Hundreds of military I.D. cardholders take advantage of a special
military benefit that allows a free ride on military aircraft and
charters. They’re bound for Germany, Hawaii, Japan and exotic
locations such as New Zeland for fun and adventure. But there’s a
catch. Travelers need a generous amount of patience and flexibility.
It’s called Space-A, for space available, and most travelers
don’t have to spend a dime.
Staff Sgt. Alana Green used her space-a privilege for the first
time to travel from San Antonio to Washington to spend the holidays with
her family. She seemed apprehensive sitting in the passenger service
terminal playroom with her 20-month-old son, Auden. They were waiting to
board a C-5 Galaxy bound for Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
But she had followed some primary Space-A travel rules. If she
couldn’t make a connecting flight to McChord Air Force Base, Wash.,
the same day, she had a network of family members ready to take her in
until a flight opened up.
She also allotted herself three weeks of leave for a two-week stay
just in case she needed the extra days to hop back home–since Space-A
isn’t a guaranteed process. And in a worst-case scenario, she had
cash to buy a commercial return ticket, if needed.
Trials and tribulations
John Lundeby would probably give her high marks. As acting chief of
the passenger policy branch for Air Mobility Command, he knows the ins
and outs of Space-A travel. And he’s fully aware of the trials and
tribulations of the Defense Department policy that encourages eligible
I.D. cardholders to take advantage of this “quality of life
benefit.”
“We encourage people to fly Space-A. But we also encourage
them to have a plan, be flexible and set funds aside,” Mr. Lundeby
said.
Each year thousands of active duty, family members, retirees,
students, cadets and teachers are able to take advantage of excess seats
on military aircraft through Space-A. They hop on cargo planes, tankers
and commercial charters bound for Australia, Ecuador, Germany, Hawaii,
Italy, New Zealand, Singapore and Central and South America.
Unfortunately though, loved ones who miss their deployed spouse or child
and ask to fly Space-A on a plane headed for Baghdad or Kuwait are not
allowed, said Mr. Lundeby.
For many, flying Space-A is an adventurous way of tramping around
the world. But for Pearl Willette it was more of a matter of money. She
wanted to attend a wedding in Cancun, Mexico, but lives at Camp Foster,
Japan, with her Marine husband and three children. Getting there by
commercial air would have meant more than $10,000 for a family of five.
Instead, they flew Space-A from Kadena Air Base, Japan, to Los
Angeles on the “Patriot Express,” a military charter. The
civilian airliner is used for permanent change of station moves and for
temporary duty. But if seats are available, it’s first-come,
first-served based on movement categories, for those who meet Space-A
travel requirements. In L.A., the Willettes rented a car, drove to
Houston and flew commercial to Cancun.
The family was on its way home at the Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas, passenger terminal waiting with Sergeant Green to board the C-5
to Travis. From there, their goal was to make connections to Hawaii,
Guam, South Korea and finally home. They were tired but none the worse
for wear considering the long hours spent in “pax” terminals.
Their kids napped on the floor.
Outside of sleeping the time away, Mrs. Willette has found other
ways to keep her family entertained during long waiting periods. She
suggests parents have a new toy their children can open up on the plane,
and plenty of books, CDs, electronic games–and motion sickness medicine, just in case.
Going the distance
Part of the Willettes’ success in procuring seats was that
they traveled Category 2. There are six Space-A categories to prioritize
seat assignment. Category 1 is for those on emergency leave. Category 2
is for people, like the Willettes, on environmental morale leave.
Category 3 is for active duty on leave, foreign military members and
Medal of Honor recipients.
Category 6 included military retiree Vincent Lamm and his wife,
Magda, who were attempting a hop to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, to
visit their son for Christmas. The 85-year-old retired Soldier was
optimistic about getting seats. He should know. The former master
sergeant has been on the Space-A go since retiring in Hawaii in 1975,
where he became a creative writing and English teacher at a community
college.
“As soon as school was out, the boys and I took off,” he
said. Their Space-A adventures took them to Australia, Brazil,
Argentina, Ecuador and New Zealand. “We’ve had some fantastic
experiences,” he said, calling Space-A, “the biggest fringe
benefit the military member has.”
Mr. Lamm has a big advantage over his active duty Space-A
counterparts –time. Although active duty members get 30 days of leave
each year, their vacation time is more precious, he said. Some might not
want to waste it waiting in pax terminals.
But, he stressed the virtue of patience when traveling Space-A. A
cargo plane can take off for one destination and change plans in midair
due to mission requirements. Or the plane you’ve been waiting three
days to board can be canceled at the last minute because of mechanical
problems. Maybe the 20 seats listed as available for Space-A travelers
will disappear at the last minute if extra cargo shows up. He recalled a
time sitting on a bus near an aircraft, waiting for the signal to board.
The signal never came because the crew didn’t show. Someone forgot
to give them a wake-up call.
“I’ve seen people break down and cry,” he said of
the stress such travel can cause. And he’s seen “families
battle each other” after days of hanging around a terminal waiting.
Risky but worth it
“It’s risky but with a bit of planning you can make it
work … the name says everything,” said Senior Airman Emmanuel
Monteau, a passenger service representative at Dover Air Force Base,
Del. He’s assisted as many as 300 people a day heading to Germany
aboard C-5s that can comfortably seat up to 73 passengers in the upper
bay. Space-A travelers also should be prepared for a variety of seating,
like the web seats stretched alongside the fuselage of a C-130 Hercules.
The Airman’s seen the look of anguish on the face of travelers
whose aircraft experienced a mission change after waiting three or four
days for it to launch. Others walk away disappointed because of a lack
of preparation. First-time travelers often assume just because they
signed up for Space-A, they have a reserved seat as if flying with
American Airlines, he said.
“Always have a backup plan. Always be flexible,” he
stressed.
He had a chance to practice what he preaches this year on his first
Space-A attempt with his girlfriend. He had the flight picked out from
Dover to Germany, but its mission changed and wasn’t a viable
option. A little research revealed another flight departing from McGuire
Air Force Base, N.J., which they caught and successfully pulled off
their vacation in Paris.
“Although Space-A has some ups and downs, it’s a good
opportunity. Don’t let one bad experience ruin it for you,” he
said.
For more information on travel categories and eligibility:
http://ift.tt/1wnc4Nh spacea.htm.
Tips for the traveler
Remember, traveling Space-A can cost a few bucks. Box lunches can
cost about $3.
At some overseas locations, terminals must collect a “head
tax” or a federal inspection fee, though it’s not much, said
Master Sgt. Ordena Willis. He’s the noncommissioned officer in
charge of passenger operations for Air Mobility Command’s passenger
policy branch.
“It’s still a great deal. Your best bet is to travel
during non-peak periods, you’ll find the terminals less congested and fewer people trying to fly space-A. There should be more seats
available,” he said. “But holidays and the summer are the more
difficult travel times.”
Here are other things to consider:
* Be flexible and patient.
* Have a backup plan; money for a rental car or commercial airline
ticket home.
* Bring plenty of items to keep you entertained during long wait
times.
* Stay with friends along the way and avoid expensive hotels.
* Get educated. Visit Space-A Web sites for rules, tips and contact
info for different bases.
* Question local passenger service representatives.
* Pick the brain of a retiree who has years of Space-A experience.
from Kauai i Hawaii Travel Tips http://ift.tt/1wQ36qv
via Website Design Hawaii #hawaiiwedding
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