General Information
-
Space-available travel is a privilege (not an entitlement)
that accrues to Uniformed Services members as an avenue of
respite from the rigors of Uniformed Services duty. Retired
Uniformed Services members are given the privilege in
recognition of a career of such rigorous duty and because
they are eligible for recall to active duty. The underlying
criteria for extending the privilege to other categories of
passengers is their support to the mission being performed
by Uniformed Services members and to the enhancement of
active duty Service members' quality of life.
-
Space available passengers travel only after all duty cargo
and passengers have been accommodated. All available seats
are released, but there is no guaranteed movement in the
preferred time frame, Have
sufficient funds available to complete travel using
commercial transportation if necessary.
-
Space available (Space A) eligible travelers may not use
their privilege for personal gain or in connection with
business enterprises or employment. Space
A travel may not be used to
establish a home or when international or theater
restrictions prohibit such travel.
-
Family members may travel within the CONUS when accompanied
by their sponsor
-
Space A seats are normally identified as early as 2-3 hours
and as late as 30 minutes prior to departure. Recommend
checking with the passenger service center for the space
available show time prior to departing the terminal. Be
ready for immediate processing and boarding.
-
Travelers are assigned a category (see below) upon
registering for travel and compete for seats within
categories based on the date and time of registration. This
date and time of sign-up is valid through to the final
destination; a new date and time are assigned for return
travel. Travelers may stand by for any available flight.
-
Space required passengers or cargo may require the removal
of Space A passengers at any point. If removed en route,
travelers may re-register with their original date and time
of registration. Passenger agents will assign a new date and
time to any country changed or added to an application.
Names of all originating space available passengers who
depart on a flight will be removed from all destinations.
Travelers should be prepared to purchase onward or return
commercial transportation, meals, and lodging.
·
Travelers remain on the register for 60 days or the duration
of their leave orders or authorization, whichever occurs
first.
If you have questions or comments, please contact an AMC
supervisor or use AMC Form 253, Air Passenger Comment,
available in every major AMC operating location.
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.
The following documentation is required. Please have them
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.
Categories of travel.
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.
Category 1-
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 :
·
U.S.
citizen civilian employees of the Uniformed Service, stationed
overseas
·
U.S.
citizen civilian employees of the DoD stationed overseas and
paid from NAF, or
·
American Red Cross full-time paid personnel serving with a DOD
Component overseas.
Category 2 -
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.
Category 3
– 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.
Category 4
– 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.
Category 5 –
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
Category 6 –
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.
Baggage.
Each passenger may check two pieces of checked baggage, 70
pounds each, up to 62 linear inches in size (L+W+H). 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 on the passenger cabin area. Hand-carried items will
bo longer than 45 linear inches
and must fit under the passenger’s seat or in the overhead
compartment, if available.
NOTE:
Baggage weight may be limited due to type of aircraft or other
restrictions.
Space A FAQ.
People not familiar with the Space A system often do not know
the questions to ask to make their travel easier. The
following are some of the most common Space A questions and
their answers:
Question 1: Is Space A travel a reasonable substitute for
travel on a commercial airline?
Answer: The answer depends on you! If your travel schedule is
flexible and finances permit for a stay (sometimes in a
"high-cost" area), while awaiting movement, space available
travel is a good travel choice. While some travelers sign up
and travel may be the same day, many factors could come
together to make buying a commercial ticket your best or only
option. Remember, Space A travel success depends on
flexibility and good timing.
Question 2: Who determines eligibility to fly Space A?
Answer: The four Services jointly establish Space
A eligibility.
DoD’s first responsibility is airlifting official DoD
traffic. Space A passengers are accommodated only after
official duty passengers and cargo.
Question 3: How long does my name stay on the Space A list?
Answer: 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.
Question 4: What is country sign-up, and how does it affect
me?
Answer: Under this program, you may sign up for five different
countries rather than five different destinations. You are
also eligible for the "ALL" sign-up which makes you eligible
for all other destinations served. This gives you a greater
selection of destinations from which to choose.
Question 5: What is remote sign-up?
Answer: 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.
Question 6: What is self sign-up?
Answer: 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.
Question 7: How can I find where my name is on the Space A
register?
Answer: 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.
Question 8: As a Reservist, where can I fly?
Answer: Reserve members with DD Form 2 (Red) identification
and DD Form 1853 may fly to, from, and between Alaska, Hawaii,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
CONUS. Additionally, when on active duty, members may fly
anywhere overseas that DoD has flights operating.
Question 9: As a Retiree, where can I fly?
Answer: Retired members with DD Form 2 (Blue) identification
card may fly anywhere DoD has flights operating, including the
CONUS.
Question 10: Where and when can my family members travel with
me?
Answer: Except EML, Emergency Travel, and Command Sponsored
Category V, family members must be accompanied by the sponsor
to fly Space A. Family members may also travel to/from and
between overseas locations.
Question 11: Can I have family members travel with another
military member if given power of attorney, other releases, or
authority?
Answer: No. Family members may only travel when accompanied by
their sponsor.
Question 12: I am disabled. Can I have a brother, sister,
or friend accompany me to help me?
Answer: The only persons permitted to accompany you are your
dependents (not in the CONUS) or other persons eligible for
Space A travel. Every effort shall be made to transport
passengers with disabilities who are otherwise eligible to
travel. Passenger service personnel and crew members shall
provide assistance in boarding, seating, and deplaning
passengers with special needs.
Question 13: Do I have to be in uniform to travel?
Answer: Each Service determines their own
travel uniform policies. Currently, all the services permit
appropriate civilian attire on DoD-owned or controlled
aircraft. When civilian clothing is worn, use common sense.
Attire should be in good taste and not in conflict with
accepted attire in the overseas country of departure, transit,
or destination, as defined by the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide.
It should also be capable of keeping you warm, especially on
military aircraft.
Question 14: How much baggage can I take?
Answer: As a Space A traveler, you may check two pieces of
luggage at 70 pounds each per person. Family members traveling
together may pool their baggage allowance as long as the total
does not exceed the total allowance. You may hand carry only
what fits under your seat or in the overhead compartment, if
available.
Question 15: Can I pay for excess baggage when flying space
available?
Answer: No. Only duty status passengers may pay for excess
baggage.
Question 16: Do you have any recommendations on baggage?
Answer: Yes. 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.
Question 17: Can my pet travel with me on a Space A flight?
Answer: 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.
Question 18: Will Space A travel cost much?
Answer: 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.
Question 19: What facilities are available at terminals
(nursery, BX, snack bar)?
Answer: 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.
Question 20: What are the trends in the availability of
Space A travel? Does it seem as if there will be more or less
Space A travel in the coming year?
Answer: Although AMC has led efforts to improve Space A travel
in the past few years, movement still remains a result of
unused seats. Present DoD personnel and budget trends are
affecting Space A movement opportunity. AMC is dedicated to
putting a passenger in every available seat.
Question 21: What is the best time of the year to travel
Space A?
Answer: Any time other than peak travel and holidays
(December-January and June-July) periods.
Question 22: Is it easier to go to some destinations?
Answer: Yes. Places where we fly often (Germany) are much
easier than low frequency areas (Australia or New Zealand).
Question 23: Can people travel Space A to Alaska or South
America?
Answer: Yes. Travelers may obtain Space A travel to Alaska,
South America, and other interesting locations; i.e.,
Australia, New Zealand, etc. Travel to Alaska when departing
from the West Coast (Travis AFB, California, and McChord AFB,
Washington). Travel to South America and other remote areas
is much more difficult. Infrequent
flights to remote areas are primarily cargo missions and have
few seats available for passenger movement. Expect long
waiting periods for movement.
Question 24: I am retired and am traveling on a passport
and my flight originated overseas. Where in the CONUS can I
fly into?
Answer: When traveling on a passport (family members, retired
uniform service, reserve, etc.), you may return to the CONUS
only through authorized ports of entry where customs and
immigration clearance is available. While you may depart the
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.
Question 25: Can I fly on Space A on other than AMC
flights?
Answer: Yes. Travel eligibility is for all DoD-owned or
controlled aircraft.
Question 26: Can I call the bases for flight information?
If so, what are the phone numbers?
Answer: We encourage you to call the passenger terminal you
plan on traveling through 30-60 days before travel. The
terminal will be happy to discuss their flight schedule, Space
A backlog, movement forecast, etc. If you don’t have the
phone number, ask the base operator for the passenger
terminal.
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 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.
|
