My son is in the Air Force and needs to get home-money is an issue and we have heard from different people that he can fly free from a deploying Air Force Base-this sounds too good-especially given that we have checked every other military discount out there, and come up short. He is flying with his wife, and departs 8/1, and returns 8/13. Any info at all would be very appreciated!
2006-07-15 14:34:59 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Yes, it's true. I'm a military wife and we are stationed in Italy, and we fly back and forth to the States for free. The military has a contract with a civilian air liner ( It used to be World air lines, but it's something else now ) and they fly in and out of the bases. The only thing that they will have to pay for is the customs fee for whatever country they are flying into. I believe for us, it was 120.00 dollars going to the States, and a little less coming back. And that wasn't 120.00 for each family member, it was the price for my husband and I, and our four kids. ( Can't beat flying to and from Europe for that! ) They can fly off of any base that offers these flights. Just because he is in the Air Force, it doesn't mean he can only fly off Air Force bases. They also have flights on certain military planes that you can sometimes fly on, but I wouldn't want to travel too far in one of those! The airline that the military has the contract through is just a regular plane like Delta or any other commercial airline. Tell your son to go to this web-site. It will give him instructions on what to do to sign up for the flight. www.spacea.com
Hope this helps!
2006-07-15 15:16:58 · answer #1 · answered by Naples_6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called Space A and is part of the Air Force's Air Mobility Command. After the plane has taken on official cargo and passengers, if there are any open seats on the plane, they will allow people on board in order of precedence. AD personnel on Emergency Leave getting first dibs, AD on Regular leave next, then Family members and retirees.
That being said... whether or not he'll be able to GET on a flight will greatly depend on a large number of facters.. like what base is he looking to fly out of, where is he looking to go, how often flights leave and the type of flight it is(MEDEVAC Flight vice Cargo vice transport run)
You cannot sign up for Space A until you are on leave. You may end up spending days or longer waiting to get on a flight. So unless he has loads of leeway and can afford to incur all the costs while waiting(overnight stays in hotels, meals, etc) and you always always ALWAYS have to have a backup plan to get back before your Leave expires. Going UA is NOT a good thing, and his Boss won't care that it was because he couldn't get a return slot on Space A.
2006-07-15 15:58:40 · answer #2 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, hon, but no airline will carry 'em for free. The closest he can get is to hop a MAC flight - he can find out about those through his Special Services club on base. The only other way is to fly standby, which seats are steeply discounted - but still not free. To find out about that, he'll have to contact the airlines.
On the other hand -if it is a family emergency, such as a death in the family, he needs to speak to his First Sergeant (if he's an enlisted man) or to his chaplain - there are ways the armed services can expedite things and get 'em home in cases like that.
But don't be tempted to lie about such an emergency in hopes of fooling the Air Force into getting the two of them home - they WILL check the story, and if you're caught in such a fib, they will courts-martial him AND come after you for attempted fraud!
2006-07-15 14:53:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fly For Free
As a member of the Army National Guard, you are eligible to travel free on military aircrafts when space is available. You can fly within and between the Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico .
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Thats just the ARNG... as for the Air Force, I believe they have the same program, but remember that it's just "when space is available", and ofcourse, the flight could have 3 or 4 or 10 stops instead of being non stop.
That's what you get for it being free!
2006-07-15 14:39:09 · answer #4 · answered by 光 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hardly 'most'. In fact, we are a distinct minority. However, the Military has standards just as we do, and would naturally attract the same type of dedicated person. The Junior Warden of my Lodge is a Sergeant in the local Army base and has proposed another Sergeant for membership. Ex-Military: Before and during WW2 vast numbers of men joined before deployment, bringing our numbers up to record heights. Of course, the average age of the survivors is 90+ so for the past 2 - 3 decades our numbers had been declining. They are now starting to rise again but in my Lodge we could account for only 2 Actives.
2016-03-27 06:58:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called a MAC flight, yes, he can fly home for free, but since it's on "space available", they allow for priority personnel only. People who take priority are ones going home on emergency leave, like for the death of an immediate family member, or something called Environmental Moral Leave. Also, it is easy enough to get home, but he will be responsible for a ticket back to his duty station, as a MAC flight may not be leaving to go back for some time.
2006-07-16 07:19:04 · answer #6 · answered by William 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he can do this. It is easier for him due to the fact that he is Air Force. The problem...is the availability. He may be able to fly, but his wife would have to pay a small fee example, $50.00 They will only let her fly with him if he has orders which he can get from his chain of command. But availability is the major hurdle, so he better get reservations SOON!!!! Where is flying from and to, that is also a factor.
2006-07-15 14:41:42 · answer #7 · answered by jhaiop 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He can get a hop from a military base to a base closest to his home. These are unreliable and schedules can change so patience is needed. If the wife isn't into adventure they many want to either change their plans or cough up more for commercial flights.
2006-07-15 14:40:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I have heard is the soldiers flying free on R&R.
2006-07-15 16:18:38 · answer #9 · answered by Mel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are on PCS orders(Permanent Change of Station)
you and your family fly free, other than that, if you are going home on leave without PCS orders, you and your family pay your own way. I hope this helps.
2006-07-15 14:42:10 · answer #10 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋