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For most Airmen, coordinating travel arrangements is the most stressful part of a vacation. The time it takes to get from point A to point B and the associated costs add up to be significant stressors, so weighing your options is key to saving.
One valuable option exists in the form of the space-available travel program.
Space-A is a travel benefit that allows authorized passengers to occupy Department of Defense aircraft seats that are surplus after all required passengers and cargo have been accommodated. Its travel is allowed on a nonmission interference basis only, and authorized personnel include uniformed service members and their dependents, DOD civilians, and retirees and their dependents, who must be accompanied by the retiree.
The majority of Space-A flights are offered by air mobility command, and seats are normally free, with an exception to Patriot Express flights, the AMC’s commercial charter flights. These flights require a small tax be paid. However, space-available flights using military aircraft can take you worldwide including the U.S., Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Japan and South Korea.
Of all the locations available to Space-A, however, Ramstein stands out because of the speed of its many operations. According to Staff Sgt. Sean Cyphert, 721st Aerial Port Squadron passenger service supervisor, the pace that the base’s terminal runs at makes some aspects of Space-A difficult to use on Ramstein.
“Ramstein has the busiest terminal in the 435th Air Mobility Squadron, running 33 percent of the Air Force’s entire PAX mission,” Cyphert said. “Because we are usually processing multiple flights at once, using some services, such as virtual roll call, isn’t plausible.”
Because of this, Cyphert believes passengers should exercise patience when using Space-A.
“We’re not a business or a company, and we cannot guarantee you a flight due to the nature of the mission,” Cyphert said.
Although the service requires more patience than booking a flight with commercial airline, according to Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pacheco, Bravo Company 213 Aviation Regiment instructor writer, it has been well worth it.
“Me and my entire family have travelled through Space-A three times now,” Pacheco said. “We’ve managed to save thousands of dollars.”
When it comes to travelling, there are many ways to get around the world. For those willing to be flexible with their transportation, Space-A can provide an easy and very cheap solution to travelling woes.
There are three ways of registering your name in the Space-A system. The first two are visiting the Ramstein Passenger Terminal’s service desk or calling 479-4440. The third option is to register online.
It is important to note, active duty service members must ensure they are signed out on leave before signing up for Space-A. To sign up for Space-A online, follow these instructions:
1) Visit www.ramstein.af.mil/units/ramsteinabpassengerterminal and click the “Space Available Sign Up” link.
2) Input your information per the template provided in the email that pops up then send it to the address that has been automatically filled into the email.
3) You are responsible for tracking which flights come in. You can do this by calling the PAX or by visiting their Facebook page, which provide the arrival dates for inbound flights as well as a 72-hour departure schedule for outbound ones.
4) Passengers must attend roll call at PAX three and a half hours prior to departure.
When it comes to scheduling your vacations, planning travel is just as important as it is stressful. Having a wide venue of options can help this process, and Space-A is a money saving option available for members within the KMC. If you can stay patient and open minded, the possibilities of where it can take you are literally around the world.
