Hey Y’all,
Those who know me personally know that I recently had to take an impromptu trip back to the states because of a family emergency. In order to get to and from the states without paying GOBBS of money, I’ve had to test my luck getting a Space Available (Space A) military flight. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, don’t panic, I’m going to explain it to you. Space A is a wonderful program where members of the Armed Forces and their families can fill extra seats on military flights, FO FREE. Although, its not always so. So, I’m going to share a few tips with you guys that have either been passed down from much wiser travelers or from events that I have experienced myself, but don’t let me fool you. I’ve only done this once. Hopefully this will help all you future Space A travelers instead of scare you away from the process. Here goes:
This is how the process works:
1.) Command Sponsorship:Get in touch with your active duty member’s commander and request a command sponsorship letter for Space A travel.
2.)Find Your Terminal: Find the closest Space A provider and obtain their phone number and email address. Most Space A passenger terminals have a Facebook page with their contact information and updates on flight information. (These pages will be your lifeline in the Space A game) Its helpful to find multiple Space A terminals in your area if possible.
3.) Sign Up: Send your information to the passenger terminal email in which you wish to leave and return. You must attach your command sponsorship letter to your email. Sign up at all of the surrounding terminals just in case there is an influx of passengers at your desired terminal or your terminal is a hub for Space A travel. This is the information you will want to provide in your sign up email:Name:
Doe, Jane K
Rank: Spouse
SSN: 123-45-6789
Seats Required:1
Travel Status: Cat 5
Branch of Service: Army (or your branch if different)
Date Leave Begins: (active military members only)
Date Leave Ends: (active military members only)
Country Choices: list up to 5 choices
Dependent Names/Type of Passport (US or Foreign)/Passport Numbers: US No Fee Passport #1234567890- EXP Date: 01 Jan 2014
4.) Print Off Your Confirmation or Sign Up Email: Some terminals will you send you a confirmation email but some will not. People make mistakes and emails get overlooked. If you have your confirmation email, the passenger terminal will be able to see the time and date that you signed up and it will put you in your rightful place on the list. Just make sure you have a way to prove your time/date sign up. If you do not receive a confirmation email, go ahead and give the terminal a call just to make sure you made it to their list. It’s just good to double check.
5.) Determine Time and Date of Travel: Once you have everything squared away with sign up, keep an eye on the Facebook page’s updates on flights. They only update flights 72 hours prior to departure. Once it gets close to your desired departure date, you can decide which date you would like to travel. Remember, there is a chance you won’t make it on to your first flight so look at options later in the week or at nearby terminals as well. Its important not to put all your eggs in one basket, if you can help it.
6.) Sign-In: When your date of travel finally arrives, all that is left to do is sign-in and wait for your name to be called…or not. To sign-in you should arrive 1-2 hours prior to roll call (Roll Call is the time they will begin processing Space A passengers onto the flight manifest NOT the time that the flight leaves) with your luggage (up to 2 bags of 70 lbs and a carry on unless otherwise stated) and paperwork (command sponsorship letter, passport, military ID, proof of sign up time and date) *It also doesn’t hurt to keep a copy of your spouse’s orders with you when you travel OCONUS (Outside the CONtinental United States) but its not a requirement for Space A. I might just be paranoid*
7.)
Wait for your name to be called: Once Roll Call begins you will be able to see on a monitor, in some but not all terminals, where your name falls on the Space A manifest. The manifest is put together by 6 categories. Here’s a website to help you decide which category you fall under.
http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/spaceatravelcategories.asp If your name is called then you’ve gotten a seat, but don’t celebrate to much. If someone from a higher category or someone on orders shows up, you could lose your seat on the plane. Save your celebrating for take off. If you are not called then you have to try again on the next available flight.
Here are few little tips just to keep in mind when planning to use Space A travel:
1.) PLAN AHEAD: If you want to travel overseas, it is most definitely in your favor to PLAN AHEAD. How far ahead you ask? 60 days. Once you sign up for Space A, your name will stay on the list for 60 days before you have to resubmit. Once you have a command sponsorship letter from your military member’s commander it is good for 90 days. Send that letter to the terminal (through email) you want to go through 60 DAYS in advance. I repeat 60 DAYS in advance. Like I said previously, most passenger terminals have a Facebook page where they post updated information about flights. Some terminals have some sort of routine in the flight schedule to common destinations…at least a little bit anyway. Once it starts getting down toward 50ish days your name should be close to the top of your respective category. Plan to start looking for flights about a week or 2 prior to your 60 day deadline. You don’t want to show up on the 60th day, not get a spot on the plane and have to resubmit your paperwork. Then you would fall from the top of the list to the very last one. No one likes being at the bottom of the Space A list.
2.) DON’T GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF: No matter how good of a chance you think you have of getting on a flight, don’t purchase a plane/bus/train ticket to your final destination until you are safely cruising at 30,000 feet and your steward(ess) says that you can now safely use your electronic device. You don’t want to get too hasty and lose out on money you could have saved. Yes, ticket prices are more expensive last minute most of the time, BUT some airlines will try to sell last minute tickets for cheap. On my Space A travel adventure, I never paid more than $200 on my tickets from BWI to TN and back. Make sure you utilize Kayak.com and other sites like it. Also, if you go to an airline’s ticketing counter and tell them your situation, they may give you a decent deal on a last minute flight.
3.) TRAVEL OUT OF SEASON: Do NOT think that you are going to be that one special person that gets on a flight during the first 2 weeks of June. The odds will not be ever in your favor. Summer = PCS season overseas. Not mention all those cute little kiddos are getting out of school and OCCUPYING all the seats on the plane with their CAT 3 active duty member. All of you experienced Space A flyers can relate to the deflation that comes with seeing a family of 5 signing in ahead of you. As far as I know the best time to try for Space A travel is from mid-late Aug-Nov and mid-late Jan to mid May, although you don’t want to push it with May. I would stay on the earlier side of May if I were you.
4.) BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF: You may be waiting for hours if not days, especially if you are traveling in peak season. I spent roughly 40 hours waiting at airports in the matter of 3 days trying to get on 4 different flights. If you are at a bigger airport, try and find the USO. It will be a nice place to sit and wait. They have food, TV, places to charge your electronics, baggage storage, bathrooms, child play rooms, and sleeping rooms (Based on the USO at BWI airport). Just remember to take a book or 2, a puzzle book, have something to watch or listen to on your phone or computer. You’re going to need something to keep yourself entertained. Its really just for your sanity.
5.) BE PREPARED TO FLY ON A CARGO PLANE: If you are flying Space A there is a chance that you will be flying on a military cargo plane…with cargo. Here are somethings you will want/need if this happens: You HAVE to have closed heel and closed toe shoes to fly on cargo aircraft. Make sure you have your sneakers handy. I haven’t been on one, but I have heard that they are very cold and very loud. Layers are always a good idea when flying, but make sure you have something to keep you warm. Have earplugs or something to put in your ears to help drown out the noise of the aircraft. Although, there are positives about a cargo flight as well. From what I hear, they are much more spacious. The gentlemen, who was returning home from Afghanistan, that sat next to me on my Space A trip back to the states told me that he has witnessed people throwing a football back in forth in a cargo plane as well as someone blowing up an inflatable mattress and getting a good night’s sleep on their journey. Those seem like definite perks to me.
6.) BE OPEN TO CHATTING WITH THOSE AROUND YOU: I have had so many wonderful conversations with the people around me who are also waiting for those same seats. You might think that people get competitive and envious about seats. I’m sure it happens, but it hasn’t been my experience. So many people are rooting for others to get on the flight as well as themselves. Not to mention you hear great stories and gain a new friend for the time being. You also may run into a really experienced Space A traveler who can give you tons of helpful tips and tricks. Its always nice to be able to share your experience with someone who understands whats happening. I’m a chatty person though so this one might just relate to the talkers out there.
7.) PACK SNACKS: It will make your tummy and your wallet happy if you pack your own snacks. Remember how I said that I waited approximately 40 hours at the airport? That’s a lot of meals and snacks. If you’ve never eaten at an airport before, let me just tell ya, its expensive. That’s a lot of meals and snacks that were just mediocre in which I had to pay a ridiculous amount. I wanted to order a Bloody Mary after a long day of waiting. Guess how much they wanted for a SINGLE SHOT…I’ll just take a minute to let you get you’re guess together…..$10.80! TEN FREAKIN EIGHTY!!!!! One ounce of mixed alcohol that costs pretty much $11. Excuse me, no, I’m not made of gold. Plus, you may be going to a terminal on a small Air Force Base such as Joint Base Andrews, all you can expect to find there is a vending machine. Packing your own snacks will allow you to eat the things you like and not have promise your first born child in order to fill your stomach.
8.) GET COMFORTABLE WITH REJECTION: Especially if you are traveling in peak season and a CAT 5 (dependent traveling without a spouse). You may have planned perfectly and done everything exactly like you were supposed. You still might not make it on the plane. Space A can be full of false hope. Things might be looking real good for you until you meet up for roll call and realize that there is enough people here to start a new country. Well that was slightly hyperbolic, BUT when 200 people are fighting for 93 seats it can be a little deflating. Just prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
9.) JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE CAT 1 TO YOUR DESTINATION DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE CAT 1 COMING BACK: If, God forbid, you have to utilize Space A for emergency purposes just know that you will be CAT 1 on your way out (if approved by the Red Cross), but you will not be CAT 1 on the way back. You will return to whatever category you would originally be placed in. Therefore, if you are a dependent traveling without your active duty member you will return to CAT 5. Yes, that means that you have to leave at a moments notice so your name will not be on the list for very long and most likely be farther down the list. Just be prepared for this IF you have to travel for an emergency. Here is some information about what you will need for an emergency case:
Spouse’s Name, DOB, SS#, and Unit Info (including supervisor’s name and number to either him or the staff duty desk). Loved one’s Name, DOB, location, and someone who can confirm the emergency. In your case, that would be either the hospital if she/he is there or the funeral home.
Red Cross:
German #:06371-86-7298
US toll free 24/7 #:001-877-272-7337
10.) UTILIZE MILITARY FRIENDLY RESOURCES IF NEEDED: If you are stuck and you cannot seem to get a flight to your destination, try to utilize companies that work with the military on a regular basis. I had to eventually buy a plane ticket back to Germany after waiting for a week. I purchased my ticket from SATO travel for hundreds of dollars cheaper than what I could find online. SATO travel provides state to state plane tickets for those who are PCSing within the states, but they also have a vacation aspect to their company. I love SATO because they are always extremely nice and will do what they can to get you the best price possible. Also, if you are stationed in Germany you can go through RTT travel. On Ramstein AFB there is an agency in the BX. You can contact them through email as well if you are stuck in the states and have no access to international calling. I have not used them personally for international travel, but I’ve heard that they have better rates than what you would be able to find yourself. I will add in the contact information for these resources below.
RTT Travel:
http://www.rtttravel.com
DSN 480-6330/6650
CIV 06371-46360
Fax 06371-44323
SATO Travel:
http://www.cwtsatotravel.com
tsc.us@contactcwt.com.
Help desk: 866-299-7374
Emergency assistance: 1-866-361-5078
German number: 06221 14670
Ok, well I think that about covers all the info I have for you. I really hope this is helpful for everyone out there who might be wondering about Space A and just doesn’t know how to go about it. I’m sure I’ve missed things since I have only utilized Space A this once so feel free to comment and let me know other valuable tips and tricks. I’ll make sure to add them in! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoy!
Til next time!
-Camille
the traveling walkups 