Space “A” Travel
Space available (Space A) travel is a benefit that service members are allowed during their service. Retired service members are given the priviledge in recognition of their career. Space A travel allows those eligible to travel at an extremely low cost on a space available basis. Visit: http://spacea.info.
Passengers must register for travel in the passenger terminal at Passenger Service Centers in person or can 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 (Specific Requirements pertain)
- Passports
- Immunization Records
- 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.
Tips for traveling 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 Air Force Base (AFB), Dell, than Baltimore-Washington)
- 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 flexiable as possible in choosing a destination. If you want to get to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, consider a flight into Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, or even Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, UK, as an alternative. At Mildenhall, try for another flight bound for Germany.
- There is a head tax on continental U.S. (CONUS) outbound or federal inspection fee on CONUS inbound international commercial carriers.
- 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.
There are different categories of traveler for Space A, one through six. These categories determine the priority placement of the passenger. Retirees fall into Category 6, the lowest priority.
Each passenger may check two pieces of checked baggage, 70 pounds each. Family members may pool their baggage allowances. Each passenger is permitted to hand carry one article (small baggage, backpack, etc) and one personal item (purse, briefcase, etc) for storage in the passenger cabin area. Hand-carried items must be able to fit under the passenger's seat or in the overhead compartment. Baggage weight may be limited due to type of aircraft or other restrictions.
Retired members with DD Form 2 (Blue) identification card may fly anywhere DoD has flights operating, including the CONUS.
Passengers traveling on a passport (family members, retired uniform service, reserve, etc), may return to CONUS only through authorized ports of entry where cusoms and immigration clearance is available.
While you may depart CONUS literally from any military airfield, reentry locations for passport holders are limited. Active duty passengers who do not require immigration clearance have more reentry options open.
For more informaltion, contact the nearest Military Passenger Terminal. To locate the nearest passenger terminal, visit the Air Mobility Command Website at:
www.amc.af.mil or call the Scott AFB operator at (618) 256-1110
These flights might help potential vacationers get where they want to go, but they're no help regarding what to do once you get there. Visit the Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation website at www.mwr.navy.mil. To get an interactive CD-ROM filled with Fleet and Family Readiness information for Europe, visit:
https://qol.persnet.navy.mil/EuropeCD/Europeform.aspx, and to get one for Asia:
https://qol/.persnet.navy.mil/japan_asia_form.aspx. Don't forget to call ITT at your local base for travel tips and packages.
