Am I Eligible for
Space-A Travel?
Answer 2–3 quick questions to find your exact priority category. Takes less than 60 seconds.
What is your military connection?
Select the option that best describes you.
Who Can Fly Space-A?
Space-Available (Space-A) travel lets eligible military-connected individuals fly on US military aircraft when empty seats are available. It's one of the most valuable — and least understood — benefits available to the military community. Flights are completely free, but availability is never guaranteed.
The following groups are eligible for Space-A travel:
- Active duty service members on approved leave (all branches)
- Retired military receiving retirement pay (worldwide travel, Cat VI)
- Dependents of active duty and deployed service members (Cat III–V)
- Reserve and National Guard members not on active orders (Cat VI, CONUS + US territories only)
- 100% P&T disabled veterans with DOD ID card (Cat VI, CONUS + US territories only)
- DoD civilians and DoDDS/DoDEA teachers stationed OCONUS on EML (Cat II)
- Surviving spouses of deceased service members
How Does Space-A Priority Work?
When you sign up for Space-A travel, you're assigned a priority category from Category I (highest) to Category VI (lowest). Your category determines when you board relative to other travelers. Within each category, the earliest signup date gets priority.
Use the calculator above to instantly find your category, then visit our detailed eligibility wizard for a comprehensive breakdown of your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Space-A travel really free?
Yes — there is no ticket cost for Space-A flights on military aircraft. You are responsible for your own meals, lodging, ground transportation, and any commercial flights to reach the military terminal. There are no baggage fees on military flights.
Can retirees fly Space-A to Europe or Japan?
Yes. Retired military members receiving retirement pay can fly Space-A anywhere seats are available — including Europe, Japan, and all international destinations. The CONUS-only restriction within Cat VI applies only to P&T disabled veterans, gray area retirees, and drilling Guard/Reserve members.
What documents do I need?
Required documents vary by category. At minimum, you'll need a valid military ID. Active duty members need signed leave forms, dependents need sponsor authorization letters, and disabled veterans need a VA rating letter. Use our document checklist for a complete list.
How do I sign up for a Space-A flight?
You sign up by emailing the AMC passenger terminal at the base you want to depart from. Each terminal has its own email address. You can sign up at multiple terminals simultaneously, and signups are valid for 60 days. Visit our terminal directory for contact information.