LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Space-available, or Space-A, travel offers military servicemembers and their families the adventure of travel without the rat race or expense of airfare.
Supporting the 433rd Airlift Wing, the passenger terminal staff helps Airmen find available seats on outbound loadmaster training C-5, -12 and -130 aircrafts.
"The biggest benefit is that it's free," Staff Sgt. Joseph Bedson, passenger service NCO in charge at the Lackland Passenger Terminal, said. "It can save people a lot of money in travel, as long as they are willing to be patient."
Some of the most frequent destinations are Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; and Hickman AFB, Hawaii.
The December schedule included two flights: one through JB McGuire AFB to Ramstein AB, and another through Travis AFB to Hickam AFB.
For people trying to get to Spain from Ramstein, Sergeant Bedson said, "the name of the game is hopping.
"We provide them with telephone numbers and listings to find out when (Ramstein) is going and coordinate it with our schedule."
Outgoing flights are limited. Passenger service representatives encourage travelers to plan ahead and coordinate a flight plan with other base schedules.
The variety of locales can also be increased with Army and Navy space available flights.
A monthly flight schedule is available at the terminal while the 72-hour flight plan is accessed over the phone. Like any other airport, all TSA restrictions and guidelines apply at Port San Antonio.
Above all, patience is key when booking Space A flights, with check-in three hours prior to departure for processing, loading luggage and boarding passengers, and the occasional layover due to flight changes, Sergeant Bedson said.
He also said having a credit card or cash on hand is recommended, especially for "active-duty personnel because their leaves are short," and alternate route may be necessary.
Currently, 100 percent disabled veterans and widows of servicemembers are not eligible to use Space-A travel.
For more information on available flights and eligibility, visit the passenger terminal on Kelly Field, Bldg. 1614, or call 925-8714. The terminal's hours are 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.