Active military members and their families can take advantage of many travel discounts. This includes military veterans and retired military. Military members may be able to get discounts on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and more. Some companies offer military discounts year-round, while others offer them only during certain times of the year.

Serving the country is a huge commitment, and military members and their families sacrifice a lot. Travel discounts are one way to show appreciation for their service. Some companies offer military discounts year-round, while others offer them only during certain times of the year.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Who Qualifies for Military Travel Discounts?

Active-duty military members, retirees, and veterans are all eligible for military travel discounts. In most cases, spouses and dependents of active-duty service members can also take advantage of these deals. Many companies extend their military discount to members of the National Guard and Reserve as well. Some companies require you to show a valid military ID, while others may ask for proof of service.

Below is a quick list of who may be eligible:

• Active duty military
• Current Guard / Reserve
• Retirees
• Military dependents (anyone with a DoD issued military or dependent ID)
• Veterans (proof of service may or may not be required)
• immediate families

Keep in mind that each organization offering the discount has its own criteria, so you must read the details carefully. Also, even though all the above-listed people may be eligible, the actual military discounts they’re entitled to may differ depending on whether they’re on active duty, in the reserves, or a veteran.  For example, some travel websites and organizations might only offer discounts to active duty members. 

When Do Military Travel Discounts Apply?

Most military discounts are available year-round, but some companies only offer them during certain times of the year. For example, you might find deals on hotels and car rentals during the summer or winter travel seasons. Some companies offer special military discounts for holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

How to Find Military Travel Discounts

There are a few different ways to find travel discounts. One way is to search online using keywords like “military discount” or “veteran discount.” Another way is to contact the customer service department of a specific company and ask about military discounts. You can also check out websites like Military.com and Veteran’s Advantage, which offer lists of companies that offer military discounts.

Organizations that offer the Military Travel Discounts 

These organizations offer some of the best military travel discounts:

1. Armed Forces Vacation Club 

Armed Forces Vacation Club is one of the best organizations that offer numerous military travel discounts. They are inclined to make your vacation better and more memorable. Armed Forces Vacation Club has access to over 4000 luxurious hotels, resorts, and apartments in more than 100 countries. 

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using the Armed Forces Vacation Club and help you achieve the best military benefits and discounts. 

Pros 

• They offer cheap and exclusively week-long packages for military personnel that can be customized according to their preferences. 
• You can easily become a member for free by signing up online. 

Cons

• Military packages and offers cannot get combined with other discount codes. 

2. In Honor of Our Troops – Vacations for Vets

In Honor of Our Troops was initially a project launched in 2000  to provide housing for wounded Veterans and their families during rehabilitation and therapy from war injuries. Their mission was to help military personnel bond with their families or friends after a long deployment or severe injuries they faced while serving their country. 

Pros 

• Apart from a small processing fee, IHOOT doesn’t charge any money for hotel accommodations and provides them for free. 
• If accommodations are not available due to some reason, applicants can select new locations or dates using the same processing fee within a year.

Cons

• Due to high demand, accommodations are not available most of the time. 
• Consecutively trips to the same resort are not allowed.  

Websites that Offer the Best Military Travel Discounts

Military personnel and their families are one of the most important groups in our society. They make sacrifices for our country and often miss out on family time. That’s why it’s important to find ways to save money on travel in order to make up for the lost time. Below is a list of some websites that offer military discounts.

IHG Hotels & Resorts

From those who actively serve to retired military, IHG wants to show its appreciation with the IHG Military Appreciation Rate. You can check out their military rates here. Military ID will be required at check-in.

There are 17 brands and 6,000 destinations under the IHG hotel umbrella. Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites are just a couple of the brands you may have heard of.

Pros:

• Available on-post locations
• Available to US & Canadian active duty, veterans, retired military personnel, and family members.

Cons:

• Discount is based on a percentage of their Best Flex Rate, so the actual amount saved will vary.

Expedia.com 

Expedia.com was launched in 2001 and has been one of the best online travel agencies since. With facilities and accommodation in over 70 countries worldwide, Expedia has been focused on providing affordable and cheap rentals and booking all around the world.

They provide their customers with more than 3 million properties to choose from, and none of them are exempted for military personnel. They offer great packages and exclusive discounts for veterans and active military personnel. 

Pros 

• Expedia.com offers customizable as well as ready-to-go packages for veterans and military personnel. 
• They offer complimentary room upgrades along with exclusive discounted packages. 
• Expedia.com also allows earning 30% more points for bookings of travel packages, hotels, or tours. 
• Their discounts and offers are available for personnel on active duty, retirees, veterans, reservists, National Guards, and spouses or dependents.

Cons 

• During peak seasons, they offer fewer packages and lesser discounts for military personnel. 
• One must sign up for the Expedia rewards program to receive military travel discounts and offers. 

American Forces Travel 

American Forces travel is one of the most popular travel websites for military personnel. It’s an MWR joint service transformation initiative that has resulted in the first official online vacation travel site. This website, supported by Priceline, offers military discounts and offers that you can receive while traveling to your dream destination with friends or family members. 

Pros 

• American Forces Travel offers all military personnel discounted flights and the lowest booking rates.
• They not only offer discounts on domestic locations but also cover over 71,000 international locations. 
• The website is user-friendly, and you will always find the best rates exclusively for military personnel, which will also save you a lot of time that you might spend on calling hotels and airlines asking for military discounts.
• American Forces Travel also offers 100% refind of the difference if you are able to find a better deal (exclusions apply). 

Cons

• They require a lot of personal information, including your first and last name, date of birth as well as social security number, that many people are afraid of giving away. 

Veterans Advantage 

Veterans Advantage is a website that is inclined to make the traveling experience better, easier, and cheaper for military personnel and veterans. The website was launched in 2000 and offers exclusive discounts for additional savings through its VetAdvantage program.

They have yearly membership plans starting from as low as $5 per month for a primary subscriber and $2.50 per month for each additional family member.

Pros

• Searches thousands of travel rates to offer discounts and cheap flights. 
• Discounts can be combined to receive up to 40% off the already-low prices listed. 
• $50,000 Medevac insurance with its travel protection program.

Cons

• Fewer options of discounts for traveling. 

CheapTickets

Cheap Tickets is another great travel website that offers a great variety of travel discounts for military personnel. This website understands the sacrifices they make for our country and how often they miss their families. CheapTickets is inclined to provide you with the best discounts to enjoy a vacation with your family that you’ve been waiting for. 

Pros 

• They offer exclusive deals and discounts of up to 50% on their exclusive bargains feature. 

Cons 

• CheapTickets only provide access to fewer hotels around the world.
• Customer service complaints are a big issue.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is one of the most popular airlines that offer military personnel and veterans with exclusive discounts. They have a very user-friendly website where you can easily find all the information regarding their offers, deals, and discounts. Delta Airlines is also inclined towards providing military personnel with free checked bags, free seat upgrades, and priority boarding.

Benefits:

• Free checked military bag allowance for active-duty members
• Military Medical Travel for immediate family members

Final Thoughts 

There are a number of military discounts available for those looking to travel. However, it is important to research the various options in order to find the best deal. The above four websites are all reputable sources for military travel discounts. While each has its own pros and cons, all four offer great discounts for military personnel and their families. Do your research and take advantage of these military travel discounts.

And as always, thank you for serving.