Travel how to: Signing up for Space-A travel

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kenneth Morain
  • 730th Air Mobility Squadron
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Want to fly to a beautiful island in the Pacific or anywhere in the world where Space-Available Travel is an option, but unsure how? Air Mobility Command can help.

AMC passenger terminals offer several ways to sign up travelers for all their desired destinations.

Before AMC can sign anyone up, the members must first be eligible for travel.

For those who are active duty, this requires the service members to be on leave or pass. As for dependents or retirees, they can sign up at any time.

Active duty members will also need their military ID card and leave form before traveling, and for those whose commanders approved them for Environmental Morale Leave, take advantage of it because they will move up to Travel Category II.

All passengers are selected for travel on a first-come basis within a six-category system, resulting in a fair and balanced process.

For a brief listing of eligible passengers by category, visit http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel/spaceatravelcategories.asp. A complete listing of eligible passengers by category is contained in DoD 4515.13-R.

Although dependents don't need to be present at the time of sign-up, sponsors need to bring their travel documents, such as their passports, with them.

For dependents traveling without their sponsor, ensure to have proper identification along with all supporting documentation to include passports, command-sponsorship letter and EML letter. Retirees need their ID card and passport, if applicable, for the countries they are traveling to.

To sign up on-line, go to http://www.amc.af.mil/amctravel, find "Registration," and click on the link for "fax or mail your request." This process ensures all the needed information is provided to AMC and will facilitate any travel plans.

When signing up, travelers are able to mark five country choices. This technique is used as a great tool for those who cannot fly directly to their desired location, but want to get a little closer to save on airfare, or when stopping to visit a friend along the way.

By signing up for choices such as Korea, Japan, Alaska, Hawaii and the United States, passengers are eligible for any flight going in the direction they desire. Yes, AMC treats Alaska and Hawaii as country choices too.

AMC suggests no matter what means someone uses to sign up, to give the local AMC terminal a call to verify the staff has received all the information or be sure to print out the confirmation email. For those who are at the terminal, check to ensure the names are on the Space-Available standby register.

Once signed up, terminals will keep names on the space available register for up to 60 days, unless the person departs on a flight from that terminal or the members leave expires.

For more information, questions or ideas for other articles, e-mail AMC at pacific.traveler@yokota.af.mil.