Do you know whether you’re eligible to fly space-available (Space-A) flights? Have you thought about retiring overseas? Oh, and did you know that there is an affordable military resort located right in the middle of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

These were just a few of the topics covered in a recent webinar hosted by MOAA with special guest expert Stephanie Montague, military spouse and founder/president of Poppin’ Smoke, a website dedicated to helping the military community take advantage of their earned travel-related benefits.

While much of the webinar was spent discussing the ins and outs of Space-A travel, Montague also discussed Space-A lodging, military recreational lodging, and getting medical care while traveling overseas.

A key point from Montague’s presentation: It is important for beneficiaries to understand what Space-A flights are – and what they are not. The flights are mission-based, so you can only go when and where the mission is going. Flying Space-A requires flexibility, patience, time, and some last-minute planning.

Still, Montague estimates she has saved more than $20,000 over the last eight years by taking military hops.

Montague says much of her savings success depends on knowing when to fly – avoiding the busy summer PCS travel season is key. And it’s important to know where flights might go, since you may need a mix of Space-A and commercial flights to get to some places.

You can check out Air Mobility Command’s passenger terminal directory for a list of possible destinations, but you’ll need to contact individual terminals for details.

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Beneficiaries who may not be eligible for Space-A flights or who may be leery of trying them can still save money when traveling by staying in DoD lodging, both here and abroad. Rules for who can stay, rates, and how far out you can book are often determined by the individual installation, so it’s best to contact each facility separately.

Each branch of service runs their own lodging. You can find most military lodging worldwide listed on the Department of Defense Lodging website; Montague suggests using the web to locate lodging, but calling the lodge directly to find out specific rules, rates, and availability.

Want more tips? Access the recording here by registering at this link or via MOAA’s webinar archive (Premium or Life member login required).