I heard there is a thing called MAC flights? that we can get on free if there is room?

Question

we are tryin to go home to Alaska, from NY and a friend of mine said there is MAC? flights that are available to service members and their families? does anyone have anyone have any USEFULL information?

Answer 1

http://www.spacea.net/

This is the most reliable and up to date website with good info. Active Duty and Active Duty retirees can use space A, but reservists and guards cannot. Stateside, you must be traveling with your sponsor. Dependants cannot travel alone. There are catagories of people flying on AMC flights (MAC is now AMC), and someone on leave is toward the bottom of the rung.

Be aware that during holidays and school breaks AMC is heavily used by active duty folks on orders or by college kids traveling to and from uni to home (they are higher category than folks on leave). And you can only sign up a limited number of days in advance.

Answer 2

MAC (Military Air Command) flights do exist, but there are some catches.

First off, dont expect to be riding on a luxury plane. You will be on a military cargo jet, not many frills or amenities. The crew will be military personnel so while you are flying with them, keep in mind that they have others jobs to be doing during the flight.

MAC flights are varied as to when they leave and go. You may have a booking, but you can get "bumped" if a flight is diverted, more cargo is taken on or active duty people need the flight. The thing with MAC flights is while they are free, they can leave within hours notice and you may go to several stops before you get to your destination.

MAC flights are nice things to take if you are not in any hurry to get where you are going. Like I said, the flights can get diverted or leave at a later time. I have not had any bad experiences with the MAC flights that I have taken. It might have taken a little longer to get home or where I was going, but it was worth it.

Try looking either MAC flights or Military Air Command in the google section for further info. Remember that active duty members get first booking and your family might be bumped to a later flight (which might be a few days)

Answer 3

Flying MAC flights is free but can be tricky. Unless you are flying with the military sponser (who must be on leave at the time) you will be in a lower category. Seating tends to be limited and dependents and military on leave can be bumped from the flight at any point if the seats are needed for personel on orders to or from a location. The plans are mostly cargo...very noisy and not so comfortable. Foods service is very limited and the planes tend to be drafty. To make it all the way from NY to Alaska, you would more than likely have to take more than one MAC flight, connecting at various locations and you can loose your seats at any place. Even if you have seats, the flights can be delayed or diverted, so it could end up taking you two or three days to make it to your final destination. MAC is a great way to travel if you have a lot of flexability in your schedule and money in the bank to cover hotels or last minute commercial flights if your MAC flight seats are lost or cancelled. If you have to go withint certain days and have limited funds, I usually suggest flying commercial as it is more reliable and, while not free, buying the tickets in advance is always less exspensive than having to buy at the last minute.

Answer 4

Good afternoon... Yes there are Space A flights to Alaska, but only Military and Retired Military can fly in CONUS on MAC Flights, i am not sure if Alaska is considered CONUS. I am Retired US Navy and fly Space A all the time over Seas, it very easy to get a HOP if you don't mind how you get there, but most flights are on C-9 that compare to any small airlines, very nice but bring your own food or buy a box lunch if it a long flight.....

Answer 5

be prepared to have to buy a ticket back home and pay the high cost of buying last minute. you wont have any way of knowing until the plane is in the air rather your on the flight....and you wont know till you land if your going the right place. Mac flights are very easy to get bumped off of if your just on leisure travel. and they get diverted sometiems. when i was in japan i saw peoplee spending up to a week camping the terminal to try to get on a flight back to the US from a vacation they took. i saw a guy on my flight home when we PCS'd get bumped after the flight had boarded for someone who had showed up on emergency leave orders for a family emergency. you really need to investigate and think it out before you try to do it, could cost you more in the long run.

Answer 6

Here is a website that should answer questions. My daughter used to fly home from Japan on MAC flights. She usually ended up in Washington and had to take a commercial flight or Amtrak the rest of the way to WI. From what I remember, it is standby and military personnel takes precedence. It is a good way to travel, but not guaranteed to arrive close to your final destination. The plans are not very comfortable to fly in, either.

http://www.military.com/Travel/Content1/0,,SAF_eligibility,00.html

Answer 7

MAC flights are great, but be aware that if something comes up that the military deems a higher priority than you, you can very easily get bumped off your flight. This happened to me once and almost made me U.A.,, "the same thing as AWOL" on my way back to base.

Answer 8

Space A flights are available to personnel and their families, but it is iffy at best. Family members cannot fly without their sponsor and the SM must be in leave status before they can sign up, and you can be bumped at any time.

Answer 9

Yes, You have to be on approved leave if you are a servicemember. Go to the terminal, most any air base, and get on a standby list. That's all there is to it. Dependants can also fly.