Can Mids & Cadets fly using DoD's Space-Available travel benefit? (You bet they can).

[Trest33]

Few SA mids and cadets may know that they rate relatively high "Category 3" status when flying "Space-A" on leave.

DS and I are back from a holiday adventure to Japan using DoD's scheduled "Patriot Express" flights in/out of SeaTac that fly to Japan and Korea. Other scheduled "Patriot Express" flights service Germany and the UK out of BWI. Over the winter months, many Patriot Express flights -- using chartered 767s -- are flying with empty seats.

We flew from Seattle to Okinawa. On the return, DS flew out of Yokota AB, Japan (on a rather full flight) while I went back to Okinawa to return to Seattle on a fairly empty flight.

Once mids and cadets complete the initial personnel security and health briefings, subsequent outside-US leave approval paperwork should be modest.

Helpful sites to learn the risks and rewards of Space-A travel include:

• https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/
• https://www.poppinsmoke.com/space-a-flights/

Advanced/contracted ROTC mids and cadets, too, can fly Space-A as "Category 6" but are restricted to flying to U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska) and territories.


A Christmas Day visit to the Commodore Matthew C Perry monument in Shimoda, Japan.
In 1854, Perry played a key role in opening up Japan to trade with the West.

 

[SoccerParents]

Thanks for sharing that information! What a great benefit.
However, I am disappointed that parents of Mids/Cadets/Active Duty are not the list!

 

[Trest33]

Thanks for sharing that information! What a great benefit.
However, I am disappointed that parents of Mids/Cadets/Active Duty are not the list!

Just transfer all your worldly possessions to your favorite mid/cadet/active duty member, become their formal "dependent," and you'll be able to travel with 'em in "Cat III."

 

[LV2021]

Few SA mids and cadets may know that they rate relatively high "Category 3" status when flying "Space-A" on leave.

DS and I are back from a holiday adventure to Japan using DoD's scheduled "Patriot Express" flights in/out of SeaTac that fly to Japan and Korea. Other scheduled "Patriot Express" flights service Germany and the UK out of BWI. Over the winter months, many Patriot Express flights -- using chartered 767s -- are flying with empty seats.

We flew from Seattle to Okinawa. On the return, DS flew out of Yokota AB, Japan (on a rather full flight) while I went back to Okinawa to return to Seattle on a fairly empty flight.

Once mids and cadets complete the initial personnel security and health briefings, subsequent outside-US leave approval paperwork should be modest.

Helpful sites to learn the risks and rewards of Space-A travel include:

• https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/
• https://www.poppinsmoke.com/space-a-flights/

Advanced/contracted ROTC mids and cadets, too, can fly Space-A as "Category 6" but are restricted to flying to U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska) and territories.

View attachment 13399
A Christmas Day visit to the Commodore Matthew C Perry monument in Shimoda, Japan.
In 1854, Perry played a key role in opening up Japan to trade with the West.

Few SA mids and cadets may know that they rate relatively high "Category 3" status when flying "Space-A" on leave.

DS and I are back from a holiday adventure to Japan using DoD's scheduled "Patriot Express" flights in/out of SeaTac that fly to Japan and Korea. Other scheduled "Patriot Express" flights service Germany and the UK out of BWI. Over the winter months, many Patriot Express flights -- using chartered 767s -- are flying with empty seats.

We flew from Seattle to Okinawa. On the return, DS flew out of Yokota AB, Japan (on a rather full flight) while I went back to Okinawa to return to Seattle on a fairly empty flight.

Once mids and cadets complete the initial personnel security and health briefings, subsequent outside-US leave approval paperwork should be modest.

Helpful sites to learn the risks and rewards of Space-A travel include:

• https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/
• https://www.poppinsmoke.com/space-a-flights/

Advanced/contracted ROTC mids and cadets, too, can fly Space-A as "Category 6" but are restricted to flying to U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska) and territories.

View attachment 13399
A Christmas Day visit to the Commodore Matthew C Perry monument in Shimoda, Japan.
In 1854, Perry played a key role in opening up Japan to trade with the West.

I didn't know civilians can fly on PF flights.

 

[Trest33]

I didn't know civilians can fly on PF flights.

You have to fit within one of the six categories outlined at https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/ .

I'm retired Air Force; therefore, I was competing for a seat as a Category VI traveler. Active duty on leave travel as Category III. On our Seattle-Japan-Seattle trip, we ran into another midshipman, several DoD school teachers (Category II), and, of course, scores of "Space-Required" active-duty personnel making PCS moves with tired kids, crated pets, and luggage in tow.

 

[LV2021]

My son is at USAFA. I don't think I fit into any of those categories

 

[UHBlackhawk]

One of my USNA brothers finished his youngster cruise in the Med. I forget the “where” specifics, but he bought a beat up motorcycle somewhere in Turkey. He bummed around, sold it at an airbase in Italy to an airman. He then used the proceeds to catch some MAC flights to different countries and bummed around some more. When he ran out of money he caught a MAC flight out of Germany to Dover. Hitch hiked to NYC, walked to Penn Station. He didn’t have enough money for the LIRR ticket home so he went through the pay phones. He finally found enough change for the fare home. He walked in the door with maybe a dollar in change.
Fortunately this was before smart phones so my parents were oblivious to his antics. They assumed he was on his cruise.
“Life is for the living.”

 

[Trest33]

For mids (update: all SA students and ROTC students on contract) headed into Spring Break 2023, there are currently 53 "tentative" Space-A seats Saturday morning at Dover AFB, DE, heading to Honolulu.

Get there and present yourself ahead of the 0600 roll call. Of course, check with your CO, and bring your leave paperwork. (Unfortunately, there are currently no weekend flights showing from BWI).

For the return, there are usually several flights a day heading to the Seattle-Tacoma (McChord AFB) and Sacramento (Travis AFB) areas with many empty seats. (Of course, nothing is guaranteed so bring your smartphone, credit card, and pack a dose of patience).

All Air Mobility Command terminals (AF and USN) are listed at https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Space-Available-Travel-Page/

 

[flieger83]

I did this a LOT as a 'dink...had a backpack, passport, credit card, and some cash...and a desire to return to where I lived as a kid: Europe!

 

[Gnarlygoat27]

DH space-a’d his way to Hawaii as a mid once. Had a blast. Unfortunately couldn’t get a seat home in time for reform and had to buy a super expensive ticket but still a good option in theory. I’ve space-a‘d my kids half way around the world alone to visit him when unaccompanied. That was an adventure to say the least! 32 hours with 4 stops and one still in diapers. It’s not quite as easy as being a dependent and just showing up but when all the ducks fall into their row, it’s an amazing option!

 

[Overwhelmed]

Geez, I didn't realize ROTC cadets qualified. Especially since DS didn't have PX privileges when he wanted to purchase a computer.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

DH space-a’d his way to Hawaii as a mid once. Had a blast. Unfortunately couldn’t get a seat home in time for reform and had to buy a super expensive ticket but still a good option in theory. I’ve space-a‘d my kids half way around the world alone to visit him when unaccompanied. That was an adventure to say the least! 32 hours with 4 stops and one still in diapers. It’s not quite as easy as being a dependent and just showing up but when all the ducks fall into their row, it’s an amazing option!

A trick for Hawaii to get to the mainland. Take one step back and go to Alaska, Japan, or even South Korea. Often there are more seats open from those locations.

 

[justdoit19]

One of my USNA brothers finished his youngster cruise in the Med. I forget the “where” specifics, but he bought a beat up motorcycle somewhere in Turkey. He bummed around, sold it at an airbase in Italy to an airman. He then used the proceeds to catch some MAC flights to different countries and bummed around some more. When he ran out of money he caught a MAC flight out of Germany to Dover. Hitch hiked to NYC, walked to Penn Station. He didn’t have enough money for the LIRR ticket home so he went through the pay phones. He finally found enough change for the fare home. He walked in the door with maybe a dollar in change.
Fortunately this was before smart phones so my parents were oblivious to his antics. They assumed he was on his cruise.
“Life is for the living.”

This sounds like a Steve Martin movie

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Geez, I didn't realize ROTC cadets qualified. Especially since DS didn't have PX privileges when he wanted to purchase a computer.

NROTC Midshipmen require unit signoff approval (and of course their CAC card/ clearance) before undertaking such travel - well at least at one unit I'm very familiar with. Plan accordingly.

 

[WT Door]

DH space-a’d his way to Hawaii as a mid once. Had a blast. Unfortunately couldn’t get a seat home in time for reform and had to buy a super expensive ticket but still a good option in theory. I’ve space-a‘d my kids half way around the world alone to visit him when unaccompanied. That was an adventure to say the least! 32 hours with 4 stops and one still in diapers. It’s not quite as easy as being a dependent and just showing up but when all the ducks fall into their row, it’s an amazing option!

I did this a LOT as a 'dink...had a backpack, passport, credit card, and some cash...and a desire to return to where I lived as a kid: Europe!

We took an EML space-a red-eye out of Clark AFB on a C-130 to Okinawa with follow on to Yakota. There’s nothing like having your family sitting right next to you. Especially in troop seats with a huge AF box meal all the while being able to rest your feet on an aircraft engine stand. The aircrew even provided free ear plugs. Out of NAS Sigonella, I put the family down requesting seats for the flight to Turkey. Where they ever exited! As luck would have it, and being at the end of the roll call, there weren’t enough seats for the family. I went back and told them. Dejection. After a long pause I then asked them if they wouldn’t mind going to Spain (a not yet posted flight to NAS Rota was inbound). A couple hours later the kids were at the pool and DW and I were drinking sangria with tapas. Later we drove to Sevilla and Gibraltar. You take your chances on space-a but you’ll always have a story to tell.

 

[Capt MJ]

We took an EML space-a red-eye out of Clark AFB on a C-130 to Okinawa with follow on to Yakota. There’s nothing like having your family sitting right next to you. Especially in troop seats with a huge AF box meal all the while being able to rest your feet on an aircraft engine stand. The aircrew even provided free ear plugs. Out of NAS Sigonella, I put the family down requesting seats for the flight to Turkey. Where they ever exited! As luck would have it, and being at the end of the roll call, there weren’t enough seats for the family. I went back and told them. Dejection. After a long pause I then asked them if they wouldn’t mind going to Spain (a not yet posted flight to NAS Rota was inbound). A couple hours later the kids were at the pool and DW and I were drinking sangria with tapas. Later we drove to Sevilla and Gibraltar. You take your chances on space-a but you’ll always have a story to tell.