Tweet
If you are in the military or are a spouse or dependent, you probably know something about space-available travel. For those of you who don't know, space a is free or very reduced cost travel on government aircraft or civilian charters for military and their families. I have only flown space a three times, but I thought I would write a trip report just to give you a general idea of what it is. (Sorry, I don't know the exact dates, I just remember it was in August a few years ago)
Monday- Space Available for a World MD-11 to Atlanta. Drive an hour to Rhein-Main, only to not get on the flight. I find out there is a C-5 to Dover leaving from Ramstein. I drive aother 2 hours south, but dont get on that flight either. I call and find out there are morre flights leaving from Ramstein tomorrow. I go home discouraged and doubting if I will be able to make a flight.
Tuesday- Drive to Ramstein to see if I can get on a C-5 to Andrews AFB. Dont get on that flight. I find out there is a C-130 leaving for the USA stopping in the Azores, leaving at 2:00 am. There are only 6 seats available, but I try anyways, I don't get on.
Wednesday- There is a World DC-10 to BWI and Atlanta. Over 100 seats available so it looks good. But, once again I don't get on. There is a C-5 leaving for Dover, but I decide to just go home.
Thursday- I stay home and rest
Friday- There is a World DC-10 to Atlanta and a C-5 to Dover. Finally, I get on the DC-10. It is all economy class, and the flight is uneventful. I arrive in Atlanta worried about my chances of getting a flight back to Germany.
Next Friday- I try to get on a World flight back to FRA. No chance. There were over 120 people who signed up in July in front of me. I have to get home soon and decide to take US Airways back to FRA. In the Summer with no advance the trip is expensive, but I have to get back. I end up taking a USAir 737-200 from ATL-PIT and a US Airways 767-200 from PIT-FRA. Both flights are uneventful.
I know it sounds awful, but I tried again the next November and got on on my first try. Needless to say I will think twice before trying to space a again in the summer!
Monday- Space Available for a World MD-11 to Atlanta. Drive an hour to Rhein-Main, only to not get on the flight. I find out there is a C-5 to Dover leaving from Ramstein. I drive aother 2 hours south, but dont get on that flight either. I call and find out there are morre flights leaving from Ramstein tomorrow. I go home discouraged and doubting if I will be able to make a flight.
Tuesday- Drive to Ramstein to see if I can get on a C-5 to Andrews AFB. Dont get on that flight. I find out there is a C-130 leaving for the USA stopping in the Azores, leaving at 2:00 am. There are only 6 seats available, but I try anyways, I don't get on.
Wednesday- There is a World DC-10 to BWI and Atlanta. Over 100 seats available so it looks good. But, once again I don't get on. There is a C-5 leaving for Dover, but I decide to just go home.
Thursday- I stay home and rest
Friday- There is a World DC-10 to Atlanta and a C-5 to Dover. Finally, I get on the DC-10. It is all economy class, and the flight is uneventful. I arrive in Atlanta worried about my chances of getting a flight back to Germany.
Next Friday- I try to get on a World flight back to FRA. No chance. There were over 120 people who signed up in July in front of me. I have to get home soon and decide to take US Airways back to FRA. In the Summer with no advance the trip is expensive, but I have to get back. I end up taking a USAir 737-200 from ATL-PIT and a US Airways 767-200 from PIT-FRA. Both flights are uneventful.
I know it sounds awful, but I tried again the next November and got on on my first try. Needless to say I will think twice before trying to space a again in the summer!
Comment