Have any of you ever used Space A flights before? If so, how was your overall experience?

2016-04-27T00:27:21-04:00

Response by SFC Brian Bourque made Apr 27 at 2016 12:34 AM

2016-04-27T00:34:26-04:00

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.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Apr 27 at 2016 1:28 AM

2016-04-27T01:28:18-04:00

After graduation and commissioning flew to Germany on a C5. Made my way back to DC and then took a train back to UMASS to drive south for OBC. I had a great experience. The flight Engineer was a college friend of mine which made the trip enjoyable from the cockpit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 1:49 AM

2016-04-27T01:49:37-04:00

I used it when I was stationed in Germany and South Korea, and flew on a C-17, commercial plane and C-5A.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 27 at 2016 8:30 AM

2016-04-27T08:30:38-04:00

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.

Response by MCPO Katrina Hutcherson made Apr 27 at 2016 4:21 PM

2016-04-27T16:21:44-04:00

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.

Response by PO3 Nathaniel Allen made May 29 at 2019 8:34 PM

2019-05-29T20:34:49-04:00

Yes
It was Great C-130 out Minnesota to California
747 From San Francisco Airport To Los Angeles

Response by SMSgt Marcus Hall made May 29 at 2019 9:22 PM

2019-05-29T21:22:14-04:00

I flew from England To California. It was during the Holidays so it was crowded but. Made it home. I also did Space A from OKC to Hawaii. No problems.

Response by PO3 Steven Roberts made May 29 at 2019 9:41 PM

2019-05-29T21:41:14-04:00

How does one go about getting a space a flight ticket anyways?

Response by A1C Jerri Hansen made May 29 at 2019 9:51 PM

2019-05-29T21:51:44-04:00

Never used to date.

Response by CPL Felecia Lambert made May 29 at 2019 10:10 PM

2019-05-29T22:10:47-04:00

It was rough!!Especially with my two children in tow on a C140 to Alaska

Response by MSgt Roger Hubert made May 29 at 2019 10:59 PM

2019-05-29T22:59:37-04:00

Yes. It was a great experience!

Response by 1LT Phil Robertson made May 30 at 2019 1:07 AM

2019-05-30T01:07:38-04:00

Once, early 1980's. Got a Air National Guard hop in Kansas to Hawaii. Had set-up job interviews for the weekend (I use to live there when I was younger). Had friend in Navy that set-up housing in staff duty quarters and a tour on a nuclear sub. Got a flight straight back to Kansas. Wonderful weekend. Maybe easier back then, but great adventure.

Response by PFC Anthony Rivera made May 30 at 2019 2:04 AM

2019-05-30T02:04:56-04:00

Yes, from Pusan Korea to San Antonio TX..and from Ft Sam Houston to Oklahoma and then to Tachikawa AFB, then to kimpo AFB Korea during the Vietnam war , first C130..then hopped on a military private jet to Kimpo AFB.

Response by 1LT Cynthia Eddy made May 30 at 2019 5:33 AM

2019-05-30T05:33:56-04:00

My experience was great overall meet great people and it’s always an adventure.

Response by SGT Roger Worley made May 30 at 2019 7:45 AM

2019-05-30T07:45:52-04:00

Response by SFC Cristino Corchado made May 30 at 2019 11:57 AM

2019-05-30T11:57:10-04:00

Excellent. We (my wife and myself) flew back from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. We took a hop in a C-17 From the old Ramey Air Force Base in PR to Charleston, SC. The military personnel were just incredible and very helpful. That was the only way to get out of the island, because the island airports were closed.

Response by PO3 Manuel Flores made May 30 at 2019 4:51 PM

2019-05-30T16:51:52-04:00

While stationed in Charleston, S.C., 1965, I called the air base there which I do not recall the base name and they advised what I needed to do for my flight home on leave. I paid $1.00 when I arrived at the base. I ask what the $1.00 covered? The airman told me that it was for parachute rental, and refundable if it failed! Lol. I said glad I have plenty of insurance, Lol. Needless to say, I enjoyed my flight from Charleston, S.C. to Houston, Ellington A.F .base.

Response by Cpl Alfonso Holguin made May 30 at 2019 7:31 PM

2019-05-30T19:31:00-04:00

I used them when I was in the military, but it won't work for my spouse, & seems to me more of a hassle when you are looking to relax

Response by PO2 John Zodun made May 30 at 2019 9:48 PM

2019-05-30T21:48:06-04:00

No we haven’t space A flights before

Response by PO2 John Zodun made May 31 at 2019 12:33 AM

2019-05-31T00:33:08-04:00

If any of you 100% disabled veterans have been on a space A flight it would helpful if you could share your experiences with the group of veterans trying to find out about benefits for us and what can and cannot be permissible would be a blessing to so many like myself that reads it’s approved the scroll down a little to find them saying it’s not approved. Have mercy please help

Response by Sgt Kathie Hall made May 31 at 2019 4:16 AM

2019-05-31T04:16:23-04:00

Response by PO1 Dennis Colton made Jun 1 at 2019 10:17 AM

2019-06-01T10:17:50-04:00

My wife and myself caught a flight from Hickam AFB, to Travis AFB . Was a terrific trip, enjoyed it totally

Response by SGT LaTasha Carroway-Quarles made Jun 5 at 2019 9:36 PM

2019-06-05T21:36:33-04:00

I’ve flown several flights while in the military..from Germany to the states and enjoyed it..I flew with my daughter to the states and from where we landed in the states, we flew commercially or I rented a car to our destination.

The key to MAC flights is PLANNING!!!..Detail planning ahead and plenty of patience...

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Aug 16 at 2019 1:18 AM

2019-08-16T01:18:10-04:00

Great if you are on active duty you get priority. As a retiree I always wait until after labor day. I is my birthday anyway. 2 Sep 1948.