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Military Space-Available Travel

There is no charge for personnel traveling in government owned aircraft. However, if a Space-A flight is made on a commercial contract carrier, a fee will be assessed - fee is variable (approximately $15-30) depending on the port. There is also a fee for meals served aboard military aircraft.

Space required passengers or cargo may require the removal of Space A passengers at any point. If removed en route, you may reregister with your original date and time of registration. Passenger Service will assign a new date and time to any country or destination you change or add on your application.

Always be prepared to purchase onward or return commercial transportation, meals, and lodging.  Remember Space A seats are normally identified as early as 2-3 hours and late as 30 minutes prior to departure. It is recommended you check with the passenger service center for the space available show time for the flight you wish to take.

AMC Passenger Terminals
Air Mobility Command (AMC) Passener Terminals are located at US Air Force airfields where a Space-A flights transit through.  Your best bet when searching for a Space-A flight is to contact the AMC Passenger Terminal at a large Air Force hub -- however, there can be Space-A flights available at virtually any US Air Force, Navy, Army, or Marines airfield.  Check out our list of worldwide AMC Passenger Terminals and their contact information below.  Contact the AMC Passenger Terminal that is closest to you and inquire about their scheduled flights.

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.

Space-A Eligibility
The following types of travelers are authorized to use Space-A airlift.  Required documentation for each traveler is also listed below. Please have those documents ready for review when selected for travel:

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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).
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Family Members of Uniformed Services Members: DD Form 1173, United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card.
9. EML Travelers: EML travel orders issued in accordance with Combatant Command procedures.

Space A Travel Categories
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.

Military Personal Loans - 24 Hour Service

There can be drawbacks to Space-A travel. As a Space-A traveler, your flight request is processed on a first-in, first-out basis within your assigned category of travel. You must be aware of the following facts when you decide to fly Space-A:

Official duty passengers and priority cargo have priority over Space-A passengers. If your flight has more than one leg, you can get bumped off of your plane at the end of any leg.

• Reservations cannot be made for any portion of a trip. Flexible travel plans are necessary.
• Reservists and retirees are classified as Category VI passengers.
• Long, uncomfortable and frequently costly waiting periods may be encountered at any point of your journey.
• The U.S. Government is not obligated to provide transportation for Space-A passengers to or from desired destinations.
  Summer months are peak travel times.
• You will need to travel with either a credit card or carry sufficient funds to pay for lodging, meals, local transportation, and even commercial airfare, if necessary.
• You must travel light. Only duty passengers can pay for excess baggage.

Baggage Allowances
Each passenger may check two pieces of checked baggage, 70 pounds each, up to 62 linear inches in size. Family members may pool their baggage allowances. Hand-carried baggage must fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment, if available. Standard issue B-4 duffle bags are authorized to weigh 100 pounds and still considered one piece.
Only one of these bags will be allowed.

C9 Baggage: Limited to two pieces at 55 pounds combined weight.

NOTE: Baggage weight may be limited due to type of aircraft or other restrictions. Check with your Passenger Service Center for more information.

Air Force Billeting
If you’re looking for someplace to sleep for the night, check billeting availability through the services lodging list web page.

Frequently Asked Questions
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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