Hoping to fly space-available (Space-A) this year? If you’re traveling from the continental U.S. (CONUS), find out where you have the best chance of catching a “hop.”
Several large military passenger terminals offer the majority of Space-A opportunities from CONUS. Learn where they are, the different types of aircraft departing from each base, and their most common destinations.
Types of Aircraft Used for Space-A Flights
Before you decide where to start your Space-A journey, it’s helpful to know whether you can expect to fly on a cargo aircraft or on a Patriot Express (PE) flight. The PE, also known as “the rotator,” is a commercial chartered civilian aircraft with full in-flight service. Its mission is to transport space-required passengers to and from overseas duty stations. As with cargo flights, extra seats on the PE are often released for Space-A passengers.
Most other aircraft you will encounter when flying Space-A are cargo planes. They are loud and often very cold, but if you bring the right gear and clothing, you can have a comfortable ride, especially if you find room to stretch out on the floor or across the seats. Many experienced Space-A travelers prefer cargo flights over the PE!
Top CONUS Military Passenger Terminals and Where They Fly
Now you need to know where you have the best chance of getting a flight to the places you want to go during your military travel. Here are seven major CONUS Space-A hubs, their most frequent destinations, and the types of aircraft you can expect when “taking a hop” from these locations.
Remember, Space-A flights are mission-dependent. You may see a flight to an unexpected location, and mission needs change frequently, but the destinations below are the most frequent in recent months.
Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Washington)
The Air Mobility Command (AMC) terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) is located on the concourse level next to Hawaiian Airlines. The Space-A process here is similar to that at military base terminals, but once you have your boarding pass, the rest of the experience mirrors civilian air travel.
All missions from SeaTac are Patriot Express flights, and the only destinations are Andersen AFB in Guam, Osan AB in South Korea, and four air bases in Japan.
Travis AFB (California)
Travis AFB is the top departure point for Space-A travelers heading to Hawaii, offering more flights to Joint Base (JB) Pearl Harbor-Hickam than any other CONUS location. It’s also a great option for flights to Guam or Asia. Besides SeaTac, Travis is the main hub for these destinations.
Other frequent destinations from Travis include JB Lewis-McChord, JB Elmendorf (Alaska), and occasionally, East Coast bases like Dover AFB, JB Charleston, and NAS Norfolk. Travis also has a flight to Ramstein AB every so often.
Most flights from Travis are on cargo aircraft, except for a bi-weekly Patriot Express flight to Hawaii.
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Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Washington)
Located about 30 miles south of Seattle, JB Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is another key West Coast base with Space-A flights. You will see occasional missions to Japan, Hawaii, or even locations in Europe, but most often they fly to Travis AFB, JB Elmendorf, and smaller bases throughout the U.S. Regular but less frequent flights also go to JB Andrews, JB Charleston, and Dover AFB.
Expect to fly on a cargo aircraft when departing from JBLM.
Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Airport (Maryland)
BWI is the other civilian airport in the U.S. that has an AMC terminal. Like SeaTac, all flights here are Patriot Express missions.
Most Space-A passengers from BWI can only fly to Ramstein AB (Germany) and JB McGuire (New Jersey). Other destinations are restricted.
Dover AFB (Delaware)
Dover AFB offers more Space-A opportunities to Ramstein AB than any other AMC terminal except BWI. It’s also one of the few bases with flights to RAF Mildenhall in the UK. Other common destinations from Dover include NAS Norfolk, JB Andrews, JB Charleston, Travis AFB, and JB Lewis-McChord.
Missions from Dover are on cargo aircraft.
NAS Norfolk (Virginia)
Norfolk is the best place to start your Space-A adventure if you want to fly to a base in the Mediterranean. It’s the only military passenger terminal with regular missions to Italy, Greece, and Spain. Other frequent destinations include JB Charleston, Dover AFB, Travis AFB, and NAS Jacksonville.
While many of the flights from Norfolk are rotators, Norfolk supports cargo missions as well.
Joint Base Charleston (South Carolina)
For those living in the southeastern United States, JB Charleston is the closest base with consistent Space-A opportunities. Frequent destinations include JB Andrews, Dover AFB, NAS Norfolk, Pope Army Airfield, Travis AFB, and JB Lewis-McChord.
Charleston also has occasional missions to Ramstein AB and is one of the few military passenger terminals with regular flights to the Virgin Islands and Latin America (primarily Soto Cano, Honduras). However, if you hop to one of these destinations, you may need to book a commercial flight to return to the U.S.
Expect to fly on a cargo aircraft when departing JB Charleston.
Plan Ahead for Your Space-A Flight
For a full list of military passenger terminals, check the Passenger Terminal Directory on the AMC Travel Site. Each terminal’s page provides flight schedules and other essential information. Before you travel, read your terminal’s AMC page carefully and follow any instructions pertaining to Space-A passengers.
One of the keys to a successful Space-A trip is flexibility, so you should prepare to take any flight going in the direction you want to travel.
Stay tuned for an upcoming guide to major OCONUS Space-A terminals!
Get more helpful tips for your military travel with our free guide below.
