Responses: 24
I've used them several times. They work great if you get to a base where they have a lot of flights going where you want to go or even close. For instance, when I couldn't get a direct flight to Italy, I took a flight to Germany then took a $20 train ride to my destination in Italy. I believe it's one of the least used and best benefits available. Combine it with military recreational hotels all around the world and you've got an even better bang for your buck! All it takes is a little pre-planning and contingency funds to fly back commercially if you have a deadline to get back home. I haven't done it since 1990, but at that time dependents could only fly MAC OCONUS and back unless your under orders or stationed overseas. I had to drive from Miami, FL to Charleston, SC to catch a flight to Germany with my children. We got a flight back to Dover, DE where we had to get a shuttle to Baltimore Washington airport for a commercial flight back to our car in Charleston. It was still a bargain trip. Flexibility and extra time is the key.
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SSG Steven E.
Thanks for the info MCPO Katrina Hutcherson , your trip sounded like it was a lot of fun.. It seems that Germany is one of the best OCONUS destinations when using Space A..
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I used Space A for the first time right before I retired. We flew from Joint Base Leeis-McChord to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The whole experience was great. Even though we had to wait for flights, we met great people wiling to help us out. The only downside was the waiting; but you have to expect that. I will say I would never do it with a baby. Although she passed out with a pair of noise cancelling headphones on a C-17, the logistics of the whole thing is rather difficult. Now that I am retired, I'm now at the bottom of the pecking order for Space A flights. It's nice to have that option, but we'll have to make plans for off-season flights.
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SFC Jim Ruether
I flew on a C-130 from Mpls. MN with the 133rd Tactical ALW and we flew to San Antonio TX . We checked in with the 133rd by phone to confirm our flight and then headed to the Twin Cities (2.5hr drive) got on the plane and flew down with no issues sitting in the web sling seats along the wall. Hearing protection is a must and required actually before you board. Our aircraft was diverted however on our return flight back to Minnesota as ammunition was needed in Panama that day and our plane got the mission. We overnighted and flew out the next day when they returned from their mission. No Problem!
I would bring a credit card with just in case the return flight doesn't materialize and you need to buy a commercial flight home instead.
I would bring a credit card with just in case the return flight doesn't materialize and you need to buy a commercial flight home instead.
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SFC Brian Bourque
SSG Steven E. - That's exactly what they were: Seats in a giant cargo aircraft. It was a comfortable flight and we could recline the seats. My wife was in awe since she never flew on a military aircraft, let alone a C-17.
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Only once and it was an ill conceived mission from the get go on my part.
I had a time sensitive need to be someplace.. a Halfwit plan to get there anyway should I get stranded enroute waiting for a Space A flight. and said Halfwit plane was needed. The trip took twice as long as needed via straight com airflight, and cost me more over all as well.
And all of that was my fault. The MAC folks were awesome and accommodating the process easy to understand and use.
Fast forward 20 years and retired Still will not use it as there is no place I don't need to be in a specific time frame.......if ..IF I SAY.. I ever get to the point i'm not so busy with jobs, tasks places to be and I just want to get to Germany "sometime next week...or so" I will use Space A if it is still available.
I had a time sensitive need to be someplace.. a Halfwit plan to get there anyway should I get stranded enroute waiting for a Space A flight. and said Halfwit plane was needed. The trip took twice as long as needed via straight com airflight, and cost me more over all as well.
And all of that was my fault. The MAC folks were awesome and accommodating the process easy to understand and use.
Fast forward 20 years and retired Still will not use it as there is no place I don't need to be in a specific time frame.......if ..IF I SAY.. I ever get to the point i'm not so busy with jobs, tasks places to be and I just want to get to Germany "sometime next week...or so" I will use Space A if it is still available.
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SSG Steven E.
Thanks SGM Erik Marquez for the insight, the uncertainty of the arrival times at the intended destinations seem to be the collective downside amongst everyone to that mode of travel..
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