Bwi Space A - Space-A flights have been a key part of our strategy to save money on our frequent trips since my husband retired from the military in 2015. We have flown Space-A to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, Korea and many more. locations in the continental United States
I estimate that in the last 7+ years of traveling the world, we have saved over $20,000 by taking military jumps. Our experiences have been overwhelmingly positive, and when it's a viable option, Space-A is my preferred way to fly.
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When talking to others about our travels, we were surprised at how little the military knew about Space-A travel, let alone used it.
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Even those who knew it as an option were reluctant to try military flights. They've heard that you're waiting too long, that the plane has too many maintenance issues, or that flights are canceled at the last minute.
In the end, yes, these things happen. Flying in A-space requires patience and flexibility, and is not a good choice for all situations. But if you've flown on a commercial airline recently, you know that all these inconveniences happen with scheduled flights too. The difference is that Space-A flights are free!
This quick start guide explains everything you need to know about piloting Space-A. After reading it and following the related links in the article, you should be ready to take your first Space-A ride!
If you are new to military A-space travel, you should still read these lessons learned from our experiences and the strategies we recommend for successful military jump travel.
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* * * For a printed version of the Space-A Flight Quick Start Guide, click here. * * *
Spaceless flights, also known as "MAC flights" or "military jumps", are military operational flights that have additional seats. The military mission is the priority, and Space-A passengers are essentially cargo.
The Space-A flight is free, except on Patriot Express (PE) flights, and Space-A passengers must pay a small feeper person.
Space-A passengers are divided into six Space-A categories or "Cats": 1 is the highest and 6 is the lowest.
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Available seats on board the aircraft are offered first to passengers in the lower numbered sections. Passengers in higher number categories (lower priority) can use all remaining seats. Priority within category is based on registration date, as shown below.
In the context of leisure travel, active military members traveling with or without dependents are on Environmental Moral Leave (EML) Cat 2 and Ordinary Leave is Cat 3.
If you are a disabled veteran who has not retired from the military and your rating is less than 100%, click here to learn more about the DoD travel benefits you can use!
Reservists, "gray area" retirees (retired National Guard and Reserve members who served 20 years but under 60), and 100% disabled veterans are not retired military retirees are also eligible to fly Space-A to foreign countries. They can make military jumps within the continental United States (CONUS) and to/from Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and other US territories.
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Please note that the list of eligible travelers mentioned above is not exhaustive. Other travelers, including some civilians within the Department of Defense, may use military travel in the space available in various circumstances.
For a complete list and more information on eligibility by gender, see Table 3 in Section 4.11 of DOD Instruction 4515.13.
Dependents of active duty members may fly on Space-A without their sponsor under certain circumstances described herein.
Dependents of retirees, "grey area" retirees, 100% disabled veterans, and surviving spouses can fly on Space-A, but only when their sponsor is along
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Dependent children may fly on Space-A with their sponsor or eligible parent unaccompanied. They are not allowed to travel with other military families.
Here's a rundown of how to fly Space-A. For more information, visit the Air Mobility Command (AMC) website.
The first step is to register with each military passenger destination you may be departing from (including your destination). Keep in mind that you are not booking for a specific flight. You sign up for a contest for any flight with Space-A seats in a specific destination.
If you are registering by email, you must include all of the information listed in the "Space-A Registration Options and Required Information" section on the Space Available Travel page on AMC webs (see image below).
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You can find current email addresses for all military passenger terminals in the Passenger Terminal Directory under the Space-A registration section.
Priority in the Space-A category is based on the date of booking, so the sooner you book (up to 60 days before your travel date in most countries) locations, 45 days or less in some Navy locations), is preferable. Active duty cannot sign up for Space-A travel until they are on leave.
Many terminals will not respond to confirm receipt of your registration. Remember to save and print copies of the emails you send, as they will serve as proof of your registration date.
If you want to confirm that a military passenger destination has received your registration, please contact them directly. Do not send another registration email, as your place on the virtual list is based on the latest registration.
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Track flights (also known as "missions") from your desired home base(s). Flight schedules and provisional seat numbers are available up to 72 hours before flight.
If you monitor the flight schedules from your home base for several weeks or months before the trip, you can see trends in the frequency of missions to certain destinations and the number of Space-A passengers that receive seats.
Most military passenger centers maintain a web page or Facebook page where they post flight information for the next 3 days. The Space-A flight schedule lists the destinations, the number of Space-A seats planned, and the roll call time, which is the time when personnel announce the passengers' destination. travel the names of passengers selected for the flight.
(You can also get Space-A flight information and call times by calling the destination directly. Most military passengers have automatic check-in).
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Click here for a detailed explanation of where to find the Space-A flight charts and how to read them.
Within 24 hours of roll call for your target flight, proceed to the terminal and speak to the staff to indicate your attendance.
Bring your military ID, your passport (if you are traveling to/from a foreign country), and any necessary documents, such as your discharge form if you are on active duty or your sponsor's memo if you are dependent traveling alone.
You should also bring a copy of your registration email with you in case you are not in the system at the destination. Most finishers will accept your email as proof of your check-in date and time.
Space A (available) Flights
Roll call will begin. As long as you have booked in advance, there is no advantage in checking in earlier than other passengers.
Arriving an hour or two before roll call is usually enough, but around 12 hours before your flight, check times frequently to make sure roll call hasn't changed.
Many passengers have a screen or printed document near the terminal desk that shows a list of passengers currently identified as "competitors" for the flight. Make sure your name is on this list, along with the exact number of dependents traveling with you and the exact date you were registered. Alternatively, speak to terminal staff.
The time shown on the Space-A flight chart is usually the roll call time. As the roll call begins, terminal staff announce the number of Space-A seats available and read the names of the selected passengers. They start with the passengers in the lowest category (highest priority) and work down the list.
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When they sign you, go to the office and confirm that you and any dependents traveling with you are present. Show your military IDs and those of your dependents in addition to the above documents.
DoD Uniformed Services ID cards are required for all travelers over the age of 14. If you are traveling with children under the age of 14 who do not have a military ID, they must have federal, state, local, or tribal identification to the government issued.
After the roll call, you can go straight to baggage check or wait several more hours, but you don't know the time in advance.
At the time of the roll call, you must be "ready to travel". This means that you and any member of your family traveling with you are in the airport with your luggage and the necessary documents.
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Don't expect to wait until after roll call to return to your hotel or return your rental car, as you may not have time.
Note: If you are not selected on the roll call, stay in the terminal, at least until the board panels. Sometimes extra Space-A seats are released at the last minute.
Some passenger bases offer Virtual Roll Call (VRC) for some missions. In theory, having a VRC means that passengers do not need to be present at the airport for the roll call. When there is an HRV for a particular flight, this information is indicated on the flight schedule.
With VRC, you
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