Al Udeid Terminal
infoDAF Privatizing On-Base Lodging Beginning Fall 2027 (US & Territories)
The DAF has selected IHG Hotels and Resorts and Centinel Public Partnerships, LLC to execute a 50-year lease, starting Fall 2027. The first 23 installations scheduled for transition are: • Altus Air Force Base, Okla. • Barksdale AFB, La. • Beale AFB, Calif. • Buckley Space Force Base, Colo. • Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. • Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. • Edwards AFB, Calif. • Eglin AFB, Fla. • Goodfellow AFB, Texas • Hurlburt Field, Fla. • Joint Base Andrews, Md. • JB Charleston, S.C. • JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska • JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. • Little Rock AFB, Ark. • MacDill AFB, Fla. • Maxwell AFB, Ala. • Nellis AFB, Nev. • Robins AFB, Ga. • Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. • Shaw AFB, S.C. • Sheppard AFB, Texas • Travis AFB, Calif. See the full story here: https://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4487502/daf-selects-partner-for-commercialized-on-base-lodging/
Space-Available travel from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar — the 379th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron passenger terminal, where Space-A is authorized on the weekly Patriot Express rotator.
The Al Udeid Air Base passenger terminal, in Qatar, is run by the 379th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron. It is primarily a duty and redeployment terminal in the U.S. Central Command region — most of its travelers move on orders or as Space-Required passengers, on missions serving bases across the region.
For a Space-A traveler, Al Udeid is narrow and specific. Space-A is authorized only on the Thursday Patriot Express rotator — the weekly redeployer flight. None of the terminal's other missions carry Space-A travelers, so the whole Space-A picture comes down to that one flight a week.
The move at Al Udeid: build your plan around the Thursday rotator. Sign up early, watch the 30-day and 72-hour schedules, and be ready for an early roll call — six hours before departure — to clear U.S. and CENTCOM customs. Space-A on the rotator carries a head tax, payable by credit card only.
Terminal Information
Flight Schedule PDFs
AMC's official scheduling PDFs, opened in a new tab.
At a Glance
Editorial summary of the live numbers below.
- Space-A at Al Udeid is narrow and specific — it is authorized only on the Thursday Patriot Express rotator. The terminal's many other flights are duty and redeployment missions that do not carry Space-A travelers.
- Because the Thursday rotator is the single Space-A option, plan your whole trip around that one flight. Sign up early and watch the 30-day and 72-hour schedules for its timing.
- Al Udeid is primarily a duty and redeployment terminal in the Central Command region. Most travelers move on orders or as Space-Required passengers; Space-A fills whatever seats are left on the rotator.
- Roll call for the rotator begins early — 6 hours before departure — to allow time for U.S. and CENTCOM customs processing. Be checked in and ready well ahead of the flight.
- Space-A on the Patriot Express carries a head tax and federal inspection fee, payable by credit card only — the terminal does not accept cash. Have a card ready.
- April 2026 saw an unusually high spike in flight volume across many AMC terminals — probably driven by real-world operations rather than typical cadence. Weight the other months more heavily when planning your trip.
| Type | Date | Departure | Destination | Roll call | Arrival | Code | Released | Claimed | Fill % | Sel cat | Sel signup | Comp | Comp cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | 2026-05-25 | Al Udeid Terminal | NAS Sigonella, Italy | — | 2050 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Patterns Over the Past 12 Months
See the past 12 months of patterns at this terminal — busiest months, day-of-week cadence, fill rates, and top destinations.
Pattern charts — flight cadence, fill rates, and top destinations — are a premium feature. Upgrade to plan trips against real history for this terminal.
See pricingHow to Sign Up
Methods, contacts, and terminal-specific quirks.
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Plan Your TripQuirks Worth Flagging
- Space-A at Al Udeid is authorized only on the Thursday Patriot Express rotator. None of the terminal's other flights — duty and redeployment missions around the region — carry Space-A travelers.
- Space-A and Space-R roll call begins 6 hours before departure — earlier than the usual standard — to allow time for U.S. and CENTCOM customs processing. Bring all checked bags, carry-on, and personal items to check in.
- Space-A travelers on the Patriot Express pay a head tax and federal inspection fee totaling about $40.81 per passenger. Credit card is the only accepted form of payment — the terminal does not take cash.
- Carry-on baggage on rotator and commercial flights must fit 22 x 14 x 9 inches (45 linear inches). Anything larger must be checked.
- Uniform policy: wear the uniform of the day, or a collared shirt and slacks, to check in.
When You Show Up
Parking, lodging, food, and what to do if you don't get on.
Parking
Check-In
Check in at the Al Udeid Passenger Terminal, Bldg. 3976. Bring a valid ID, your orders, and a printed copy of your Space-A sign-up email. For the Patriot Express rotator, check-in opens well ahead of departure — the terminal is staffed 24 hours a day.
When to Arrive
The terminal is open 24 hours a day. The only Space-A flight is the Thursday Patriot Express rotator, and its roll call begins 6 hours before departure to allow for U.S. and CENTCOM customs processing — plan to be checked in and ready well before then. A shuttle bus runs from the terminal to lodging.
Transportation
- Terminal-to-lodging shuttleA shuttle bus runs from the passenger terminal to lodging.
- Ground Transportation · DSN 318-455-5250Available 24/7 for larger group movements.
Common Destinations
Editorial notes to complement the live counts on the flight tables above.
- Kuwait International AirportA regional duty and redeployment route — like Al Udeid's other intra-region flights, it does not carry Space-A travelers. Space-A is authorized only on the Thursday Patriot Express rotator.
- Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, JordanA regional duty flight, not a Space-A route — Al Udeid's intra-region missions move passengers on orders, not Space-A.
- Al Dhafra AB, UAEAnother regional duty and redeployment route. Space-A travelers cannot use these intra-region flights — only the weekly rotator.
- Prince Sultan AB, Saudi ArabiaA regional duty route rather than a Space-A option. The terminal's Space-A picture comes down to the Thursday Patriot Express rotator.
Related Terminals
Geographic and functional alternatives.
FAQ
Travelers ask these about this terminal specifically.
I know flights are based on mission requirements. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of making the flight?
Sign up early, and show up early to mark present. If only a few Space-A passengers have marked present shortly before roll call, terminal staff will tell mission planners that cargo can be added to the pallet positions that would have held seats. On certain aircraft, that means fewer Space-A seats than there are travelers waiting. The fix is to mark present as early as you can — don't wait until just before roll call.
Do I really need to bring a copy of my sign-up email?
Yes — always bring a hard copy of your sign-up email, and make sure it shows a date and time stamp. Terminal staff use that stamp to confirm your priority on the manifest at roll call.
Will they let me on the flight if my ID is expired?
No. Check every ID before you travel, and if any will expire during your trip, renew them now. Expired IDs (including your CAC, dependent ID, and passport) will keep you off the flight.
Helpful Links
AMC PDFs, terminal-specific guides, and external resources.
Guide last reviewed . Sources: AMC Travel and Space-A+ historical data.