Checklist for Your Best Space-A Travel Experience

While stationed in Guam, our family of six took the opportunity to travel "Space-A" (Space Available) several times. Strapped into the cargo hold of a noisy, cold C-17 was quite the adventure for our young children. And while it wasn't necessarily an easy or convenient experience for the adults involved, the price was certainly right!

Have you traveled Space-A? If so, then you know there are lots of steps leading up to a successful flight. If you haven't yet forayed into the world of Space-A travel, then you may be wondering what it's all about.

Either way, MilitaryByOwner has got you covered with loads of resources for your military family's travels!

How Space-A Travel Works

Space-A Travel is a privilege extended to service members and certain other categories (dependents, retirees) for military flights with extra seats open, i.e. "space available." While the flight is free, as with all things military-related, there are certain requirements and paperwork you'll need to complete in advance.

As noted in our newest ebook, Guide to Military Family Travel, Space-A is inexpensive but only works if you have some flexibility with your travel dates. MilitaryByOwner's post "Space-A Travel Tips" suggests starting with these sites to familiarize yourself with the process.

Air Mobility Command: The official site of Space-A.
Military Spouse: Easy-to-read review of the process.
Military OneSource: A guide to understanding Space-A travel.
Space-A Travelers of the USA: closed Facebook (so ask to join well in advance) group that offers advice from regular flyers.
SpaceA.net: All-encompassing third party page about Space-A.
MilitaryByOwner has its own firsthand account of Space A travelers, as well as many more travel related posts.

Have you traveled Space-A? How was your experience? We'd love to hear YOUR tips and tricks!

For more information on Space-A and other military family travel tips including discounts, destinations, cool stops and side trips, and much more, download this FREE resource, the latest in MilitaryByOwner's series of E-books.

Author

Jen McDonald

Jen McDonald is the Content Editor for MilitaryByOwner Advertising. She's an experienced editor and the award-winning author of the books YOU ARE NOT ALONE: ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE HEART OF A MILITARY SPOUSE and MILSPOUSE MATTERS: SHARING STRENGTH THROUGH OUR STORIES. Jen is the host of the Milspouse Matters podcast, and has written hundreds of articles and essays which have been published in other books and numerous publications. She was a military spouse for 30 years and is the mom of four, including one son in the military. One of her happiest roles now is being a grandmother. She and her veteran Air Force husband have been stationed all around the world from Europe to the Pacific and won’t count how many houses they’ve lived in because that would be too depressing. Her passion is encouraging young military spouses and regularly sharing about topics like military life, parenting, homeschooling...and now grandparenting! See more from Jen at her site, Jen McDonald and find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and Pinterest.