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.
Related: The best credit cards for active-duty military members: Get waived annual fees
No matter the form these military travel deals 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
B Hotels & Resorts
To honor military members, B Hotels & Resorts offers 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.
Best Western
Best Western properties across the U.S. offer discounted rates for veterans, military members and government personnel.
Best Western’s Service Rewards program — the hotel chain’s award program tailored to military and armed forces members — unlocks even more member benefits, including an automatic upgrade to Gold status and bonus points on qualified stays.
Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels — including Comfort, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn hotels — extends a discounted rate for official and leisure travel to active-duty and retired military personnel, their dependents and members of several military associations. When you are searching for a hotel, open the drop-down “Rate” menu and choose “Military/Veterans (Leisure)” for leisure travel or “Government/Military (Official Business Travel)” for work travel.
Active-duty military members, veterans and military spouses are eligible to join the Choice Privileges rewards program at the Lifetime Gold Elite level.
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Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge offers up to 40% off nightly rates for active, retired and veteran military members through the Howling Heroes offer. The offer is valid for up to four guests per room.
Hilton
Federal and U.S. military employees qualify for military rates and discounts at participating Hilton properties. There are separate discounts for official military travel and leisure travel. For official military travel, check the box labeled “Government and military rates” for applicable rates. For leisure travel, visit Hilton’s Military Family Rate page and search for your travel destination and dates.
Hyatt
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.
IHG
The hotel chain behind brands such as InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Kimpton offers a military rate at participating locations across the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America. The rate applies to active-duty military personnel, veterans, retired military personnel and their families.
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.
Motel 6
Motel 6, along with its sister extended-stay brand Studio 6, offers a 10% discount on standard rates to active and retired military personnel and their families.
Red Roof
Active-duty military personnel, veterans and 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.
Wyndham
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.
Military airline discounts and benefits
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. The airline also offers discounts through the WeSalute+ program.
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.
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, bringing a pet on board and seat assignments. Qualifying service members can also board their flights early.
American Airlines
American Airlines offers government or military fares in some markets, but you must call the airline at 800-433-7300 to book. Veterans and their families can access reduced fares by enrolling in the WeSalute+ program.
Active-duty military personnel are also allowed Group 1 boarding privileges, and they can bring up to five free checked bags when traveling on orders and up to three free checked bags when traveling for leisure (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 Japan Airlines’ 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. The number of 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.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier typically charges for carry-on bags and checked baggage. However, active-duty armed forces, National Guard and Reserve members, their accompanying spouse and children can receive a free carry-on bag, two free checked bags and one free personal item.
JetBlue
Active-duty military personnel traveling for business or leisure are eligible for a 5% discount off base fares. If traveling on government-sponsored business, you can call 800-538-2583 to receive your discount and up to five free checked bags. This discount applies to you and your immediate family.
U.S. active-duty military members, retired military members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families enrolled in WeSalute+ can also get a 5% discount off base fares and up to two free checked bags.
Southwest Airlines
Special fares are available for military and government travelers, but you must call the airline at 800-435-9792 or visit the airport ticket counter 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.
Spirit Airlines
Active-duty U.S. military members and their accompanying spouse and/or children can board early, check two bags for free, and bring a carry-on item on their flight for free, in addition to their free personal item.
United Airlines
United offers an additional checked baggage allowance, priority boarding and United Club lounge access to active-duty military members traveling in uniform. U.S. military veterans, active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families are also eligible for a 5% discount on United-operated flights through the WeSalute+ program.
Military train travel discounts
Amtrak
Active-duty U.S. military personnel, spouses and dependents are eligible for a 10% discount on the lowest available fare in select fare classes. Select “Military” for each eligible passenger during your ticket search on Fare Finder. Amtrak also welcomes uniformed military personnel to the front of the ticket line.
Military theme park ticket discounts
Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks
All U.S. SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place parks offer discounted tickets to active-duty military members and veterans through the Waves of Honor program.
Disneyland
Disneyland honors active and retired U.S. military personnel with discounted three- and four-day Disney Military Promotional Park Hopper tickets. The tickets include access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure each day of your ticket, excluding blackout dates. Pricing starts at $295, and you must purchase tickets at a participating U.S. military base ticket office or through govx.com. Theme park reservations are required.
Hotel discounts are also available by calling 800-453-4911.
Dollywood
Dollywood offers discounted tickets and annual passes to U.S. active or retired military members, veterans, military reservists, spouses and dependents.
Holiday World
Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, offers discounted daily tickets and season passes to active, retired and veteran military members. To access this discount, purchase online or present your government ID at the park’s ticket booth.
Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City offers a ticket discount to U.S. active or retired military personnel, veterans and military reservists, along with their spouses and dependent children (ages 4-17) living in their households.
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 in the park, allowing employees and guests to thank them for their service.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando offers a Military Freedom Pass promotional ticket to all active-duty and retired service members. Ticket prices start at $210 for unlimited admission between now and Dec. 19, though blackout dates apply. Each eligible service member can purchase up to six promotional tickets and must buy them through a participating authorized military ticket and travel office. Military members can also purchase discounted tickets to the new Universal Epic Universe park.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood offers discounted tickets to active-duty, retired and eligible veteran military members, and their spouses and dependents. Additional on-base discounts are available, including a 12-month Military Pass.
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. Military members can purchase a Military Salute ticket with either Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus starting at $399 for a four-day ticket, $419 for a five-day ticket and $439 for a six-day ticket.
Blackout dates apply, and theme park reservations are required. Hotel stays can be booked by calling 407-939-7830. Tickets must be purchased at a participating U.S. military base ticket office.
Military cruise benefits
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways offers active and retired service members a special military discount of $250 off a river cruise when you use the code “MIL250” when booking.
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, some ships have a Heroes Tribute Lounge, and every ship holds a military appreciation gathering for service members and their families.
Celebrity Cruises
On select Celebrity Cruises sailings, active and retired military members can save $25 on inside and ocean-view cabins and $100 on veranda cabins and above. This discount applies to the first and second guests in the cabin.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line offers special rates to all military members, active and retired, and their spouses. Discounted rates are only available on select sailings.
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.
Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea honors active and veteran military members with a free two-night cruise through the Heroes Sail Free program. On select sailings, military members and an additional guest in the same cabin can get a free fare (taxes and fees are not included). A third and fourth guest can be added at the regular fare. On all other sailings, military members can save 20% off the retail fare for the first four guests in the cabin.
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 and up to a 35% discount on select sailings.
Princess Cruises
Veterans and active, retired and disabled military personnel can receive up to $250 free onboard spending money on select Princess Cruises 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 directly with Royal Caribbean over the phone.
Bottom line
A host of benefits awaits travelers who serve or have served in the U.S. military.
Because these military travel deals, their requirements, and the eligibility of family members, spouses and dependents vary, carefully research each military discount offer to avoid 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.
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