Military Hops

MilitaryHops.com is dedicated to being the premier index of information about Space Available (Space-A) Military Flights that qualified people can travel on. Our goal is that if the information you seek on this subject is on the World Wide Web then you can find it from here. See Our Pick of the Top 20 Most Useful Websites.

Background:

It should be noted that while flying on U.S. military aircraft is usually without cost, it is not a reliable means of travel. Unlike a commercial airline there are usually no backup flights if the plane is diverted or if there are not enough seats. So your ability to fly to a destination depends on:

• The plane actually arriving at your destination
• The plane being needed at the other destination (if not the flight could be cancelled or diverted)
• Space Available seats being available on the flight
• Your flight category being high enough to qualify for one of the Space Available seats

If you cannot catch a Military Hop for some reason then you will be stuck buying an airline ticket at the last moment which is the most expensive way to travel as well as the least assured since commercial airlines can also overbook flights. If on Active Duty, you may also be stuck somewhere burning up Leave and hotel money as well as risking a Non-Judicial Punishment hearing for Unauthorized Absence (UA or AWOL) if you do not return on time. For these reasons, we highly recommend that Space-A travel on a Military Hop be limited to true leisure travel for those with time to spare:

• Retirees
• Dependents
• ROTC/Service Academy students with the Summer off

The one thing that is most difficult to come by on the web is actual flight information for these military aircraft. It has never been easy and after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks the military is clamping down on that information as it should. The best sites that have info on how to find flight information are SpaceA.info, John D's Space-A Travel FAQ's, and Dirk Peppard's Space-A WWW Chat Board. Your best bet will be to be flexible and to call the individual terminals that are options for you in advance of your actual travel plans to see if they expect to have any Space Available flights that fit your plans.

Top 20 Websites Related to Military Travel

Air Mobility Command 100% Recommended	Space Available Travel Rules and Regulations If you don't know the rules, you can't play the game. This is a constantly updated site run by the people who manage the military's Space-A flight system (at least the Air Force's part of it). This site does NOT have the flight schedules for the system. You have to call individual terminals for each of those-- but this site does have points of contact for the terminals. It also has the travel request form that you will need to fill out. It is the starting point for all questions (who can fly, who has priority, how much luggage, etc.).
SpaceA.info (includes John D's FAQ's) 100% Recommended	Space-A Links Unofficial Site by Roy Buckman (one of the "Three Amigos" of the Unofficial Military Hop Community). There is a bunch of good info here, particularly on the individual terminals (email, phone numbers, sign-up requirements) as well as any special rules that each terminal may have. Also has a way to sign up for multiple terminals at once. Very current. This site has now incorporated another of the Three Amigo's information. John D's FAQ's used to be an independent site. It includes an up-to-date listing of questions and acronyms that might need explaining. Also has links to the Department of Defense overseas school schedules which can help you decide whether or not to take a trip since the number of space available seats you are eligible for obviously drops when the kids are out of school.
MilitaryTravel.com 90% Recommended	For Active-Duty Military and Government Employees Government Rate seats on commercial airlines are usually more expensive but can be changed without cost. While no online service to date has the ability to offer government rate airfares, we recommend buying commercial airline tickets from MilitaryTravel.com which not only can sell you the regular fare seats but also gives you the phone numbers of all major U.S. airlines so you can check if the government rate is available. Through this site you can also book rental cars and hotel rooms at either discount rates, government rates, or full rates.
VetTravel.com 90% Recommended	For Retired Veterans We recommend VetTravel.com through which you can check regular airline, hotel, and rental car fares as well as Senior Citizen rates for wherever you wish to travel.
Hotwire.com 90% Recommended	Flexible Flight Times For anyone whose travel needs to occur on a certain day but for whom the times of the flights are unimportant, Hotwire.com is a good way to find inexpensive fares. It allows you to seek bids for the seat you need and if any of the participating airlines offers you a price you like then you have two hours to accept their offer. This is better than the Priceline.com system because you can see the fare before accepting it. To avoid overpaying, you should only bid on their fares after checking to see what the fares are on MilitaryTravel.com or VetTravel.com Be aware that you will lose the right to pick your airline if you place a bid through Hotwire.com unless you restrict the search to just one airline. Important for those using Frequent Flyer mile programs.
MilitaryLiving.com 80% Recommended	Space Available Travel Guides We have found that Military Living's various travel guides are the most complete and up-to-date that you will find anywhere-- especially their "Space-A Air Opportunities Around the World." While their guides are not on the web, you can order them at their website or by calling them at (703)-237-0203. Their publications can also be found in most military Exchanges.
Dirk Peppard's Space-A WWW Chat Board 70% Recommended	Space-A Chat The last of the "Three Amigo's" websites. While we do not like the new format which requires you to log-in, we understand its necessity. It is amazing the amount of current info that travelers put up here. Very up-to date. You can either ask other viewers a specific Military Hop question or look thru past posts to see if you can find the answer you are looking for. There are so many posts to this chat board that it takes a while to load. If you find it useful, there is a contribution page to help keep the site running.
Joint Operational Support Airlift Center 60% Recommended	Space Available Flight Schedules These Military Hop schedules are only viewable from government facilities (or .mil computers to be precise). The public viewing sections of these schedules are searchable five days from flight time. Real time information.
State Dept.Travel Warnings and Information Sheets 60% Recommended	Worldwide Travel Advisories For OUTCONUS travel, these are a must-see resource. While most military personnel (past, present, and future) think in terms of military threats, the biggest threats to your well-being in a foreign country are usually criminal activities of various types or police crackdowns on activities which might not be illegal in America (such as religious missionary work). Check out what the State Department is advising travelers before you depart for a particular country.
American Automobile Association (AAA) 50% Recommended	International Driver's Permits AAA is the official source for International Driver's Permits in the U.S. For many of the countries where you may travel, you will need not only a valid driver's license in the U.S. but you will also need an International Driver's Permit. You can get one from an AAA office (you will need two passport photos or they can be made there) or through the mail (they will need a photocopy of your current driver's license). This website will ask you for your zip code and then redirect you to the local area AAA website. AAA also has other road products for overseas travel preparation.
Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) 50% Recommended	Foreign Clearance Guide (.mil access required with a username and password) You cannot just jump on a Space-A military flight and expect to be allowed to go anywhere in the world without being in compliance with the rules of wherever the plane is going to land (and this includes intermediate stops). This guide has all of the rules for Military Hops and their flight crews and passengers. Make sure you are in compliance with all of these rules or it is unlikely that you will be allowed to board the aircraft in the first place.
AFCrossroads Leisure Activities 40% Recommended	Space-A Military Base Websites/Phone Numbers This site has a listing of military websites that have Space Available web pages and military space-a phone numbers. May be worth a look if you have specific locations in mind.
The Retired Officer's Association 40% Recommended	Military Lodging After you arrive, you will need a place to stay and this web page has links to Army, Navy, and Air Force base housing which is also available on a Space Available basis. Other lodging arrangements can be made through MilitaryTravel.com or VetTravel.com or Priceline.com.
Priceline.com 40% Recommended	Upgrade your Hotel While we prefer Hotwire.com for bidding for an airline ticket, Priceline.com remains the best way to bid for a hotel room. You can either get the same quality hotel you desired for less, or you can bid the same amount as you had budgeted and get a better hotel. An added feature is that Priceline.com has well designed maps and associated zones so that your hotel is in the part of the city you desire rather than across town somewhere. To avoid overbidding, you should only bid on their fares after checking to see what the room rates are on MilitaryTravel.com or VetTravel.com When you make a bid for a Priceline.com hotel room, if it is accepted you must use it or lose your money-- no changes are allowed.
AllTripProtection.com 40% Recommended	INCONUS and OUTCONUS Travel Insurance Most Space-A travelers do not think of insurance needs until it is too late and most MAC terminals do not have what you will need. This site offers OUTCONUS car rental insurance which is expensive to get once you have started your trip (your car insurance and credit cards do not usually cover you overseas). It also offers plans for Baggage Insurance and Flight Accident Protection for "a passenger on US Military Airlift Command flights."
Univ. of Maryland web page 30% Recommended	Military Hop Links Web page with a bunch of links run by a Reservist named Doug Oard. There is a bunch of good info here, but by his own admission it is less detailed than it once was.
MilitaryTowns.com 30% Recommended	Generic Military Community Information Website dedicated to helping military families relocate. There is a bunch of good info here but it is not specifically Space Available Travel related (although these are the destinations for most people traveling on military aircraft).
Coast Guard Flight Regulations 30% Recommended	Coast Guard Space-A Regulations (We are looking for the correct html address which was broken when the USCG did a massive rebuild of their site. Will provide it once we obtain it.) In case you can make use of the USCG transports-- the regulations are different since the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. COMDTINST M3710.1D
Globemaster Links 30% Recommended	U.S. Military Aviation Links Web site based in Germany. Very difficult to read the index page using AOL 4.0. It has been recently updated. Lots of Military Hop info.
SpaceATravel.com	Space-A Travel Guide An order form for the guidebook "Worldwide Space-A Travel Handbook." Have never read it so can make no recommendation. Others tout it very highly.

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