MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Shelling out over $1,000 on commercial flights to go home on leave isn’t anything new ever since the loss of the Patriot Express. But before service members start digging in their pockets for more clams, there is another option – Space Available Travel.
“Space A Travel is when active duty service members, family members and Department of Defense civilians use military aircraft to get from one point to another at a reduced cost,” said Master Sgt. Renata Williamson, Air Terminal staff non commissioned officer-in-charge and native of Harvey, La. “Space A Travel on military aircraft is free.”
When military aircraft like a C-12 or KC-130, come through Iwakuni, there is a chance it could become available for Space A Travel. After all passengers and duty cargo have been accommodated, and certain conditions have been met, Space A Travel becomes available.
According to Williamson, utilizing Space A Travel can be a step in the right direction for service members who want to save money on their transportation when they go on leave and visit home.
“Right now Yokota and Kadena still have the Patriot Express, so if you want to get to one of those places, you can catch a free flight from here (using Space A Flights) ,” said Williamson.
Another good use for Space Available Travel is for dependents, said Sgt. Dyren L. Baldwin, Air Terminal non commissioned officer-in-charge and native of Atlanta.
“It makes it cheap to travel,” said Baldwin. “Let’s say you’re a service member based here and go on a UDP (Unit Deployment Program) to Kadena or Hawaii. (Space Available Travel) gives your family members the opportunity to come and see you for free.”
However there are disadvantages to the program.
“It is risky when you go on Space A Flights,” said Baldwin. “It is not always a guarantee. At times when aircraft come in, the pilots may or may not be able to take passengers. You are taking the chance of not being able to get to your destination on that particular date and most cases the next day or day after. It may be convenient, but it also has its drawbacks.”
Service members who plan on using Space A Travel have to be on leave and have leave papers before they can sign up for a flight. Military dependents traveling without their sponsor may sign up on the effective date of unfunded environmental morale leave orders or authorized documentation such as a command letter.
As long as service members plan ahead, Space A Travel will help them keep their wallets closed instead of having to spend hard earned cash on a commercial flight.
“Space A is a give or take situation. It can be a positive to some and it can also be a negative at the same time,” said Baldwin. “The best tip I can give is to plan accordingly, because flights are not a concrete guarantee.”
Service members who want to sign up for a flight can either sign up in person at the Air Terminal or fax their orders at 253-4294.
For information on upcoming flight schedules, check out the commander’s channel 17 or call the Air Terminal at 253-5509.