Traveling Conditions
What’s a category? I’m glad you asked… Passengers are filed into categories that fit the reason for their travel. This helps the terminals determine who gets on the flight when there is more people or cargo than seats or space on the flight. Duty passengers or cargo always trump active duty personnel or dependents flying on regular leave, understandable of course.
Dependents are not usually allowed to use Space-A travel without their Active Duty Service Member except for certain situations. Exemptions are listed clearly on the official AMC terminal webpage.
Active Duty members must be on leave (with paperwork) to sign up and fly Space-A. This includes the return flight. You must have an active leave chit in hand. I advise using a sizable chunk of leave to make sure you are able to make it to your destination and back using Space-A flights. The smallest chunk of time we will even consider to travel round trip is two and a half weeks.
Other handy paperwork to have when preparing for a jaunt in a cargo plane: Active duty and Dependent Military I.D., copy of Birth Certificates, Social Security numbers for everyone in your party, even if they are small children!! See the AMC terminal page for documentation needed if flying overseas or without the service member.
Whew – I think I need a cigarette, this is turning into one looooong post.. Just keep thinking about the savings here – I know this seems like a TON of work!
Another thing to think about are the baggage limitations for specific aircraft. You may be able to bring a heavy bag out with you but if the return flight is an aircraft with a much lower weight limit you will be deciding if you want to throw out our favorite pair of espadrilles or your expensive cosmetics, a situation no girl wants to find herself in. Plus its easier if you pack light to be ready to pick up and go at a moments notice!
Ready to hear more of the benefits of this type of travel? If you’re still reading then you either think that I’m crazy for flying this way but just can’t look away, or “free” had you at hello.
In The Air…
Once your plane is at altitude, generally the crew will invite you to roam around for the remainder of the flight. On a cargo plane without cargo this means your kids can play football back there (seriously we have done it!) and run around without being a bother. Matchbox cars are the perfect size to pretend the metal stripes and decking are tiny roads to drive around. We pack blankets, and pillows, have a family picnic with the meal we brought, or purchase a box lunch IF available. then spread out, lay down, and stretch out for naps. Sometimes you can go up to the cockpit and hang out with the pilots , just ask the flight crew because it varies.
If you have little kids then this next one is a huge bonus. You must wear hearing protection in flight. The crew or terminal will provide foam ear plugs or you can wear your own. On our first Space-A flight my daughter, Mia, was just two years old. Predictably she was already tired and cranky by the time we got on the plane and, as soon as we got seated she started screaming. Ordinarily this would be the kiss of death for parents on a commercial airliner. On this aircraft people thought she was cute. To others she looked like a tired kid with a mute button, and five minutes after liftoff she was deep asleep. Parental Bliss. This plus not having to contain your wiggly six year old in a space too small for an adult to sit comfortably is the number two reason why we choose to use this method of travel.
Depending on your plane, schedule, and winds aloft, you can be coast to coast in 4.5 hours.
Still not convinced? Don’t like using base services? Then you’re missing out. Every passenger terminal I have visited has been sooo nice and clean. Play areas, free wifi, USO snack areas, access to outlets to charge up your tablet, phone, and laptop… plus the customer service is awesome! The people who are stationed at the terminals try to help you in any way they can. Note: they cannot control when a flight is, where it goes, or let you know more than 72 hours out what the schedule is (largely because they don’t know – no one does).
