It can often be overwhelming to plan travel as a military family — from coordinating schedules to budgeting, let alone ironing out all the details of the actual trip. Thankfully, many travel-related businesses from airlines to hotels offer military discounts that are worth looking into for your next big adventure.
A couple of points worth noting regarding military travel discounts:
- Finding the military discount is not always straightforward. It often requires calling the company directly as the military fare or price is not published online. Take that into account when trying to figure out pricing; sometimes it is worth the extra step of calling to save!
- A valid military I.D. card will be required at check-in to validate all military pre-bookings or reservations.
Airlines
Allegient Air – Allegiant Air offers two free checked bags for military members.
American Airlines – American Airlines honors military members flying with their dependents by honoring free checked baggage. Discounted flights (up to 5%) apply by calling the airline directly.
Delta – Delta recognizes service members and their families with discounted fares (must contact Delta Reservations directly by phone), as well as free checked baggage.
Frontier – Frontier offers two free checked bags for military members who show a valid I.D. card upon check-in.
Hawaiian Airlines – Hawaiian Airlines offers four free checked bags for military personnel on orders and two free checked bags for leisure travel.
Jet Blue – Veterans Advantage members can save 5% on Jet Blue flights, and a special military fare class rewards active duty personnel with a 5% discount off base fares when not traveling on orders. Baggage discounts are offered for both duty and leisure are also offered with valid I.D. at check-in.
Southwest Airlines – Southwest does not publish a military discount on their website (or information regarding their policy), but military fares are offered to personnel who call the airline directly.
United Airlines – United offers military members and their dependents free checked bags, as well as up to 5% off for Veteran Advantage members.
Cruise lines
Carnival – Carnival offers discounted sailing fares to active and retired U.S. Military through an online calendar that allows travelers to input sailing destination and dates.
Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Cruises offers military members a per person savings of for inside and ocean view rooms and 0 for veranda, Concierge Class, AquaClass or Suite Class rooms.
Disney Cruise Line – Disney Cruise Line publishes special military fares for select sail dates, which are limited to a maximum of one stateroom per military member, per sailing.
Princess Cruises – Princess Cruises offers military members (active, retired and disabled) up to 0 in onboard spending credit.
Royal Caribbean – Royal Caribbean International offers discounted rates for military members with valid identification who meet compliance classifications on select sailings.
Hotels and resorts
Beaches – Beaches Resorts offer military members a 10% discount.
Best Western – Best Western offers a discounted room rate to veterans, military and government personnel by selecting the Government/Military category when booking online.
Disneyland Resort Hotels – Disneyland offers military members discounted rates at all three resort hotels.
Disneyworld Resort Hotels – Disneyworld offers U.S. military members discounted rates at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Great Wolf Lodge – North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts offers military members up to 30% off using the offer code ‘Heroes.’
Hilton – Hilton Hotels offers military members a discounted hotel rate when service members select the Government/Military rate box during online booking.
Hyatt – Participating Hyatt properties offer military members a discount when using ‘MILVET’ at checkout.
IHG – IHG offers a Government/Military rate when booking online.
Marriott/Starwood – Marriott and Starwood properties offer military discounts at select properties with availability when travelers select the Government/Military rate box.
Red Roof – Red Roof offers military veterans, active duty and retirees a 15% discount on all published rates.
Sandals – Sandals Resorts offers military members 10% off any current promotions.
Wyndam – Wyndam properties offer military members a 20% discount with a Veterans Advantage membership.
Rental cars
Avis – Avis extends a 25% discount to military members who have enrolled in Veterans Advantage.
Alamo – Alamo offers discounted rates for military members who are able to show proper identification at pick-up.
Budget – Budget offers 25% off to military members who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage.
Hertz – Hertz offers military members discounted rates and space-available upgrades in addition to a complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership.
Other travel discounts
Amtrak – Amtrak offers military members a 10% discount when booking online and clicking the military fare box.
Disneyland – Military members are offered discounted rates throughout the year to this famed California amusement park.
Disneyworld – Military members are offered discounted rates throughout the year to ‘the most magical place on Earth.’
Expedia – Expedia offers military members complimentary upgrades when they join the military rewards program, Expedia+gold.
Legoland Vacations – Legoland offers military members a 10% discount.
National Park Service – Military members with a valid I.D. can get a free annual pass to the National Parks.
Whether your next big trip is for work or leisure, be sure to reference this guide and utilize some of the amazing military discounts available.