Seeking Information on SPACE A

Im sure this web site could help...lots of info

http://www.ramstein.af.mil/

or this one

http://www.spacea.net/

I flew last spring break back to the states. I left a week early and got on the first flight out. Ramstein has lots of flights to Mcquire and Dover which are easiest to get on. The first step is getting the letter from your husbands commander (we are AirForce so it may be different for you in the Army) That letter is good for 60 days so plan your trip accordingly. You don't want to be in the states with an expired letter. As soon as you get the letter, email or fax it to the airport on both sides, here and stateside. Print out your confirmation that the email went through. This will help you if they don't put you in the system. You will have proof that you sent it in and they will adjust your place in line. This happened to us coming home from Andrews, They didn't have us in the system but my husband had the proof so our place in line was bumped up and we made the flight. When you are ready to go, call Ramstein (i am assuming you are flying out of there) and check the flights. I think they can only give you 3 days out. I have all the numbers for all the airports I used. Email me if you want them. Anyway, once you are there, just be patient. And don't leave the airport! They do roll call anytime and will change the time on you without notice. Plan on being there very early. Ramstein was pretty much on time but was early on a few flights. Andrews was hours early! I got on the flight to McQuire but didn't want to go there so I waited for Dover and got right on. I flew with my 3 young children by myself and I have to tell you, I would choose a C-17 anyday over a commercial flight. I was able to make beds on the floor for my kids and play with them to get wiggles out without bothering anyone! Take blankets or sleeping bags because it can get very cold on the plane. Our trip back was very cold!! I didn't bring anything for myself and i was freezing! They do control the temp in the plane but I never asked them to turn it up. Anyway, we are planning on doing it again this summer and can only pray we get out as easy as we did last April. Please email me with anymore questions you may have. I hope I have helped.
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V.

No you due not need to go the the cammader to go on space A. My family and I use space A in October and I noticed that the dependants didn't have any paper work just need you ID when you check in. then you have to wait and see if they put you on that plane. It is best to go to your space A counter at your termnal a day or two before you plain to leave to see when they have flights out, and call them before you leave the house to make sure the flight isn't cancealed. Plain on takeing one or two small pillows and a small blanket,someof the older planes gets cold. On are flight to the states we was on a C-130 and we was able to lay on the floor they only let you due this when thier isn't a lot of turblance(sorry If I sp). Thier was a family that had Yoga matts to lay on and the kids played on them. They due supply a pillow and blanket I have wished for another.

I was in Germany with my spouse for 3 years and thought about SPACE A travel. (We're currently in Kuwait.) Everyone told me NOT to do it with kids. The wait is usually too long to survive with kids. And if you get stuck at the other side and have no flight back, you have to pay full price to fly all of you home on a commercial airline. Since you are low on funds, it isn't a good bet to make.

Y.,
This question had some helpful info for me too, since I am planning on hopping back to the states this February. I have only done it in the past as active duty & I am skeptical about attempting it as a family member.
I think Janice offered lots of AWESOME tips, laid out in a very easy to follow message :-) I noticed some people mentioned the pepperd site, I just wanted to give you the link www.pepperd.com (maybe that will help) and also to let you know that what I do when I am planning a flight is check for about a month before & write on a separate blank calendar the frequency of flights, so I can make a better educated guess of how likely it will be for me to get on a flight. Meaning, if they fly back to Germany on Tues, Wed, & Thurs usually from NJ, then I will have 3 chances in a row to get on a flight back to the EU.

Another good thing about checking out flights (for all bases/airports) is that you might be blessed with a once in a while flight straight into the area you want (I have seen flights even fly into RI - which is MY final destination ;-) & only 1 1/2 hours from Boston. Also ME & MA, so check them all out at the pepperd site

Another thing that wasn't mentioned is to keep in mind that when you are trying to get back here, even if the available flight isnt flying into your original startpoint, you can buy tickets within Europe thru easyjet or ryanair for REALLY cheap. A website my husband uses to compare is www.skyscanner.net So at least that could get you in the vicinity of your duty station or close enough to get a taxi or have your sweetheart come pick you & the kiddos up!

I hope that this helps you out! Have an awesome and blessed trip (& with THAT in mind, PRAYER is an AWESOME supplement to ANY travel plans!)

J.

Hi Y.

As for space A travel, there isn't much paperwork you have to do, but its a gamble when traveling by Space. Also you have to think about the time you want to travel, with you wanting to travel during spring break you may want to consider others that are going to use space A travel as well. There were times when I travels and had no problems then there were times when I was stuck for weeks. I'm teling you this from expeience. It just depends, that is the best advice I can give you.

However, its very simple to sign up, have your husband get the paperwork from his command, if he is shore duty I think the command does it, if he is sea and he's gone the FAST office will be able to help you, (thats what we navy people have) it maybe different for each branch of service. The sooner you submit your paperwork the better it is for you. Space A is first come first served, then of course rank and the urgency of the travel plays a part. (PSC, emergency, higher rank etc...)

I hope this all helps

BB

I'm sure this has already been mentioned, but the best place to start is to google Dirk Pepperd and go to his site and read ALL the links especially the FAQ they suggest. I would also start reading the bulletin board on the same site so you get a sense of how to ask questions. Once you have a good feeling for the general workings of Space A, the online community on Pepperd's board will be a source of tremendous insight and support. When I was looking into a couple of months ago I found a number of posts in the archives about traveling with kids that were really helpful.

Good luck!

A.

Go to google.com and google pepperd for Space A and it will help you get on the list for the Bases. Plus get a letter from your husbands commander so you can be put on EML leave. Then you have a more of a priority on getting on the plane.

Hi. Space A is not too hard but it can be a little stressful. I've flown about 4 times back and forth to the states from overseas. First you do need a command sponsorship letter before you can even sign up. The letter will be good for about 60 days once you sign up. This means they will keep you on the list for 60 days. You can fly back on the same letter but it will have to be before the 60 days are up or you will need a new letter (You can double check on this, Im not 100% sure but we've always flown on one letter). Anyway once you sign up either online or at the terminal you have to wait for your roll call time. You will be placed into a category. If you are not flying with your sponsor you will be catergory 5. Then at that time you go to check in completely ready to fly. You wait until they release the number of seats and then the names of the people who made the flight according to the category they are in. Flying during spring break might be a little harder to get out or you might be completely lucky :). Also times are never guaranteed and seats are never guaranteed until you are in the air. I know people who have been bumped last minute because someone from a higher category signed up last minute. I would recommend you sign up as soon as you get the letter because it goes on time of sign up and category so if someone who is also category 5 signed up a minute before you they will get the seats. Also as soon as you get to the states sign up. Do not wait until last minute because it will be harder to get a flight back. Overall it is a good cheap way to fly but make sure you have a back up plan or money to stay in a hotel for a few nights in case you dont get on right away. A friend of mine was stuck in Macguire for 12 days because she could not get a flight out due to the category she was in. We, personally, have always flown into Baltimore because it is a major airport and it is easier to rent a car, catch another flight, take the train, and is next to the hotels just in case. Also there are about 3 or so flights to Ramstein both coming and going a week. The flight also is about $15-25 a person. Hope this helps!