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Military Discount Flights for Veterans & Military

Julie Provost

One way to save money while you are traveling is to find airlines with military discounts. However, some companies provide special military fares, and others only give you a discount or provide free bags on your flights. Here is a breakdown of the airlines that offer military discount flights. Please note that some airlines do not offer actual military discount flights, but they do offer other benefits.

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Airlines with Military Discounts on Flights and Baggage

Jump to:

• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Frontier
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue
• Southwest
• Spirit
• Sun Country
• United Airlines

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Alaska Airlines Military Discount

• What is the discount? Alaska Airlines offers special military fares to active duty and dependents in some markets. The fares would be valid on Alaska Airlines, Horizon, Sky West, and PenAir.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • If you have booked a military fare, the service member and dependent will be able to have 5 bags free of charge. In addition, active duty military and active duty dependents on travel orders would also receive the 5 bags free of charge. Bags can be up to 70 lbs.
  • Alaska Airlines offers 15% off of food purchased on the airplane to all members of the military and their families.
  • Active duty members pay $150 plus tax for pet travel vs the normal prices of between $250-350, up to $700.
  • Active duty military can board the plane early.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military and their dependents.

• How do you get the discount? In order to receive the special fares, you will have to call 1-800-252-7522. You will need to have a valid military ID or separation papers for travel within 7 days of discharge from active military service. Dependents need to be a legal relation of the military members, have proper identification, and those ages 10 and up will need to have a valid ID with “active” on it.

For more info, please visit our Alaska Airlines Military Discount page.

Allegiant Airlines Military Discount

• What is the discount? They do not have a military discount on airfare. However, they do offer free checked baggage for eligible military and veterans.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • For active duty, reserve duty, or national guard service members: Up to 2 pieces of checked baggage free, under 100lbs, no charge for oversized checked baggage, one carry-on free, free boarding pass printing at the airport, free seat assignments, pending availability, up to 1 pet in the cabin for free, may board at priority boarding at no charge, and they will not be charged when making a change or cancellation due to a change in orders.
  • For military veterans and spouses or dependents of those mentioned above: Up to 2 pieces of checked baggage for free, under 40lbs, no charge for oversized checked baggage, one carry-on free, free boarding pass printing at the airport, free seat assignments, pending availability, and up to 1 pet in the cabin for free.

• Who’s eligible?
  • Active duty
  • Reserves
  • National Guard
  • Their spouses or dependents
  • US military veterans

• How do you get the discount? You must show qualifying identification. Dependents do not have to be traveling with their military member to receive these benefits.

For more info, please visit our Allegiant Airlines Military Discount page.

American Airlines Military Discount

• What is the discount? American Airlines offers government or military fares in certain markets.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer? They do offer 1-5 bags for free, for active duty and/or deployments with an ID that are traveling on orders. They offer 1-3 bags for free for active duty on personal travel with ID.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military.

• How do you get the discount? You will need to contact reservations at 1-800-433-7300 for information on this discount. Show ID for your bags when checking in.

For more info, please visit our American Airlines Military Discount page.

Delta Airlines Military Discount

• What is the discount? Delta offers a special military rate.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • They offer active duty military more free bags than civilian customers.
  • They offer special military medical travel discounts to those who have a war-injured immediate family member or domestic partner.
  • Military members can check their pets as baggage for a fee when traveling on active transfer orders. They must book this at least 48 hours before arrival and fees do apply. Only certain animals will qualify.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military.

• How do you get the discount? In order to receive the free special military rate, you will need to call them directly at 1-800-325-1771.

For more info, please visit our Delta Airlines Military Discount page.

 

 

Frontier Airlines Military Discount

• What is the discount? They do not have a military discount on airfare but offer a free checked bag. 

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • Normally, Frontier charges for their bags, both checked bags, and carry-ons. They do offer active duty one free carry-on bag, one free checked bag, including oversize and overweight bags, and a personal item.

• Who’s eligible?  Active duty service members. This benefit does not apply to family members.

• How do you get the discount?  The service member needs to show a valid ID and/or be in uniform. They also can not add their baggage online.

For more info, please visit our Frontier Airlines Military Discount page.

Hawaiian Islands Military Discount

• What is the discount? They do not have a specific military discount, however, if you are a member of Veterans Advantage you can receive 5% off coach flights from the US Mainland to the Hawaiian islands and from Honolulu to select international locations.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • For active duty, and those who are retired or retiring, who have proof of official government travel orders, and their qualified dependents: Will be allowed 5 checked complimentary bags per person for all coach/first/business classes of travel when traveling on orders, with a limit of 70 lbs per bag.
  • For active duty military personnel: They are allowed 2 complimentary checked bags per person for coach/first/business classes of travel when traveling for personal reasons, with a limit of 50 lbs per bag. This does not apply to dependents.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty, those who are retired or are retiring, and qualified dependents depending on the benefit.

• How do you get the discount? Service members need to make sure they check in at the Hawaiian Airlines airport counters. Those who do so at the Kiosks and use web check-in will only be able to have 2 complimentary bags.

For more info, please visit our Hawaiian Airlines Military Discount page.

JetBlue Military Discount

• What is the discount? JetBlue offers a special military fare for active duty personnel that are not traveling on orders. The discount is 5% off the base fare. Those with Veterans Advantage can receive 5% off travel to over 85 destinations as well as a checked baggage allowance of 2 pieces at no additional cost.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer? If they are on active duty traveling on orders, as well as their dependents, they can receive a checked bag waiver of 5 bags each. For active duty traveling for leisure, they can receive one for 2 bags each.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military and their dependents.

• How do you get the discount? In order to receive the military fares, they need to call 1-800-JETBLUE. They also need to show their DOD CAC card, as well as travel orders if applicable.

For more info, please visit our JetBlue Airlines page.

Southwest Military Discount

• What is the discount? Southwest offers a military rate for active duty and their families.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer? Southwest gives everyone 2 free bags. Military passengers traveling on active duty or permanent change of station orders are exempt from the 2-piece baggage limit and will not be subject to excess, oversize, or overweight baggage charges as long as they are under 100 lbs, and 80 inches in size.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military.
  
  
• How do you get the discount? You would need to call, 1-800-I-Fly-SWA, in order to receive their military discount.

For more info, please visit our Southwest Airlines Military Discount page.

Spirit Airlines Military Discount 

• What is the discount? They do not have a specific military discount.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer? They offer 2 free checked bags, and a free carry-on, in addition to the already free personal item.

• Who’s eligible? Active duty military, only the service member.

• How do you get the discount? They would need to have their bags checked at the counter, and present their ID. They can also save time by verifying their military service through ID.me online.

For more info, please visit our Spirit Airlines page.

Sun Country Military Discount

• What is the discount? Sun Country does not have a military discount on airfare but they do offer a military bag allowance.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer?
  • They offer 3 free bags for military personnel.  The first 2 bags can be checked with the 3rd being overhead.  If your first 2 checked bags are over the weight limit, there is no additional charge.  A 3rd checked bag over the weight limit would incur a charge.

• Who’s eligible?  Active duty service members. This benefit does not apply to family members.

• How do you get the discount?  The service member needs to show a valid ID.

For more info, please visit Sun Country’s support page.

United Airlines Military Discount Flights

• What is the discount? With United, you can receive 5% off your tickets through Veterans Advantage.

• What non-discount benefits do they offer? Active duty military personnel and their accompanying dependents not traveling on official business can have 3 checked bags waived up to 70 lbs each. Active duty military personnel and their dependents who are on official travel orders can have 5 checked bags waived up to 100 lbs each.

• Who’s eligible? Military veterans, active duty military, national guard, reserve members, and their families. Active duty for the bag benefit.

• How do you get the discount? Through Veterans Advantage. For bags, present ID when checking in.

For more info, please visit our United Airlines Military Discount page.

 

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Space-A Travel

One of the best ways to save money while traveling is through Space-A. Most of the flights are free or have a small tax in the case of Patriot Express flights.

However, flying Space-A isn’t as simple as buying a ticket and then showing up for your flight. Space-A is a privilege, not a benefit, and will allow uniformed service members and their dependents the ability to fly on DOD aircraft on a space-available basis.

Space-A Eligibility

You or your dependents will be in different categories based on military status. Space-A Travel is available to active duty, retirees that hold a Blue retiree ID card and receive retirement pay, as well as their dependents.

Retirees with a Gray Area ID card have limited availability however their dependents are not able to use Space-A. National Guard and reserves can use Space-A in certain circumstances and they and their dependents can use Space-A if they are activated over 30 days.

Space-A can pretty much take you anywhere in the world as long as there is a terminal that uses Space-A nearby. However, you may be limited on where you can go based on your status. There is a complicated sign-up process and you might have to wait longer than normal in order to travel to where you want to go.

Many times a flight can get canceled and they can only take a limited amount of people. It is best to use Space-A when you have extra time and flying when school is in session for dependents would make things a little easier.

Space-A Website

 

RELATED: Disabled Veterans Can Now Fly Space-A

Due to the nature of military discount flights, the terms listed above could change at any time. Always make sure to check with the company directly for the most updated information.

 

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