Introduction and a question for military families

[TXMomof4]

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking on these boards for a while now, but just recently decided to register and post! Nice to meet y'all and I appreciate all your wisdom and experience!

Now, this has nothing to do with hsing, really...

I've noticed there are several military families on this board and I'm looking for info on Space-A travel. Not just links, I think I've read most everything there is to read, but personal experiences. My DH will be deploying this year and I have a sister in England and brother will be in Germany. I would *love* to take the kids and spend time over there but airfare will be close to $6000.00. SOOOO, has anyone actually used Space-A and was it a good/bad/neutral experience? TIA!

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I've noticed there are several military families on this board and I'm looking for info on Space-A travel. Not just links, I think I've read most everything there is to read, but personal experiences. My DH will be deploying this year and I have a sister in England and brother will be in Germany. I would *love* to take the kids and spend time over there but airfare will be close to $6000.00. SOOOO, has anyone actually used Space-A and was it a good/bad/neutral experience? TIA!

Long waits if you go without your sponsor (and many times even if you go with), we slept in the terminal a few nights, but boy was it ever fun. Adventure. Take your own ear plugs. Be prepared for very strange flying experiences. Like a great big cargo hold. You can't hear yourself shout on some of the planes. Which the kids think is enormous fun. :p

I wouldn't do it with kids much younger than 3 or 4, and I mean a rather calm-easy-to-travel-with type of 3 or 4. But I loved Space-A. Great value for the price. Which, I believe was $1.85 per person one way last time we flew. :D

[Jill, OK]

Slept on a terminal chair/couch. One child puked on me, and we cleaned ourselves up in the terminal bathroom sink, and went back to sleep on the couch/chair. *Plan* on something unexpected happening.

As Pam said...you can't beat the price. :o)

If you have a good sense of adventure (and a good sense of humor), then it's an awesome opportunity.

[Mrs Mungo]

I've done it with kids. Get there early, be prepared to wait. My experiences have been pretty much the same as other types of flights and always on commercial aircraft.

[umarider]

Our only frustration came here in Hawaii when we were twice checked through and actually taken on the bus out to the plane only to be turned around because the plane was having "mechanical difficulties":confused:

13 years ago, when I first flew Space A I had the good fortune to encounter another woman on my flight who was a military "brat" and had lots of experience w/ Space A. She gave me a lot of good advice.

1) Travel as light as possible. (some smaller planes often have seats that go unfilled because of weight restrictions on luggage)

2) Keep a small towel, toiletries and a change of undies/shirt, etc. in your carry-on. Most Space A terminals have a bathroom w/ a shower, so you can freshen-up and feel more human.

3) All planes develop "mechanical difficulties" at Hickam AB in Hawaii. Can you blame them? Who wouldn't want to spend some time on the beach while a mysterious "problem" is checked-out? ;)

4) Many Space A terminals have USO lounges. Take advantage of them, especially if they have a USO family lounge. We were stuck at Travis AB (in California) last March. Because I had children w/ me we were able to get into the USO lounge to spend the night. They had mats for the kids to sleep on and TVs, cribs, and a kitchen area, etc.

My kids think flying Space A is a great adventure! They love when we get planes that have only the jumpseats along the outside wall because as soon as we reach altitude they can lay a blanket on the floor and sprawl, sleep, play to their heart's content. I have fond memories of watching DD12 waiting to use the lavoratory... she had her back to the cargo area, and so was unaware of all the servicemen watching in wonder as she practiced her ballet while she waited. Arabesques at high altitude are something I don't think they see often!

I have had military members knock themselves out for me in a way you would rarely see from commercial airlines. When my oldest was 18mos, we were returning to Japan from a vacation in Hawaii. DD and I both had the flu, but we'd decided that we might as well get home KWIM? DD spiked a high fever on the plane halfway into the trip. She was getting that horrible red/grey color and very lethargic. I was scared. DH was little help... first baby, he thought I was over-reacting. A Sgt. walked by and saw me fussing over DD. He took us to the back of the plane, where there were cots for the crew, and had me lay DD out to cool her off. He let the pilot know what was happening. Next thing I know, the pilot is on the radio w/ the Pediatrics ward at Yokota AB in Japan, and we are relaying DD's temp, etc. back to Japan. I was never alone in all of that time. They could not do enough for me... right down to taking DH for a "tour" of the plane to get him away from me when it became obvious that he was stressing me out! We did an emergency landing at Yokota and DD and I were taken off the plane to the hospital. Later on, the crew checked w/ the hospital to see that we were okay. We had to stay in Yokota while the virus ran its course, but I will forever have a fond place in my heart for the flight crews on those big grey beasts that might not be as sexy as fighter jets, but certainly have a lot of heart and soul.

[HollyDay]

I've only tried to use Space A flight once and was denied because I was unaccompanied. I couldnt check into the Lodge either without the active duty member present. Not a great experience.

[TXMomof4]

They just changed the rules in Dec. so that Space-A is available to dependents of deployed service members anywhere they fly. It used to only be available OCONUS, but now we can fly anywhere CONUS or OCONUS. I think we'll start with a short (stateside) trip before we attempt Europe. That will be hard enough with 4 kids and without DH.

How fun! Guess it's wrong to wish DH would just get going already!
JUST KIDDING! I don't want him to go, but if he has to I'm going to make the most of it! Last time he went I spent the first half pregnant and the second half with newborn. Not the greatest fun I've ever had in my life! An adventure, yes, but not necessarily fun.