Space-available travel can save money for military, families

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Space-available flights are often available on aircraft flying out of RAF Mildenhall, and are a good way for military members and their families to save money on flights back to the states or Germany.

As RAF Mildenhall is a tanker base, the selection of locations for space-A travel is limited; KC-135 Stratotankers usually only fly to McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., and MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Sometimes though, there are C-21 flights to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, which may have space available seating.

There are six categories of priority for space-A:

Category 1 - Non-funded emergency leave
Category 2 - Environmental and morale leave with sponsor
Category 3 - Ordinary leave or permissive TDY for house-hunting, or unaccompanied dependents of military members deployed for at least 365 days (requires a letter signed by the sponsor's commander)
Category 4 - Unaccompanied dependents of military members deployed for at least 120 days, including Reserve and Guard personnel (requires a letter signed by the sponsor's commander)
Category 5 - Command-sponsored dependents travelling without their sponsor (requires a letter signed by the sponsor's commander), permissive TDY for house-hunting
Category 6 - Retirees

"Space-available flights are free; the only thing you have to pay for on a military flight is the meal, which is $4.25," said Master Sgt. Lloyd Hargis, 727th Air Mobility Squadron Passenger Terminal superintendent.

"Any unused seats available after all mission requirements are filled, are released to passengers," Sergeant Hargis said. "However, they must be ready to travel and have the required documents on them (ID cards, passports, leave paperwork and command-sponsorship letter if applicable).

"We also suggest that people take money for any expenses, and have enough to pay for a ticket back if required," he said.

Anyone hoping to get a space-A flight should be aware that as these are military flights, the mission can change without notice, meaning flights can be cancelled before even leaving RAF Mildenhall, or if stopping over at another base prior to arriving at their final destination, the plane could be diverted. This would mean passengers would have to find an alternative way of continuing their journey, and would have to pay for it themselves.

Baggage allowance is fairly generous on a military tanker flight - it must not exceed two checked bags per person, and each bag mustn't weigh more than 70 pounds each, or exceed 62 linear inches, plus a carry-on which must fit under the seat - some other military aircraft have a luggage allowance of just 30 pounds total (combined weight for check in and carry on). Also, most commercial flights have a lower weight limit as well.

Information on upcoming flights can be obtained up to 72-hours in advance if enquiring face-to-face in the passenger terminal. If given over the phone, information will only be provided 24-hours in advance.

Times provided are "roll call," which is conducted two hours prior to aircraft block time. Passengers are selected for a flight based on their travel category, and the date and time they signed up.

"We just ask people to have patience, time and extra money," said Sergeant Hargis. "Usually we get everybody out, but sometimes it might take a couple of days; there's usually about 10 seats available per flight on a tanker."

Editor's note: For more information, call the passenger terminal at DSN 238-2248.

(Information provided by the 727th AMS Passenger Terminal)