Comfort & Carry-ons
1. Don't be a diva. In
the Air Force, most of the airplanes available for Space-A travel are C-17s and
KC-135s. Yes, these are cargo planes and air-refuelers. If you get one of these
airplanes, for the next 8+ hours you'll be sitting in a jump-seat, most likely
webbed canvas, straight-backed against the airplane's frame. You'll use the
bathroom in a rudimentary version of an airline lavatory but without the
amenities even that implies. For instance, the KC-135 we took to Hawaii didn't
have a working sink in the lav, but the crew was happy to supply alcohol wipes.
Usually, one lav serves the crew and all of the passengers (we had about 44
men, women, and children on that flight, excluding the crew).
No open-toed or high-heeled shoes are allowed in Space-A travel, and I would
think twice about wearing a dress or shorts. The planes fly very high and it's
very, very cold inside. Carry a jacket and a small pillow.
2. Travel light. Some airplanes have weight limits. Before leaving the house, my husband and I weigh everything, including carry-ons (laptops, cosmetic totes, etc.). Our magic number is 30 pounds total per person. Twice we've gotten the only two seats available on both a C-12 and a C-21 because the weight limit was 30 pounds per person (or 60 pounds total because we were traveling together).
My husband and I bought backpacks specifically for our Space-A trips: they're lightweight and small enough to fit in the overhead bins but long/tall enough to carry all of our stuff. They have special wet/dry pockets as well as clips inside the compartments for keys, etc. We bring just enough clothes to be tourists in. If you're planning on bringing dressy outfits, the backpack option may not be for you. If you shop when you get to your destination (I certainly do...after all, isn't that the point of the trip?), you can mail your items and extra clothing back home via the USPS at the nearest military base.
All that's needed here is a little planning and time management. You might even get to use the internal mailing system known as MPS and send your package back to your home base for free. Ask your USPS clerk.
Next: Accommodations
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