Lois Larson
Space-A flights, formally known as Military Airlift Command or MAC flights, are a great option for service members and their families to travel at a free or reduced cost. Space-A flights are not commercial but rather military flights with a mission, and therefore have certain restrictions. While Space-A flights are a cost-effective way to travel, they require patience and flexibility as they may not always fly to your desired destination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can use Space-A flights? | Service members, retirees, and their families |
| What are the requirements? | Registration, flight schedule and checking-in information, travel eligibility, locations, and required travel documents |
| What is the cost? | Free or at a reduced cost |
| What is the process? | Sign up at all potential terminals, check terminal's online schedule frequently, board according to travel category, collect boarding pass and check luggage |
| What are the restrictions? | Military flights with a mission, not commercial, certain geographic restrictions |
| What are the benefits? | Discounted rates on flights and checked baggage, bypass long security lines |
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What You'll Learn
- Space-A flights are free for military service members and their families
- Space-A flights are unpredictable and subject to change
- Space-A flights are not commercial and have a specific mission
- Space-A passengers are placed into six categories based on status and situation
- Space-A passengers must register at every terminal they might fly from
Space-A flights are free for military service members and their families
Space-Available flights, or Space-A flights, are an excellent way for military service members and their families to travel at a free or reduced cost. Space-A flights are not commercial but rather military flights with a mission, and only service members, retirees, and their families are eligible.
To be eligible for Space-A travel, military service members and their families must sign up in advance and are placed into one of six categories that determine priority for a flight. The categories are based on status (e.g. active-duty member, DoDDS teacher, etc.) and situation (e.g. emergency leave, ordinary leave, etc.). Once accepted for a flight, a passenger may not be "bumped" by another passenger, regardless of category.
Military family members up to the age of 23 with a valid ID card can accompany their sponsor (the service member) on Space-A flights when the sponsor is on ordinary leave between overseas and the Continental United States (CONUS). Family members under 18 must be accompanied by an adult family member. Dependents of military members deployed for more than 30 consecutive days can also fly. Unaccompanied family members aged 18 or older can travel on EML orders.
Space-A flights are a great option for military families with flexible plans and limited travel budgets. With the right planning and documentation, Space-A travel can be a fantastic way for military families to see the world.
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Space-A flights are unpredictable and subject to change
Space-A flights, also known as Military Airlift Command (MAC) flights, are an inexpensive way for service members and their families to travel. However, these flights are subject to change and are unpredictable for several reasons. Firstly, flight schedules are typically posted only 72 hours in advance, and seats are not guaranteed. The number of available seats may not be known until the flight's "Roll Call" just before departure, and passengers are selected based on a priority system that considers urgency, eligibility, and
Secondly, Space-A flights are not commercial flights; they are military flights with a mission. This means that space-required cargo and passengers take priority in the planning process, and there is no consideration given to potential Space-A travellers during this stage. As a result, Space-A travellers may experience abrupt changes to their travel plans, even while in-flight.
Thirdly, military flights are subject to delays caused by severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, just like commercial flights. Finally, Space-A travellers must be flexible and patient as these flights may be cold, loud, and uncomfortable, lacking the amenities typically found on commercial flights.
Overall, while Space-A flights offer a cost-effective way to travel, they are unpredictable and subject to change due to various factors, including seat availability, flight planning, delays, and the nature of the military aircraft.
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Space-A flights are not commercial and have a specific mission
Space-A flights, also known as "MAC flights" or "military hops", are not commercial flights. They are military operational flights with a specific mission and extra seats. The military mission is always the priority, and Space-A passengers are essentially treated as cargo. Space-A flights are typically free of charge, except for Patriot Express (PE) flights, where passengers must pay a small per-person tax.
Space-A passengers are divided into six categories or "Cats", with Category 1 being the highest priority and Category 6 the lowest. Available seats are first offered to travellers in the lower-numbered categories, and any remaining seats can be used by travellers in the higher-numbered, lower-priority categories. The priority within each category is based on the signup date.
To be eligible for Space-A flights, you must be a service member, retiree, or a family member of a service member. Reservists, National Guardsmen, and family members without an accompanying active-duty sponsor are also eligible, but only under certain circumstances. To sign up for a Space-A flight, you must fill out AMC Form 140, the Space-A Travel Request, online and email it to your desired Air Mobility Command (AMC) passenger terminal. Most terminals have a Facebook page where they post flight information, including their 72-hour flight schedule.
Space-A travel is perfect for those with flexible plans and limited travel budgets. However, it requires patience and flexibility, as flights can be unpredictable, with potential delays, maintenance issues, or last-minute cancellations.
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Space-A passengers are placed into six categories based on status and situation
Space-A travel, also known as space-available travel, is a means of travel for members of the United States Uniformed Services and their families. Space-A passengers are placed into six categories based on their status and situation. These categories determine the priority of movement, with travellers in lower-numbered categories taking precedence. The categories are as follows:
Category III:
This category includes active-duty members on emergency leave. Due to the urgent nature of their travel, they are given the highest priority. Accompanied EML (Environmental Morale Leave) for active-duty members and their dependents also falls into this category.
Category III:
Ordinary leave, relatives, house-hunting permissive temporary duty, Medal of Honor holders, and foreign military personnel are included in this category.
Category V:
This category includes permissive temporary duty (non-house hunting), students, dependents, post-deployment/mobilization respite absence, and others.
Category VI:
Retired military members, their dependents, reservists, veterans with a permanent service-connected disability, and surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty are included in this category.
It is important to note that Space-A travel is not a commercial service, but rather military flights with a specific mission. As a result, there may be restrictions and unpredictable changes to travel plans. Proper planning, timely sign-up, and ensuring all documentation is in order are critical for a smooth Space-A travel experience.
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Space-A passengers must register at every terminal they might fly from
Space-A travel, or Military Airlift Command (MAC) flights, is a means of travel for members of the United States Uniformed Services, including the United States Military, reservists, retirees, and their families. Space-A passengers must register at every terminal they might fly from. This is because Space-A travel is not registration for a particular flight, but rather a way to compete for any flight with Space-A seats at a given terminal.
Registration is done via email, the MilSpaceA app, or in person, and passengers are placed on a locally managed Space-A register. The process varies depending on the location, but most locations accept signups via electronic mail, fax, or postal mail. Each passenger terminal maintains its own Space-A register, and passengers are placed on this register using their category of travel, signup date, and signup time. The category of travel is determined by the passenger's status (e.g. active duty military, retired military, emergency traveller, etc.) and their situation (e.g. ordinary leave, emergency leave, etc.).
The priority for a flight is determined by the category of travel, with the lowest-numbered categories having the highest priority. Within a category, priority is given to those who signed up earliest, so it is beneficial to sign up at multiple terminals as early as possible (maximum 60 days before the travel date at most locations, and 45 days or less at some Navy bases).
Once a flight is chosen, passengers must mark themselves "present" within 24 hours of the time listed on the schedule. At the time of Roll Call, passengers must be travel ready, with all luggage and required documentation, and listen for their name to be called. If selected, they collect their boarding pass and check their luggage.
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Frequently asked questions
Space-A flights are available for service members, retirees, and their families. Certain civilians within the Department of Defense, DoD Education Activity teachers, and US citizen civilian employees of the Armed Forces are also eligible.
Space-A flights are typically free of charge. However, meals during baggage check cost $5 to $10.
Space-A travel is not a commercial airline. Military flights have a mission, which means there are certain restrictions. For example, reservists, “Gray Area” retirees, and 100% disabled veterans who are not retired from the military are restricted from flying Space-A to/from foreign countries.
