Space-A Travel

Have you ever traveled Space-A on a military aircraft? Many of us have wondered what it’s like to travel across the country or overseas, on Space-A, but have never looked into it.

If you have experience traveling Space-A, tell us about it. Was it good, bad and would you do it again?

Let’s get some dialog going about this mysterious benefit of ours by entering your comments below the following information about traveling Space-A.

Space-A Travel on Military Flights

For service members and their families, traveling Space Available — or Space-A — on military flights can be a great benefit, but you have to be flexible. Military flights are unpredictable and subject to delays and cancellations. You’ll need to be ready both financially and emotionally to change your plans at a moment’s notice. But for many Space-A passengers, traveling to places like Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Italy or Japan at no or very low cost is worth the effort. The following information will help you understand how the system works.

Understanding Space-A travel

Military planes (and planes contracted by the military) have mission assignments throughout the world and often offer empty seats to eligible passengers. Space-A passengers can’t reserve seats; available seats are offered to registered passengers before the flight. Here are some things you should know before you try to find a Space-A flight:

• Eligibility. Available seats are offered to service members, retirees, certain DoD employees and their eligible family members. Guard and reserve members may also travel Space-A but with restrictions. Eligible family members can travel without their active duty sponsor under certain circumstances, such as Environmental and Morale Leave or when their service member is deployed for more than 120 days.
• Military terminals. Space-A flights leave from military passenger terminals on installations throughout the United States and around the world. You must sign up for flights on a register maintained at each passenger terminal. Policies and procedures for Space-A travelers vary by installation, so make sure you understand the rules for registration at each terminal from which you are trying to fly. You can find contact information for military terminals at Air Mobility Command.
• Flights. For security reasons, military flight information is not generally published online. The best way to find out about Space-A flights is to call the passenger terminal and ask. The busiest terminals often have regularly scheduled flights and offer the best opportunity for Space-A seats.
• Costs. In general, flying Space-A is at no cost to eligible passengers. However, some contracted flights charge Space-A passengers a small fee and you may be required to pay a departure tax if you are traveling internationally. On many flights, meal service isn’t provided, but you may have an opportunity to buy a boxed meal before the flight.In order to fly Space-A, eligible passengers must register (sign up) at the military passenger terminal from which they want to depart. Uniformed service members must be on leave or pass status when they sign up. Registration can be very competitive at some busy terminals, so be sure to sign up as early as you can.
• Signing up for a Space-A flight

• Passenger registration. You can sign up on the terminal’s register up to 60 days in advance. You may sign up for more than one destination and at more than one terminal. When you sign up, make sure you have your military ID and leave papers (if necessary). Some terminals accept fax or email sign up, but procedures vary by terminal. For contact information on military passenger terminals, visit AMC. When you get to your destination, be sure to register for a return flight.
• Categories. Once registered, you are assigned a passenger category. These categories determine how seats are assigned. Within each category, passengers are prioritized based on the date and time they registered. Available seats are assigned first to Category I passengers, continuing through the categories until all empty seats are filled.
  • Category I. Active duty service members and their accompanying families traveling on emergency leave.
  • Category II. Service members and their accompanying family members traveling on EML. This includes command-sponsored family members who are stationed outside the continental United States.
  • Category III. Service members and their accompanying families traveling on ordinary leave or reenlistment leave status, and unaccompanied family members of service members deployed 365 consecutive days or more. This category also includes service members and their families on house-hunting leave.
  • Category IV. Unaccompanied family members on EML orders and eligible family members of service members deployed 120 days or more.
  • Category V. Students whose sponsor is stationed in Alaska or Hawaii and students enrolled in a trade school within the continental United States when the sponsor is stationed overseas.
  • Category VI. Retirees and their accompanying family members. This category also includes Guard and reserve members who are traveling within CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.
  • For more detailed descriptions, go to DoD Air Transportation Eligibility regulation.

• Documentation. Make sure you understand what documentation you will need to travel, including:
  • Your military ID
  • A copy of your leave orders, if applicable (for emergency leave, EML or ordinary leave passengers)
  • Unaccompanied family members of service members who are deployed for 120 days or more need a letter verifying eligibility from the service member’s commanding officer
  • A passport and appropriate visas (if traveling overseas)
  • DD Form 1853: Verification of Reserve Status for Travel Eligibility (for eligible Guard and reserve members)
• At the terminal. Plan to arrive at the terminal early. Space-A seats can be released two or three hours before a scheduled flight. Check with the passenger counter to be sure you are registered for the flight and your documents are in order.Space-A travel can be trying — especially if you’re traveling with young children. Planning ahead will help things go a little more smoothly.
• Traveling Space-A

• Research where to go. The busiest military passenger terminals will have the most available Space-A seating.
• Figure out when to go. Try to fly when schools are in session. The busiest times to fly — which means fewer available seats — are during holidays and summer vacation. Visit DoD Education Activity  for the Department of Defense school calendar.
• Prepare for long delays. Flights can be delayed for hours or even days. Sometimes flights make unscheduled stops or are rerouted. Be sure to carry plenty of snacks and reading materials. If you are traveling with children, pack extra food and toys.
• Bring cash or credit cards. You’ll want to have enough money to buy a commercial plane ticket home or pay for a hotel room, if necessary. Many passenger terminals close at night, so you will need to find lodging if you are still waiting for a flight.
• Pack lightly. Luggage allowance will depend on the type of aircraft. By limiting your luggage, you’ll be able to board any available flight to your destination.
• Be flexible. As a Space-A passenger, you could fly on a comfortable passenger plane or in the cargo hold of a C-130. To get the most out of your trip, you’ll need a good attitude and a sense of adventure.

Travel Space-A Today

Follow these eight steps to ensure your next space-available trip goes smoothly.

By Ralph Wetterhahn The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) designed a website to serve as a one-stop shop for all your travel needs. Since July 2009, the site has offered space-available (Space-A) travelers a wealth of information, including an updated AMC passenger terminal contact list (complete with phone number, e-mail address, and Web links), and more than a dozen travel documents, example letters, and brochures. Here is how to go about using the AMC system.

1. Go online for the latest in AMC travel information. The site serves active duty and reserve-component servicemembers, military retirees, and DoD Education Activity teachers and their dependents.
2. Determine eligibility and category. The regulation DoD 4515.13-R contains a complete listing of eligible passengers by category, and the AMC site lists the majority of information you will need to plan your trip.
3. Obtain departure location information. Accompanying family members may travel to and from and between overseas locations but not within the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) unless manifested on domestic leg segments of international travel. Select the AMC travel contact that is appropriate for your departure point. If possible, get in touch with that contact 30-60 days before your intended travel date. Terminal personnel will discuss their flight schedule, Space-A backlog, movement forecast, etcetera. For example, if you select McGuire AFB, N.J., as your departure location, call its flight information number to find out when flights are leaving and where they are going.
4. Sign Up. Click on the Space-A e-mail sign-up letter on the AMC site to obtain a sample sign-up page. Save it to your computer, fill in the appropriate information, and e-mail it as an attachment to your departure location. You may sign up for up to five countries and select the “All” sign-up, which makes you eligible for every destination served by the AMC. All travelers remain on the AMC register 60 for days after registration, or for the duration of their travel authorization, or until they are selected for travel, whichever occurs first. Revalidation has been eliminated.
5. Obtain required documentation. Click on AMC Personal Documents Requirements and compile the paperwork you will need. The page lists the customs requirements for each country it serves.
6. Determine your chances of getting a hop. As your departure date approaches, call the terminal directly to find out where you stand on the Space-A list and the “show time” for the flight you’ll be taking.
7. Determine lodging needs. Go to the DoD Air Force and Navy Lodging Site for lists of military lodging facilities and contacts. Call and make your reservation, as available.
8. Go to the terminal. On the day of departure, arrive well before the show time but not more than four hours before the scheduled take-off time. Space-A seats are identified as early as three to four hours before departure and as late as 30 minutes before departure. Be ready for immediate processing and boarding upon arrival. Try to pack light, but remember each person may check two pieces of luggage. Each passenger is permitted one carry-on item (small luggage, garment bag, backpack, etcetera) and one personal item (cosmetic case, purse, briefcase, small box, package, etcetera) for storage in the passenger cabin area.

The Navy also offers Space-A travel opportunities. Check out the list of CONUS and overseas locations and contact information to begin scheduling your trip. After you contact the correct representative, follow the same basic procedure as with AMC.