Flower City SYC

[wakeup]

I'm new to this flying-to-tournaments thing. At this point, can I count on an event being held on the day it's currently announced for? And can I safely assume that the entire SYC ends by a particular time on Sunday (if so, what time)?

[oldguy]

1. yes
2. no

[wakeup]

Thanks! Looks like we'll be coming home on Monday then...

[RITFencing]

Unless your event (or your child's) has a very early check in, you can pretty safely assume to fly out late at night or the next morning at any event.

[wakeup]

It was an 8 pm flight that was tempting me. But she has a noon check-in, I think.

[momandmd]

8 pm is probably safe, especially if your daughter is in the Y10 or Y12s. Last year Flower City was run pretty smoothly- things started on time and there were no major delays, in which case 8 pm is plenty of time. However I've been at national tournaments and SYCs where things were delayed for hours. Our coaches always recommend flying in the night before, and leaving the day after, but now that my kids are older and missing school is becoming more problematic, I'm willing to cut it a little closer. I figure if they make it to the finals I'll reschedule for the next day and pay the consequences .

[The General]

I've been wrangling over this same question. My son can't afford to miss school lightly either.

If it's any help, I'll share my reasoning with you for why I chose an early Monday morning flight.

(1) Our destination can only be reached by connecting flights so our travel time is anywhere from 6 to 9 hours of air travel (that's counting ONLY the time from initial take off in Rochester to landing at our destination -- not checkin, security, boarding, and car travel). So, if we leave Sunday night, my son won't be in shape for school Monday anyway. I'd rather him miss school on Monday than go and make a bad impression or perform poorly because he stayed up all night traveling. In that case, it's better to use Sunday evening in the hotel to make sure all homework is done and travel rested on Monday, get Monday's homework from a classmate and finish it up Monday afternoon.

(2) Also, I feel more comfortable returning home in the day than late at night.

(3) Just getting my child to the right strip at the right time is pretty stressful for me (ok, maybe I should leave this factor out because I don't think others have the same problem herding their child as I do), so I don't want to add the stress of wondering if we are going to be cutting an impending flight closely.

(4) Change fees are exhorbitant on my airline and there are three of us traveling.

[wakeup]

Thanks -- I think that's where I'm headed and for similar reasons -- especially #3. (DD's Y14, so we would be cutting it close) Actually, our travel is much easier than yours and with any luck (no delays and reasonable baggage handling), she'll probably only miss one class (taught by her (soon-to-be) wrestling coach who, presumably, will understand). The airport's closer to school than to home.

I do miss the days when airline tickets were almost like cash and standby was easy.

[momandmd]

Yeah, if she's Y14 the tournaments definately take longer. I'm actually driving my boys to Cincinnati for NAC A (a Sunday afternoon start time) so we can pile in the car whenever they finish. I may be driving all night, but at least they'll be able to sleep...

[The General]

Yeah, if she's Y14 the tournaments definately take longer. I'm actually driving my boys to Cincinnati for NAC A (a Sunday afternoon start time) so we can pile in the car whenever they finish. I may be driving all night, but at least they'll be able to sleep...

I drove my sons to a tournament last year and swore never to do it again. They argued the whole way there and the whole way back. Somehow there is a bit more space on a plane...or a train...than an automobile. Good luck!

[txfencingmom]

Hey there, I am currently trying to get air tickets squared away for Rochester (&*^#!!!)
I agree with the General on leaving Monday morn.

If I have my son back in general population by noon it only counts as a half day missed. I have been at two tournaments previously (Rochester was one of them) where we were shaving it so close to make the plane.
Never.
Again.
I'd rather take on a school principle or teacher than airport security or the bout committee.
It is cheaper for me to rent a car and fly out of Buffalo for better flight times back to our hometown. We are going straight from the airport to school Mon morning.
We let our teacher know up to a month in advance and work with her to help smooth the way.
Good Luck!

[wakeup]

Wow (re Never. Again.), thanks!

I ultimately realized my daughter will only miss her first class on Monday morning and that that class will be Band. Clearly, I was stressing too much, but I didn't have a course schedule in hand at that point and middle school can be tricky, LOL!