You know you're in trouble.

nm

your government desperately, walking into the consolulate and being greeted with a ridiculous portrait of this laughingstock of this buffoon, realizing in that moment how screwed you actually are.

this regime has so much maleficence and total disregard for life and keeping people safe.

Their motto is "you are on your own". Really deplorable.

US citizens since they used the commercial flights for mostly State Dept employees?

pays rather handsomely for the free rider trump and his entourage of hangers on to cruise around golf courses. Just a matter of priorities I guess.

...2 years ago?

Here's a pic of the aircraft yesterday:


The shorter upper deck is indicative as a pre-747-300 model.

Here's the story of Kalitta retiring its last 747-200:
https://airwaysmag.com/avgeek/exclusive-onboard-last-u-s-operated-boeing-747-200-soars-retirement/

Did they bring this aircraft out of retirement for this flight? Does it mean anything that they did?

On edit: a wider shot of the aircraft shows no winglets, so it's definitely not one of their 747-400's.

Here's Kalitta's fleet as of now:

Kalitta Air fleet
Boeing 747-400 2
Boeing 747-400BCF 10
Boeing 747-400ERF 1
Boeing 747-400F 13
Boeing 767-300ER 1
Boeing 767-300ER/BDSF 8
Boeing 777F 1

This is quite curious. Did they not want their newer aircraft to be used for fear of the virus?

On edit: yes, this aircraft (N705CK) *was* retired and in storage as of this website:
https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Kalitta-Air/subfleet?manufacturer=Boeing&subtype=747-200



Here's flight following for N705CK:
https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Kalitta-Air/subfleet?manufacturer=Boeing&subtype=747-200

It serves as part of Kalitta’s government contract moving mostly military personnel and freight for the Dept of Defense. It’s not in normal commercial service, but it is part of the military fleet and makes regular runs, and is current. Kalitta has a substantial contract with the US government.

I'm aware of Kalitta's business - who they contract out to. But the linked article said that their last 747-200 was retired in 2017. They have a bunch of -400 series still in operation.

The headline of the linked article says:
THE LAST U.S. OPERATED BOEING 747-200 SOARS INTO RETIREMENT

Plus, this is confirmed on their Wikipedia pafe:

I don’t think you have the correct n-number.

He still has a 747-251B Combi doing special charter flights for the military. I’m not positive that is the aircraft, but I know the combi is current and registered and flying.

You are correct.

I have no idea on that one.

My bad. Hat tip.

Which blew my mind, since I had no idea there were any -400's in this config. So I was wrong. And thank you for making me dig further - to you as well.

I think it's just the angle of the photograph that makes the winglets hard to see on this one.

They get paid for their contracted services, then charge $1000 for the seats the consulate doesn't use. What a big f*cking scam they have going. Do you think Dumpy Trumpy gets a piece of the action?

I don't recall people being charged $1,000 a seat on government planes during the Saigon Airlift. Not that that was a shining example of evacuation techniques but at least no president and his mobster buddies were making money off it.

So they grabbed up the embassy personnel and those who couldn't afford a $1000 bribe to Kalitta and Dumpy are just shit out of luck. That's the American way. F*ck you, I got mine.

Typical for a banana republic.

The State Dept charters the plane.

The passengers are charged the official government commercial airfare rate. Kalitta is not charging twice.

The policy on charging has been that way for decades. No free rides. The fact that a ride is even available and arranged is a good thing.

P.s.- this isn’t the fall of Saigon

$1000 a seat 1 way is not standard fare. It's price gouging because of an evacuation. I've hopped military flights regularly for free because the contractor gets paid for flying 1 person or 5. Whoever allows these supposed standard contracts where the contractor can add $1000 for each additional person flown, needs to get their head examined or audited for embezzlement.

Thanks for that snarky line at the end of your post. Yeah, I am just so stupid I couldn't tell that escaping from a viral outbreak is different from the end of the Vietnam war. I was there, were you?

There are flights available for far less, why aren't the people using those?

Now I can see if there were NO flights available, but since there are as you say many and cheaper flights... why is this an issue?
And if there are many ways to leave, how on Earth is this anything like Saigon?

Let's hope there are more emergencies and viral quarantine outbreaks. They can make a pile of money. Why stop at 80% more? How about 200% more or 1000% more. Yeah, supposedly standard military contractors just making a bundle off destruction and fear. Great plan.

So, you tell me how much the military contractors made during the Saigon Airlift...you know, with those supposed standard and common contracts in place.? Did they charge $1000 an empty seat for the embassy evacuation like they did here? You were there right?

How much were you billed?

I find your hostility a bore.

Have a wonderful day.

Was totally not hostile and was meant as a compliment.......

... a division of the Trump Organization

(fictional, I hope)

"The few remaining seats were available at inflated costs of $1,000." Trump gets his cut.

Probably(?) not true.

But it would be typical.

1. The State Department alerted all US citizens who had registered with the Embassy - something any traveler can do when in country, and made the information available several days before, that the US would make a charter flight available.

2. This WAS a military contract aircraft- Kalitta Airlines holds the military contract fir moving people and freight for the US government all around the world.

3. The price is the standard discount US Government contract fare. In fact, US policy has always been, that in the event of an evacuation, the passengers are responsible for the contracted fare, which is FAR CHEAPER than the actual cost to the US government to get a special 747 flight laid on. $1,000 from Mainland China to California on 2 days notice? That’s a bargain!

4. I’m sorry anybody who is a US citizen working in or visiting China, who has no other transportation, thinks $1,000 is too much to pay for an airline seat charters on their behalf. Yes, many of the 240 seats filled were filled by Embassy staff and family members. 300 seats were UNFILLED and were available if someone wanted to leave.
We don’t operate free Airplane rides. They were given an opportunity- if they had no way to pay, they could have worked something out. To bitch because you think a grand to get out by air in a day - is unreasonable. Sorry.

All you would have to do is sign paperwork saying you will pay back the government. Evacuations in the past did not require up front payment.

That was how Haiti worked, at least, and Kathmandu.

Kalitta gets paid by the US government for that flight even if only 1 passenger is on it.

Charging $1000 a seat is just pure profit for Kalitta. Whoever agreed to such a scam of a contract should be fired. I use to hop US military flights all the time without being charged Because the contractor gets paid the same amount for 1 person on that flight or 50 people on the flight.

I just booked a flight from LA to Peking round trip through Expedia for less than $400. How come Expedia can do it for 80% less?

Would you be able to get that same flight from Wuhan to a small to mid sized airport in the US?

I put in Friday on Expedia from Wuhan to ABQ (Albequerque, NM) and have 2 flights - each with 4 stops and taking over 24 hours. One is $3,700 and the other is $2,700

For Saturday, there are also 2 flights - one is $1,560, the other is $2,723, both with 3 stops and taking 27+ hours.

it's probably also more direct to the US. Other commercial flights require connections in Shanghai or Beijing, along with plenty of harassment from the Chinese government towards anyone who looks like they may have coughed or sneezed at any time in their lives. I've been to China for work and have been harassed by their government.

I would take the US government contracted flight at $1000.

Also any American who believes the US government is overly bureaucratic and corrupt should really tell us which foreign governments they're comparing it to in their experience.

Despite America's many epic fails, dealing with our own country's government is like a pleasant relaxing vacation compared to a long list of foreign governments I've dealt with who make it their mission to frustrate, oppress, and straight up rob people as much as they can.

I can't think of one that was free to traveling AmCits.

He's fine with lots of people dying if they aren't rich white males.

22 U.S.C. 2671 - Emergency expenditures

§2671. Emergency expenditures
(a) Delegation of authority pertaining to certification of expenditures
The Secretary of State is authorized to—
(1) subject to subsection (b), make expenditures, from such amounts as may be specifically appropriated therefor, for unforeseen emergencies arising in the diplomatic and consular service and, to the extent authorized in appropriation Acts, funds expended for such purposes may be accounted for in accordance with section 3526(e) of title 31; and

...

(b) Activities subject to expenditures
(1) Expenditures described under subsection (a) shall be made only for such activities as—

...

(2) Activities described in paragraph (1) include—
(A) the evacuation when their lives are endangered by war, civil unrest, or natural disaster of—
(i) United States Government employees and their dependents; and
(ii) private United States citizens or third-country nationals, on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable, with such reimbursements to be credited to the applicable Department of State appropriation and to remain available until expended, except that no reimbursement under this clause shall be paid that is greater than the amount the person evacuated would have been charged for a reasonable commercial air fare immediately prior to the events giving rise to the evacuation;

(B) loans made to destitute citizens of the United States who are outside the United States and made to provide for the return to the United States of its citizens;

...

(d) Repatriation loan program
With regard to the repatriation loan program, the Secretary of State shall—
(1) require the borrower to provide a verifiable address and social security number at the time of application;
(2) require a written loan agreement which includes a repayment schedule;
(3) bar passports from being issued or renewed for those individuals who are in default;
(4) refer any loan more than one year past due to the Department of Justice for litigation;
(5) obtain addresses from the Internal Revenue Service for all delinquent accounts which have social security numbers;
(6) report defaults to commercial credit bureaus as provided in section 3711(e) of title 31;
(7) be permitted to use any funds necessary to contract with commercial collection agencies, notwithstanding section 3718(c) 1 of title 31;
(8) charge interest on all loans as of May 1, 1983, with the rate of interest to be that set forth in section 3717(a) of title 31;
(9) assess charges, in addition to the interest provided for in paragraph (8), to cover the costs of processing and handling delinquent claims, as of May 1, 1983;
(10) assess a penalty charge, in addition to the interest provided for in paragraphs (8) and (9), of 6 per centum per year for failure to pay any portion of a debt more than ninety days past due; and
(11) implement the interest and penalty provisions in paragraphs (8), (9), and (10) for all current and future loans, regardless of whether the debts were incurred before or after May 1, 1983.

"no reimbursement under this clause shall be paid that is greater than the amount the person evacuated would have been charged for a reasonable commercial air fare immediately prior to the events giving rise to the evacuation;"

Since you can get a roundtrip flight for less than $400 roundtrip before the outbreak, $1000 a seat is not reasonable.

Last edited Wed Jan 29, 2020, 12:09 PM - Edit history (1)

I posted the prices above - $1,500 and 27 hours with 4 stops was the cheapest for Saturday, and $2,700 to $3,700 for Friday.

If you wanted to travel from Wuhan to Shanghai or Beijing with the airport and trains shut down in Wuhan, then you could take a faster and cheaper flight. Pretty sure the airport in Wuhan is not available for outbound flights to other airports within China.

The 1 and 2 day notice only became necessary due to the evacuation incident. You are comparing apples to oranges. The flight was coming out anyway for the embassy staff. To claim that you can charge 80% more because of the immediacy of the emergency is price gouging.

You are padding your numbers by using a 1 to 2 day requirement. What extra expense is required for the same route today or 30 days from now? Especially, if it is a dedicated contractor who has to fly out anyway.

Right now you can get a flight from LA to WHU airport directly for $400 round trip. Your numbers are overinflate because you are using the emergency to demand immediacy that the incident brought on.

Most flights even in the US have large price increases if you wait for 1 or 2 days before your fly out to schedule it.

The 1 or 2 day scheduling price increase is a result of the quarantine emergency and Americans should not be forced to pay for something they had no control over.

Our tax dollars are being spent to get them out (rightly so) AND they're still being charged $1,000 for the flight?

Fuckstick trump fucks over Americans again.

I heard little blips here and there yesterday, about racist incidents in Canada. Very sad.😞 I m unsure of authenticity.(

What specifically makes you believe that is a video of “people attacking a corona virus victim’s house”? Is it because you understand what they are saying, or was the video shot by someone you know who told you what it is?

of the authenticity. Ran out of room on top line got an emergency call, I'm fixing now.

Riverside, California. I wonder who made that decision?