Comments on: Pan, Pan, Pan

By: Curtis

Curtis — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:15:00 +0000

There are two DTS operating methods. The preferred method is to sit down in front of it and make your own selections. You can pick anything you want if your command is funding travel with its own TADTAR account.
The other method has some clerk who seeks out the lowest expense and maximum inconvenience. My last set of travel orders came this method and had me go from San Diego to LAX for a 6 hour layover and then to Oakland. I was not putting up with that but it surprised me that it took 6 phone calls and going to the OIC at PSD to get it changed to a cheaper direct SWA flight.

By: b2

b2 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:41:48 +0000

Skippy,

All I know is my government cohorts always seem to get National, not BWI and the system is skewed to never select non-stop even on short legs, IE-DC to JAX or DC to STL, etc. Rental cars they get are always the lowest price and considerations for on airport reantal cars is not built in- IE they often get Advantage offsite (bus ride to/from). International travel- worse x 100%. Emergent short-fused travel? They’re screwed!

Of course as a bandit, I make my own arrangements and can honestly say I save the government $$. I often stay in the lodges or even the BOQ (the I-bar, etc. is close by- no driving!). Plus I love going to the local exchanges/commissaries/golf clubhouses on base, especially on operational bases and seeing the troops I’m supporting just for the sentimental feeling it gives me. Even on rental cars I save the government significant $$.

By: Skippy-san

Skippy-san — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:13:36 +0000

DTS is not a user friendly system-plus it still requires a lot of hoops of adjudication to go through if your command is not the one actually spending the TAD money. I used the system at two commands. The first was a staff that owned its own money and I was the bottom line on all TAD. It worked pretty well as far as the reservation process-but not so well if you had to make changes. We were fortunate though in that the Japanese ladies who were our accountants new the JFTR backwards and forwards and would help you “fly what you want, log what you need”. At the other command we had to grovel for every penny.

Nonetheless you had to be smarter than the machine-or at some point you would make a mistake.

By: FbL

FbL — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:53:23 +0000

From what I see every day and hear, DTS is even worse than you can remember it being!

A few weeks ago at the USO we had a guy come in after having been away from family for two months for a school. He needed a place to stay because Sato Travel had given him an itinerary but failed to actually book the tickets. They were oh so sorry, but they couldn’t help him until tomorrow, and considering it was only one flight per day…

Or then there were (about the same time) the half-dozen guys who, after a few months at a school, arrived with tickets they were handed on the way out the door… for three days hence.

By: badbob

badbob — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:28:29 +0000

Skippy,

From what I see every day and hear, DTS is even worse than you can remember it being!

By: badbob

badbob — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:27:29 +0000

Skippy,

From what I see every day and hear. DTS is even worse than you can remeber it being!