Military Space-Available Travel

Space A Travel

Space Available Flight, more commonly referred to as Space-A travel or military hops, is a privilege afforded to military service members, their families, and service retirees. The system accommodates these passengers by letting them fill seats on Air Force air transport flights that would otherwise be left empty. The seats are made available on a space-available basis. Unused seats on DoD-owned or controlled aircraft are made available once all the space-required (duty) passengers and cargo have been accommodated. If you want to know where you can travel, check out our Space-A Travel Locations List, complete with contact information

Space-A travelers may sign up for travel 60-days in advance of the desired travel date. Passengers are categorized by priority of travel and are processed in priority order by their sign-in time (Julian date). For leisure travel, Reservists are placed in category VI, which is a rather low priority. (Official duty passengers have priority over Space-A travelers.)

Space-A seats are provided according to certain criteria. Eligible passengers on a military aircraft are ranked in order of priority according to the purpose of their travel. Families may choose to use Space-A travel to go on a vacation during a family member’s military leave. They may use Space-A for general transportation as well, such as to visit family or friends or for other private reasons. But the most urgent — and therefore highest-priority — situations involve military service members or other related individuals traveling on emergency leave, such as to visit a family member with life-threatening health problems. Individuals or entire families can be accommodated, although smaller parties usually have an easier time securing seats on Space-A aircraft.

There is no charge for personnel traveling in government owned aircraft. However, if a Space-A flight is made on a commercial contract carrier, a fee will be assessed – fee is variable (approximately $15-30) depending on the port. There is also a fee for meals served aboard military aircraft.

Space required passengers or cargo may require the removal of Space A passengers at any point. If removed en route, you may reregister with your original date and time of registration. Passenger Service will assign a new date and time to any country or destination you change or add on your application.

Always be prepared to purchase onward or return commercial transportation, meals, and lodging. Remember Space A seats are normally identified as early as 2-3 hours and late as 30 minutes prior to departure. It is recommended you check with the passenger service center for the space available show time for the flight you wish to take.

AMC Passenger Terminals

Air Mobility Command (AMC) Passener Terminals are located at US Air Force airfields where a Space-A flights transit through. Your best bet when searching for a Space-A flight is to contact the AMC Passenger Terminal at a large Air Force hub — however, there can be Space-A flights available at virtually any US Air Force, Navy, Army, or Marines airfield. Check out our list of worldwide AMC Passenger Terminals and their contact information here. Contact the AMC Passenger Terminal that is closest to you and inquire about their scheduled flights.

Registration

Passengers must register for travel at Passenger Service Centers in the passenger terminal in person and/or may also sign-up in writing by fax, mail, or E-mail. Sponsors who register in person for family members traveling with them should present all required documents: Identification cards (DD Form 2, Armed Forces Identification Card), passports, immunization records, and visas when required by the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide. Travel documents must be presented when selected for travel. Travelers may select up to five countries. We recommend the “all” choice for the 5th destination so that the traveler may take advantage of unscheduled unique travel opportunities.

Have an iPhone or iPad? Download the premiere Space-a App by Take-A-Hop:

Space-A Eligibility

The following types of travelers are authorized to use Space-A airlift. 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. Required documentation for each traveler is also listed below. Please have those documents ready for review when selected for travel:

• Active Duty Uniformed Services Member (includes National Guard and Reserve members on active duty in excess of 30 days and Cadets and Midshipmen of the U.S. Service Academies): DD Form 2 (Green), US Armed Forces ID Card (Active), Form 2 NOAA (Green), Uniformed Services ID and Privilege Card (Active), or PHS Form 1866-3 (Green), US Public Health Service ID Card (Active), and a valid leave authorization or evidence of pass status.
• Retired Uniformed Service Members: DD Form 2 (Blue), US Armed Forces ID Card (Retired), DD Form 2 (Blue) NOAA, Uniformed Services ID Card (Retired), or PHS Form 1866-3 (Blue), US Public Health Service ID Card (Retired).
• National Guard and Reserve Members: Authorized Reserve Component Members (National Guard and Ready Reserve) and members of the Standby Reserve who are on the Active Status List: DD Form 2 (Red), Armed Forces of the United States ID Card (Reserve) and DD Form 1853, Verification of Reserve Status for Travel Eligibility.
• Retired Reservists Entitled to Retired Pay at Age 60: DD Form 2 (Red) and a notice of retirement eligibility as described in DoD Directive 1200.15. If the automated DD Form 2 (Red) has been issued, the member is registered in his or her service personnel system as a Reserve retiree entitled to retired pay at age 60, and a notice of retirement is not required.
• Retired Reservists Qualified for Retired Pay: DD Form 2 (Blue), US Armed Forces ID Card (Retired), DD Form 2 (Blue) NOAA, Uniformed Services ID Card (Retired), or PHS Form 1866-3 (Blue), US Public Health Service ID Card (Retired).
• On Active Duty for 30 Days or Less: DD Form 2 (Red), orders placing the Reservist on active duty, and a valid leave authorization or evidence of pass status.
• ROTC, Nuclear Power Officer Candidate (NUPOC), and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Members: When enrolled in an advanced ROTC, NUPOC, or CEC course or enrolled under the financial assistance program: DD Form 2 (Red) and DD Form 1853.
• Family Members of Uniformed Services Members: DD Form 1173, United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card.
• EML Travelers: EML travel orders issued in accordance with Combatant Command procedures.
• Disabled and Widows/Widowers: Currently, 100 percent disabled veterans and widows of service members are not eligible to use Space-A travel. (Visit source website)

Space A Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a Grey Area Retiree, Where Can I Fly?

Per the DOD reg , Table 6.1, Item 35, a Grey Area Retiree (Reservist who is eligible for retirement pay at 60 years of age but not yet 60 years old), can fly within the CONUS and directly between the CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (Guam and American Samoa travelers may transit Hawaii or Alaska); or traveling within Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The DoD reg , Table 6.1 does not authorize Grey Area Dependents to fly Space-A. (Reference PASSENGER SERVICE UPDATE DTG: 261800Z OCT 01 para 1.K)

Can 100% Disabled Veterans Travel Space-A?

Despite rumors to the contrary, 100 percent disabled veterans in possession of DD form 1173 or 2765 identification cards are not entitled to space-a travel aboard DoD aircraft. Any changes to space- a eligibility rules will be published as an immediate change to DoD 4515.13r and advertised accordingly (Reiteration HQ AMC/DONP 091704z Mar 99 and Reference PASSENGER SERVICE UPDATE DTG: 261800Z OCT 01 para 1.H).

Are Widows/Widowers Eligible to Travel Space-A?

Widows/widowers of active duty/retired military personnel are not entitled to space-a travel aboard DoD aircraft. Any changes to space- a eligibility rules will be published as an immediate change to DoD 4515.13r and advertised accordingly (Reiteration HQ AMC/DONP 091704z Mar 99).

Can a ROTC Cadet Fly Space-A?

Yes. When enrolled ( I read “contracted” versus “taking” ROTC) in an advanced ROTC, NUPOC, or CEC course or enrolled under the financial assistance program, on presentation of the following valid: DD Form 2 (Red) and DD Form 1853.
Category of Travel is Cat 6 and travel is authorized ONLY within and between the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii and the US. territories.

Space A Travel Categories

The following is a partial listing of eligible individuals and their category of travel. A complete listing of eligible passengers by category is contained in DoD 4515.13-R, Air Transportation Eligibility.

Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel. Transportation by the most expeditious routing only for bona fide immediate family emergencies, as determined by DOD Directive 1327.5. This travel privilege shall not be used in lieu of a funded travel entitlement.

• Uniformed Services members with emergency status indicated in leave orders.
• U.S .citizen civilians stationed overseas and employees of the Uniformed Services/Non-appropriated Fund (NAF) activities and whose travel from the CONUS, Alaska or Hawaii was incident to a PCS assignment at NAF expense.
• Dependents of members of the Uniformed Services when accompanied by their sponsor.
• Dependents, command sponsored of :
  1. U.S. citizen civilian employees of the Uniformed Service, stationed overseas
  2. U.S. citizen civilian employees of the DoD stationed overseas and paid from NAF, or
  3. American Red Cross full-time paid personnel serving with a DOD Component overseas.

Sponsors in an Environmental Morale Leave (EML) status and their dependents traveling with them, also in EML status. “Sponsors” includes:

• Uniformed Services Members.
• U.S. citizen civilian employees of the Armed Forces who are eligible for Government-funded transportation to the United States at tour completion (including NAF employees).
• American Red Cross full-time, paid personnel on duty with DOD Component overseas.
• USO professional staff personnel on duty with the Uniformed Services.
• DODDS Teachers during the school year and for Employer-approved training during recess periods.

Ordinary Leave, Close Blood or Affirmative Relatives, House Hunting Permissive TDY, Medal of Honor Holders, Foreign Military, and Others.

• Uniformed Services members in a leave or pass status, other than emergency leave, including members of the reserve components on active duty, in leave or pass status.
• Dependents of a member of the Uniformed Services when accompanied by their sponsor in a leave status.
• Uniformed Services members traveling under permissive TDY orders for house hunting incident to a pending PCS.
• One dependent may accompany a Uniformed Services member.
• Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents (when accompanied by their sponsor). Except for active duty, traveler shall present a copy of the Medal of Honor Award Certificate.
• Foreign cadets and midshipmen attending U.S. Service academies, in a leave status.
• Foreign Exchange Service members on permanent duty with the DoD, when in a leave status.
• Dependents of foreign exchange Service members on permanent duty with the Department of Defense when accompanied by their sponsor.

Unaccompanied Dependents on EML and DODDS Teachers on EML During Summer.

• Dependents traveling under the EML Program, unaccompanied by their sponsor.
• DODDS teachers of dependents accompanied or unaccompanied traveling under the EML Program.

Permissive TDY (Non-House Hunting) Students, Dependents and Others.

• Military personnel traveling on permissive TDY orders other than for househunting.
• Dependents (children) who are college students attending in residence at an overseas branch of an American (U.S) university located in the same overseas area in which they reside, command sponsored, stationed overseas with their sponsor, who is: (1) A member of the Uniformed Services; (2) A U.S. citizen civilian employee of the Department of Defense (paid from either appropriated funds or NAF); or (3) An American Red Cross full-time, paid employee serving with the Department of Defense.
• Dependents, command-sponsored, stationed overseas with their sponsor who is: (1) A member of the Uniformed Services; (2) A U.S. citizen civilian employee of the Department of Defense (paid from either appropriated funds or NAF); or (3) An American Red Cross full-time, paid employee serving with the Department of Defense. Unaccompanied travel is permitted to and from the nearest overseas military academy testing site to take scheduled entrance examinations for entry into any of the U.S. Service Academies
• Command sponsored dependents (18 years of age) of Uniformed Services members who are stationed overseas may travel unaccompanied from the sponsor’s PCS duty location to the CONUS and return. Travel is also authorized within the overseas theater. Travel cannot be between two overseas theaters (i.e., from Germany to Japan). Dependents must have command-sponsored documentation signed by the Commander verifying command sponsorship. Documentation is valid for one round trip.

Retired, Dependents, Reserve, ROTC, NUPOS and CEC

• Retired Uniformed Services members
• Dependents of retired Uniformed Service members, when accompanied by their sponsor.
• Dependents, command sponsored, stationed overseas with their sponsor who is: (1) A member of the Uniformed Services; (2) A U.S. citizen civilian employee of the Department of Defense (paid from either appropriated funds or NAF); or (3) An American Red Cross full-time, paid employee serving with the Department of Defense. Unaccompanied travel is permitted to the U.S. for enlisting in one of the Armed Forces when local enlistment in the overseas area is not authorized. If an applicant for Military Service is rejected, return travel to the overseas area may be provided under this eligibility
• Authorized Reserve component members and authorized Reserve component members entitled to retired pay at age 60 (gray area retirees) traveling in the CONUS and directly between the CONUS and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa (Guam and American Samoa travelers may transit Hawaii or Alaska); or traveling within Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Newly commissioned ROTC officers who are awaiting call to extended active duty. Travel is authorized within and between the CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories.

Space-A Points:

While the precise procedures for making flight arrangements may vary from one air terminal to another, the first step is to find out what destinations you can travel to from the air terminals near you. The simplest way to get a list of destinations is to call the terminal in your area. Terminals typically provide either a voice or recorded listing of upcoming flights. On request, most terminals can also fax you a copy of their flight schedule.

Once you have made your travel plan, you can sign up for flights in several ways. You always have the option of going to a terminal in person. However, in many cases you do not even have to leave your home. Flight requests can be made by mail, by telephone, via the Internet, or by facsimile. Upon sign-up, travelers are assigned a travel category and compete for seats in that category, based on the date and time of sign-up. Passengers stay on the flight register for either 60 days, the duration of their travel authorization, or until they get a seat. Once registered, passengers can review their reservation status any time.

There can be drawbacks to Space-A travel. As a Space-A traveler, your flight request is processed on a first-in, first-out basis within your assigned category of travel. You must be aware of the following facts when you decide to fly Space-A:

Official duty passengers and priority cargo have priority over Space-A passengers. If your flight has more than one leg, you can get bumped off of your plane at the end of any leg.

• Reservations cannot be made for any portion of a trip. Flexible travel plans are necessary.
• Reservists and retirees are classified as Category VI passengers.
• Long, uncomfortable and frequently costly waiting periods may be encountered at any point of your journey.
• The U.S. Government is not obligated to provide transportation for Space-A passengers to or from desired destinations.
• Summer months are peak travel times.
• You will need to travel with either a credit card or carry sufficient funds to pay for lodging, meals, local transportation, and even commercial airfare, if necessary.
• You must travel light. Only duty passengers can pay for excess baggage.

Baggage Allowances

Each passenger may check two pieces of checked baggage, 70 pounds each, up to 62 linear inches in size. Family members may pool their baggage allowances. Hand-carried baggage must fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment, if available. Standard issue B-4 duffle bags are authorized to weigh 100 pounds and still considered one piece.
Only one of these bags will be allowed.

C9 Baggage: Limited to two pieces at 55 pounds combined weight.

NOTE: Baggage weight may be limited due to type of aircraft or other restrictions. Check with your Passenger Service Center for more information.

Air Force Billeting

If you’re looking for someplace to sleep for the night, check billeting availability through the services lodging list web page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does my name stay on the Space A list?

All travelers remain on the register 60 days after registration, for the duration of their leave orders authorization, or until they are selected for travel, whichever occurs first. Revalidation has been eliminated.

What is country sign-up, and how does it affect me?

Under this program, you may sign up for five different countries rather than five different destinations. AMC Passenger Terminals are no longer accepting the option for the “ALL” sign-up – in the past, this would make a passenger eligible for all other destinations served. You now have to sign up for individual countries.

What is remote sign-up?

Remote sign-up allows passengers to enter the backlog by telefaxing copies of proper service documentation along with desired country destinations and family members’ first names to the aerial port of departure. The telefax data header will establish date/time of sign-up; therefore, active duty personnel must ensure the telefax is sent no earlier than the effective date of leave. Terminals are not responsible for faxes not received. Mail entries will also be permitted. Some of terminals now accept e-mail sign-up. The original date and time of sign-up shall be documented and stay with the passenger until his or her destination is reached. On reaching destination, the passenger may again sign-up for space available travel to return to home station.

NOTE: If applicable, a statement that all required border clearance documents are current, is required.

What is self sign-up?

Self sign-up is a program that allows passengers to sign-up at a terminal without waiting in line. Most locations now provide self sign-up counters with easy to follow instructions for registration. Active duty personnel must ensure sign-up takes place no earlier than the effective date of leave. If your travel will take you to a foreign country, ensure border clearance documentation is up to date. If you are unsure, verify it with a passenger service representative on duty.

How can I find where my name is on the Space A register?

Each terminal maintains a Space A register (organized alphabetically, by priority and the date and time of registration for travel) that is updated daily. The register is conveniently located in the terminal and directly accessible to you. Travelers may call the terminal direct to find where they stand travel wise.

What are some guidelines on baggage?

Travel light, take only essentials. Do not place valuables, medicine, or important documents in your check baggage. Be sure your name and current address are on and inside your bags. Terminals have baggage ID tags available for you to use.

Can my pet travel with me on a Space A flight?

No. DoD has reserved pet shipments for passengers in permanent change of station (PCS) status only. Additionally, travel with pets would be difficult at best due to limited aircraft pet spaces, pet import documentation requirements, and the possibility of quarantine in the event of an aircraft divert. The short answe is: if you are on an AMC aircraft traveling as part of a PCS, you may take pets with you, if you are on Space-A Status (Leave, R&, etc.) then you may not.

Will Space A travel cost much?

In general, no. Some terminals must collect a head tax or a federal inspection fee from Space A passengers on commercial contract missions. Meals may be purchased at a nominal fee out of most air terminals while traveling on military aircraft.

What facilities are available at terminals (nursery, Base Exchange, snack bar)?

Facilities at most military terminals are generally the same as commercial facilities. Facilities include exchanges, barber shops, snack bars, pay television (free television lounge in some military terminals), traveler assistance, baggage lockers or rooms, United Services Organization (USO) lounges, and nurseries (at major terminals). The type of facility available will vary according to the terminal size and location.

NOTE: Most passenger terminals close at night. Space A travelers should be prepared to defray billeting expenses.

Tips for Traveling Space-A

Check out these books to read during your travel Space-A:

• Plan, be flexible, be patient. As a rule of thumb, military ports offer more travel opportunities than commercial gateways (i.e., travel chances are better to Europe from Dover AFB DE than Baltimore-Washington IAP).
• If possible, travel at off-peak Space A travel periods (i.e., peak periods are the summer months after school is dismissed and Christmas holiday season). Historically, February-March and October-November are low travel periods.
• Be as flexible as possible in choosing a destination. If you want to get to Ramstein AB, Germany, consider a flight into Spangdahlem AB, Germany, or even RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, as an alternative. At Mildenhall, try for another flight bound for Germany.
• There is a head tax on CONUS outbound or federal inspection fee on CONUS inbound international commercial charters.
• When traveling Space A with young children, prepare for possible delays along the way where baby supplies may not be readily available. A good supply of games and books is also recommended. Be aware that a baby’s ears, like an adults, are sensitive to altitude pressure changes.
• Space A is just that—space that is available after all mission requirements are fulfilled. Military aircraft are subject at all times, first and foremost, to DoD mission response.

References

The following regulations govern AMC travel; please refer to them as the source documents regarding AMC travel.

• Passports, Visas, ID cards, Letters
• AMCI 24-101, Volume 14
• Air Transportation Eligibility DOD 4515.13R
• DTR, Chapter 103 – Passenger Movement
• GSA City Pairs

Space-A Travel for Military Families

Plan Your Trip With Space-A Travel

Service members and their families can use Space-Available flights – formally known as Military Airlift Command or MAC flights – to travel around the country and world at little to no cost. Though sometimes unpredictable, military flights are perfect for families with flexible plans and limited travel budgets. With the right planning and documentation, Space-A travel can be the best way to take a trip with your family.

Space-A Tips and Tricks

Learn how to take Space-A flights like a seasoned pro with these seven tips.

Space-A travel basics

These flights are not commercial, but rather military flights with a mission. That means there are certain restrictions to travel, including:

• Only service members, retirees and their families are eligible. Only with certain qualifications are reservists, National Guardsmen and family members without an accompanying active-duty sponsor permitted.
• Flights are typically free of charge, but you should contact your closest Air Mobility Command, or AMC, passenger terminal or the terminal at the location you intend to depart from for specific information.
• Most terminals have a Facebook page where they post flight information, including their 72-hour flight schedule.

Space-Available travel eligibility

Once you sign up for a Space-A journey, you’ll be put into a category that determines your priority for a flight. A complete listing of eligible passengers by category is contained in DoD Instruction 4515.13. For the most recent instruction, search the DoD Directives Division website for “Air Transportation Eligibility.” Categories include:

• Category I: Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel.
• Category II: Accompanied Environmental and Morale Leave, or EML.
• Category III: Ordinary Leave, Relatives, House Hunting Permissive Temporary Duty, Medal of Honor Holders and Foreign Military.
• Category IV: Unaccompanied EML.
• Category V: Permissive Temporary Duty (Non-House Hunting), Students, Dependents, Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence and Others.
• Category VI: Retired, Dependents, Reserve, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program and Civil Engineer Corps members.

Prepare for your Space-A flight

AMC has a travel page that includes the following important information about Space-A travel. You should review this travel page for up-to-date information, including what type of identification is required for you and your family, baggage allowance for checked and hand carried baggage, and prohibited items.

• Travel instructions: travel eligibility; locations; required travel documents; registration, flight schedule and checking-in information.
• AMC Form 140, Space Available Travel Request (fill out a form online and email it to your desired AMC passenger terminal)
• Listing of Facebook pages for stateside and overseas locations.
• AMC passenger terminal contact information.
• Various travel information links.
• Legal information for Space-A travel.
• Operations security for social media and travelers.

Fly commercial with TSA Precheck

If Space-A travel isn’t right for your plans, take advantage of TSA Precheck to expedite your time at the airport when flying commercial. Use your Department of Defense ID as your known traveler number.

You’ll bypass long security lines without removing your shoes or jacket or taking your laptop from your bag. Family members under the age of 12 can pass through expedited screening with you.

How to Fly Space-A

I have been associated with the military for more than 20 years, but despite my love of travel, I had never been brave enough to “take a hop” until this past summer.

After two years in Germany, we had promised the kids a trip to the states for all the fast food they could stomach and some first-run movies with no subtitles, and we had promised the in-laws a much overdue visit. But soaring gas prices were pushing airfares well beyond what our family of four could pay to visit grandma.

Suddenly, traveling the Space-A way looked very attractive!

Space-A means flying on a “space available” basis aboard military aircraft at little or no cost. It’s one of the best perks of military service – if you approach it with an open mind and a flexible schedule.

Air Mobility Command (AMC), based at Scott Air Force Base, manages the Air Force’s worldwide airlift operations, which includes the Space-A program. AMC’s website (www.amc.af.mil) describes Space-A travel as “a privilege, not an entitlement.” That’s your first clue about how to approach these flights. If you align expectations to this way of thinking, then Space-A offers great adventures. But if you’re looking for an “entitlement” with benefits such as first-class seating or in-flight movies, then Space-A is not for you.

Creature Comforts

This is not Delta or American Airlines. There is no beverage cart, no flight attendants in matching outfits, no chatty announcements from the flight deck. There are no airsick bags in the seat pocket. There’s probably not a seat pocket. There may not even be a seat.

But remember, you’re flying for free! You may need to repeat that to yourself throughout the trip. I did, as I stuffed ear plugs into my eight-year old’s ears for the 47th time aboard a KC-135 tanker bound for Ohio, while answering her constant questions about why she must wear them when they’re not necessary on a commercial jet.

Bring a pillow and a sleeping bag or blanket. Also, dress in layers for warmth. Most military aircraft are not heated uniformly; depending on where you sit, you may feel cool drafts or balmy blasts from a heating vent.

As soon as the tanker was airborne, the active duty guys who had flown this way many times before staked out their territory around cargo in the back of the plane. They rolled out sleeping bags atop cushion mats and ergonomic pillows, then dozed off for the next six hours. With a little coaxing, I got my kids to do the same and enjoyed several hours of shut-eye myself – something that’s virtually impossible to do sitting upright on a commercial jet. Never mind the need for earplugs; the space for sleeping was a real luxury, certainly a plus for Space-A travel!

Although some flights allow you to pre-order boxed meals, this tanker flight did not, so we took a cooler with sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Getting the cooler onboard was not an issue since the luggage restrictions on Space-A flights are more travel-friendly than commercial flights. Check with the terminal first. If you’re flying internationally, prepare to consume or trash all fruits and meats before landing so the customs agents don’t seize your cooler.

Passengers are permitted one hand-carried baggage item and one personal item (purse, briefcase, etc.). The cooler counted as one of our hand-carried bags. The rules for checked luggage are less restrictive than commercial rules, too, allowing each passenger up to two pieces of luggage at 70 pounds each. Another big plus: Families can pool that weight allowance. For instance, our family could have checked up to 280 pounds of luggage.

Of course, the biggest plus was the airfare savings. Our family saved more than $3,000. Fellow traveler SFC Nikidra Arthur of Wurzburg, Germany, estimates she saved $4,000 when she and her two children traveled Space-A to the U.S. this past summer. The savings allowed her to make the trip, which she says probably would not have been possible otherwise. Plus, it gave her a little pocket money to buy her kids’ back-to-school clothes at a discount in the U.S.

“You’re really saving a bundle when you’re flying Space-A,” she says.

What’s The Catch?

Sure, free air travel to exotic destinations is appealing, but what’s the catch? Richard Gerstner, a civilian Department of Defense employee at Incirlick, knows. In August, he spent more than a week at various military terminals along the east coast trying to get a hop back to Europe.

“I’ve flown Space-A several times with no problems, but on this trip, my timing was really bad,” he laments.

Gerstner spent several days in Baltimore only to be bumped off every available flight to Incirlick. He finally gave up and drove to Andrews Air Force Base, hoping to catch a hop to Ramstein where he thought his chances of boarding another flight to Incirlick might improve. He made it to Germany the next day but not before his Space-A odyssey took nine days and cost about $800 in food, lodging and transportation.

“I have just one word of advice,” Gerstner says, “flexibility… oh, and don’t travel in August when everybody is on leave!”

Paul and Connie Horst, civilians at Ramstein, suffered a similar experience. The couple flew Space-A to take their kids to college in the U.S. Getting there was no problem, Paul remembers, but the difficulties began when he tried hopping return flights to Ramstein in mid-August. All flights were full, many already loaded with duty passengers (who, according to well-established rules, take priority). He was bumped off so many flights that he eventually took extra days of leave to justify his stay. He finally made it aboard a Ramstein flight, but wife Connie stayed behind to fly later after the rush.

This is not unusual for the summer months, AMC officials admit. In Europe alone, more than 30,000 passengers flew Space-A in 2006, with the highest concentration during the summer months. The AMC website warns passengers to expect delays during the summer months and throughout the December-to-January holiday period.

The Secret To Space-A Success

Flexibility seems to be the secret to a successful Space-A experience. We learned that lesson as well, when all the return flights we wanted out of Charleston were completely full. Instead, we found a seat aboard a C-17 operated by the Air National Guard in Jackson, Miss. The flight included a one-night layover at Andrews, which added an unnecessary day of travel to our plans. But in keeping with the flexibility mindset, I called my cousin who lives near Andrews and we enjoyed a surprise visit.

Some clouds have silver linings. Fly Space-A and you might fly into a few of them!

Quickstart Guide to Military Space-A Flights

Military Space-A flights have been a major element of our strategy for saving money on our frequent travels since my husband retired from the Army in 2015. We’ve flown Space-A to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, Korea, and many places within the continental U.S.

I estimate that during our last 4+ years of world travel, we’ve saved more than $20,000 by taking military hops. Our experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, and whenever it’s a viable option, Space-A is my preferred way to fly.

Talking with others about our travels, we were surprised to realize how few military folks knew about Space-A travel, let alone had used it. Even those who knew it was an option were reluctant to give military flights a shot. They heard you have to wait around too much, the aircraft have too many maintenance issues, or the flights are canceled at the last minute.

The bottom line is yes, those things do happen. Flying Space-A requires patience and flexibility, and it’s not a good choice for all circumstances. But if you’ve flown a civilian airline lately, you know all those inconveniences happen with regular flights, too. The difference is, Space-A flights are free!

This Quickstart Guide explains everything you need to know about how to fly Space-A. After reading it and following the related links within the article, you should be all set to take your first Space-A journey!

If you’re NOT new to military Space-A travel, you should still read these lessons learned from our experiences and our recommended strategies for having a successful journey when using military hops.

This page contains affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure.

How Space-A Flights Work

Space-available flights, a.k.a “MAC flights” or “military hops,” are military operational flights that have extra seats. The military mission is the priority, and the Space-A passengers are essentially cargo.

Eligible travelers may “hop” the flight (free of charge), but the system is based on priority.

Space-A Travel Categories: Who Can Fly Space-A?

Travelers are divided into six Space-A categories or “Cats:” 1 is the highest and 6 is the lowest.

Available seats on the aircraft are first offered to travelers in lower-numbered categories. Any remaining seats can be used by travelers in higher-numbered (lower priority) categories. Priority within a category is based on signup date, as discussed below.

In the context of leisure travel, active duty service members traveling with or without dependents on accompanied environmental and morale leave (EML) are Cat 2 and on regular leave are Cat 3.

Military retirees and veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as total (100% disabled veterans) are Cat 6.

Certain travelers within Cat 6 have restrictions on where they can fly Space-A. “Gray Area” retirees (retired Guardsmen and Reservists who served 20 years but are under the age of 60) and 100% disabled veterans are not eligible to fly Space-A to foreign countries. They can take military hops within the continental United States (CONUS) and to U.S. states and territories outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

Please note that the list above is not exhaustive. Other passengers may be eligible to use military space-available travel under various circumstances. For a complete list and more information on eligibility by category, view Table 3 in Section 4.11 of DOD Instruction 4515.13.

Military Dependent Space-A Travel Eligibility

Dependents of active duty service members are eligible to fly Space-A without their sponsor under certain circumstances explained here.

A retiree’s dependents are eligible to fly Space-A, but only when accompanied by their sponsor.

The following dependents and family members are NOT eligible to fly Space-A at all:

• Dependents of Gray Area retirees (defined above)
• Dependents and caregivers of 100% disabled veterans
• Ex-spouses or spouses of deceased service members or retirees
• A service member’s or retiree’s parents, siblings, or any other family members who are not the sponsor’s dependents

Dependent children can fly Space-A with their sponsor or eligible unaccompanied parent. They are not authorized to travel with other military families.

Pets may not fly Space-A unless they are registered service animals.

The Space-A Flying Process: How to Take a Military Hop

Here is a summary of how to fly Space-A. For more details and links to the required forms, visit the Air Mobility Command (AMC) website.

1. Space-A Signup

Sign up with every military passenger terminal from which you might originate travel (including your destination). Keep in mind that you are not signing up for a particular flight. You are signing up to compete for any flight with Space-A seats at a given terminal.

You can sign up in one of several different ways:

• Via e-mail
• Using the Space-A travel app, Take-a-Hop (the app has a one-time cost of $6.99)
• Through the AMC website’s online form
• In person at the terminal

E-mail and the Take-a-Hop app allow you to sign up with multiple terminals at once.

If you sign up via e-mail, you must include all of the information listed in the Space-A Sign-Up section of the AMC website’s Space Available Travel page (see screenshot below).

Space-A Travel Sign-Up info on the AMC website

You can find a link to a document containing current e-mail addresses for all military passenger terminals at the bottom of the Space-A Sign-Up Section (highlighted in red in the screenshot above).

Many terminals will not reply to confirm receipt of your signup. Remember to retain and print copies of the e-mails you send, because they serve as proof of your signup date.

Priority within a Space-A category is based on signup date, so the earlier you sign up (maximum 60 days before your travel date at most locations, 45 days or less at some Navy locations), the better. Active duty cannot sign up for Space-A travel until they are on leave.

Visit SpaceA.net for more information about signup.

2. Tracking Space-A Flight Schedules

Track flights (also referred to as “missions”) from your desired departure base(s). Flight schedules and tentative seat counts are available up to 72 hours before a flight.

If you monitor flight schedules out of your departure base for several weeks or months prior to travel, you may see patterns in how often they have missions to particular destinations and how many Space-A passengers get seats.

Most military passenger terminals maintain a Facebook page on which they publish flight information for the upcoming 3 days. A Space-A flight schedule lists the destinations, anticipated number of Space-A seats, and the “Roll Call” time, which is the time at which passenger terminal staff announce the names of passengers selected for the flight.

Many passenger terminals also publish data on recently-departed flights, including the number of Space-A seats released.

You can obtain information on Space-A seats by calling the terminal directly, but if a passenger terminal has a Facebook page, Facebook is an efficient way to monitor flight schedules.

Click here for a detailed explanation of the information on passenger terminal Facebook pages, including a guide to understanding the Space-A flight schedules.

3. Check-In or “Marking Yourself Present”

Within 24 hours of your target flight’s Roll Call, go to the terminal and speak with the staff to mark yourself present.

Bring your military ID, passport (if traveling to/from a foreign country), and any required paperwork, such as your leave form if you are active duty or the memo from your sponsor’s command if you are a dependent traveling unaccompanied.

You should also bring a copy of your signup e-mail in case the terminal does not have you in their system. Most terminals will accept your e-mail as proof of your signup date and time.

You must mark yourself present before Roll Call starts. As long as you have signed up in advance, there is no advantage to marking yourself present earlier than other passengers. Arriving one or two hours prior to Roll Call is usually sufficient, but in the 12 hours or so before your flight, check the schedules frequently to ensure Roll Call hasn’t changed.

Many passenger terminals have a screen or printed document near the terminal desk that displays a list of passengers who are marked present and are “competing” for the flight. Make sure your name is on that list along with the accurate number of dependents traveling with you and your correct date of signup. If not, speak with the terminal staff.

4. Roll Call

The time listed on the Space-A flight schedule on Facebook is usually the Roll Call time. When Roll Call begins, terminal staff announce how many Space-A seats are available and read the names of the passengers selected. They begin with the passengers in the lowest-numbered (highest priority) category and work their way down the list.

The AMC terminal at Travis AFB

When they call your name, go to the desk and confirm that you and any dependents traveling with you are present. Show your and your dependents’ military ID cards along with the aforementioned paperwork.

ID cards are required for all passengers over the age of 10. If you are traveling with children younger than 10 who do not have an ID card, bring their passport or a MilConnect printout that shows their DOD ID number.

After Roll Call, you might go directly to luggage check, or you may wait several more hours, but you won’t know the schedule in advance.

At the time of Roll Call, you must be in the terminal with all of your luggage. Don’t plan on waiting until after Roll Call to go back to your hotel or return your rental car, because you might not have time.

Note: If you’re not selected during Roll Call, stay in the terminal, at least until the flight boards. Sometimes additional Space-A seats are released at the very last minute.

Virtual Roll Call

Some passenger terminals offer Virtual Roll Call (VRC) for select missions. In theory, having VRC means passengers do not have to be present at the terminal for Roll Call. When there is a VRC for a particular flight, that information is noted on the Facebook slide.

With VRC, you must still go to the terminal within 24 hours of Roll Call to mark yourself present (and verify that they have your e-mail address). About an hour before the in-person Roll Call, the terminal sends you a “Roll Call Notification” e-mail.

If you don’t respond promptly, they take you out of the running. If you do respond, they eventually send you one of two e-mails: a “Flight Selection Notification” with instructions to go directly to the terminal to check your bags, or a “Non-Selection Notification,” which means you should activate Plan B (always have a Plan B when flying Space-A!).

In our limited experiences with VRC, it has not worked quite as planned. We had to go to the terminal for Roll Call anyway. VRC is a relatively new process, so they may still be working out the kinks. In the meantime, showing up in person is the best way to ensure you don’t miss any communication.

5. Bag Check

When it’s time to check bags, you, your dependents, and all of your luggage must be present.

Space-A passenger luggage on a C-17

On most Space-A flights, each passenger can check two bags of up to 70 lbs each. You can also check car seats, which do not count towards your baggage allowance.

Weight limits on some smaller aircraft may be as low as 30 lbs. If you cannot meet those requirements on the weight-restricted aircraft, you are not eligible for the flight.

The AMC website has more information about baggage for Space-A travelers in their FAQs starting with question #24.

You cannot access your checked luggage during the flight, even though you may see it strapped down right in front of you. Make sure you have everything you’ll need in your carry-on bag.

During baggage check, you can request a meal, (if meals are offered — usually a box lunch with sandwich, chips, cookie, and drink), which costs $5 – $10, depending on the base.

After you’ve checked your bags and have your boarding passes, you are “manifested” on the flight. Terminal staff will tell you the estimated boarding time, but keep in mind that it often changes without notice, so stay in the terminal.

6. Boarding

When boarding begins, all passengers go through security. Military passenger terminals follow TSA regulations, so you have the same restrictions for carry-on items as on civilian planes.

You sit in a secure area of the terminal until it’s time to board. At most locations, a bus takes you to the aircraft, and you board the plane from the tarmac.

If you are on a Patriot Express flight, your boarding pass will list your assigned seat. On other military aircraft, you select your own seats on a first-come, first-served basis. The crew may allow passengers with small children to board first, but not always.

7. Flight

Unless you are on a Patriot Express, which has full in-flight service, most Space-A flights are “no-frills.” The crew provides foam earplugs, water, and sometimes chips or cookies, but you must get those refreshments yourself.

Depending on the type of aircraft and how much space there is, you may be able to stretch out across a few seats or even sleep on the floor (see the section on Military Aircraft below).

8. Arriving at Your Destination

After landing, you take a bus from the aircraft to the terminal, where you collect your checked bags. Passenger terminals generally have information and phone numbers for local rental cars, base lodging, and other resources. You can also use UJ Space A Info to quickly search for local information related to any base in the world.

If you’ve flown to a foreign country, you may pass through customs, or you may have to go to an off-site location to have your passport stamped. The process varies by country and base.

Use Poppin’ Smoke’s Space-A Location Guides to research the customs and immigration process at your destination. The Guides also have detailed information about lodging, ground transportation, and other logistics for major Space-A hubs worldwide.

When (and When Not) to Fly Space-A

So now you know how Space-A travel works when all goes smoothly. Of course, it doesn’t always happen that way.

There are many situations when flying Space-A is not the best option. If you are going on a short vacation (less than 2 weeks) with little flexibility or you are traveling during major holidays, relying on Space-A is risky.

Most experienced Space-A travelers also avoid flying Space-A during summer PCS season (late May through early September), particularly to OCONUS destinations.

In those situations, it’s better to plan ahead and try to find cheap military flights from airlines that offer discounts or use a site like Skyscanner to find the best commercial fares.

If you are traveling solo, you have a better chance of getting a seat, even during busy periods. Many other Space-A travelers are couples or families, and even if those groups are in a higher category, when there is only one seat left, a solo traveler will get it.

Packing light also increases your chances of getting a seat. Some flights have baggage weight restrictions that will take most other passengers out of the running.

You can take some of the risk out of flying Space-A and boost your chances of having a successful trip by following these strategies and tips and monitoring the Space-A flight schedules on Facebook to make informed decisions about what flights are most promising.

How to Prepare for Space-A Travel

Knowing what to expect at the passenger terminal and on the planes can help you have a more comfortable journey.

What to Expect at Military Passenger Terminals

Passenger terminals vary widely in terms of their hours, services available, and rules. Some have a USO, a snack bar, a children’s area, and showers, while others have little more than a check-in desk and a few chairs.

SpaceA.net has information on specific services available at each terminal.

Most terminals discourage passengers from getting too comfortable and falling asleep. The chairs generally have fixed armrests that prevent you from stretching out across the seats. Also, there are often signs requesting that you not lie on the floor. Be prepared with a good book and plenty of activities for the kiddos!

Many military passenger terminals have WiFi, but it’s not always very strong, so remember to download any books, movies, or activities you may want ahead of time.

I recommend saving the contact information for the passenger terminals you anticipate using so that you have it handy if you need to call or e-mail with questions.

Finally, keep in mind that most passenger terminals are NOT open 24 hours, so you cannot spend the night there. Even if you arrive on an aircraft that has an overnight layover, staying in the terminal is not an option. Click here to read tips and tricks for reserving base lodging.

What to Wear and Bring on Military Aircraft

Depending on the type of aircraft and how it’s configured, you have different considerations for comfort. If it’s a Patriot Express (a.k.a. a “rotator”), it’s simply a regular passenger plane. Most other Space-A flights will be “organic aircraft,” a.k.a. military planes.

For all organic aircraft, three tips apply:

• Dress in layers. It can be very cold or very warm, depending on the type of aircraft, where you’re sitting, and pilot preference. We use this layering system so that we can easily adjust to the temperature. I occasionally see passengers (especially children) wearing shorts, but I don’t recommend it unless you have a pair of sweatpants handy.
• Bring a small, inflatable mat and a blanket or sleeping bag. You can use an inflatable mat like this one to lie on the floor or stretch out across multiple seats. The blanket/sleeping bag is important for warmth.
• Bring hand wipes. The lavatory sinks generally don’t have running water. Instead, there is a pile of antiseptic wipes, but often not enough to last for the entire flight. Bring your own stash of hand wipes.

While you could fly on one of more than a dozen different types of aircraft, the ones below are the most common:

C-5: This is the largest aircraft in the Air Force. If the Facebook slide indicates there are 73 seats available, the aircraft is probably a C-5. Seats are configured just like a commercial airplane, but they face the rear of the aircraft, and you have more legroom. If the plane isn’t crowded and you are lucky enough to have your own row, you can stretch out (unlike in the passenger terminals, you can raise the armrests!).

C-17: The first time we traveled Space-A on a C-17, all passengers were sitting in jump seats along the sides of the aircraft (facing the middle). With this configuration, you can lie down after the plane reaches altitude if there is room on the floor and the crew authorizes you to do so. On our first Space-A flight from Andrews AFB to Germany we didn’t plan ahead and had to sleep on a wool blanket provided by the crew (it was still more comfortable than sitting in the economy section of a commercial flight).

Flying Space-A on a C-17

The next time we flew in a C-17 with that configuration, we were prepared with a couple of inflatable pool rafts. The rafts provided much more cushion than the wool blankets and were pretty inexpensive. Unfortunately, they were exhausting to blow up and nearly impossible to drain and fold down to an easily-transportable size.

Now we have this small easily-inflatable sleeping pad. It weighs only 18.6 oz, inflates with 10 – 15 breaths, and easily deflates to fit back in its carrying bag.

We also flew in a C-17 configured with regular passenger seats filling most of the bay. Some passengers chose to sit along the sides anyway, but we preferred real seats to jump seats. With that configuration, there was very little space to lie on the floor.

C-130: This a prop plane, so it is noisier, slower, and bumpier than a C-17. It has the same open bay configuration with web seating along the sides. If there is room on the floor, you can lie down like on a C-17.

KC-10/KC-135: These are tankers used to fuel jets while in the air, and they may perform that mission with Space-A passengers aboard. The KC-10 usually has regular airline seats and about twice the passenger capacity of the KC-135. The latter generally has web seating along the sides of the aircraft.

“VIP” aircraft (C-9/C-12/C-21/C-40): These aircraft have regular passenger seats and generally do not have space to lie on the floor. The baggage weight limit may be much lower (usually 30 lbs. for C-12 and C-21, 50 lbs. for C-9 and C-40) due to aircraft baggage storage limitations and/or fuel requirements to the destination.

Final Advice

Think of Space-A travel as an adventure. Along the way, you will meet other travelers who remind you how helpful and supportive the military community can be.

Hitching a ride with a military mission is a privilege and, for dependents who have never flown in a military aircraft, a very unique experience. If you think of your journey in this way, you will be better-prepared to handle any parts of the process that don’t go as planned.

Recommended Reading

If you’re looking for more information about flying Space-A, these articles are good reading:

Trying to keep all this Space-A jargon straight? Get the list of terms you need to know.

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Space-A Travel

Space-A Travel has evolved with the times. Once upon a time military members had to physically report to the military terminal or fax copies of orders and other paperwork to sign up. Today, Space-A signup procedures may vary depending on the base you’re at, but there’s usually a variation on a standard requirement to register via email to be put on the Space-A waiting list, then check the 72-hour flight schedule.

USAF photo by Master Sgt. Eric Harris

72 hour flight schedules are commonly posted on the official Facebook pages of each AMC Passenger Terminal. Travelers who wish to fly Space-A must then show up at the passenger terminal for a roll call for their chosen flight.

The roll call process includes selection of Space-A passengers by category (see below), followed by the date and time of signup. Travelers using Space-A travel for Emergency Leave and Environmental Morale Leave get the highest Space A priority.

Factors Affecting Space-A Travel

There are several issues that can affect your Space-A travel. If you have flexibility in your travel schedule and are going to a common military aircraft destination such as Japan or Germany, your chances of a “successful” trip are higher than if you are traveling to a destination that isn’t as common. Even if you are headed to a country with plenty of flights, it’s best to determine how far away the airport is from your final destination.

For example, are you trying to get to Berlin? If there are only Space-A flights that get you as far as Spangdahlem or Ramstein, you will still have to travel some 500 kilometers to your final destination. If that is an important factor, plan accordingly. Some need to get to a specific city, others just want to arrive “in country” and let the trip take them where ever it leads. How flexible is your travel schedule?

Space-A Peak Travel Times

Yes, there are peak periods for Space-A travel, especially around the traditional family holidays. But don’t forget that military dependents can also travel Space-A, and you’ll want to take that into account when traveling overseas.

Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) located overseas have summer holidays and other vacation times for students; many Space-A flights during the DoDDS spring break and summer vacation time get more crowded with military spouses and dependents taking holidays away from the military base they are stationed at.

Space-A Travel Considerations

The more complicated your trip is, the harder it may be to successfully use Space-A. For example, do you need one seat? If you need more than two, Space-A becomes harder to navigate. For multiple travelers, it may be wise to limit your Space-A use to one destination rather than taking a chance on getting stranded halfway between Point A and Point B due to a lack of seats for your entire party.

How much Space-A “seniority” do you have? If you signed up for travel five minutes before the next flight out, you stand a good chance of getting bumped depending on circumstances. But if you have been in the system for a while, your chances at an open seat get better as time goes by.

If you can travel light, your range of aircraft options increases. Some flights may have a bag restriction, others may not. Under 30 pounds of luggage is ideal for maximum flexibility.

Passenger Terminal Issues

It is never safe to assume that 24 hour operations are available at military passenger terminals around the world. Your Space-A travel may require an overnight stay between destinations depending on circumstances. Be prepared to sleep somewhere away from the terminal, since some facilities may not allow overnight stays or sleeping in the terminal area.

When traveling Space-A overseas, you will need to carry your military ID, passport, and any other required paperwork showing your status as a military member or military dependent protected under the Status of Forces Agreement made between that country and the United States. This is crucial even if you are flying back from an overseas installation to the ‘States; you may be required to utilize off-base facilities, hotels, transportation, etc.

It’s also not safe to assume that it’s acceptable to park your vehicle at the terminal you depart from for an extended period of time. Unless otherwise posted/enforced, you may have a time restriction on how long you can leave a vehicle parked at the military air terminal.

Things To Remember About Space-A Flights

Space Available travel is exactly what the name implies-getting your seat on the aircraft is dependent on whether or not the flight crew needs that seat for mission-related purposes. It’s possible to get bumped off a Space-A flight due to mission requirements, but there are other factors that can alter your journey. You should keep the following factors in mind and plan accordingly.

Changes To The Mission

Here’s a fictitious example of how mission requirements and changes can affect your travel. An aircrew headed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam in Hawaii releases 10 seats for Space-A travelers 72 hours ahead of time, and Space-A sign ups for this flight begin immediately.

But 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, the mission changes to include a medical evacuation to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. The medivac requires 6 seats total, leaving only four Space-A options. 20 people signed up for Space-A travel on this mission, so the first four signups in the system would be considered for this flight, but no more.

A Space-A flight from Japan to the United States with 25 seats gets cancelled due to heavy snow, leaving the Space-A travelers stranded until conditions are suitable for flying any aircraft in the area.

Mechanical problems can also cause delays. In this final example, aircraft maintenance creates a 15-hour delay in a Space-A flight while the aircraft is repaired and declared fit to fly once more. While it’s true that in such cases, Space-A travelers can sign up for another outbound flight, the option isn’t always available depending on destination, traveler needs, or mission requirements.

When you fly Space-A, you must always be prepared to adapt to changes to the mission.

Other Facts About Space-A Travel

Some Space-A travel is similar to flying in a commercial aircraft (with a few military adjustments). If, for example you are able to catch the Space-A rotator to Ramstein from BWI Airport, you will be provided with in-flight meals and beverages, just like flying commercial.

Meanwhile other Space-A travel is as austere is it can possibly be, with “jump seats” or other minimal passenger accommodations. Your flight may be colder than you expect while in the air compared to commercial travel. Even in the middle of the hottest summer, it’s best to fly Space-A assuming the cabin temperature won’t be ideal mid-flight. These comfort issues affect all travelers differently, so it’s important to plan ahead and bring bottled water to stay hydrated, and snacks and warm clothing too.

USAF photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Brook

Depending on the mission, time of year, and other factors, you may find yourself flying Space-A with cargo, deploying troops, and sometimes even live animals. Expect dust and other environmental issues, depending on where you’re going. You may also experience less communication from the flight crew when compared to commercial flights.

As with most other air travel, there is no smoking on or near military aircraft. Smoking is not allowed in the military air terminals either. Planning ahead also requires anticipating possible delays in getting to areas where you are allowed to smoke again.

That advice may seem targeted specifically at those with tobacco habits, but those who have needs for regular medication or issues that require consistency in care should expect delays and prepare accordingly. You may need to administer medicine or other treatment in the air or at a military air terminal because of delays or changes in flight plans.

Space-A Categories

There are six Space -A categories (CAT-I thru CAT-VI) with CAT-I being the highest priority, the first to get offered a Space-A seat.

Category I – Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel. Transportation by the most expeditious routing only for bona fide immediate family emergencies, as determined by DoDI 1327.06 and Military Service regulations. This travel privilege will not be used in lieu of funded travel entitlements.
Category II – Accompanied Environmental and Morale Leave (EML).
Category III – Ordinary Leave, Relatives, House Hunting Permissive TDY, Medal of Honor Holders, and Foreign Military.
Category V – Permissive TDY (Non-House Hunting), Students, Dependents, Post Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence, and Others.
Category VI – Totally Disabled Veterans (effective 2018), Retired, Dependents, Reserve, ROTC, NUPOC and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) members.

Space-A Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know to Take a Flight on a Military Hop

Looking for a way to save money on travel? Flying space-available (Space-A) on a military flight is a great way to stretch your income. You can fly to and from U.S. military bases all over the world while spending next to nothing on airfare.

Of course, it’s not as simple as calling a military passenger terminal and “booking” a flight. Flying Space-A on military aircraft is very different from commercial air travel. But it’s well worth learning how Space-A travel works so that you can take advantage of this incredible privilege available to eligible members of the military community.

What Are Space-A Flights (AKA, Military Hops)?

When military missions have extra seats after accommodating all space-required passengers and cargo, they often allow eligible passengers to “hop” the flights on a space-available basis. This is the origin of the term “military hop.”

In these circumstances, the military mission is always the priority, and the Space-A passengers are along for the ride.

When flying Space-A, you might be in a cargo plane, a fuel tanker, or a commercial charter plane. But the process works the same way for all missions.

Space-A Flight Eligibility

Space-A travelers are divided into priority groups known as Categories or “Cats” based on their duty status and the reason for travel. Lower numbered categories have higher priority for seats.

Here is a summary of the Space-A travel categories:

Cat 1: Emergency leave unfunded travel

Cat 2: Accompanied environmental and morale leave (EML)

Cat 3: Ordinary leave, relatives, house hunting permissive TDY, Medal of Honor holders, foreign military, unaccompanied dependents of service members deployed more than 365 consecutive days

Cat 4: Unaccompanied EML and dependents of service members deployed between 30 and 364 consecutive days

Cat 5: Permissive TDY (non-house hunting), students, unaccompanied dependents of service members stationed outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS), post-deployment/mobilization respite absence

Cat 6: Retirees and their dependents, reserve, ROTC, 100% Disabled Veterans

It is important to know your category when planning your Space-A travel because your category determines when you can sign up, what paperwork you need, and where you are eligible to fly. Table 3 in Section 4.11 of DOD Instruction 4515.13 has more detail on eligibility by category and approved geographical travel segments.

How Does Space-A Travel Work?

Flying Space-A is a process, and the better you understand it, the greater your chances of having a successful trip.

1. Identify your destination and possible routes

The first step is figuring out which bases have regular flights to your destination. You can start by looking at this list of worldwide locations that may have Space-A opportunities. Profiles of some terminals include information about typical flight destinations. As discussed in the next step, you will learn more about where the various air terminals fly most frequently when you begin following their Space-A flight schedules.

In some cases, there are many possible routes you can take to your destination. For example, if you are on the East Coast and want to travel to Spain, you can fly from one of several bases that have regular missions to Naval Station Rota. If you’re coming from another part of the U.S., you will likely have to take multiple hops to get to Spain (e.g. JB Lewis-McChord to JB Charleston, and then JB Charleston to Rota).

The Space-A Travelers Facebook group is a great resource if you’re having trouble piecing together a flight plan to your destination. Use the group to ask questions and search for information about flying to and from specific locations.

Keep in mind that you may need to combine Space-A travel with other transportation. If you don’t live near a base with regular Space-A flights, you will have to drive or fly commercial to one of the active Space-A hubs. Similarly, you might hop a flight to a base overseas, and then take a train or local airline to your final destination.

2. Follow the Space-A flight schedules of the passenger terminals you may use

Most military passenger terminals maintain a Facebook page on which they publish their flight schedules for the upcoming 72 hours. The schedules list the destinations, anticipated number of Space-A seats, and the “Roll Call” time, which is the time at which passenger terminal staff announce the names of passengers who have been selected for the flight.

Terminals that maintain a Facebook page also publish information about recently-departed flights, including the number of Space-A seats released and the number of Space-A passengers who were competing for the flight.

Use all of this information to monitor flights out of your target passenger terminals. Over the course of several weeks or months, you will see patterns in where and how often they have missions.

Note: The Air Mobility Command (AMC) website has links to all terminals’ social media pages. If a terminal does not have a Facebook page, you can obtain Space-A flight information by calling the terminal directly.

3. Sign up to travel from all locations you could originate travel

When you have a destination in mind, sign up to fly from any and all terminals from which you might travel. Signing up is free and takes only a few minutes. In the example in Step 1 above, if you were traveling to Spain, you would sign up at every passenger terminal that has regular missions to Rota.

The AMC website has instructions for signup, including a list of all information required. You can submit your signup through their website, via e-mail, in person at the terminal, or using the TakeAHop app (the app costs $6.99). E-mail and the TakeAHop app are the easiest ways to sign up with multiple terminals at once.

Sign up as far in advance of your travel date as possible, in accordance with your category. When competing for seats, priority within a category is determined by signup date and time, so the longer you’ve been on the list, the better. At most terminals, a signup is good for up to 60 days.

Active duty cannot sign up for Space-A travel until they are on leave. However, being in Cat 3 means that you have priority over travelers in categories 4, 5 and 6, no matter how far in advance those passengers signed up.

4. Mark yourself present within 24 hours of the flight

Within 24 hours of your target flight, go to the terminal in person and notify the staff that you are competing for the flight. Bring your military ID, passport (if traveling to/from a foreign country), and any required travel authorizations, such as your leave form if you are active duty, EML orders, or the memo from your sponsor’s command if you are an unaccompanied dependent.

You should also bring a copy of your signup e-mail in case the terminal does not have a record of your signup. Most terminals will accept your e-mail as proof of your signup date and time.

You must mark yourself present before Roll Call starts, but you can do so anytime within 24 hours. One or two hours in advance is generally enough, but be sure that you are continually monitoring the passenger terminal’s Facebook slides in case they unexpectedly change the Roll Call time. It’s also a good idea to call the terminal directly to confirm that Roll Call has not changed; sometimes the terminal staff is too busy to update their Facebook page promptly.

5. Listen for your name during Roll Call

When Roll Call begins, terminal staff announce how many Space-A seats are available for the flight and read the names of the passengers selected. They start with the passengers in the lowest-numbered (highest priority) category and work their way down the list.

If they call your name, go to the desk and confirm that you and any dependents traveling with you are present. Bring your required paperwork along with your and your dependents’ military IDs. ID cards are required for all passengers over the age of 10. When traveling with children younger than 10 who do not have an ID card, bring their passport or a MilConnect printout that shows their DOD ID number.

If they don’t call your name during Roll Call, you should stay in the terminal, at least until the flight boards. Sometimes, additional Space-A seats are released at the very last minute.

6. Check your luggage and obtain your boarding pass

Luggage check may begin immediately after Roll Call or several hours later. When it’s time to check bags, all travelers in your family and all of your luggage must be present.

On most flights, each passenger can check two bags of up to 70 lbs each. You can also check car seats, which do not count towards your baggage allowance. Some smaller aircraft limit baggage to as little as 30 lbs per person. If you or any of your dependents cannot meet those requirements on the weight-restricted aircraft, you are not eligible for the flight. The AMC website has detailed information on baggage allowances.

Some locations offer box lunches for a nominal cost ($10 or less), which usually include a sandwich, chips, cookie, and drink. You can request and pay for those meals when checking your luggage.

Once you’ve checked your bags and have your boarding passes, you are “manifested” on the flight. The terminal staff will tell you the estimated boarding time. However, boarding times often change without notice, so stay in the terminal.

7. Board the aircraft and pick your seat

When the passenger terminal announces boarding, all manifested passengers go through security. Military passenger terminals follow Transportation Security Administration regulations, so you have the same restrictions for carry-on items as on civilian planes.

You sit in a secure area of the terminal until it’s time to board the plane. At most locations, a bus takes you to the aircraft, and you board the plane from the tarmac.

If you are flying Space-A on a Patriot Express flight, your boarding pass will list your assigned seat. On other Space-A aircraft, you select your own seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

What to Expect on a Space-A Flight

With the exception of the Patriot Express, flights on military aircraft are no-frills. The crew provides earplugs, a water cooler, and sometimes chips or cookies, but any refreshments are self-service.

Depending on the type of aircraft, there may be regular seats or web seating along the sides of the plane. If it’s the latter and there is space on the floor, the crew may allow you to lie down on a blanket or air mattress (if you brought one) after the aircraft reaches cruising altitude.

Military aircraft are often very cold and loud, so dress in warm layers, and bring extra ear protection if you don’t want to wear the foam earplugs provided.

Pros and Cons of Flying Space-A

As you might expect, there are advantages and disadvantages to flying military hops.

The Pros: What are the advantages of flying Space-A?

The most obvious benefit of flying Space-A is that it can be free or very low-cost. Patriot Express flights have a small per-passenger tax ranging from about $4 to about $35, and some terminals offer meals for purchase, but those are the only direct costs associated with the flight. You can save thousands of dollars on airfare if you have multiple family members traveling, especially to/from OCONUS destinations.

Another benefit of flying Space-A is access to base resources as soon as you land. You can stay overnight in base lodging, stock up on snacks at the commissary, or get discount tickets to local attractions through the Information, Tickets & Travel office. When traveling abroad, landing at a U.S. military base also gives you time to get your bearings before venturing out to explore a new country.

While you may get conflicting views on this point, flying Space-A can be much more pleasant than flying commercial. Having the option to stretch out on the floor of a C-17 is a nice alternative to sitting in the cramped Economy section of a commercial carrier. In addition, if you’re traveling with small children, you will likely get more help and support from fellow passengers than you would on a civilian flight.

Finally, Space-A is a fun adventure, especially for anyone who has never flown on a military aircraft.

The Cons: What are the disadvantages of Space-A?

The #1 disadvantage is the uncertainty. In most cases, you won’t know until a maximum of 3 days in advance where a terminal’s missions are headed, and you can’t be sure you have a seat until the last minute. When flying Space-A, you must have patience and flexibility.

Another disadvantage is that the most difficult times to get a seat may be the exact times you want to travel. Summer PCS season, the winter holidays, and, to a lesser degree, Spring Break, are extra competitive, particularly when flying to/from OCONUS locations.

There may be indirect costs associated with flying Space-A, including lodging, transportation, and meals while waiting for a flight. If you have to wait for several days, those costs can add up quickly.

Finally, some passengers find military aircraft uncomfortable. Cargo planes are cold and loud, and if you are unable to lie on the floor in an aircraft that has webbed seating, an overseas flight will feel pretty long. Of course, those are all issues that you can remedy with proper planning, but they are a consideration when deciding if you want to fly Space-A.

When Should You Use Space-A?

Keeping those pros and cons in mind, Space-A is a great option if you have time and flexibility to wait for a flight, particularly during the “off seasons” of fall, late winter, and early spring. Also, the more passengers traveling with you, the greater the cost savings compared to flying commercial.

Space-A is never a good option when you have to be somewhere by a particular time, whether it’s for a wedding, a graduation, or a cruise departure. You should also avoid flying Space-A – particularly to OCONUS destinations – during the busiest times noted above.

Final Advice from a Seasoned Space-A Traveler

There are two very important rules to remember when flying Space-A:

1. Always have a have a backup plan, including enough money to pay for commercial airfare in case Space-A doesn’t work out.
2. Don’t wait for the perfect flight. Hop any flight that moves you closer to your destination, especially when traveling between OCONUS and CONUS.

Each time you fly Space-A, you will learn something new, whether from your own experience or through conversations with fellow travelers. In the meantime, keep learning as much as you can about how the process works. When you have a destination in mind, do your research so you know about the Space-A terminal’s lodging, transportation, and immigration procedures before you land.

Finally, remember that Space-A is a privilege we share as members of the military community, and the mission takes priority 100% of the time. With that in mind, be sure to bring plenty of patience, a positive attitude, and a sense of adventure.

KC-10 Extender Photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman, US Air Force.

Space a military flight

By NORMAN LLAMAS AND CHAD GARLAND | STARS AND STRIPES Published: February 12, 2019

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Routine passenger flights to Aviano Air Base are slated to resume this spring, at least temporarily, bringing the possibility of regular space-available travel to the Italian base more than two years after it was discontinued.

From April to September, U.S. Transportation Command will run a “proof of principle” test of a Patriot Express rotator to and from the base at the foot of the Italian Alps, AMC spokesman Capt. Mark Graff said Monday. Depending on the results, the route could become permanent.

A weekly run of the military chartered service from Aviano to Germany was cut in the fall of 2016, after which servicemembers on permanent change of station orders and their families had to fly on commercial airlines into and out of Marco Polo International Airport in Venice. The cancellation also brought an end to a regular flight that was nearly free for leisure travelers eligible to fly on a space-available basis.

The proposed test of the service’s return to Aviano is expected to offer a minimum two flights a month, said Maj. Dave Dunn, a spokesman for TRANSCOM. The planned route is from Maryland’s Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on to Aviano, and ending at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Return trips follow the route in reverse.

The test, which is the only one TRANSCOM has planned for this year, will be used to help determine whether the ridership volume justifies permanent reinstatement of the route, Dunn said via email.

“USTRANSCOM will evaluate a possible permanent route once the proof of principle is complete,” he said.

The Patriot Express program has provided flights from the United States to overseas bases since the 1960s, but has undergone numerous route changes, cuts and reversals. The program runs about 20 different routes worldwide, Graff said.

The previous Aviano leg let travelers eligible to fly on AMC’s Space-A program hop a flight for the low cost of an international head tax.

Space-A allows military personnel and certain categories of government civilian employees, dependents, veterans and others fly on military aircraft to selected airfields on standby, when mission and cargo loads allow. It is often billed as a military benefit that lets servicemembers on leave travel the world for almost nothing, if they’re both patient and flexible. In 2017, AMC flew some 125,000 Space-A travelers, Graff said.

After the Aviano rotator was cut, the base contracted the Patriot Shuttle bus service to ferry air travelers between Aviano and Marco Polo airport. It’s about an hour’s drive and costs begin at 140 euro, depending on size and the number of vehicles needed.

Space-A seats were also still available from Aviano on C-130 transports to and from Ramstein, but they were less regular and availability was less predictable, officials have said.

The rotator’s potential return was first announced on Facebook, where the Aviano passenger terminal said last week that the limited test-run was slated to begin in early April. Officials were working with the Family Readiness Center on base to set up Space-A briefs as part of the welcome briefing given to newly arriving personnel, according to the online post.

One of two Feb. 5 posts said those interested in learning more can message, stop in or call the terminal. It also directed prospective travelers to the website takeahop.com to sign up for flights.

News of the returning flights was a source of happiness for some members of the Aviano community who commented on the posts to express enthusiasm, propose travel plans and ask questions.

“Glad it’s potentially coming back,” said Facebook user Ashley Evans. “My family is less than 2 hrs from Baltimore so perfect for me.”

Chad Garland reported from Kaiserslautern, Germany.

A cargo plane flight of 131 travelers heads toward the United States via space-available travel in this undated photo.
RAMSTEIN PASSENGER TERMINAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Your Guide to 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.

Signing up for a Space-A 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.

• 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.

Traveling Space-A

Space-A travel can be trying — especially if you’re traveling with young children. Planning ahead will help things go a little more smoothly.

X-37B Military Space Plane Breaks Record on Latest Mystery Mission

Nearly 719 days of orbital spaceflight and counting.

The U.S. Air Force’s X-37B space plane just broke its spaceflight-duration record.

At 6:43 a.m. EDT (1043 GMT) today (Aug. 26), the robotic X-37B sailed past the program mark of 717 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes, which was set by the previous mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle 4 (OTV-4).

The current mission, OTV-5, began on Sept. 7, 2017, with a liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It’s unclear what the space plane is doing up there now, or what it has done on past flights; X-37B missions are classified, and the Air Force therefore tends to speak of the vehicle and its activities in general terms.

“The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold; reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth,” Air Force officials wrote in the X-37B fact sheet.

“Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, advanced propulsion systems, advanced materials and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing,” the officials added.

The test campaign seems to involve pushing the X-37B’s endurance, because each of the five missions has lasted longer than its predecessor. OTV-1 launched in April 2010, and returned to Earth that December after 224 days in space. OTV-2 ran for 468 days, from March 2011 through June 2012. OTV-3 launched in December 2012 and landed in October 2014, racking up 675 days of spaceflight. And OTV-4 landed in May 2017 after nearly 718 days in orbit.

OTV-5 is nowhere near the overall spaceflight-duration record, however. Earth-observation and communications satellites commonly operate for five years or more, as do robotic planetary explorers. NASA’s Curiosity rover has been exploring Mars for more than seven years, for example, and the agency’s twin Voyager probes are still going strong in interstellar space more than four decades after their launches.

The Air Force has at least two X-37Bs, both of which were built by Boeing. The solar-powered vehicles look like NASA’s old space shuttle orbiters, but are much smaller; an X-37B could fit entirely within the shuttle’s cavernous payload bay.

Each X-37B measures 29 feet (8.8 meters) long by 9.6 feet (2.9 m) tall, with a wingspan of about 15 feet (4.6 m). The space plane’s payload bay is about the size of a pickup-truck bed.

Like the space shuttle, the winged X-37B launches vertically and lands on a runway. All five X-37B missions have lifted off from Florida’s Space Coast. The first three landings took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, but OTV-4 touched down at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Ultimate Guide to Space-Available Military Travel

Inside: Tired of piecing together information about space-available military travel? Check out this ultimate guide to Space-A and get it all in one convenient spot!

You’ve heard about this thing called Space Available Military Travel (aka Space-A). It sounds cool, because hey, free flights, right? But it seems kind of daunting, because you have no idea what the rules are or how to get started.

Sound familiar? If you’re wondering how you can take advantage of this opportunity as a military spouse, here’s a primer to help you understand the who, what, where, and how of Space-A flying.

What is Space Available Military Travel?

Space-A travel is a privilege available to members of the community that allows us to fly free (or nearly free) on military aircraft. As Space-A passengers, we are essentially hitching a ride (or “taking a hop,” as flying Space-A is often called) on a flight that is deemed a military mission.

After all equipment and personnel required for the mission have been accommodated, any leftover seats may be used by Space-A passengers. Flights are entirely dependent on the mission, and the mission is the priority 100% of the time.

To put it bluntly, Space-A passengers are non-essential cargo.

Who Can Fly Space-A?

The Air Mobility Command (AMC) has a detailed summary of who is eligible to fly Space-A and under what circumstances. Space-A travelers are divided into six categories or “Cats,” based on their duty status and reason for travel. Travelers in Cat 1 are highest priority and those in Cat 6 are lowest. In other words, Space-A passengers in Cat 1 are most likely to get a seat.

I’m going to take a stab that you’re most interested in leisure travel for active duty service members and their family members, so we’re talking about travelers in the following categories:

• Active duty service members on leave traveling with or without dependents
• Spouses of active duty service members deployed for 365 or more consecutive days.

• Spouses of active duty service members deployed between 30 and 364 consecutive days
• Spouses of active duty service members stationed abroad traveling unaccompanied on Environmental and Morale Leave (EML) orders

• Unaccompanied command-sponsored spouses of service members stationed OCONUS
• Unaccompanied non-command sponsored spouses of service members stationed OCONUS

Where Can I Fly Space-A?

Depending on your category, you may be able to fly Space-A to any destination in the world to which a military mission is accepting Space-A passengers. In most cases, that means to a U.S. military base, but there are exceptions, including Patriot Express flights. There may also be a random flight to an airport or country where the U.S. does not have any military bases, but those flights are not the norm.

Before we move on, let’s clarify a few terms to make sense of this. The continental United States (CONUS) refers to the lower 48 states. Outside the continental United States (OCONUS) refers to foreign countries, Alaska, Hawaii, and other U.S. territories.

How Can I Fly Space-A Without My Sponsor?

If your sponsor is deployed (i.e. you are Cat 3 or 4), all you need is a memo from his command (here is a sample memo). You can travel wherever and whenever you want starting from the day your sponsor deploys throughout the duration of his deployment. Hold onto that memo, and bring it with you whenever you travel; it’s good through the whole deployment.

Travel for unaccompanied spouses in other situations has a few more restrictions.

If you are stationed overseas with your spouse (i.e. an accompanied tour of duty) and you are traveling as a Cat 5, you can only travel from OCONUS to OCONUS and between OCONUS and CONUS. In other words, you can’t take Space-A flights from one place in the lower 48 to another. The exception to that rule is if you are booked (a.k.a. “manifested”) on a flight to or from OCONUS that stops in another CONUS destination along the way. Here is a sample of the command-sponsored dependent memo you must obtain from your sponsor’s command. It’s good for 90 days or one round trip originating from the overseas duty station.

If you are stationed overseas in a location that allows EML, you can travel as a Cat 4 (i.e. higher priority) if you get an EML memo, but your travel will be restricted. You can only fly between you sponsor’s duty station and CONUS. You must take the most direct route possible. Here are sample EML memos from Pacific Command and Europe Command.

The final circumstance is if your sponsor is on an unaccompanied tour overseas (i.e. you are a non-command-sponsored dependent). You can obtain authorization to visit your sponsor and travel Space-A as a Cat 5, but you have the same restrictions as an unaccompanied EML traveler. Here is a sample of the non-command sponsored dependent memo you need for travel.

The travel memos for EML and non-command sponsored dependents are good for 90 days or one round trip.

Want more details on this unaccompanied dependent travel stuff? Here’s the breakdown with a few examples.

How Do I Get Started Planning a Space-A Trip?

The first thing to do is to figure out which bases near you have flights that could get you to your destination. In some cases, there are many possible paths you could take. For example, if you are on the East Coast and want to travel to Germany, you could fly from one of five or six bases that have regular missions into Ramstein Air Base.

On the other hand, not all military airfields are active Space-A hubs, so you will have to do some research to figure where you could originate your travel. If you don’t know which bases near you have Space-A flights, you can start by looking at this list of locations worldwide that may have Space-A opportunities.

After you’ve found the bases closest to you, begin studying their flight schedules, which most passenger terminals post on slides via their respective Facebook pages. You can find a list of passenger terminal Facebook pages on the AMC website.

In most cases, terminals post flight schedules a maximum of 72 hours in advance. Exceptions include certain Naval bases, which may share a week’s worth of missions, and schedules for Patriot Express flights. Terminals that have Patriot Express flights post schedules for an entire calendar month. The schedule is usually available a few days before the end of the month for the following month (for example, the April schedule will be available in the last few days of March).

What Do the Facebook Slides Tell Me?

From the slides, you can see where the flights are going, what time passengers must be there (Roll Call), and how many seats may be available for Space-A passengers.

Passenger terminals also post historical slides showing recent departures and how many Space-A passengers got seats. Reviewing the history of flights in and out of a particular base and comparing how many passengers tried to get on vs. how many got seats is useful right before you are hoping to catch a flight. It will give you an idea of whether there is a backlog of folks waiting to depart or whether most passengers have cleared out of the terminal. Here is more detailed information about how to read Space-A flight schedules on Facebook.

You may have to watch the schedules for several weeks or even months to get an idea of where missions fly most frequently and how likely a Space-A passenger in your category would be to get a seat.

If you’re having trouble piecing together a flight plan that could get you to your destination, you can also ask for advice in the Space-A Travelers Facebook group. To join this group, you will need to verify your military affiliation and agree to read the background information in the pinned post. Before asking a question, try searching for the topic in the discussion. With more than 62K members, there are few questions that no one has asked.

Space-A Signup

Now that you have an idea of what bases you might want to fly to and from, it’s time to sign up.

Signup refers to the process of notifying passenger terminals that you would like to fly Space-A from their location. There are several ways to sign up:

• In person at the terminal
• Via e-mail or fax
• Using the Take-a-Hop app, which has a one-time fee of $6.99.

You don’t have to use the official Space-Available Travel Request form, but this sample shows what information you need to provide. Be sure that when you specify the number of seats required, you include all members of your family, including babies. Space-A flights do not have a “lap child” policy.

When Can I Sign Up?

Priority within a category is based on signup date and time, so the earlier you sign up, the better.

Signup rules vary by circumstance.

1. Active duty service members (Cat 3) can sign up starting on the first day of leave. The signup is good for the duration of the leave period.
2. Spouses of deployed service members can sign up 10 days before the first day of the deployment. The signup is good for 60 days.
3. Unaccompanied Spouses in other situations discussed above can sign up as soon as they have the required memo. Signups are good for 60 days.

At Which Bases Should I Sign Up?

No matter what category you’re in, you should sign up at every base you may want to depart from.

You can sign up at as many bases as you want. If you’re signing up via e-mail, you can send a single message and copy every terminal at which you want to sign up. Many terminals will not reply to confirm receipt of your signup. Be sure to bring a copy of your signup when you go to the terminal to mark yourself present for the flight.

What to Do on the Day of Your Flight

You see a flight you want to take, and you’re ready to give this Space-A thing a shot. Now what? Here’s a rundown of the actual travel process.

Marking Yourself Present

This means going to the terminal in person to let them know you are “competing” for a flight. You can mark yourself present up to 24 hours in advance of the Roll Call time, but you don’t really need to do it until an hour or two beforehand. Marking yourself present early does not give you higher priority than other passengers, but you must do it prior to the start of Roll Call.

When you mark yourself present, bring all of your travel documentation, including any required travel memos and a copy of your signup e-mail to prove the date and time of signup. Confirm that the passenger terminal has recorded the correct number of passengers traveling.

Roll Call

This is the time listed on the Facebook slides, and it refers to the passenger terminal staff calling the names of the passengers selected for a flight. They will start with the highest category and work their way down.

If they call your name, go to the desk with your family members’ military IDs, passports (if headed for an OCONUS destination), and appropriate travel authorization memo, and confirm that all passengers are in the terminal with bags packed.

Baggage Check/Getting Manifested

When it’s time to check bags, all travelers in your family and all of your luggage must be present. On most flights, each passenger can check two bags of up to 70 lbs each. You can also check car seats, which do not count towards your baggage allowance. On some smaller aircraft, weight limits may be as low as 30 lbs. The Air Mobility Command website has detailed information on baggage allowances.

During baggage check, you can request a meal, (if meals are available — usually a box lunch with sandwich, chips, cookie, and drink), which costs $5-$10, depending on the location. Once you’ve checked your bags and have your boarding passes, you are “manifested” on the flight. The terminal staff will tell you the estimated boarding time, but it often changes without notice, so stay in the terminal.

Boarding

Once they announce boarding, all passengers go through security. Military passenger terminals follow Transportation Security Administration regulations, so you have the same restrictions for carry-on items as on civilian planes. You sit in a secure area of the terminal until the bus arrives to take you to the aircraft. You board the plane from the tarmac.

What to Expect on the Flight

Patriot Express flights are very similar to civilian flights. They have regular airplane seats and in-flight service.

Flights on military aircraft are no-frills. The crew provides earplugs, water, and sometimes chips or cookies, but you walk over to the refreshments and get them yourself. Depending on the type of aircraft, there may be regular seats or web seating along the sides of the plane. If it’s a cargo plane and there is space on the floor, you may be able to lie down on a blanket or compact air mattress (if you brought one) or hang up a Texsport hammock . Not all planes (or flight crews) will allow you to hang a hammock, but it’s nice to have in case you’re able to use it.

For all military aircraft, two tips apply:

• Dress in layers. It can be very cold or very warm, depending on the type of aircraft, where you’re sitting, and pilot preference. I see many passengers (especially children) wearing shorts, but I don’t recommend it unless you have a pair of sweatpants handy.
• Bring hand wipes. The lavatory sinks generally don’t have running water. Instead, there is a pile of antiseptic wipes, but often not enough to last for the entire flight.

Tips for Traveling with Kids

All passengers over the age of 10 need a military ID. If you have children under 10, bring their passport or a printout from Milconnect that shows their military ID number. This second requirement was implemented in 2017, and some travelers may tell you that the passenger terminal didn’t ask for it, that a birth certificate was fine, etc. While that may be true, it’s best to cover your bases and bring the printout.

As with any travel with kids, bring plenty of activities to keep them entertained. It can be hard to predict how much time you will spend waiting in the terminal, so be prepared with movies downloaded to your tablet, cards, books, and other travel-friendly games.

You should also bring a stash of snacks. Even if you ordered a box meal, you won’t get it until you’re onboard, and you don’t want to be stuck in the terminal with hungry kiddos. The snack bars in the terminal have a way of being under construction the one time you didn’t plan ahead with snacks of your own.

Ear protection in the form of headphones – or even earmuffs – is a good idea. The flight crew will give you foam earplugs, but they may not be comfortable or suitable for young children.

Free Flights Sound Too Good to Be True. What’s the Catch?

The main challenge with Space-A travel is that it’s unpredictable. Missions can change at any moment. The pilot can decide to leave early or not to take any Space-A passengers. Or the aircraft’s destination can change after you’re already in the air.

Add these considerations to the fact that aircraft (some types more than others) often have maintenance issues that can cause a flight to be delayed by a few hours or several days. Unlike with a commercial flight, if any of these things happen, you have no recourse as a Space-A passenger. There is no such thing as being rebooked on a later flight. If you don’t get on the flight you wanted, you might not have any other Space-A options in the foreseeable future.

All these warnings are to say that Space-A is not a good choice when you have a short period of leave or when you really need to be somewhere by a certain time, whether that’s for a wedding, a holiday, a family emergency, or a work commitment back home.

Final Advice

You can increase your chances of getting a seat on a Space-A flight by traveling outside of the busiest seasons. The most difficult times to fly Space-A are during the summer PCS season and the winter holidays.

Think of Space-A travel as an adventure. Along the way, you will meet other travelers who will remind you how helpful and supportive the military community can be. You may also have the chance to fly in a military plane, which is not something most Americans get to experience, and honestly, it’s pretty cool. If you think of your journey in this way, you will be better-prepared to handle any parts of the process that don’t go as planned.

Even if you’ve read the above information three times, you might still have questions. The best thing to do is to keep reading as much as you can about flying Space-A. Join the Space-A Travelers Facebook group and follow the discussions. I guarantee that many of the questions asked by other group members will apply to you, and after a while, you will find that you know the answers!

Keep following the Facebook slides to get a feel for where flights are going and how many Space-A travelers are getting seats. You may start to see patterns, either weekly or seasonally.

Finally, before you plan a major family vacation using Space-A, consider doing a dry run. Try a short trip within CONUS to help you learn the process. That way, you will know the ropes and feel more comfortable planning a bigger adventure.

Want more on military life?

About Stephanie Montague

Stephanie Montague is the founder of Poppin’ Smoke (www.poppinsmoke.com), a website designed to help members of the military community use their military benefits to travel. Stephanie and her husband have been traveling the world since he retired from the Army in 2015. Through Poppin’ Smoke, Stephanie shares everything she and her husband learn about traveling Space-A, using military benefits and facilities while abroad, and getting the most out of travel experiences.

Reader Interactions

3 Comments

Jeanette

I’m interested in traveling. Where and who do I email?

Julia Johnson

All military Space-Available Facebook Pages have contact information. The email, and telephone numbers are listed.

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I’m Lauren Tamm, and I’m passionate about helping parents, teachers, caregivers and military spouses discover simple tools that minimize stress, create peace and build connection.