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American Forces Travel

American Forces Travel℠     is the only official joint services MWR leisure travel website.

American Forces Travel is a joint service initiative combining the efforts of each of the five branches of service (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard) and the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy. Who is Eligible:  Active military, Guard or Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired Military, and all eligible MWR patrons.

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What is American Forces Travel?

American Forces Travel (AFT) is a new site launched with Priceline that offers discounted travel prices to military service members and their dependents. Despite there being many unofficial sites that boast discounted travel prices for military, AFT is the ONLY official joint service owned leisure travel service for the military community.

Priceline.com a company with over 20 years of online travel expertise, won out the opportunity to sponsor AFT over other travel discount sites in a competitive bidding process AFT was launched as an initiative by five military branches of service and the Office of the Secretary of Defense to provide a modernized, streamlined method for booking travel and vacation packages for the military community.  Previously, most non-official travel for military had been orchestrated through base tickets and tour offices; AFT provides a platform where military members can search for special travel deals online.

What Sets American Forces Travel Apart From Other Discount Sites?

• AFT boasts up to 60% savings on more than a million hotel deals in more than 76,000 destinations worldwide.
• AFT offers reduced fees for reservation changes and all flights cancellable within 24 hours.  With AFT, there is also free cancellation on post-paid cars as well as cancellation discounts for pre-paid rates.
• AFT offers 24/7 customer support.
• There is a commission that goes towards military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation services and military quality of life programs with each transaction on the AFT site.
• Although Priceline.com offers similar discounts and deals for the general public, Priceline has a special team dedicated to the AFT site to search for the best prices specifically for military members.
• Priceline offers the same lowest price guarantee on AFT as it does on its main site.  If a better price or deal is found for any travel arrangements within 24 hours of booking, Priceline will refund 100% of the price difference.

Who is Eligible to Use American Forces Travel?

• Active duty and dependents
• Full-benefit retirees and dependents
• 100% disabled veterans and dependents
• Medal of Honor recipients and dependents
• American Red Cross and USA-paid personnel serving outside of the US and dependents
• DOD civilians and non-appropriated fund employees

How Do I Sign Up To Use American Forces Travel?

- Visit the American Forces Travel site .

- Select the “Get Started” link from the main page.

- You will be prompted to verify your military status by providing your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number.

- This information does not go through Priceline but is verified against a DOD database.

- Login information is not captured or retained in any way.

What Types of Discounts Does American Forces Travel Offer?

• Travel packages

AFT hopes to also offer discounts on theme parks and other attractions at a future date

Does American Forces Travel Really Deliver Discounts to the Military Community?

A review done by Military.com of the American Forces Travel site uncovered that on travel to San Diego, hotel deals ranging $20-$50 dollars less than prices found on regular travel discount sites and $10-$18 off per day for vehicle rentals.  According to the same review, a round-trip Alaska Airlines flight from Washington, D.C. to San Diego for one February weekend was $354, while on American Forces Travel the same round-trip flight was only $323.  However, non-stop flights for the same weekend could be purchased on United Airlines for $200-$400 less on a travel discount site other than AFT.

Discounts on hotels seems to vary by season and by room type. For example, a cursory search on AFT for hotels in Seattle, WA during the month of August showed variance in discounted prices when compared to prices on other discount travel sites, ranging from prices on AFT being $10-$20 higher than to $10-$30 lower than on other travel sites. It did seem that there were better discounts on searches for double occupancy rooms than on searches for rooms for more than two people, which could signify that when looking for hotels, AFT offers better discounts for groups travelling with less people as opposed to families with children or larger groups.

Discounts on automobile rentals also vary by auto type and rental by day or by week. Cruise prices also appear to vary based on season or berthing type.

In short, there is probably still no substitute for doing the research when one is looking for good deals on travel. AFT probably does offer significant discounts for military members but not necessarily on every travel item nor in every circumstance, so it is still important to search for deals and discounts using various resources. 

It’s important to consider, too, that AFT launched only within the past few months and still has plans to expand its scope and improve its services. It would be well worth providing further analysis after the site has been up and running for a year or two. 

At the very least American Forces Travel puts another discount travel booking tool in the back pockets of military members and their dependents and can be considered a legitimate means to secure the best price for all leisure travel needs.

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Save Up To 60% on Hotels, 35% on Rental Cars and More with American Forces Travel

American Forces Travel℠ is the first Official joint service MWR program providing travel discounts to the military community. Book airfare, hotels, rental cars, cruise, tickets and more! In addition to enhancing quality of life for the military community, American Forces Travel℠ will inject critical revenue into MWR programs by providing commissions from every booking made. 

Users will have to authenticate using the online authentication process through AAFES, so they will need to enter last four digits of SSN and DOB to verify their military status.

Military.com provides discount information as a service to our members. We make every effort to ensure accuracy but are not liable for the availability of discounts provided by a third party. Discounts may vary by location. As an affiliate partner of some discount providers, Military.com may earn from qualifying purchases. The discount provider may track how you navigated to their site, but we do not share personal information with them.

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3 Military Travel Discounts You Won’t Want to Miss

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Many airlines and hotels offer U.S. military members discounts and perks when traveling. Even when you aren't traveling on orders, members of the military can get free checked bags and priority boarding on airlines, military travel discounts and even elite status at some hotel brands.

To maximize your military travel benefits, you'll want to utilize perks available through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA. Card issuers like Citi and Barclays offer military members 0% APR , while Chase may waive annual fees completely . Many of these credit cards offer generous travel benefits.

Here, we're going to focus on non-card-related military travel discounts and other travel benefits for veterans.

Where to look for military travel discounts

1. organizations offering military travel discounts, veterans advantage.

Many airlines and hotel brands offer some version of military travel discounts. Some of these travel discounts are available to all military members; however, some airlines and hotels only offer discounts through an organization called Veterans Advantage .

This membership-based organization isn't free. Members need to pay $9.99 per month or $59.95 (plus a $4.95 processing fee) for a full year of membership. So you'll want to make sure that you save more than this from your membership before you sign up.

Active duty military, veterans, retired military and spouses and dependents of active-duty, veterans and retired military can save $30 on a Costco Shop Card . All Costco members have access to Costco Travel, which is an online travel agency that offers everyday savings on travel expenses exclusively for members.

2. Airline military travel discounts

Via veterans advantage.

Veterans Advantage offers many airline discounts, including:

Alaska Airlines : Get 5% off flights departing from the U.S. and Canada for up to six passengers.

American Airlines : Up to 10% off economy fares for active-duty members, veterans, retirees, members of the national guard, reservists and their families.

Hawaiian Airlines : Get 5% off round-trip economy fares between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.

JetBlue : Get 5% off all JetBlue flights, plus two free checked bags and waived service fees.

Lufthansa Group: Get 5% off transatlantic flights originating in the U.S. on Lufthansa Airlines , Austrian Airlines, SWISS or Brussels Airlines.

United Airlines : Get 5% off premium economy, business and first-class flights originating in the U.S. for travel within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Europe.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Airline-specific military discounts

Also, a couple of airlines offer military travel discounts directly:

Alaska Airlines : A special military rate is available to U.S. military personnel and their spouses and dependents. This fare is only available when traveling on an excused absence, within seven days of being discharged or for military reserves on active duty.

Delta Air Lines : Get up to $300 off Delta Vacations flight + hotel packages of at least three nights. Available to active-duty U.S. military personnel and their travel companions.

Free checked bags for military members

In addition to discounts on flights, airlines offer travel benefits for active U.S. military service members such as free checked bags — even when flying for personal travel.

Alaska Airlines: Active duty U.S. military personnel and military dependents with travel orders can check up to five bags weighing up to 70 pounds each for free.

American Airlines: Activity military members and dependents traveling on orders get up to five checked bags of up to 100 pounds each for free. Active military members on personal and leisure travel get up to three checked bags of up to 50 pounds each for free.

Delta Air Lines : When traveling on military orders, you can check five bags up to 100 pounds each for free. For personal travel, active-duty military personnel can check two bags up to 50 pounds each when traveling in basic economy, main cabin and Delta Comfort+, or three bags up to 70 pounds each in first class, premium select and Delta One.

Frontier Airlines : Active duty military, reserves and national guard passengers can check two bags for free plus carry-on a bag and a personal item. Oversized and overweight bag fees are waived for the first two checked bags.

JetBlue: Active duty military members traveling on orders and dependents traveling on the same itinerary can get five bags each. For leisure travel, military members and dependents get two free checked bags each.

Spirit Airlines : The low-cost airline offers active-duty U.S. military members two free checked bags and a free carry-on bag when they present their ID at check in.

United Airlines: United will waive checked bag fees on up to five checked bags up to 100 pounds each for U.S. military members traveling on orders.

» Learn more: How to shop for flights

Other military travel benefits when flying

Some airlines go beyond just offering free checked bags to military members. Here are the airlines that offer perks like priority boarding and lounge access:

Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines offers U.S. military members early boarding, complimentary lounge access when traveling on orders and a 15% discount on food purchased in-flight.

American Airlines: American Airlines offers Group 1 boarding to active-duty military members with ID.

Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines allows military members to board between the A and B groups, allowing them better access to seats.

United Airlines: United Airlines offers United Club lounge access to active duty military members in uniform or with leave orders and their families. You must be traveling on a United-operated flight and present your boarding pass and papers to the lounge agent.

3. Hotel military travel discounts

Active military members and veterans can also save at many hotel brands.

Veterans Advantage also partners with many hotel brands to offer a discount to paying members:

Choice Hotels: Get 15% off at the following brands: Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.

Diamond Resorts: Savings of 20% off the best available rate at Diamond Resorts destinations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.

Hilton: Get 10% off for military members, veterans and family members.

Kimpton Hotels: Save 10% off the best available rate.

Motel 6: Get 15% off.

Red Roof: Take 20% off at all Red Roof properties (Red Roof Inn, Red Roof Plus+, Hometowne Studios and The Red Collection Hotels).

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts: Up to 20% off — including at the following brands: Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Garden, Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8, Howard Johnson, Baymont Suites, Travelodge, TRYP, Microtel, Wingate, Hawthorn Suites and Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

Other hotel discounts for service members

Here are some of the best military travel discounts available at hotels in North America:

Atlantis Bahamas : Up to 15% off hotel reservations.

Best Western : Save at least 10% by booking the military rate. Available to U.S. and Canadian military personnel and civilian military personnel, including veterans with an official ID or work orders.

Choice Hotels : Active duty and retired military members, their dependents and members of military associations are eligible for military discounts for leisure travel.

Hilton Hotels : Active and retired U.S. and Canadian military members, veterans and their families can save on leisure travel in the Americas through the Military Family Rate.

Hyatt Hotels : Save 10-15% off the standard rate at participating hotels in the U.S. when you enter code MILVET in the Special Offer Code. Available to veterans, active duty armed service members and immediate family members.

IHG Hotels : Active and retired U.S. and Canadian military members — and their dependent family members — are eligible to book IHG's Military Appreciation Hotel Rate.

Marriott Hotels : Active-duty military members are eligible for discounts when using Special Rate code GOV.

Red Roof Inn : Get 15% off if you're permanently changing stations or 10% off on leisure travel or for military friends and family.

Super 8 by Wyndham : Get 15% off the Best Available Rate at participating hotels in the U.S. and Canada. Available to active, reserve, veteran and retired members of the U.S. or Canadian military.

Wyndham Hotels : Get 12% off the Best Available Rate at most Wyndham brands at hotels in the U.S. and Canada. Available to members of the United States or Canadian military with active, reserve, veteran or retired status and/or the spouses of those military members. You must use rate code SML at booking and present a military ID at check-in.

Free hotel elite status for military members

In addition to discounts and perks, members of the U.S. military are eligible to get elite status with a few hotel chains.

Choice Privileges: Choice Privileges offers lifetime Gold elite status for active-duty military, veterans and military spouses. This elite status grants you a 10% point bonus on stays, an elite welcome gift and access to an elite phone number for reservations and customer service. Plus, you'll get 2,500 bonus points for completing your first qualifying stay after enrolling. Visit this page for full details and to enroll in the program.

Best Western: Similarly, Best Western Rewards offers Gold status to members of the military and armed forces through its Best Western Service Rewards program. In addition to a 10% discount, you'll earn 10% bonus points, receive either bonus points or a welcome gift on arrival, get early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability), and potentially even score a room upgrade.

Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy: Military members can also get elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy . However, getting these perks isn't as straightforward. Here's how it works. Members of the military may be eligible for waived membership fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. You’ll likely have to apply for relief directly to AmEx to get the fee waiver. Once you have The Platinum Card® from American Express , you can enroll to receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status. Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best hotel elite status programs

Take advantage of military travel discounts

Many airlines and hotels offer some sort of discounts or perks to members of the U.S. (or Canadian) armed forces, veterans and reserves. If you're an eligible service member, it's worth double-checking the perks and discounts available before booking your next trip.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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The Military Wallet

American Forces Travel – Online Travel Discounts

Advertiser Disclosure: The Military Wallet and Three Creeks Media, LLC, its parent and affiliate companies, may receive compensation through advertising placements on The Military Wallet. For any rankings or lists on this site, The Military Wallet may receive compensation from the companies being ranked; however, this compensation does not affect how, where, and in what order products and companies appear in the rankings and lists. If a ranking or list has a company noted to be a “partner,” the indicated company is a corporate affiliate of The Military Wallet. No tables, rankings, or lists are fully comprehensive and do not include all companies or available products.

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Update: As of July 16, 2021, all current and former military members* are eligible to use American Forces Travel. *Veterans must have a discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions to be eligible for AFT.

American Forces Travel (AFT) is a leisure travel booking website sponsored by the Department of Defense and intended for servicemembers and veterans across all military branches. Through American Forces Travel, eligible users are able to find steeply discounted rates on airfare, cruises, hotels, rental cars, vacation packages, and event tickets (concert, sporting, theatre).

Launched in 2019, AFT is a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program that enables servicemembers and veterans to easily search for and view leisure travel discounts and benefits exclusively available to military members, those affiliated with the Department of Defense, and eligible family members.

Why Should I Try American Forces Travel?

Convenience.

American Forces Travel offers an attractive and convenient alternative to in-person MWR facilities and Information Tickets & Travel (ITT) offices located on military installations because it can be reached 24/7 online and offers around-the-clock military traveler support. Additionally, AFT has broader eligibility criteria than in-person MWR sites; therefore, some groups who may not be eligible to benefit from MWR services on-site may be eligible to avail themselves of AFT instead.

Helps to Fund Other MWR Programs

Booking through American Forces Travel also helps to fund other MWR programs, since commissions from each booking are reinvested at no cost to users.

Lower Booking Fees

American Forces Travel has lower booking fees than other commercial travel websites and offers a “best price guarantee.” For cruises, they even offer a 110% best price guarantee , meaning that if you find a cheaper cruise within 48-hours of booking with American Forces Travel, they will refund 110% of the difference.

Exclusive Offers and Military Rates

Unlike other discount travel sites, American Forces Travel has exclusive offers and military rates, which means less time spent calling airlines and hotels inquiring about military offers.

Greater Global Reach

Users can book domestic and international travel to over 71,000 locations courtesy of American Forces Travel.

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How Does It Work?

The American Forces Travel website is extremely user-friendly, owed largely in part to its partner — Priceline . Priceline.com has been a long-time leader in online travel services — which acts as the service provider. However, not all of the deals offered commercially through Priceline are identical to those on AFT, since Priceline has a specific team in place to negotiate additional deals for military members and affiliates.

In order to book leisure travel through the online platform, users will first have to verify their eligibility, which requires some personal information (last name, birth date, and the last four digits of the user’s Social Security number).

The website will search the DEERS database in order to verify eligibility, so be sure to keep your information in DEERS up to date prior to using the AFT page. After eligibility is established, you’re free to access AFT to search for discounted travel and leisure options.

Am I Eligible to Use American Forces Travel?

Currently, AFT is available to military servicemembers and those affiliated with the Department of Defense, including:

• Active duty servicemembers (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, and Coast Guard Auxiliary Active Duty)
• Members of Reserve components and National Guard
• Retired military (including retirement-eligible Reservists and Guardsmen)
• Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients ; former prisoners of war
• Veterans with service-connected disabilities
• Department of Defense civilians serving outside the United States
• Active duty and retired U.S. Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees
• Full-time, paid employees of the American Red Cross and United Service Organizations (USO) serving at overseas U.S. DoD installations
• Officially sponsored, eligible family members ( ID card holders)
• Approved primary family caregivers of eligible veterans
• All Veterans of the United States Armed Forces with a discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions.

However, eligibility criteria are expanding and AFT will soon (specific dates still unknown) be available to all Department of Defense civilians serving within the United States as well as all Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) civilians registered in DEERS.

American Forces Travel should not be confused with Armed Forces Vacation Club , another discount travel option for military members and veterans. AFVC offers discounted hotel and resort stays.

About Post Author

Meaghan Doherty Myers

Meaghan Doherty Myers is a freelance writer, specializing in military benefits, personal finance, and defense and security issues. She holds an M.A. in Strategic Studies and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and recently graduated from the Russian language program at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. She is an Army spouse, a former ballet dancer, and a former management consultant who lives with her husband and daughter in Alexandria, VA.

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Military Travel Discounts: The Ultimate Guide

A s of 2016 there are approximately 18.8 million military Veterans in the United States. Almost 1.5 million are still on Active Duty. That’s a lot of Veterans! If you’re reading this, you might be interested to know that there are a ton of benefits out there geared towards Veterans. As a travel-obsessed military veteran myself, I’m here to help you navigate the sea of military travel discounts and outright freebies awaiting Veterans and their families.

First things first: not all discounts apply to every Veteran . A Veteran is anyone who served in the United States Military or National Guard. A Retiree either served twenty years in any branch of the military, or medically retired from service.  In either case, they have a DoD issued “Retiree” ID card. Finally, Active Duty military is just what the name implies, currently serving on active duty. Some of the discounts below require proof of active or retired service in the form of an ID card, and some only require honorable discharge papers as proof of service.

So, ready to save? Here's our ultimate guide to military travel discounts!

• 1 Free (or Almost Free!) Flights
• 2 Premium Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
• 3 Lodging Discounts
• 4 Car Rental Discounts
• 5 Rail & Bus Discounts
• 6 Airline Discounts & Benefits
• 7 Airline Benefits
• 8 All-Inclusive Resort Discounts
• 9 Amusement Park Discounts
• 10 Free National Parks Pass
• 11 Discounted National Park Camping
• 12 On-Post Lodging
• 13 Restaurant Discounts
• 14 Retail Discounts
• 15 Cell Phone Service Discounts
• 16 New Car Discounts
• 17 Free Checking Accounts
• 18 Additional Resources

Free (or Almost Free!) Flights

This spectacular benefit is available only to active and retired military with an ID card. This is probably one of the most underused benefits of serving in the military. These free flights are called Space-A.

How to get military Space-A flights

• Step 1.  Check out the Air Mobility Command Homepage to see where you can go (under the “passenger terminals” listed on righthand side)
• Step 2.  Be sure to “like” and “follow” the Facebook pages for anywhere you think you might be interested in. This step is absolutely necessary because most of the terminals post their schedule 72 hours out only on Facebook (then it is deleted for security reasons).
• Step 3.  Fill out AMC form 140 (found anywhere online), AND the Space-A sign-up request form, and email or fax both to the preferred departure terminal
• Step 4.  Keep checking Facebook until you find a flight you want. If you’ve already sent in your AMC Form 140 and travel request, all you have to do is show up, and wait for roll call. Happy flying!

A few things to consider when you’re flying Space-A; extreme flexibility is required . As a retiree, I’m in the lowest category, CAT VI, so I’m aware that I can be bumped from the flight at any time by active duty personnel (CAT I), even after I’ve taken my seat on the aircraft. Patience is also required. The flights can and often do change on short notice. However, if you time it right and avoid summer peak flights departing from the east coast, the reward is a flight that costs almost nothing.

For example, a flight departed from Seattle to Japan on February 12, 2016 with 94 available seats, 43 of which were used. The total cost for that flight would have been $35. That’s not taking into account additional costs such as ground transportation, hotels in case you don’t make the flight, and food purchased on flight, but if you’re flexible and can handle the possibility not making the flight, what a deal!

Lodging Discounts

Choice Hotels offers a special rate to Veterans, usually about 10%. Intercontinential , Marriott ,  Holiday Inn , Radisson ,  Extended Stay America ,  Staybridge ,  La Quinta , Hilton (including Hampton Inn),  Best Western , Motel 6 ,  Red Roof , and  Starwood Hotels  all offer discounted rates to military Veterans. These are just some of the hotel chains that offer discounts to Veterans. Many chains offer at least something; all you have to do is ask !

Additional lodging discounts are available with a Veterans Advantage card on everything from budget to luxury hotel chains. A list of participating hotels is available here .

Car Rental Discounts

Most of the major car rental companies offer discounts to active and retired military. The discounts range from 10% off to a free collision and damage waiver. This discount is usually reserved for active and retired military with an ID card, however some will accept proof of service in the form of DD-214 discharge papers.

The car rental discounts are too numerous to mention, but Budget , Europcar ,  Hertz , Sixt ,  Avis , and  Thrifty  are just a few. Almost every agency I’ve used offers a discount to military veterans. We rented a Budget truck for our move to AZ and saved 10% off our rental, which was substantial for a cross-country move.

A Veterans Advantage membership can also give you access to additional car rental savings. A list of their rental car offers is available here .

Rail & Bus Discounts

Amtrak and Greyhound bus lines both offer a 10% discount to military Veterans. The Amtrak discount increases to 15% if booked with a Veterans Advantage subscription.

Airline Discounts & Benefits

Most airlines require you to phone in order to obtain the discount. Some offer other perks such as free checked baggage (didn’t that used to be free for everyone?) or priority  privileges for TSA checks (see below). Here are some of the airlines that offer military discounts:

• Cheapoair  (Up to $40 off with promo code MILITARY40 )
• Delta  (discount – must call to ask)
• United  (5% discount)
• American Airlines (sometimes does discounts – call to ask)
• Virgin Atlantic (discount – must call to ask)
• Jetblue  (discount)
• Hawaiian airlines (baggage fees waived)
• Frontier Airlines (baggages fees waived)
• Southwest Airlines (discount – must call to ask)
• Allegiant Air (baggage fees waived)

The key to obtaining discounted air travel, like many of the other discounts available to Veterans is to just ask .

Airline Benefits

Both military members and their family members who have a Department of Defense (DOD) ID are granted free TSA pre-checks . This grants you access to an expedited security lining, saving you time navigating the airport (who doesn't want that?!). To register, simply log onto the TSA pre-check website and enter the number on your DOD ID card. This only works with participating airlines that do TSA pre-checks.

Thrifty tip: Want to get the cheapest flight and combine it with your travel discount? Do a broad search on Skyscanner first by selecting “entire month” and/or “everywhere” as your destination to see when and where is cheapest to fly ( check our other tips here ). Next, only select eligible military discount airlines to display. Then you know you've found the cheapest flight for your trip in combination with any additional discounts or fees waived.

All-Inclusive Resort Discounts

Both Sandals and  Beaches Resorts are all-inclusive, which is a thrifty way to enjoy unlimited premium drinks, gourmet dining, personalized butler service, and of course, some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world. On top of that, both active and retired members of the U.S. or Canadian military are eligible for an additional 10% off military discount , making this travel deal even thriftier.

Amusement Park Discounts

When I was on active duty I made it a point to go to Busch Gardens every single year. Their Waves of Honor program is an awesome benefit for military Veterans. This program has been around at least a decade, and is still going strong. Waves of Honor offers 100% free admission to any Busch Gardens, Sea World, or Sesame Place amusement park . For a family of four, that’s a savings of $372 from the one-day admission price.

To take advantage of this discount, there are a few requirements that must be met. It’s available only to active duty military and their dependents. The service member must register online and take the printout to the admissions gate, and then present a valid military ID for each family member. Even with these requirements, free admission to Busch-owned theme parks is one of the best military discounts out there.

A Veterans Advantage membership provides discounts for a variety of theme parks including Universal Parks, Six Flags, Seaworld, Legoland, and more. A list of participating theme parks is available here .

Dollywood offers a 30% discount to active duty, retired, and disabled Veterans.

Disney also offers a range of discounts on parks and hotels, but nowhere near as generous as Busch Gardens. In fact, a quick check shows that almost every amusement park offers discount to Veterans, but Busch Gardens is the only complete freebie that I’m aware of.

Free National Parks Pass

Any Veteran with a disability rating from the Veteran’s Administration (VA), even 10%, is eligible for a free lifetime access pass from the National Park Service. The pass must be picked up in person at a federal recreation site with photo ID.

In the words of the NPS, “a free, lifetime pass – available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) – that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.”

I’ve been using this pass for almost three years, and I’ve saved a ton of money. I live in Arizona and the entrance fee to the Grand Canyon alone would be $25 without the pass.

Discounted National Park Camping

Holders of the access pass above are eligible for a 50% discount on camping at most national parks.

On-Post Lodging

If you’re active duty or retired and enjoy traveling in the off-season, chances are you may be able to stay on a military installation for the duration of your vacation. I’ve personally used this perk a few times in Germany and at Virginia Beach. A great place to start is the Department of Defense Lodging  website. Remember, as with Space-A, active military get priority and military identification is required.

Restaurant Discounts

Restaurant deals available to Veterans are almost too numerous to mention. My suggestion is to just ask. Some of my personal favorite restaurant discounts are at Texas Roadhouse, IHOP, Applebee’s, and Outback. Other restaurants that offer discounts to Veterans include:

• Baskin Robbins
• Longhorn Steakhouse
• Chick-fil-A
• Dairy Queen
• Johnny Rockets
• Schlotzsky’s Deli
• O’Charley’s
• Boston Market
• Ben & Jerry’s
• Buffalo Wild Wings

Johnny Rockets offers a whopping 50% discount to Veterans and many of these restaurants offer completely free meals to Veterans on Veteran’s Day. Last Veteran’s Day I had a free breakfast at IHOP, lunch at Golden Corral, and dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Also, many small mom-and-pop restaurants tend to be patriotic and frequently offer a 10-15% discount.

Additional exclusive restaurant discounts are available with a Veterans Advantage membership. You'll get an ID card and booklet of offers in the mail, along with additional benefits like travel insurance and a drug discount plan. A list of participating restaurants is available here .

Retail Discounts

If you’re planning to use a retail discount it’s best to call ahead or be prepared to receive a “no” when asking. Also, I have had several instances in the past where I KNOW a retailer offers a discount, but the staff member is not aware of it. In a case like this, it’s best to gracefully accept the “no” rather than make a big deal about it.

Cell Phone Service Discounts

Verizon Wireless offers active service members and veterans 15% off your monthly service and 25% off selected accessories. There are also discounts available on home phone, internet, and television combo packages.

New Car Discounts

Almost every major auto retailer offers discounts, special financing, or reduced rates when purchasing a new car. Ford, Toyota, and Harley Davidson offer a $500 discount on the purchase of a new vehicle.  Jiffy Lube offers a 25% discount on all services.

Free Checking Accounts

Anyone who’s ever served in the U.S. military is eligible for an account at USAA . Spouses and children are also eligible for USAA. USAA is pretty much the gold-standard when it comes to banking and insurance discounts. Some of the perks of becoming a member of USAA are: no minimum balances, free savings and checking accounts, as well as free checks and overdraft protection. Their auto and renter’s insurance premiums are highly competitive too.

If USAA is in first place for military discounts, then Chase bank isn’t far behind. Their Premier Plus checking is normally $12 a month, but it’s free for active-duty military and retired Veterans with an ID card. In addition to no-fee checking, Chase’s Premiere Plus comes with free checks, and ATM withdrawals.

The key to taking advantage of the many military discounts available is simply to ask . I’ve found that employees often don’t know a military discount is available until someone asks for it. The key is patience, politeness, and being able to gracefully accept a “no.” With a little planning and research Veterans can save a lot on travel by taking advantage of the discounts mentioned above.

Additional Resources

• Military Benefits
• Waves of Honor
• Air Mobility Command
• United States Geological Survey

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I am a Navy Veteran we travel all over helping Veterans with their benefits so any additional benefits please let me know.

False information here. 100% disabled vets can also use doace A.

I am interested in taking a military flight.

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28 Amazing Travel Discounts for Veterans

With extensive savings available, it's essential to search for deals.

Katherine Gustafson,

Travel can be very pricey these days, so looking for discounts is more important than ever. Thankfully, there are some excellent deals to be found on everything from airline tickets and rental cars to luggage.

Booking travel via an aggregator site often makes a lot of sense. There’s one that has the official imprimatur of the armed forces to offer travel deals to the military community. American Forces Travel is an initiative by the five military branches of service and the Pentagon, supported by Priceline. Veterans can go there to get deep discounts on travel and vacations.

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

You can  subscribe here  to  AARP Veteran Report , a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please  contact us here .

Also check discounts from individual providers to find the best rates. Many of the discount programs of airlines and car rental providers rely on Veterans Advantage , which offers plans for varying lengths of time — the cost can be easily recouped by the discounts you will get. Enrolling gets you free travel protection for you and up to four family members.

Here is a slew of offers from airlines, rental car agencies, bus and train lines, RV rental outfits, and travel gear retailers. Hotels deals are so abundant they need their own list. This list is not exhaustive, so always check with your favorite travel providers to see if they have a veterans discount before booking.

Travel gear and luggage discounts for veterans

Dagne Dover offers veterans a 20 percent discount on high-quality bags, including backpacks, duffels, and toiletry bags.

Sword & Plough  offers veterans a 20 percent discount on bags and luggage, as well as jewelry made from repurposed bullet casings.

Tortuga Backpacks gives veterans 20 percent off on all carry-on-size travel backpacks. 

Vera Bradley gives veterans a 15 percent discount on a huge range of stylish travel bags, backpacks, laptop bags, bag accessories, and other items.

Kipling , with a large inventory of bags and luggage, offers veterans 15 percent off online and at retail stores, and 10 percent off a Kipling outlet stores.

OGIO offers veterans 15 percent off their travel bags, sports bags, and other gear at OGIO.com, excluding gift cards, with a discount limit of $1,000 per person.

Military Luggage Co. , retailer of rugged, military-style bags, gives veterans a 10 percent online discount with the code PROTECT at checkout.

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The North Face offers veterans 10 percent off all of its gear, which includes tough bags and backpacks for wilderness adventures.

Saddleback Leather Co. gives veterans a 10 percent discount on durable leather bags with eligibility verification through a third-party site called VerifyPass.

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Military travel discounts on buses, trains and RVs

Airstream offers veterans $250-750 off their various trailer models for those who have an itch to hit the open road in retro style. 

Amtrak offers veterans a 10 percent discount on the lowest available rail fares, except for non-Acela Business class, First class, and sleeping accommodation.

Greyhound gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 10 percent discount on select bus tickets.

GoCamp camper van rental gives veterans a 15 percent discount at rental locations around the country. Verify your eligibility by emailing [email protected].

Trailways offers an “up to a 15 percent” military discount to all active-duty members, retirees and even visiting foreign personnel.

Car rental discounts

Budget gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage, as well as USAA members , up to 35 percent off of PAY NOW rates.

Avis also gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage, as well as USAA members, up to 35 percent off of PAY NOW rates. 

Sixt offers as much as 25 percent off of rental rates for veterans who can present a veterans ID. 

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.

Hertz gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a lower discount of up to 10 percent off of car rentals. USAA members can get discounts up to 25 percent.

Dollar gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a modest 5 percent discount on car rental rates.

Thrifty also gives veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on car rental rates.

Enterprise also offers a 5 percent discount off base car rental rates to veterans and USAA members.

Airline military discounts

American offers veterans and their family who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage 10 percent off of the land portion of a vacation, including hotels, rental cars, theme park passes, and sightseeing tours across its extensive worldwide network of providers.

JetBlue offers veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on travel to 100+ destinations.

United offers veterans and adults in their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on United- and United Express®-operated flights purchased online.

Alaska Airlines offers veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on travel anywhere Alaska flies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Hawaiian Airlines offers veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on travel between the mainland and the islands, and from Honolulu to various international destinations.

Lufthansa offers veterans and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage a 5 percent discount on tickets for Lufthansa-operated flights purchased online.

Delta offers members of Veterans Advantage $100 off a flight when enrolling in a new five-year VetRewards plan. 

Katherine Gustafson is a freelance writer specializing in creating content related to technology, business, finance, the environment and other topics for companies and nonprofits such as Visa, Adobe, Lumeon, Skift and the World Wildlife Fund. Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications including Slate ,  TechCrunch , YES! Magazine  and Forbes .

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5 travel discounts that can save you money

A s travel continues to get more expensive, our core goal at TPG remains the same: to introduce our readers to all the ways they can save money while traveling.

Our bread and butter is leading you to the right credit cards to maximize points and miles savings. However, we also love providing you with travel discounts — including some you may not have even realized you were eligible for.

AAA and AARP rates

Both AAA and AARP offer discounts at various travel companies, including popular hotel chains and rental car companies.

With varying discounts (5%-10%) available on standard nightly rates, be sure to indicate you are a member when searching for a hotel to reserve these special rates. Note that you have to book directly with the hotel to take advantage of these rates. Participating hotel brands include Hyatt, Hilton, IHG and Marriott.

In addition to a discounted rate, memberships may offer additional benefits, such as free parking.

Membership can also help you save on car rentals, up to 20% for AAA and 30% for AARP. Additionally, AAA Northeast members are eligible for preferred rates at Dollar, Hertz and Thrifty; they can also get the under-25 rental car fee waived at Hertz and get free car seats at some locations.

As with the hotel rates, discounted car rates vary based on location and when you rent.

For all AAA car rental discounts, see AAA's website .

Government and military rates

If you are a government employee (at the national, state or local level) or work for any other public employer (such as a school district or transportation agency), you may be eligible for government rates.

Like AAA and AARP rates, you can book government and military rates on the hotel site directly as a special rate. Federal government rates differ from state government rates and are set to a per diem the federal government selects, which you can view on the General Services Administration website .

Additionally, you might find military rates. On both the state and federal government rates, travel orders are required. Eligibility for the military rate is also outlined.

Per diem rates also vary among hotels. For example, a quick search of Hilton properties available in mid-March in Washington, D.C. , yielded government and military rates starting at $258 per night.

Expect to present your federal government ID to get the government rate, and also know that some hotels require you to be traveling on business to reserve the government rate.

Government and military rates can be a great way to save on hotels, but you need to fully understand the terms before making your reservation. You don't want to be in a place where you cannot provide proper documentation when checking in to a hotel; this could void your reservation or could result in you paying the walk-up rate for your room.

Military rates are also available on most cruise lines, and you can use your military status for discounts at theme parks.

Check for resident rates

If you are taking a staycation, check for resident rates in your city or state.

For example, The Laylow, Autograph Collection in Honolulu offers a discounted rate to those with a valid Hawaiian ID, up to approximately 25% off the standard rate. This also includes a $20 valet parking discount.

Corporate rates

Your employer — especially if it's a Fortune 500 company — might offer travel discounts for its employees. This includes bookings with hotels, rental car companies and airlines.

Check your company's travel portal or benefits page for more information.

University rates

Many universities also offer discounts to students , alumni and their families, so consider reviewing your university's travel page to see if there are any discounts you can leverage.

For example, DePaul University offers preferred rates at a handful of Chicago hotels, like the Hyatt Place Chicago/Wicker Park. DePaul alumni, faculty, parents, retirees, staff members and students get up to 20% off the standard rate.

Only use corporate and education discount codes if you're eligible for them. Otherwise, as with government rates, you could be on the hook for a much larger travel bill if you can't produce proof of eligibility.

Bottom line

There are many ways to save on your trip using published discount policies. It's always worth the extra few moments to check other rate options when booking a hotel and renting a car. Depending on your employer, your school or the associations you belong to, you could save a fair amount on your next hotel stay.

Just be sure to follow the rules of these travel discounts, as the consequences of rate fraud can be severe.

Related reading:

• Valuable travel discounts and deals for college students and young adults
• How to use your AARP discount on travel
• Is AAA membership worth it?
• Best all-inclusive resorts for teens for spring break trips, family vacations and more
• Enjoy free national park visits — here's how to save
• How to save on cruises with AARP Travel
• The best military travel discounts and perks for service members

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

The best military travel discounts and perks for service members

Many airlines, hotels, theme parks and cruise lines pay year-round tribute to those who serve our country with various discounts and benefits. Sometimes these deals are available only to active-duty military personnel, and sometimes the perks extend to U.S. military veterans and their families as well.

Related: The best credit cards for active-duty military members: Get waived annual fees

No matter the form these travel benefits take, they all reflect the gratitude the travel industry feels toward those who have sacrificed so much to protect our country.

Here are the perks that military members can take advantage of on their travels.

Military hotel discounts

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy and its many brands have discounted federal, state and local government rates available to government and military personnel. To access the discounted rates, choose the " Government & Military " option from the "Special Rates" drop-down menu when searching for a stay. You'll get a list of all the Marriott Bonvoy properties in your chosen city that offer special rates and their eligibility requirements.

Federal and U.S. military employees are eligible for military rates and discounts at participating Hilton properties. When searching for rooms online, check the box labeled "Government/Military Rates" to see the applicable rates. Plus, there's a discount on leisure stays for active and retired military members and their families at participating hotels and resorts (though the rate is not valid for official government or military travel).

Best Western

Best Western properties across the U.S. offer discounted rates for veterans, military members and government personnel .

Plus, Best Western's Service Rewards Program — the hotel chain's award program tailored to members of the military and armed forces — unlocks even more member benefits, including an automatic upgrade to Gold status and bonus points on qualified stays.

Veterans, active-duty members and their immediate family members are eligible for a discount of 10%-15% off Hyatt's standard rate at participating hotels . To get the discount, use the offer code MILVET while booking.

Participating Wyndham properties offer discounts of up to 15% off their best available rate to active and retired military personnel, veterans and their families. Plus, qualifying military personnel and their spouses get automatic Gold-level status when they enroll in the Wyndham Rewards program and bonus Wyndham Rewards points for qualified stays.

B Hotels & Resorts

To honor military members, B Hotels & Resorts is offering an exclusive "B Saluted" discount of 15% off regular rates and two welcome drinks per stay to military members, veterans and their families. B Hotels & Resorts has locations in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Marathon, Florida.

The hotel chain behind such brands as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton and others offers a " Military Leisure Rate " at participating locations across the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America. It applies to active-duty military personnel, veterans, retired military personnel and their families.

Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels — which includes brands such as Comfort, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn — extends a discounted rate for official and leisure travel to active-duty and retired military personnel, their dependents and members of several military associations. Plus, active-duty military members, veterans and military spouses are eligible to join the Choice Privileges rewards program at the Lifetime Gold Elite level and receive a bonus 2,500 Choice Privileges rewards points after your first qualifying stay.

Motel 6, along with its sister extended-stay brand Studio 6, offers active and retired military personnel and their families a discount of 10% off standard rates .

Active-duty military personnel and veterans — in addition to government employees — are eligible for a 10% discount on official travel at any U.S. Red Roof location. The hotel chain also has a 10% discount on leisure travel for all government employees and military members, veterans and retirees.

Military airline benefits

Southwest Airlines

There are special fares for military and government travelers , but you must call the airline to book them. Additionally, military members traveling on active duty (in or out of uniform) can board between the A and B groups and are exempt from the limit of two pieces of checked baggage.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers government or military fares in some markets , while veterans and their families can access reduced fares by enrolling in the VetRewards program .

Active-duty military personnel are also allowed Group 1 boarding privileges; they can bring up to five free checked bags when traveling on orders and up to three free checked bags for leisure travel (weight restrictions apply).

U.S. military personnel traveling in uniform on a same-day American flight can enter Admirals Club lounges with their immediate family — defined as a spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 — or up to two guests at most Admirals Club locations except for Airspace Lounge at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and JAL Sakura Lounge at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Delta Air Lines

Active-duty U.S. service members can call Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212 for discounted fares unavailable to the general public. Delta also offers priority boarding and free checked baggage to active-duty military members. How many bags you are allowed is based on the type of travel and fare type, and you must adhere to the specified size and weight restrictions for baggage .

United Airlines

United offers an additional checked baggage allowance to active duty military traveling on official orders. Active-duty military in uniform, as well as those with leave orders or rest and recuperation papers, are also invited to visit United Club lounges when traveling on a United-operated flight (immediate family may access the lounge, too). U.S. military veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members and their families are also eligible for a 5% discount on United-operated flights through the Veterans Advantage program.

Alaska Airlines

In some markets, Alaska Airlines offers military fares to active-duty military personnel and their dependents when you call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 to purchase your tickets. Active-duty U.S. military personnel can board early, check up to five bags for free, receive 15% off inflight food purchases and receive complimentary day passes to visit an Alaska Lounge when traveling in uniform. All other active-duty military personnel can purchase a discounted day pass for $30. Flight discounts are also available through Veterans Advantage .

Active-duty military personnel not traveling on orders get a 5% discount off the base fare by calling 800-JETBLUE. In a separate offer, JetBlue offers a 5% discount to U.S. active-duty military members, retired military members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members and their families who are enrolled in Veterans Advantage. Those who enroll in Veterans Advantage also get two free checked bags for leisure trips and up to five when traveling on duty.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier typically charges for carry-on bags and checked baggage. However, active-duty armed forces, National Guard and Reserve members receive a free carry-on bag, two free checked bags and one free personal item . Note: These baggage waivers apply only to active-duty military personnel. Families or traveling companions are not eligible.

Allegiant Air

U.S. active-duty and reserve military members, military veterans, members of the National Guard and their dependents get up to two pieces of checked baggage for free through the Allegiant Honors program . Also, the airline waives its typical fees for oversized checked baggage, a carry-on bag, getting a boarding pass printed at the airport and seat assignments. Qualifying service members can also board their flights early.

Spirit Airlines

Active-duty U.S. military members can check two bags for free and bring a carry-on item on board their flight for free, in addition to the already free personal item.

Military train travel discounts

Active-duty U.S. military personnel, their spouses and their dependents are eligible for a 10% discount on the lowest available fare in select fare classes. During your ticket search on Fare Finder, select "Military" for each eligible passenger. Amtrak also welcomes uniformed military personnel to the front of the ticket line.

Military theme park ticket discounts

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando is currently offering a Military Freedom Pass promotional ticket to all active-duty and retired service members. Ticket prices start at $199.99 for unlimited admission between now and Dec. 24, though blackout dates apply. Each eligible service member can purchase up to six promotional tickets, and they must buy them through a participating authorized military ticket and travel office.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood offers discounted tickets to active-duty and retired military personnel, 100% disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, active Guard and Reserve members, and the spouses and dependents of the people in these categories. Ticket prices vary based on date, and tickets must be purchased at participating military ticket offices.

Walt Disney World

Active and retired U.S. military personnel are eligible for discounted hotel rates and specially priced theme park tickets at Walt Disney World . Blackout dates apply. Hotel stays can be booked by calling 407-939-7830. Tickets must be purchased at a participating U.S. military base ticket office.

Disneyland honors active and retired U.S. military personnel with discounted three- and four-day Park Hopper tickets. The Disney Military Promotional Park Hopper Ticket includes access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure each day of your ticket, excluding blackout dates. Pricing starts at $245, and you must purchase tickets at a participating U.S. military base ticket office. Hotel discounts are also available by calling 844-776-0015.

Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City offers a 30% ticket discount to U.S. active or retired military, veterans and military reservists, along with their spouses and dependent children (ages 4-17) living in their household. In addition to discounted tickets, Silver Dollar City invites all military members and veterans to help raise the American Flag during the park's daily opening ceremony. Service members are also given a red, white and blue ribbon to wear during their time in the park, allowing employees and guests to thank them for their service.

Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks

Through the Waves of Honor program, all U.S. SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place parks offer discounted tickets to active-duty military members and veterans.

Dollywood offers discounted tickets stand annual passes to U.S. active or retired military, veterans, military reservists, spouses and dependents. The savings amounts to about 30% off the regular ticket price.

Military cruise benefits

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line shows its appreciation for active and retired armed forces members with discounted cruise rates, onboard credits and reduced deposits . Additionally, every Carnival sailing has a Heroes Tribute Lounge and holds a military appreciation gathering for service members and their families.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line's Military Appreciation Program extends exclusive benefits to military members, veterans and their spouses. Members of the program receive a 10% discount on all cruise fares.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line offers special rates to all military members, active and retired, as well as their spouses. Discounted rates are only available on select sailings, and prices start at $185 per person, based on double occupancy.

Margaritaville at Sea

Margaritaville at Sea honors active and veteran military members with a free two-night cruise through the Heroes Sail Free program. The offer is valid only for ocean-view and interior cabins, and you must be sailing with at least one paying guest in the same cabin. Taxes and fees still apply.

Celebrity Cruises

Active and retired military members can save $25 on inside and ocean-view cabins and $100 on veranda cabins and above on select sailings. This discount applies to the first and second guest in the cabin.

Princess Cruises

Veterans and active, retired and disabled military personnel can receive up to $250 free onboard spending money on select Princess sailings. You can use this onboard credit for specialty dining, onboard boutiques, shore excursions, spa treatments and more.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers military rates to active and retired personnel, veterans and their spouses. The discounted rates also apply to friends and family members staying in the same cabin as the eligible service member. The best way to access the discounted rate is by booking through a travel agent or booking directly with Royal Caribbean over the phone.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises offers discounted fares to all active and retired U.S. military personnel , plus family members traveling with them. You can receive a discount of 5% on interior and ocean-view cabins, 10% on balcony and suite cabins and a "kids sail free" promotion on select sailings.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways offers active and retired service members a special military discount of $100 off a river cruise when you use the code MIL100 at the time of booking.

Bottom line

A host of benefits await travelers who serve or have served in the U.S. military.

Because these benefits, their requirements and the eligibility of family, spouses and dependents vary, carefully research each military discount offer to avoid any surprises. Many airlines, hotels and other businesses might ask for proof of eligibility, so don't leave home without the military ID, veteran ID, dependent ID, orders and/or other documentation you'll need to take advantage of the many travel offers.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

WATCH TV LIVE

Airlines Want to Boost Military Travel Benefits

David Shepardson Thursday, 04 April 2024 06:33 PM EDT

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday urged the nation's largest passenger airlines to improve travel benefits for active-duty military personnel and their families.

The department in May plans to begin posting comparative information on travel benefits that airlines guarantee for service members and their families on a customer service dashboard.

USDOT plans to detail airlines that will commit to full refunds to service members and their families who cancel travel plans due to military directives as well as allowances for free baggage.

Most carriers give military personnel additional free bags and other benefits like priority boarding or discounted fares. There are about 1.3 million active-duty U.S. military personnel and around 800,000 reservists.

Buttigieg said "benefits are not consistently detailed in carriers' public-facing Customer Service Plans, resulting in many service members being unaware of them" and added that "airlines' travel benefits often do not fully address the needs of service members who may need to cancel or change personal travel plans due to military directives."

Major carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines did not immediately comment or referred questions to trade group Airlines for America, which did not immediately comment.

The Transportation Department previously posted a government dashboard highlighting airline commitments to not charge families to sit together. In September 2022, nearly all major airlines agreed to guarantee passengers meals and overnight stays for lengthy delays within their control after USDOT first announced a dashboard comparing customer protections.

In May 2023, President Joe Biden said USDOT is writing new rules seeking to require airlines to compensate passengers with cash for significant flight delays or cancellations when the carriers are responsible.

USDOT has not released a formal proposal or specified how much cash it aims to require airlines to pay passengers for significant delays. But it asked carriers in 2022 whether they would agree to pay at least $100 for delays of at least three hours caused by airlines.

© 2024 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.

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Israel-Gaza latest: US captures guns and ammunition 'destined for Houthis' - and sends them to Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and leaders of Egypt and Jordan have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire. It comes after Hamas rejected Israel's latest ceasefire proposal, despite reports suggesting talks had been progressing well.

Tuesday 9 April 2024 19:02, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• UK position on Israel arms sales 'unchanged'
• US captures guns and ammunition 'for Houthis' - and sends them to Ukraine
• Macron and leaders of Egypt and Jordan call for immediate ceasefire
• Hamas rejects ceasefire proposal from 'stubborn' Israel
• Netanyahu warns 'there is a date' for Rafah ground offensive
• Michael Clarke analysis: Netanyahu caught in a bind as he needs to attack Rafah to stay in power
• Listen: How Gaza conflict could be worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis  
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel and (earlier)  Emily Mee

Israel should make a deal with Hamas, the brother-in-law of Eli Sharabi has told Sky News.

Steve Brisley told The News Hour with Mark Austin that hope was all his family had and were "clinging onto".

"We emotionally hope and pray Eli is still alive but with every passing day time is running out," he said.

"Time ran out for his brother Yossi and time has run out for many of the hostages."

He said the "simple maths meant Eli's chances were not good".

Asked if Israel should make a deal with Hamas, he added: "Absolutely.

"The Israeli government have said time and time again the hostages are their first priority. 

"It's time for those words to be put into action."

Mr Brisley said "all the hostages were in mortal danger with every passing day" and if the end of the war would bring them home "then that is what must be done".

The war in Gaza has seen Yemen's Houthis attack cargo ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

They say they are doing this in support of the Palestinians in Gaza who have been under Israeli bombardment since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Global shipping has been disrupted as a result.

Here, our  special correspondent Alex Crawford  looks at the crisis in Yemen...

The UK has participated in the largest airdrop of aid into Gaza on a single day today.

Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces, a total of nine nations and 14 aircraft participated in the operation, delivering essential food, water and other supplies to civilians.

The Royal Air Force participated in the airdrop into Gaza and it coincided with Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Collectively delivering hundreds of tonnes of aid, this was the largest airdrop of aid into Gaza on a single day, the Ministry of Defence said. 

It is also the sixth RAF airdrop in recent weeks, delivering over 53 tonnes of aid.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the UK remained "ready to play its part in getting supplies in by land, air and sea" but the "people of Gaza need more".

"We continue to push Israel as hard as we can to get more aid across the border and delivered throughout the region. Words must turn into action - this is essential to avoid an even more severe humanitarian crisis," he said.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps added: "We continue to stand by Israel's right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists, who have failed the people of Gaza and hide behind civilians. 

"This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released and the aid must flood in."

Three people have been arrested outside Sir Keir Starmer's home after gathering nearby to protest Labour "allowing the selling of arms to Israel".

Met deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said it was "completely unacceptable" for the protest to take place in the vicinity of a politician's home. 

"There are plenty of appropriate places to protest in London, anyone who chooses to target a private home can expect to be dealt with by officers," he said.

In a statement, Rishi Sunak said: "I don't care what your politics are, no MP should be harassed at their own home. We cannot and will not tolerate this."

Yemen is in the middle of a humanitarian disaster after nearly a decade of civil war between the Saudi and Western-backed government, and the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

As our  special correspondent Alex Crawford has found, war in Gaza is making the situation even worse for Yemenis already facing violence, starvation and disease.

On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Alex and Yemen-born producer Ahmed Baider to explore how Houthi attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea, ostensibly in support of Gaza, are preventing aid from getting into Yemen.

Lord Cameron is asked if Israel is breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Rishi Sunak has been under pressure to halt arms licences to Israel in the wake of the conflict - and publish the legal advice relating to the country's compliance with international law.

Lord Cameron says: "I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza and Israel's conduct of their military campaign.

"The latest assessment leaves our position on export licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received."

However, he says: "We will keep the position under review."

Lord Cameron adds that the UK has "grave concerns" about the "humanitarian access issue in Gaza".

He reiterates that the government does not "publish legal advice, we don't comment on legal advice, but we act in a way that is consistent with it".

Read more here :

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says an offer is on the table for Hamas, which "should be accepted".

He says: "Hamas could move forward with this immediately and get a ceasefire which would benefit people throughout Gaza and get the hostages home.

"The fact that it continues not to say yes is a reflection of what it really thinks about the people of Gaza, which is not much at all."

The US official says Hamas has an opportunity now to agree to the proposal on a ceasefire and to the release of hostages.

"The ball is in Hamas's court and the world is watching to see what is does," he adds.

Asked if a date has been set for an Israeli offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a date has not been given.

"What we have is an ongoing conversation with Israel about any Rafah operation," he says.

"The president has been clear about our deep concerns about Israel's ability to  move civilians out of harms way and to care for them once they are out of harms way.

"We are committed to ensuring Hamas cannot dictate the future of Gaza but how Israel conducts any future operations in Gaza matters a great deal."

He goes on to say "a lot more needs to happen to make sure the people of Gaza have what they need".

Lord Cameron and US secretary of state Antony Blinken are holding a news conference in Washington.

Mr Blinken says the pair have discussed the situation in the Middle East and are looking at a "number of critical things".

This includes opening up a northern point of entry for assistance into Gaza, maximising the flow of assistance from Jordan and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

"The assistance that gets into Gaza needs to be distributed effectively throughout Gaza," he says. 

He also says there are US citizens who remain hostage in Gaza.

"We continue to work with Israel, Egypt and Qatar in getting an agreement for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of hostages," he adds.

Lord Cameron says in a time of danger "close alliances matter" and "there is no closer alliance than our partnership with the US".

The foreign secretary adds the countries will "go hard" in getting aid into Gaza and will "support Israel in its legitimate right of self-defence to deal with the Hamas threat".

"On aid we want to see 500 trucks a day, we want to see the water switched back on and we want to see a northern crossing point," he adds.

The US does not have evidence that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, defence secretary Lloyd Austin has told a senate hearing.

"We don't have evidence of that," he told the senate armed services committee.

The US is Israel's biggest military supporter but has pressed it to do more to help civilians in Gaza.

Last month US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risked further global isolation if it attacked the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr Netanyahu has said that Israel will go it alone if Washington remained opposed to plans to push into the southern city.

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