Military Retirement - Military Times

Space-Available Travel

Retirees and their families can get seats on government aircraft under the “space-available” program. The program has restrictions on who can travel and where.

Retirement-eligible reservists on “without-pay status” are eligible only for stateside travel. Family members of retirees are eligible only for overseas flights and only when accompanied by the retiree. Using space-A for a business trip is illegal.

Nominal fees are charged on some international flights using commercial aircraft or airports. Retirees have the lowest priority for seats aboard space-A flights.

Travelers are advised to prepare to take a commercial flight if space-A seating is not available when they want to travel. Seating is allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.