MOAA Article on SpaceA Travel:

Author Message   Jack T. Paxton Senior Member Username: Jpaxton Post Number: 848 Registered: 07-2003 Posted From: 24.27.231.67 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 08:40 pm:    Saw the same article and ended up cussing once more. I have done several articles for Leatherneck Magazine much more comprehensive than MOAA, and each referring them to Dirk's site. I have suggested much more comprehensive articles but have been summarily rejected. I am not grubbing for money - most military pubs pay minimal - what I would like is a magazine with a sub-standard travel section to recognize that most of their subsribers are retirees and are entitled to the best option for space-a travel and we provide that. Will try again.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2660 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 12:11 am:    Cherry: I just added JohnD's corrections to the responses to the article on the MOAA site. Happy Travels, John   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6399 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 10:56 pm:    Thank you, John D., for pointing out a few of the more major errors in that article. You are a good man to have taken the time to do so! (When I first read it I was frustrated and annoyed at all the mistakes and bad info, but decided it was just too much trouble to correct them -- there were so many it was hard even to decide where to start.) Has anyone informed the MOAA group that their embarrassingly inaccurate article should be deep-sixed and simply replaced with a link to this board?   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6738 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 01:01 pm:    There is no web site that can compare with this site concerning spacea.It is real time,updated, with volunteer flight posters at most all of the widely used departure locations.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4526 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 07:12 am:    Unfortunately another article that contains incomplete and outdated info. "Go online for the latest in AMC travel information." -- No reference to pepperd.com or spacea.net "Accompanying family members may travel to and from and between overseas locations but not within the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) unless manifested on domestic leg segments of international travel." -- That statement is over 7 years old! Family members have been allowed to travel accompanied within CONUS since April 2003. "All travelers remain on the AMC register 60 for days after registration" -- except for the few USN locations that apply the 45-day rule. "On the day of departure, arrive well before the show time but not more than four hours before the scheduled take-off time." -- There's nothing to prevent one from showing up more than 4 hours before departure time. "Each person may check two pieces of luggage." -- No mention of luggage restrictions for smaller aircraft. There's a few other nit-picks but it's meant to be a basic article but lack of more complete accurate info could cause a newcomer some problems.   Bill Gast Advanced Member Username: Actionwriter Post Number: 195 Registered: 12-2008 Posted From: 96.8.222.198 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 01:45 am:    Great article John. I have saved this to my lap top for reference on future hops. Thanks for your time.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2625 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 06:43 pm:    Saw this article today: http://www.moaa.org/usergroup/usergroup_gr/usergroup_ad_adarticle/usergroup_ad_a darticle_2010/usergroup_ad_adarticle_100510.htm Travel Space-A Today By Ralph Wetterhahn The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) designed a website to serve as a one-stop shop for all your travel needs. Since July 2009, the site has offered space-available (Space-A) travelers a wealth of information, including an updated AMC passenger terminal contact list (complete with phone number, e-mail address, and Web links), and more than a dozen travel documents, example letters, and brochures. Here is how to go about using the AMC system. 1. Go online for the latest in AMC travel information. The site serves active duty and reserve-component servicemembers, military retirees, and DoD Education Activity teachers and their dependents. 2. Determine eligibility and category. The regulation DoD 4515.13-R contains a complete listing of eligible passengers by category, and the AMC site lists the majority of information you will need to plan your trip. 3. Obtain departure location information. Accompanying family members may travel to and from and between overseas locations but not within the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) unless manifested on domestic leg segments of international travel. Select the AMC travel contact that is appropriate for your departure point. If possible, get in touch with that contact 30-60 days before your intended travel date. Terminal personnel will discuss their flight schedule, Space-A backlog, movement forecast, etcetera. For example, if you select McGuire AFB, N.J., as your departure location, call its flight information number to find out when flights are leaving and where they are going. 4. Sign Up. Click on the Space-A e-mail sign-up letter on the AMC site to obtain a sample sign-up page. Save it to your computer, fill in the appropriate information, and e-mail it as an attachment to your departure location. You may sign up for up to five countries and select the “All” sign-up, which makes you eligible for every destination served by the AMC. All travelers remain on the AMC register 60 for days after registration, or for the duration of their travel authorization, or until they are selected for travel, whichever occurs first. Revalidation has been eliminated. 5. Obtain required documentation. Click on AMC Personal Documents Requirements and compile the paperwork you will need. The page lists the customs requirements for each country it serves. 6. Determine your chances of getting a hop. As your departure date approaches, call the terminal directly to find out where you stand on the Space-A list and the “show time” for the flight you’ll be taking. 7. Determine lodging needs. Go to the DoD Air Force and Navy Lodging Site for lists of military lodging facilities and contacts. Call and make your reservation, as available. 8. Go to the terminal. On the day of departure, arrive well before the show time but not more than four hours before the scheduled take-off time. Space-A seats are identified as early as three to four hours before departure and as late as 30 minutes before departure. Be ready for immediate processing and boarding upon arrival. Try to pack light, but remember each person may check two pieces of luggage. Each passenger is permitted one carry-on item (small luggage, garment bag, backpack, etcetera) and one personal item (cosmetic case, purse, briefcase, small box, package, etcetera) for storage in the passenger cabin area. The Navy also offers Space-A travel opportunities. Check out the list of CONUS and overseas locations and contact information to begin scheduling your trip. After you contact the correct representative, follow the same basic procedure as with AMC. Happy Travels, John