to stay the night prior at the Federal Government's expenses, but I declined it in favor of nonstop/direct flights rather than stay over with long layovers. It worked out well for me. This morning when I was sent the TAN email from SSA telling me to use a worse airport farther from my home, but I called the office back and SSA said I could use any airport within a distance from my home. So, if it happens to you, don't be afraid to check back with SSA after you receive your email. The reservation info I got didn't have a seat assignment for the return flight... said I had to wait for airport checkin. Airline website offered only ONE seat that was not a premium pay extra seat. Did you call them to get them to give it to you for free, or use the website. Different airline I'm using, though.
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Post by Who Me? on Nov 13, 2014 22:36:01 GMT -5
observer:
Check the seat listing at the airport when you check in. In the past, I found that if you haven't already been given a seat, the unused upgraded seats are assigned to the seat-less flyers. Of course, don't expect 1st class. Won't happen.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 14, 2014 8:00:47 GMT -5
Bump.
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Post by moopigsdad on Nov 14, 2014 8:24:29 GMT -5
I can tell you that CWT SATO flight scheduler was very nice. The fare was a full fare price (Fed. Gov't discount) but it allowed me to get an "Exit Aisle" seat at no additional cost. In that I am a taller guy, this was great news for me. The SATO people didn't book the "Exit Aisle" seat, but I could go in after I had my reservation number from the airline and change my seat. I was willing to pay for the upgrade myself, but Delta offered it at no charge to me. It was great news. I am flying in and out the same day (something I have done for ALJ Hearings all over the U.S. as a representative for years, so no big deal.) I was offered to stay the night prior at the Federal Government's expenses, but I declined it in favor of nonstop/direct flights rather than stay over with long layovers. It worked out well for me. This morning when I was sent the TAN email from SSA telling me to use a worse airport farther from my home, but I called the office back and SSA said I could use any airport within a distance from my home. So, if it happens to you, don't be afraid to check back with SSA after you receive your email. The reservation info I got didn't have a seat assignment for the return flight... said I had to wait for airport checkin. Airline website offered only ONE seat that was not a premium pay extra seat. Did you call them to get them to give it to you for free, or use the website. Different airline I'm using, though. I used the website of the airline, but I am sure it helped that I am a frequent flyer with the airline i am using to go to DC.
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Post by Loopstok on Nov 14, 2014 15:38:16 GMT -5
What is going on with hotels in that area next week? All 4 hotels listed in the travel e-mail that I got, are completely sold out for the night that I'm going to be down there (and it's not like I could have booked earlier, since I only got my interview date yesterday).
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Post by 71stretch on Nov 14, 2014 17:19:48 GMT -5
observer: Check the seat listing at the airport when you check in. In the past, I found that if you haven't already been given a seat, the unused upgraded seats are assigned to the seat-less flyers. Of course, don't expect 1st class. Won't happen. I called them today. They said when I check in 24 hrs ahead, there will be other seats (exit rows) maybe available for preassignment. I'll get home, either way-- the way they do seats now is just weird.
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Post by bucksfan on Nov 14, 2014 18:01:41 GMT -5
What is going on with hotels in that area next week? All 4 hotels listed in the travel e-mail that I got, are completely sold out for the night that I'm going to be down there (and it's not like I could have booked earlier, since I only got my interview date yesterday). If the hotels across the street are full, try the Hilton at the Mark Center or Hilton Garden at Shirlington. As a federal employee, your motto should be carpe per diem -- seize the per diem. Uncle Sam does not care where you stay, so long as you get the government rate. If price is the same, pick the better hotel.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 18:25:50 GMT -5
I had to book a hotel out a ways. All close in are full.
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Post by skippy on Nov 14, 2014 22:17:47 GMT -5
What is going on with hotels in that area next week? All 4 hotels listed in the travel e-mail that I got, are completely sold out for the night that I'm going to be down there (and it's not like I could have booked earlier, since I only got my interview date yesterday). I have the same problem, and I started calling/searching on the internet 3 minutes after I got the call for the interview, right after I did a little happy dance. I don't know if I will be spending the night or flying in and out the same day, but I thought I would get a room and then cancel if necessary.
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Post by bucksfan on Nov 14, 2014 22:56:51 GMT -5
If you are having a problem finding a hotel at the per diem rate, try getting an account with Fedrooms.com. I use Fedrooms to book rooms for my out-of-town hearings. For example, I looked up availability for this coming Thursday and found several local hotels with rooms at or below the per diem rate. The Hampton Inn across the street from where you'll go for your interview is going for less than the max per diem rate.
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Post by 71stretch on Nov 15, 2014 7:58:50 GMT -5
I'm staying in the same area I stayed in before, different hotel. It's not a bad cab ride at all, and they shuttle to and from the metro, so getting there from the airport is easy. And, a lower amount to have to wait for reimbursement for.
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Post by jessejames on Nov 15, 2014 8:41:07 GMT -5
The Uber app is helpful as an economical and efficient means of getting transportation. I was able to secure transportation from 2 minutes to 10 minutes after requesting it.
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Post by skippy on Nov 15, 2014 10:35:15 GMT -5
If you are having a problem finding a hotel at the per diem rate, try getting an account with Fedrooms.com. I use Fedrooms to book rooms for my out-of-town hearings. For example, I looked up availability for this coming Thursday and found several local hotels with rooms at or below the per diem rate. The Hampton Inn across the street from where you'll go for your interview is going for less than the max per diem rate. When I called and used Expedia/Travelocity, the rooms were all booked. I will try the Fedrooms.com cite. Thanks for the tip!
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Post by Loopstok on Nov 16, 2014 13:21:35 GMT -5
If you are having a problem finding a hotel at the per diem rate, try getting an account with Fedrooms.com. I use Fedrooms to book rooms for my out-of-town hearings. For example, I looked up availability for this coming Thursday and found several local hotels with rooms at or below the per diem rate. The Hampton Inn across the street from where you'll go for your interview is going for less than the max per diem rate. Thanks for the tip -- incredibly, this still didn't work for me, every single listed hotel within 5 miles of Skyline Tower is sold out for the night I'd be staying there (before this coming Thursday). So this means, I'm either driving down, or staying several miles away and cabbing it everywhere. I have a tentative reservation for a place 7 miles away for the night before my morning interview. Which means, unavoidably, that I'll probably have to haul my overnight bag to the interview site, something I was kind of hoping to not have to do. "Hi, I want to be a judge. Check out my bright fluorescent duffel bag, redolent of cheap aftershave and rumpled sweaters. Hire me!"
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Post by gary on Nov 16, 2014 14:05:03 GMT -5
If you are having a problem finding a hotel at the per diem rate, try getting an account with Fedrooms.com. I use Fedrooms to book rooms for my out-of-town hearings. For example, I looked up availability for this coming Thursday and found several local hotels with rooms at or below the per diem rate. The Hampton Inn across the street from where you'll go for your interview is going for less than the max per diem rate. Thanks for the tip -- incredibly, this still didn't work for me, every single listed hotel within 5 miles of Skyline Tower is sold out for the night I'd be staying there (before this coming Thursday). So this means, I'm either driving down, or staying several miles away and cabbing it everywhere. I have a tentative reservation for a place 7 miles away for the night before my morning interview. Which means, unavoidably, that I'll probably have to haul my overnight bag to the interview site, something I was kind of hoping to not have to do. "Hi, I want to be a judge. Check out my bright fluorescent duffel bag, redolent of cheap aftershave and rumpled sweaters. Hire me!" Before the interview you might want to douse your duffel in better aftershave.
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