Get in touch
If you'd like to book flights with a military discount, please contact us for more information. We'll be able to get in touch with the airline directly and help you book discounted military or armed forces flights.
Book Military Flights
Find out if you're eligible for military flight discounts, what documents you need and which airlines offer military discounts
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Search and Buy Military Flights
Are you an active service member or a veteran? Buy flights with a military discount at Alternative Airlines. We offer flights from more than 600 airlines across the world and give you access to cheap military fares.
Many airlines offer flights for military personnel. But, it can be difficult to know which airlines offer which discounts. We've come up with a way that you can book them quickly and easily online on our site and compare military fares from several different airlines.
Am I Eligible for Military Flight Discounts?
If you'd like to save money on your military flights, we recommend booking flights with airlines that offer military discount airfares. You will need to be in one of the following groups to be eligible for discounted military flights:
- Active Duty Military - A member of the U.S. Armed Forces currently serving full-time in one of the branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard)
- Veteran - A former member of the military who has served and is now retired or honourably discharged
- Military Families - Including spouses and dependents of active-duty military members
- Reservists and National Guard Members - Some airlines will offer discounts to the National Guard or Reserves, even if you're not on active duty
- Retired Military - Some airlines might have discounts if you're retired military personnel, as long as you have proof of service
- Military Academies - A cadet or midshipman at a U.S. military academy will be eligible for certain discounts
Keep reading to find out which airlines offer discounted military flights.
Airlines with Military Discounts
At Alternative Airlines, we ticket major airlines that offer military discounts and special perks, showing appreciation for active-duty military members, veterans and their families. Some of the top airlines with military discount airfares include:
- American Airlines - discounted fares and up to 5 free checked bags for duty and leisure trips
- Delta Air Lines- offers exclusive military fares, 2 x free checked bags for personal trips and up to 5 for travel orders.
- United Airlines - has discounted fares and benefits like priority boarding, as well as up to 5 free checked bags for duty travel
- Southwest Airlines - has flexible fares, 2 x free checked bags and no change fees
- JetBlue - offers special military fares, free checked baggage and early boarding
Other airlines with military discounts and benefits include Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Air Canada, Air France and Lufthansa.
What Documents Do I Need for Military Discount Flights?
To book flights online and claim a military discount, we recommend having the following documentation (where applicable) ready for a smooth booking process:
- Military ID (Common Access Card - CAC) - this is your official military identification card
- Veteran ID Card (VIC) issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- DD Form 214 - this verifies service and discharge status
- Dependent Military ID for military family members, verifying the relationship to an active-duty or veteran service member
- Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) which will be requested by some airlines to verify active-duty status
- Travel Orders for duty-related travel
These documents will prove your military status and help you qualify for discounts on flights with certain airlines.
Airport Services for Military Personnel
It’s incredibly important to ensure that the airport you are visiting has the facilities that you need for onward travel. Here are some of the facilities we recommend that military personnel check for:
- Shoe Shine - Most airports will have a shoe shine service which you can use to polish your dress shoes or any other shoes you are carrying with you.
- Airport Concessions - Some airports offer airport concessions for active military and veterans - it is worth checking the airport website to see what you can get from this.
- Ground Transportation - If you’re travelling to and from military bases, there may be specially provided transportation and shuttle services available. Make sure to check this in advance, and if there isn’t, make sure to see whether you can get a military discount for public transport or car hire.
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FAQs
How do I book military flights?
Use our search form at the top of the page to start searching for flights to any destination of your choice.
Once you've found the flights that work for you, you can contact us to apply a military discount on your flight (depending on the airline you're flying with). We'll get in touch with the airline you'd like to fly with and check if military discounts or fares are available on your desired route.
Where can I find cheap military flights?
You can find cheap military flights here at Alternative Airlines. While we don't offer military discount airfares, we do ticket over 600+ airlines worldwide, with many of these offering their own military discounts. This includes American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United, Air France and many more.
If you would like to use a military discount on flights but want to book with us at Alternative Airlines, please get in touch with our Customer Service team for more information. Depending on the airline you would like to fly with, we can help you use your military or armed forces discount.
Can members of the US Armed Forces fly with specialised equipment?
When flying within the US, the TSA provides airport security screening assistance and benefits to all U.S. Armed Forces members. However, this does not mean that US Armed Forces members can carry specific equipment differently from civilians.
Firearms and Swords
Firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on baggage and are to be transported in checked baggage only. When returning from active duty it is important that you have checked all bags and belongings to ensure that there are no firearms, ammunition, or parts present.
Like firearms, swords are prohibited from carry-on but are allowed as checked baggage, as long as they are packaged properly to prevent those inspecting them from injury. Read more about flying with weapons and guns.
SCUBA Gear
The TSA recommends that expensive and prescription equipment be packed as carry-on luggage as they may not survive the wear and tear of baggage handling. Items such as your diving jacket, fins, and other diving equipment are safe to be transported as checked luggage, as long as it is packed correctly and locked using a TSA-approved lock.
Golf Clubs
If you are travelling with golf clubs, make sure that they are protected, using a durable bag, and that the golf bags are considered by most, if not all, airlines as “oversized baggage”.
How many airports have USO lounges?
Over 250 airports in the USA have USO lounges. USO lounges are a comfortable, welcoming space exclusively for active-duty military members, veterans and their families.
You can find USO lounges in many major airports across the US and around the world. They provide a quiet escape with services like free Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks and entertainment. They also have spaces for you to rest!
USO lounges are designed to make your travel experience easier and more enjoyable - you'll find a home away from home while on the go.
What is the difference between 'active-military' and 'veteran' discounts?
The discounts and benefits and how easy it is to get them will depend on whether you're an active military personnel or a veteran.
Veteran
Veterans have a harder time getting discounts than active military personnel. However, if you're a veteran, you can sign up for Veteran's Advantage's program VetRewards.
VetRewards is a paid membership that gives veterans access to discounted flight fares and, sometimes, discounted baggage allowances.
VetRewards is currently priced at $9.99 USD/month OR $60 USD/year. So, you'll have to consider whether you'll fly enough to make your money back.
Active Military
If you’re an active service member of the U.S. military (be it Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Air Force), it's always important to get the best price for flights - whether it’s related to work, to get back to base, or to visit friends and family.
Active Military can sign up for VetRewards too. However, many airlines offer active military discount fares and perks on flights without the need to sign up for any program.
Perks for active military members include discounted fares, baggage discounts, in-flight discounts, lounge discounts, pet discounts and waived cancellation fees.