Space A military flights and Lodging

[mangon1947]

Any retirees out there that have had any experience with flying space A around Asia? Since 911 it is much more difficult to get specific space A info and to even log into military base sites to get lodging info. I wonder if anyone here has some experience with visiting some of the other Asian countries via space A and maybe staying in transient quarters on US Bases in the Pacific.

Thanks,
Ed Newhall

MOD NOTE: - Ed please post your posts in the correct sub forums. I have moved this from "General Topics on Udon Thani" to "Travel and Transport"

[FrazeeDK]

see the link http://www.military.com/Travel/Content1 ... le,00.html which has further links to TRANSCOM and other links to sign up for an account to access public space-a travel schedules..

[papaguido]

During a visit to JUSMAG this is something I asked about. There are no space A flights that are available from Thailand. Space A flights originate from Singapore. I have a fact sheet with details (incl map/location of airport) that I picked up from JUSMAG. If your interested I can scan it and emailed it to you.

[MAC]

Papa is correct, all Space A to and from Thailand are canceled until further notice. A few years ago I took a Space A from Japan to Singapore and it was no trouble at all. I have talked to a few guys who have flown in and out of Singapore and had good experiences but I'm not a big of Singapore as far as hanging around waiting on planes.

The least hassle for the money is to take Philippine Air, Bangkok - Manila - Guam, so at least if you get stuck, your stuck in Guam, A place a like quite well minus the typhoons. Another option is commercial to Korea or Japan then Space A.

No need to worry about housing outside of Singapore as all other Southeast Asian Countries have great inexpensive rooms.



I don't see any security issues talking about Space A but advise against posting any details such as missions.

[HSLPapa]

Papaguido

I'm interested in any info you can provide regarding flights from singapore. I live in Hong Kong and would like to take advantage of the best routes to California or Hawaii with my family this summer. i've never flown space a before but I can probably get orders because I have a conference.

Thanks.

HSL Papa

[LoongLee]

HSLPapa,,, sorry for the intrusion but IMHO, the best bet from HongKong would be to go the other direction toward the US. The aircraft size and frequency of flights would be much better from South Korea or Japan/Okinawa. TRANSCOM or TRANSCOM contract flights would be easier to catch from Korea or Yakota AB Japan, or Kadena AB, Okinawa. I think they would be more frequent and larger aircraft than what goes into and out of Singapore.. They would fly into McCord AFB or more probably Seattle-Tacoma SEATAC

I was also confused by your reference to orders and a conference. Don't think you can fly Space-A on orders, you have to go thru Mil Travel and get manifested, etc.

Hopefully someone else on here can give better or more accurate info than I, but I can see no point to flying southwest to Singapore to maybe catch a flight heading northeast.

Another point worth considering is the security issue has made publication of flight schedules nil until the day of the flight sometimes. Also, The absolute worse time to try Space-A is summer when kids are out of school. The 2nd worse time is the Christmas season, same reason. Good luck

[papaguido]

Papaguido

I'm interested in any info you can provide regarding flights from singapore. I live in Hong Kong and would like to take advantage of the best routes to California or Hawaii with my family this summer. i've never flown space a before but I can probably get orders because I have a conference.

Thanks.

HSL Papa

The info I have is very limited, basically an info sheet I picked up from JUSMAGTHAI.



If you read Luang Lee's post, it would be better to fly a NE route rather than SW as he recommends. How did you intend to get from HK to Singapore? If flying commercial than you should look at flying to S. Korea. RT airfare is under $400 with Korean Air and you'll have a better chance of Space A travel from Osan AF base. Just one option, I'm sure with some web surfing you may find more.

Also, here are a couple of sites you may find useful:

http://www.pepperd.com/cgi-bin/spacea/discus.cgi

http://www.baseops.net/spaceatravel/

http://www.spacea.net/

Good luck

[papaguido]

I was also confused by your reference to orders and a conference. Don't think you can fly Space-A on orders, you have to go thru Mil Travel and get manifested, etc.

Normally he would, but it's possible for personnel on orders to fly Space A, he would be afforded the same priority as Emergency Leave cases (Cat 1). However, if he's accompanied by his family, his family may be classed as Cat 2 (or Cat 4 if they consider him to be traveling alone because of orders) and depending on availability may not make a the same flight.

Another point worth considering is the security issue has made publication of flight schedules nil until the day of the flight sometimes. Also, The absolute worse time to try Space-A is summer when kids are out of school. The 2nd worse time is the Christmas season, same reason. Good luck

Very good points here, especially travel season.

However, if HSLpapa has access to a military computer he may be able to access the schedules here:

http://josac.transcom.mil/newfltschedules.htm

[LoongLee]

PapaGuido,,,,,, great points,,,, and yes, the red alarm light in my head started flashing when I read his words: family, summer, conference, etc.. When I was on active duty the organization didn't want you on a space-A flight, but regular scheduled airline because of the chance a MilAir flight being diverted, RON at crews desires (you know what I mean) etc. The bosses want a sure thing.

[papaguido]

PapaGuido,,,,,, great points,,,, and yes, the red alarm light in my head started flashing when I read his words: family, summer, conference, etc.. When I was on active duty the organization didn't want you on a space-A flight, but regular scheduled airline because of the chance a MilAir flight being diverted, RON at crews desires (you know what I mean) etc. The bosses want a sure thing.

Yup sure do, been there done that but it has worked to my benefit. Like the time we got grounded at Utapao for 2 days waiting on a replacement part for the MC-130 I was riding PAX on. Come to find out later the crew keeps a few "unserviceable" parts stashed away for this purpose

[LoongLee]

PapaGuido,,,,,,,,,,,Yeah,,,,,,,,,,, now that you mention it,,,,,, isn't it strange how they would rarely break down at a nasty location? ,,,,,,,,,,, heh, heh,,,,,,

Oh well,,, that was just one of the bennies,,,

[hjhurley]

When you talk about "summer" being the worst time to travel what exactly do you mean?? You could get stuck for a week, 3 days or a month??? I am thinking about traveling to Singapore from HI to visit my husband who is on deployment. We will travel Cat IV beginning of June. What would your advice be to go or not to go?