Charging for entrance on Armed forces Day

[SaddamsLoveChild]

Is it just me, it usually is but is it ethical to decalre oneself part of Armed Forces Day and then charge service personnel and their families to attend. I had a look at those declaring themselves part of the 'National Day' in the Torygraph and saw that:

DRAYTON MANOR Staffordshire, Drayton Manor Theme Park, 10am-6pm The theme park will open its gates to serving members of the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with their families, for £17 per person on both Saturday and Sunday. Valid military identification card must be presented when buying tickets on day of visit (maximum four people per ID card).

The serving member has to be present, Dependants cards wont be accepted so even though I am OOA, Mrs SLC and the girls wont be able to go!!!! .I find this absolutely disgusting that they are still going to charge.:= and dependants cant enter without the serving member being with them. I rang them but they refused to comment, saying that it was a mangement decision and no-one was available to discuss the matter.

[Wander00]

By contrast, last week I attended a splendid (despite absence of RAFAT) air show at Tours to mark 75 years of L'Armee de l'Air - parking-FREE, coach from parking - FREE; entance to an airshow with flying from 10-1800 (unfortunate gap whilst they cleared Stearman wreck - pilot said to be "improving") a mere 5 Euros.

We really must all ban the drum for "Help for Heroes", Love your Armed Forces, etc

Wander00

[airborne_artist]

Have you checked the regular prices? Using their family saver tickets works out at £20/head, so £17/head is a 15% reduction - not as good as free, clearly, but better than no discount surely?

Agree that limiting this to groups where the serving member is present is pretty odd, though.

[Melchett01]

Nope, most definitely not sport.

Then again, I always did have my doubts that Armed Forces Day would actually be for the benefit of the Armed Forces. As a bare minimum, I figured service personnel would be pressed into another weekend away from their families to take part in various parades and shows, more likely for the benefit of the recruiters and to make a political point on behalf of our lords and masters.

I think Drayton Manor should be thoroughly ashamed at this exploitation and profiteering. If they want to honour the Armed Forces, they should look to places like Busch Gardens for a lead rather than the bottom line on the balance sheet.

[Pontius Navigator]

John Smith's is offering a day at York Races at £17 for two, ie half-price.

Best deal I think is Crown Carveries - Home (http://www.crowncarveries.co.uk). They are offering a pint of Carlsberg or John Smiths for anyone buying a carvery meal - weeks days £3.50 - who either has a military ID card OR a Veterans Badge. I'll be there for my free beer :)

[L J R]

Which is a long way from how the US care of its armed forces and veterans

Free access to Sea World, Disnelyand etc - including families....!

...and Tax free wage on ops etc.....

[mugwuffin]

and paying for all their uniform and 15 month deployments and a two-tier officer class...

[spheroid]

Which is a long way from how the US care of its armed forces and veterans

Free access to Sea World, Disnelyand etc - including families....!

Thats not just US Forces....UK forces are extended the same privileges. I got myself and the entire family into Sea world for free on the back of my ID card.... Thank you America.

[Jumping_Jack]

Disney aren't offering any concession to 'coalition partners' it is now strictly US Military only. They even have an 'ID Card Crib Sheet' to refer to to ensure the restriction is applied. I tried recently with the DOD Military ID we are issued with here, they tried to accomodate and elevated the issue to the supervisors supervisor but unfortunately no deal. So instead of $99 for the three of us it was over $800!! Shame really as they used to allow 'coalition' the same deal (back in 2005). Busch Gardens still free though! :ok:

[Flap62]

SLC,

I cannot believe you are whinging about the company giving you a 15% reduction and you're still not happy! Do you think these theme parks run as charities? They've made a gesture, accept it with good grace and move on. Exactly why do you think all service personnel should get in for free just because a few places in the US do it?

[London Eye]

Disney aren't offering any concession to 'coalition partners' it is now strictly US Military only.

JJ,

Can you still go to the Shades of Green to buy Disney and other theme park tickets? It saved me a small fortune a couple of years ago.

[doubledolphins]

Bush Gardens and Sea World are both free to UK forces and their families. Just go staight to the Military Reception Desk at the front gates.

Also many shops in the US give discount if you are cheeky enough to ask.

Indeed only on sunday I was getting some gear from the Under Armour outlet at Prime in Orlando and the sharp eyed ex US Marine (lady) shop assistant spyed my ID in my wallet and she gave me the discount having already charged me the full amount. "We're all on the same side" was her reason.

[Tankertrashnav]

Just to say I completely agree with comments above about the contrasting ways the US and UK authorities treat their ex service personnel (and I exclude private companies who have a profit to make). This was discussed in a thread on indulgence flights a while back, another area where the US vet scores over the Brit counterpart. All in all, as I said before, its a case of "thanks a lot, now sod off" when you hand your F1250 in

[SirToppamHat]

It's not an F1250 any more, it's an F90, and it now has an expiry date. I know because mine recently expired and I had to have it replaced. Easy enough to do but worth a check for those of you who haven't realised this change.

Back to the thread. I don't think anyone is complaining about a 15% discount, but it's not that big a deal really (it wouldn't make me go if I hadn't already been planning to), but it's the fact that Drayton Manor use the deal as part of a wider advertising campaign. Half price would be worth shouting about. The 'no-unaccompanied dependants', if correct, is just barking!

Blacks give you 10% off for a Service ID, though my son recently told me not to bother as he got 20% off for being on the D of E Award Scheme!

STH

[Melchett01]

I remember being at a loose end in New York one day back in 99. As it was a nice day, thought I would go up the Empire State building. Got to the pay point at the bottom and noticed a sign offering military discounts - asked if that was NATO or just US military before flashing my 1250.

Having never seen a 1250, the girl behind the desk went to speak to her supervisor and came back and gave me a 50% discount. And that was even before this current bout of silliness started.

Guess the UK is still playing catch up.

[doubledolphins]

Mine's a S1511 and the only dates on it are my birthday and date of issue.

[NutLoose]

One could say on the other hand, is it fair to charge the public to enter the likes of the Cosford show or Waddington on the grounds that as a taxpayer they have already paid for it. Swings both ways really.

[bayete]

Elys Department store in Wimbledon gave me 10% discount last winter with a 1250. I just asked out of curiosity just as I was paying and they said yes staight away.
I think they are a local Debenhams or House of Fraser like Jolly's in Bath.
Always worth asking in this country not just the States.

[FJJP]

One could say on the other hand, is it fair to charge the public to enter the likes of the Cosford show or Waddington on the grounds that as a taxpayer they have already paid for it.


Nutloose, just how do you figure that one? What exactly does the taxpayer pay for?

[DougGordon]

The armed forces are paid for by the tax payer. In France all air shows organised by the Armée de l'Air are either free or a nominal sum is charged. This is an acknowledgement that the public has a right to see where and how their money is spent and have a good day. This seems reasonable to me.

[Pontius Navigator]

Doug, you are both right and wrong.

You are right that the public has paid and the public has a right to visit. In most units I have been on organised visits indeed take place.

Where you are wrong is that there is far more to an Open Day or Air Show that the public does not pay for out of taxes.

Toilets, marquees, crowd lines, litter clearance, the cost of an organiser (we have to pay a professional organiser - long gone the days of a secondary duty for a couple of days. Then there is the show itself. We beg and borrow events from other air forces often on a quid pro basis but event the treasuries are loking at that.

Civil events however cost big bucks as do historics.

[Climebear]

Not to mention the cost of aviation fuel, insurance, accommodation of participants (military and civilian), cost of any external support (such as contractors to run car parks). Plus each airshow is required to pay the MOD for any British military aircraft displaying (flying or static). Moreover, like many other major events some of the airshows are required to pay the local constabulary to police the event.

Myth number 76.

One could say on the other hand, is it fair to charge the public to enter the likes of the Cosford show or Waddington on the grounds that as a taxpayer they have already paid for it. Swings both ways really.

This is not the case. Each of the 3 RAF airshows are not deemed to be 'core business' by the MOD; therefore, they cannot be directly funded by public funds. Each is required to cover their (not inconsiderable) costs through ticket charges, sponsorship and the sale of space for traders.

[DougGordon]

Then it is solely the priority that the MOD places on such events that is the issue. Perhaps they should review those priorities.

[Blacksheep]

Once it were "Veterans Day" but now its been highjacked by the serving personnel its "Thanks very much, now f*ck off!" all over again. :(

Well, we'll just go away and start another Veterans Day, then. :p

[Wader2]

Doug, it is simply money on the carousel. If HMG decided that an Open Day was what was needed then someone somewhere picks up the bill.

It is either Joe Public at the gate - best option as he who benefits should pay.

The tax payer pays with more taxes, good socialist ethic of spread the pain.

Or MOD picks up the bill and has to delay improvements to accommodation or skimps on replacement uniforms or some such pain.

And if you think the Forces actually like open days . . .

[DougGordon]

I accept all that you say for the UK; but I can't help thinking.....if the French Air Force can do it at least three times a year at different airfields..............!
In the end it comes down to government priorities in spending. I guess I've been spoiled living over here.

[Wander00]

As I said in another thread, Tours (75th Anniversary of l'Armee de l'air) a couple of weeks back was brilliant, 8 hours + flying (less the break to clear the Stearman wreck - hope the pilot is recovering OK), free parking with free Air Force shuttlebus and a mere 5 Euros entrance - brilliant!

Wander00

[DougGordon]

You said it in this thread!
Did you make the Tiger Meet at Landivisau last year? eight hours flying, large static including all Tiger Meet aircraft and free parking, free coach and free entrance.

[Wander00]

Only moved here full time last autumn, but keeping my eyes open for intersting events. Next one is Roskilde near Copenhagen (where son, DiL and grandson live) for their airshow which includes Red Arrows. My grandson will take with him the trial Red Arrows Trust red suited teddy bear for which my youngest son, now 20, was the Intensive Trials Unit. He pissed off Andy S, then Mange of the Reds, at the 25th Anniversary Show, organised by the Red Arrows Trust, by tugging at Andy's red suit (Will was only 3) saying "My teddy's got a suit like that!"

Happy days

Wander00

PS we are in the bottom end of the Vendee