Military Space-a Flights?

[gnode]

I was wondering if anyone here (current or retired military) have ever tried to travel to Thailand from the U.S. on military Space-A flights? If so, how recently, and can you tell me about your experiences?

[karazyal]

I was wondering if anyone here (current or retired military) have ever tried to travel to Thailand from the U.S. on military Space-A flights?  If so, how recently, and can you tell me about your experiences?

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It's easier to get a hop to Singapore and go from there to Thailand. For more information Google Military Space Available (hops.) Not imposible to get a hop to Thailand, seems like you have to be very lucky though. Mil retirees living in Pattaya, that I know, usually go commercial if they have to be somewhere on time. There used to be a space "A" sign-up list at the Military Assistance Command (U.S.) in downtown Bangkok.

Sometimes I use some of my frequent flyer miles to get to California for free and from there fly commercial to Asia out of SFO or LAX on one of the cheaper Asian carriers. (China Airlines, KAL, Asiana and EVA usually have some good prices out of Cal.) Guess you could get a hop to Cal. and pay from there or try for Singapore. Singapore to Bangkok flights are often discounted. I've had round trips from BKK to Singapore for $105 to $130.

Space "A" works best if you live near an airport and you can check for flights every day. If you don't live near a military airfield you can waste a lot of time and money waiting in expensive hotels.

AL

[gnode]

It's easier to get a hop to Singapore and go from there to Thailand.  For more information Google Military Space Available (hops.)    Not imposible to get a hop to Thailand, seems like you have to be very lucky though.  Mil retirees living in Pattaya, that I know, usually go commercial if they have to be somewhere on time.  There used to be a space "A" sign-up list at the Military Assistance Command (U.S.) in downtown Bangkok. 

Sometimes I use some of my frequent flyer miles to get to California for free and from there fly commercial to Asia out of SFO or LAX on one of the cheaper Asian carriers.  (China Airlines, KAL, Asiana and EVA usually have some good prices out of Cal.)  Guess you could get a hop to Cal. and pay from there or try for Singapore.  Singapore to Bangkok flights are often discounted.  I've had round trips from BKK to Singapore for $105 to $130. 

Space "A" works best if you live near an airport and you can check for flights every day.  If you don't live near a military airfield you can waste a lot of time and money waiting in expensive hotels. 

I live close to both McChord AFB and SEATAC Airport in WA, USA, so getting to an airport isn't a big issue. Space-A flights to LAX go out a couple times a week from there, and flights to Kadena AFB, Japan go out about once a week. I've got about a month and a half to play with, though I was thinking of spending around 30 in LOS, some time actually isn't a huge factor either, although I don't want to waste a lot of days sitting around in terminals or living in expensive hotels. I'll also be traveling with my wife and 16 month old son, so a lengthy ordeal isn't very appealing. I know a lot of ports have regularly scheduled flights, so if I've got to make an extra hop or two to get to where I'm going, I don't have a problem with that - I just want to avoid lengthy layovers if at all possible. I know that's probably a lot to ask, but to save the US$2000+ in airfare, I'll accept a little bit of inconvenience.

I'll check out hops through Singapore. Thanks for the idea.

[karazyal]

It's easier to get a hop to Singapore and go from there to Thailand.   For more information Google Military Space Available (hops.)    Not imposible to get a hop to Thailand, seems like you have to be very lucky though.  Mil retirees living in Pattaya, that I know, usually go commercial if they have to be somewhere on time.   There used to be a space "A" sign-up list at the Military Assistance Command (U.S.) in downtown Bangkok. 

Sometimes I use some of my frequent flyer miles to get to California for free and from there fly commercial to Asia out of SFO or LAX on one of the cheaper Asian carriers.  (China Airlines, KAL, Asiana and EVA usually have some good prices out of Cal.)   Guess you could get a hop to Cal. and pay from there or try for Singapore.   Singapore to Bangkok flights are often discounted.  I've had round trips from BKK to Singapore for $105 to $130. 

Space "A" works best if you live near an airport and you can check for flights every day.   If you don't live near a military airfield you can waste a lot of time and money waiting in expensive hotels. 

I live close to both McChord AFB and SEATAC Airport in WA, USA, so getting to an airport isn't a big issue. Space-A flights to LAX go out a couple times a week from there, and flights to Kadena AFB, Japan go out about once a week. I've got about a month and a half to play with, though I was thinking of spending around 30 in LOS, some time actually isn't a huge factor either, although I don't want to waste a lot of days sitting around in terminals or living in expensive hotels. I'll also be traveling with my wife and 16 month old son, so a lengthy ordeal isn't very appealing. I know a lot of ports have regularly scheduled flights, so if I've got to make an extra hop or two to get to where I'm going, I don't have a problem with that - I just want to avoid lengthy layovers if at all possible. I know that's probably a lot to ask, but to save the US$2000+ in airfare, I'll accept a little bit of inconvenience.

I'll check out hops through Singapore. Thanks for the idea.

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When it's not a Christmas, New Years and the Chinese New Year you can get some decent prices on flights out of LAX, or SFO, to Thailand on China Air, Asiana, Eva Air or even NWA and UA sometimes. I've flown out of Lax and SFO for around $500 to Bangkok. Seattle has been building up some direct flights to Asia for the last few years, perhaps there is a deal on an airline out of there.

For commercial flights avoid weekends, Fridays, and holidays. Always check a few days before and after to see if the price drops. Compare the price you get with a travel agent against the price offered by the airline to see if you have a good deal. I buy most of my flights through the airlines directly. The baby can usually fly free.

Good luck on Space "A." I live too far from bases to take advantage of free flights.

[gnode]

When it's not a Christmas, New Years and the Chinese New Year you can get some decent prices on flights out of LAX, or SFO, to Thailand on China Air, Asiana, Eva Air or even NWA and UA sometimes.  I've flown out of Lax and SFO for around $500 to Bangkok.  Seattle has been building up some direct flights to Asia for the last few years, perhaps there is a deal on an airline out of there. 

For commercial flights avoid weekends, Fridays, and holidays.  Always check a few days before and after to see if the price drops.  Compare the price you get with a travel agent against the price offered by the airline to see if you have a good deal.  I buy most of my flights through the airlines directly.  The baby can usually fly free. 

Good luck on Space "A."  I live too far from bases to take advantage of free flights.

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The best prices I ever see that are actually purchasable tend to be in the low 700's. I've seen prices as low as $525 advertised, but every time I try to purchase one I get some sort of arbitrary error. Travelling commercial this time of year really isn't that bad, pricewise, but you can't beat free. Since I've got plenty of time off coming up, I figure I'm going to give it a shot, and hopefully have an interesting adventure along the way. If worse comes to worse, I can always purchase a one way (or even r.t.) ticket from Thailand to get back, as flights originating in Thailand are almost always significantly less, but if I make it the whole way by just paying some minimal gateway fees and meals, that's more money to spend in the Land of Smiles.

For future reference, I believe the best route from SEA to BKK is going to be a Patriot Express to Yokota, then one of the frequent flights from Yokota to Singapore, and probably a train from Singapore into Thailand. It will likely take me about 4 or 5 days to get where I'm going, but I'll stop in some cool places along the way, and probably spend less than $400 for lodging and airfare for two adults and a toddler. If all goes smoothly and I hunt out the good deals, it could even be less than that.

If I can make this happen, I'll let you guys know how it works out!

[evadgib]

I was wondering if anyone here (current or retired military) have ever tried to travel to Thailand from the U.S. on military Space-A flights?  If so, how recently, and can you tell me about your experiences?

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I guess this is harder for the brits to do since HK was relinquished. Does anyone know what their best option is (& are retirees entitled)?