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100% Disabled Veterans & Retirees: The Ultimate Space-A Travel Guide

Beyond the DD214

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Did you know military retirees and certain Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rated as total may be eligible to use Space Available military air travel?

Space-A can provide incredible travel opportunities using unused capacity aboard military and military-contracted flights — but it is very different from booking a normal airline ticket.

In this ultimate Space-A travel guide, I break down:

✈️ Who qualifies for Space-A travel
🇺🇸 Where qualifying 100% disabled Veterans can travel
🌎 Why military retirees have broader international travel privileges
👩‍❤️‍👨 When spouses and eligible dependents can travel
6️⃣ How the six Space-A priority categories work
⏰ Why your signup date and time matter
💻 How to register for Space-A travel
📅 How to use the 72-hour flight schedules
🎟️ How Space-A roll call and seat selection work
🛫 Military aircraft vs. Patriot Express flights
💰 Taxes, fees and possible travel costs
🧳 Baggage rules and documentation
🛂 Passports and international travel requirements
🐶 What to know before trying to travel with a pet
⚠️ Why you ALWAYS need a backup plan to get home

One of the most important things to understand is that military retirees and qualifying disabled Veterans do not have identical Space-A geographic privileges. The Department of Defense rules provide retirees substantially broader travel eligibility, while Veterans qualifying under the permanent service-connected disability rated-as-total provision have specific geographic limitations.

Space-A also does not guarantee transportation. Missions, schedules and available seats can change, so travelers should be prepared to pay for commercial transportation, lodging and other expenses if Space-A does not work out.

OFFICIAL SPACE-A RESOURCES

✈️ Air Mobility Command Space-A Travel Information
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Sit...

🛫 Air Mobility Command Travel Site & Passenger Terminal Information
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/

📝 Official Space-A Signup Form
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Sit...

📖 Department of Defense Instruction 4515.13 — Air Transportation Eligibility
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Do...

🇺🇸 Travis AFB Passenger Terminal
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Sit...

🇩🇪 Ramstein AB Passenger Terminal
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Sit...

Always verify current eligibility, flight information, documentation requirements and terminal procedures with Air Mobility Command and your departure passenger terminal before traveling.

If you’re a disabled Veteran, military retiree, or military family member, subscribe to Beyond the DD214. I dig into military and Veteran benefits that many people earned but were never properly told about.

#Veterans #SpaceATravel #MilitaryRetirees

20 Comments

@SRMBRU1233 1 month ago (edited)

If you haven’t slept in an AMC (Air Mobility Command) terminal flying space A, you have not lived.

@bigsasha500 1 month ago

He is giving you the legal information, now let me give you the real world thing for 100% DAV Space A Travel. If you are 100% DAV, sign up for your potential flight for overseas flights as well as domestic. When you show up, shut up and play stupid. Have your passports and so on ... say nothing unless the gate agent says something about policy. Very often, if there are plenty of seats available, they will turn a blind eye.

@richardelias2674 3 weeks ago

I have flown all over this country on Space A. I caught a flight out of Wright Patterson Air Force Base going to CA, turns out it was the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ airplane. The Sgt Maj and me were the only passengers. I was medically retired out of the Marine Corps in 1970 after my 68-69 tour. I flew out of a Naval Base in Virginia to Ohio, then on to CA. I always had a great time. Semper Fi

@Bob-q5o8r 1 month ago

My wife and I traveled this way on numerous vacations for twenty years. Most of Europe and Asia Travel light and be flexible. Our rule never stay in one terminal over three days catch a plane to another location. It was lots of fun ,!

@zetaone2669 1 month ago

Good video. I especially liked the check list near the end.

I am traveling to Southeast Asia in December and considered Space "A" travel as a category 6 retired Army veteran. I planned to be there until early April but after seeing how challenging it is and how costly it could become and the fact that a return could take a week or more, I ruled it out and now flying commercial instead.

You put out good information on your channel, so thank you for that.

@edmciver 1 month ago

This sounds rather convoluted. I think I'll stick with commercial. Thanks for explaining it so well, though!

@Isreal_K 1 month ago

Space A
Plan B

They go hand in hand

@willkeyes8859 2 days ago

There's nothing worse than being on a plane with no windows. Tried it once in the military, the anxiety of not being able to see if we're taking off or landing or not seeing clouds was bananas. No thanks! Great info though.

@carlhursh505 2 weeks ago

I started fly out of Travis before the fall of the USSR. I flew every time I to time off of work. I really used it after I retired from my job in 2002. A lot of fun.

@jeffreysiebert8176 1 month ago

Three of us got a ride from ellsworth afb so to Travis in California. When we went to train three days later our kc135 had been re routed to elmendorf. No other flights to ellsworth. If my dad had not pit three commercial flights back on his credit card there would have been three icons awol. Never take a hope again

@OIFVeteran-d8v 1 month ago

I work full time. My vacations are on a strict schedule. I can’t mess around with Space A. I just fly commercial.

@brock-landers66 1 month ago

I have heard about this benefit since I was active duty and NEVER heard of anyone pulling it off except for Air Force load masters. They know the schedules and the space availability and have inside connections to make it happen. Ive heard of Navy and Marine Corps guys trying and gettin stuck somewhere and end up paying more to catch a last minute flight home before leave ended.

@counseloridealist 2 weeks ago

I'm 100% P&T. Can my wife come on Space A flights with me?

@TomBTerrific 3 weeks ago

Space a as a senior citizen is more trouble than it’s worth. That’s if you happen to have a terminal close to you. No thanks!

@rpwrspowers779 6 days ago

Not all allow for sleep overnight either

@FogandStoneAmbience 4 weeks ago

Your disability rating doesn't mean anything, if you are either Active duty or Military Retiree you can travel world-wide on military flights. Your spouse can travel without the member receiving the benefit anywhere in the CONUS, but you must travel together if you travel overseas.

@donnaber4918 3 weeks ago

Last I checked spouses were not allowed to fly conus. Next remember your destination is not guaranteed. Military flights do get diverted sometimes to support the mission . Cargo planes are not the most comfortable if you have to spend 10 hours in a cargo jump seat. I’m speaking as an 13 year C5 flight crew member.

@jumpingjeffflash9946 12 days ago

This is a bennie I'll be eligible to take advantage of in 5 years when I turn 60 but I'll pay the $$ to get me where I need to go, commercially. AMC is what it is when your active duty but I'm not dealing with it in retirement, I don't care how cheap it is and where I can go.