As a general rule of thumb, Summer Space-A depends on a number of different factors. These include but are not limited to; travel category or your flight status (Active Duty, Retired, Dependent etc.), starting point, desired destination and number of people traveling together. Although there is no set equation to make sure you get a seat, research and flexibility are important ways to swing the odds in your favor. Check out John D’s Space-a Pages for more information on the Space-A categories and how they affect your travel status.

As expected, Space-A travel has been quite busy this summer, especially at some of the major choke points like Hickam AFB, Hawaii and Ramstein AFB, Germany, but there have been some unexpected opportunities as well. Space-A travelers who did the research and planned for contingencies have been able to catch some sporadic flights over the summer.  

Another factor that many have found helpful this summer is the availability of commercial airline tickets at bargain prices. When the prices for commercial travel are down, it affects the amount of time people are willing to wait to take a hop. Using Space Available travel has always been connected with the time-money continuum, or how long someone willing to wait for a flight versus taking a commercial flight. How much is their leave time or civilian vacation time worth and how long should they wait instead of just paying for a flight? These kinds of questions are important while in the planning stages of a trip, and must be taken into consideration.

One strategy people have used is to hop on flights that are headed in the general direction they are trying to go. For example, if you are trying to get back to the United States from overseas, consider taking a flight that is going to get you a step closer to your final destination.

Coming up later in August, we’ll take a look at how Space-A travel opportunities get significantly better after school is back in session. Be sure to check out the latest Space-A updates on at Dirk Pepperd’s Space-A Message Board under the “Last Category Moved” thread and brush up on your basic knowledge of Space-A travel by reading John D’s Space-A Pages. The Last Category Moved can help you get some insight into real time updates at various terminals to see what the passenger backlog looks like.