As you travel in your military career, there will be times you may utilize the travel benefit available to Military Servicemembers, Space Available transportation. There are some small things you can do to make your travel using Space Available more enjoyable, and less frustrating. One of the things to remember is that Space Available travel is a sort of controlled chaos. Largely because of the security that followed after September 11th, there is literally a shortage of information, or information is not known until the last minute. This makes planning a bit of a challenge, the biggest thing you need when flying Space Available is patience.
Do not be discouraged if as you deal with terminal staff and personnel they seem uninformed. Many times: They Are. That is not due to their own fault but to the security measures and need to know basis for many of the flight schedule information and flight details. It is helpful to remember that it is always Mission first, and that Space Available travel is only available when flights or transportation have room not utilized by the Mission itself. Flying on Space available is often a “bargain basement” type accommodation. It can be very cold, or very hot, and the seating may have literally no padding. You should always dress in layers and take a jacket when flying Space Available, no matter what the weather is.
Some things you should consider bringing on a flight are: reading material, snacks, a bottle of water, and perhaps a laptop, Walkman or game boy type device. Some people back a notebook and pen to write, either writing letters or keeping a journal of their travels. Both can be fun to do and help avoid boredom. Many flights can be cold because of the altitude that the aircraft flies, and you may travel through an area that is colder than you are used to, so dress in layers and dress warm.
Have a plan B. In some rare events, a flight may be unexpectedly diverted, or will go somewhere that you did not plan on. It is good to have a backup plan if things go to seed, to make sure that your vacation or travel plans are not destroyed. Remember, the mission comes first and at times unscheduled stops or destination changes are part of the adventure, so be aware its possible. If you have to be somewhere at a certain time, or must be at a locale absolutely positively, then flying using Space A might not be the best choice.
But if you have time to spare, and are willing to be patient, then Space Available Travel may be right up your alley.
