Defense Logistics: Space-Available Travel Challenges May Be Exacerbated If Eligibility Expands

Abstract : The space-available travel program is a privilege given to members of the armed forces to provide some relief from the rigors of duty when members are on leave. Retired members of the armed forces were also given the privilege in recognition of a career of such rigorous duty.1 This privilege may, in certain circumstances, be extended to other categories of passengers, such as dependents of active and retired members of the armed forces. Through the space-available travel program, eligible travelers are permitted to use open seats on certain military-owned or contracted aircraft after all required passengers have been accommodated. Space-available flights fly within the United States, between the United States and overseas, and between overseas locations. The Department of Defense (DOD) designed the space-available program to be a privilege and only extends this privilege to space-available travelers when it does not interfere with the aircraft s mission. These aircraft are not permitted to be rerouted or rescheduled to accommodate space-available passengers, and travel must be without additional expense to the United States. Recently, bills have been introduced in Congress to reauthorize or expand the space-available travel program to potentially include international travel for gray-area retirees (reservists who are entitled to retirement pay at age 60) and their dependents, international travel for reservists and their dependents, and widows and widowers of active duty personnel and reservists and their dependents.