Lodging rates increase Oct. 1

News > Lodging rates increase Oct. 1

Lodging rates increase Oct. 1

Posted 9/27/2012 Updated 9/27/2012

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by Debbie Gildea
by Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

9/27/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- After four years without a rate increase, Air Force lodging rates will go up beginning Oct. 1, Air Force Personnel Center Officials said today.

The increase is necessary to ensure Air Force Lodging rates cover current operating and capital improvement costs, said Maj. Gen. A.J. Stewart, AFPC commander.

As an example, the current $39 nightly room rate for a visiting quarters room will be $53.25 next week, and temporary lodging facilities will go from $43 to $55 per night. Increased rates will fund costs for operations, room renovations and construction, Stewart said.

As the Air Force works to improve business processes, implement efficiencies and maintain lodging operations in a constrained budget environment, other adjustments may be necessary, according to Col. Thomas Joyce, director, AFPC Services Directorate.

"We are committed to keeping room rates as low as possible while providing clean, comfortable, quality facilities," he said. "This is part of our commitment to caring for Airmen and we take that obligation very seriously. However, we must be realistic as well."

Even with next week's rate increase, Air Force rates are lower than comparable commercial rates outside Air Force installations, the director said.

"Coupled with quality service, clean facilities and reasonably priced room rates, Air Force lodging facilities are still a great choice for Airmen, whether they're on temporary duty orders, retired and traveling, or just passing through," Stewart said.

Comments

10/4/2012 12:34:28 AM ET
For those that have commented about my disparaging remarks to A1C Nash, all I did was apologize to him for the actions of the Air Force. There were no remarks directed at him at all. If any of you or especially A1C Nash took the comments to be disparaging to him, let me once again apologize.

Maj, SWA

10/3/2012 3:25:18 PM ET
Rates increase? Service should increase with it. Get what you pay for, simple as that. I'd be willing to pay $53 for a $39 room if there was a noticable difference in the service. Imagine paying first class price for coach tickets.

Joe, Arizona

10/3/2012 9:40:54 AM ET
It seems easy to beat up on young A1C Nash and while I don't agree with everything the amn said a good thought for discussion is brought up. Should room prices be based on rank What are your thoughts on that 53 to a Maj or SNCO is different than 53 to an Amn. I see both sides.

MSgt KJS, Pen

10/2/2012 4:40:10 PM ET
I am a civilian who is stepped out and has not had a COLA or any other pay increase since 2008. The lodging service has always been great however a price increase in this economy The last room I stayed in had marble wood floors carpet and tile for a temporary stay in a single room is that really the best way to put our tax payer dollars to work and then raise the rate as well Sometimes the one becoming comparable ends up the with least or nothing in the end. To those that chastise the others for having an opinion and not agreeing with the higher rate shame on you yours is not to judge.

Mireles, Laughlin AFB Tx

10/2/2012 3:15:47 PM ET
From both a Services troop and a user angle it is obvious that rates have needed to go up for some time. The on base costs for lodging have been far below off-base. Many people complain about poor lodging standards and upkeep but at the same time want low costs. Face economic facts you can't have both. As a customer I often use lodging for both TDY and space-A. TDYs you can't really complain you are getting reimbursed for the cost. Your unit will have to budget for TDYs better. As far as Space-A is concerned it is a benefit to stay on base not an entitlemnent. That being said it is a choice to stay on base and a choice to pay the rate. Personally I would rather have the option to stay on-base and keep quality up with increased rates than to give up that option completely or simply complain how expensive it is. Especially when in many locations on-base lodging is 50 to 200 percent cheaper than off-base. No matter the savings or cost it is generally a good deal to stay on

SMSgt Services, USAF

10/2/2012 1:19:49 PM ET
At lease they don't raise the rates on weekends like every other hotel or am I wrong If you come to Las Vegas you can get way better deals during the week on some really nice hotels but God help you over the weekend.

B.G, Las Vegas

10/2/2012 11:08:19 AM ET
Although it is a bit of a price jump the new rates are still lower than any decent hotelmotel rate in the civilian sector. I don't feel the increase in cost is worth your life or someone else's to stay on the road instead of getting a room.

Military Spouse, OCONUS

10/1/2012 7:13:36 PM ET
Adding comments and perspective to this or any other article is what this is for and no matter what the opinion all comments assist in giving a broader vision . Except of course when we have people officers none the less calling people out and not really contributing anything in any direction. Good on you sir

MSgt B , Nellis

10/1/2012 5:28:58 PM ET
Honestly i think we are making a big deal about the wrong issues in the AF lets go crazy about do more with less not becasue they raised lodging cost 13 or 14 dollars. Lets Have a big discussion about why they are changing HTY again but lodging cost i don't see this as being a make or break situation for any active duty member and if you are going on leave 53 is still pretty reasonable just my opinion though. it's bigger things going on in the AF that should concern us besides Lodging increase.

SSgt Moore, Vandenberg

10/1/2012 4:39:38 PM ET
@TSgt K--please have someone proof read what you send out when you are attempting to speak as a member of the enlisted force. A number of errors but the most glaring is the Major is not an NCO. @TSgt D--Well said. A large number of the lodging facilities around the CONUS need to improve if they are going to raise rates.

Me, Some Base

10/1/2012 2:37:21 PM ET
I generated orders last week for a TDY this week using the 39 rate at my location. Will this reamin or am I going to have to change something

Chris, MT

10/1/2012 11:02:18 AM ET
Dear Maj SWAI do understand what you are tyring to say to A1C Nash but as an officer in the USAF there is a better was you could of said what you need to say. As a NCO in the military the younger troops now are now treated as babies and are expected to have everything given to them. So of course when prices are raised and there is not an increase anywhere else there are going to complain. But of course they are getting pay raises every year and are getting paid for driving and need to make smarter choices when it comes to managing their money. But still you as an NCO needs to set an better example in what you say to enlisted members. Just my opinion

TSgt K, Langley AFB

10/1/2012 9:46:15 AM ET
I'll continue to stop for the night instead of driving on. After all the room rate is still less than the collision deductible on my car.

DL, DO

10/1/2012 9:12:34 AM ET
Dear RET SMSgt expecting active duty members to camp while in transit to a new PDS because you did is perposterous and ridiculous. PCS'ing is already a stressful enough activity why add to it by expecting others to rought it to save a few bucks. You remember that old saying its empathy not apathy. With that said I have no issue with the rate change as long as their is an increase in customer service and the current living standard.

TSgt D, Grand Forks

10/1/2012 8:58:46 AM ET
Lodging rates go up but Per Diem rates stay the same Typical.

Bobby Hickman, Eglin AFB FL

10/1/2012 2:41:50 AM ET
With these rates going up I think you will find more people trying to find better rates at off base establishments. It's unfortuntate that lodging and the NAF are placing profits in front of people in my opinion. There are a lot of other ways to save money sticking it to miltary members retirees and their families is a great way to drive them away.

TSgt M, RAF Lakenheath

10/1/2012 12:42:17 AM ET
Im sure its been beaten to death but why charge folks on official orders anything The technology is available to use fund codes to pay for the room just as easily as charging a credit card. This coupled with base travel office using a fund code to pay for official travel would eliminate most if not all of delinquent travel card bills.I understand that hotels use the credit card as a deposit for destroyed property but its not as if you cannot look up the official traveller's Shirt..This wouldn't change those that are not on orders paying a higher premium on a personal card. But they would be paying it anyhow.

ES, deployed

9/30/2012 5:49:37 PM ET
It's very convenient that they waited 3 days prior to the new fiscal year to make such a change. But it's the AF I reckon. One thing I do not agree with is some bases they lodge you in old dormshave you sharing a bathroom with someone else but continue to charge the same price. From 39 to 53.25 a night is a major increase. I recently traveled across the country and stayed off-base in a decent hotels several times and with my military ID my rate was only 43 75-83 normally. With that said in some locations it will be cheaper to stay off-base than onbase with equivalent ammenities. Even when I stayed in an off-base hotel in Germany the rate was 31 euro and at that time it was less than staying in lodging on-base. Fact of the matter is in some locations it's cheaper off-base than onbase but this increase better show some significant improvements and renovations because it's sad when you're on orders although you get reimbursed they lodge you in a just above being condemned room

SSgt D, Hill AFB

9/30/2012 3:31:07 PM ET
A1C Nash please let me apologize for the fact that the Air Force has coddled you so so that you think that you and your fellow airmen should be exempt from making good choices just because the AF raised lodging rates. No seriously I'm ashamed of the AF for creating an environment that has caused it's airmen think this way. If you were working for any civilian company they wouldn't give a rat's ass what decisions you made about how long you drove in a day. If you crashed and couldn't work they would simply fire you or write you off into their worker's comp system which is pre-paid for by their insurance.

Maj, SWA

9/30/2012 10:45:47 AM ET
It amazes me how soft the Air Force has become over the years. I remember PCSing with my family yers ago and camping along the way to save money. Some of these airmen might do well to look at camping if they are worried about paying a few more dollars for lodging. Also remember that as a volunteer you are more than welcome to opt out of the military when your enlistment is up.

Retired Senior Master Sergeant, Phoenix AZ

9/30/2012 9:48:04 AM ET
I may be more inclined to Priceline a room now. I can find a Hotel downtown for 40-50 a night and have better service more up to date room accommodations and be closer to the attractions I want to see. Also i won't be worried about be kicked out of my room based on Space-A basis.

Brian, Moody

9/28/2012 2:33:02 PM ET
Yikes that's almost a 37 percent increase

BB, RI

9/28/2012 11:55:43 AM ET
You pay what the rate is when you chek-in. Not when you made your reservation. Stop whinning. It's still cheaper than downtown.

Okie, Oklahoma

9/27/2012 6:21:17 PM ET
While I can't agree with A1C Nash that our Airmen are foolish enough to take on increased risk to their lives to avoid a 14 per night price increase I think there is some validity to his suggestion about price categories. Without singling out retirees as Nash did I do feel that it is more than fair to have rates commensurate with - but hopefully lower than - hotels outside the gates for leisure travelers. There should still be a lower cost option for travelers on orders because increasing room rates might help Services' budget but it still hurts the overall budget via travel costs.

MSgt H, Tropical Paradise

9/27/2012 5:40:55 PM ET
I can understand the need to increase lodging rates but at the same time when PCSing to a new location it can take a very long time to find a place to live and as it is lodging is roughly 1.5 times the BAH rate for my location specifically. This is with the current lodging rate not the new rate. For people who are being reimbursed lodging expenses this is not a big deal since it is still cheaper than off base lodging. Shouldn't there be something that allows the cap for people PCSing in to be no more than there current BAH rate as if they were living in base housing Could this be something that is looked into As it is I lived in a camper for a month and a half just so I could afford to live until I was able to move into my house. Is it too much to ask for an affordable semi temporary solution

R2, Grand Forks AFB

9/27/2012 5:19:30 PM ET
I have a confirmed room with a rate of 39 per night for a stay at a AF Inn beginning on 13 Oct. I want to know if the AF will honor my reservation or if they will charge me the higher price.

Confirmed Guest, Moody

9/27/2012 5:00:17 PM ET
As an junior enlisted active duty member of the USAF I am very disappointed with this decision. Travelling Airmen will be more likely to drive longer hours at an increased safety risk to avoid paying for lodging. Rather than charging a higher rate across the board charge the existing price for junior enlisted and other AD personnel and charge a higher price to retirees and other secondary users who presumably have more money and choices.

A1C Nash, Tinker AFB

9/27/2012 4:43:37 PM ET
Will this affect reservations that are already made For example I have reservations at Keesler for a class starting 01 OCT 12. My reservation is at the current rate. Will it increase when I check in

N.S., MN

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