Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Do Military Retirees Qualify for Free TSA PreCheck?

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Have you heard of TSA PreCheck? This is a program that the Transportation Security Administration offers for a fee to allow expedited security clearance at airports around the country. Any U.S. citizen can apply for it and pay $85 for a 5-year program membership.

When applying for the TSA PreCheck program, applicants pay the $85 fee, fill out an application online and then have to travel to an enrollment center for an interview, background check and finger printing. It takes a lot of time to do all that, especially if you don’t live near one of their enrollment centers. TSA PreCheck can be worth the hassle if you fly often and want to avoid standing in long security lines.

All active duty service members are granted TSA PreCheck and don’t have to go through that process. In fact, all they need to do is enter their DoD ID number in the known traveler number (KTN) field and their boarding pass will have the TSA Pre✓® mark on it.

Retirees do not have this same benefit though.

Why are active duty service members granted TSA PreCheck but retirees are not?

Their fingerprints are already on file and background checks have been made for many. If a service member flies using their DoD ID number in March for example and then retires a month later, they lose their TSA PreCheck membership but nothing has happened to make the person less credible. Shouldn’t they be grandfathered in?

Does TSA consider a service member trustworthy while on active duty but not once they retire?

What could have changed that makes TSA no longer offer them the same free membership?

Of course TSA PreCheck is a privilege, not a right, but it’s hard to understand why TSA chooses to take away the benefit when the member retires.

Money is a reason that comes to mind. That $85 membership fee is only supposed to cover background checks and administrative costs though. The background checks are contracted out however. There are no discounts available for retirees or for anyone at all.

If TSA isn’t willing to give military retirees free membership, shouldn’t they consider providing a discount?

I’m not the first person to question this.

In 2016 Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey urged TSA to lower the membership fee for all veterans if they weren’t willing to exempt them from it. TSA started the PreCheck program in October 2011. All of this time has gone by and still there is no answer.

Some veterans groups are asking TSA to “do the right thing.” These groups include: Wounded Warriors Family Support, the American Legion, Marine Corps League, Non Commissioned Officers Association, Retired Military Officers Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Hopefully together they will be able to influence TSA into providing some sort of exemption for retirees.

It seems like a lot of fuss over something small, but if you travel a lot being able to go past the long security lines can be extremely helpful. There are over 5 million members in this program and that says something about its usefulness.

It works too. In February 2018 93% of members said that they waited less than 5 minutes to get through security at the airport. That’s a lot of time and frustration saved.

Have you paid for TSA PreCheck? Why did you do it? Was it worth the money?

4 Tips for Booking Your Spring Break Vacation

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What is your family doing for spring break this year? If your spring break includes a family trip, using the new Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards program can save you time and money.

There are more than 700,000 hotels on the site with discounts as well as 3,000 family resorts. If you want to fly somewhere during your spring break, the site has domestic and international flight discounts. Don’t forget about booking the fun activities that you’ll want to do once you get to your destination. There are many discounts for these activities listed on the site.

This program was designed for active duty, retired service members, National Guard and reserves. With the Travel & Rewards site, you get special military discounts from patriotic companies. You’ll find affordable travel options with them. There is a free membership option as well as 2 paid options that provide even more benefits.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a smart way to get great discounts for your family’s spring break. These discounts apply toward resort stays, flights and car rentals. If you choose one of the paid benefit programs, there is a point reward system that you can use for future spring break vacations or other travel plans. You can find out more about the different membership programs here.

Ready to book your vacation? Here are 4 tips to consider when planning your spring break.

Make your reservations now. Many people count down the days until spring break. They book their vacation early to get the best deals and you should too.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make your reservations. Many resorts and hotels fill up quickly.

Buy your plane tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. There are great deals for flights 21 days out, two weeks prior and sometimes there are even last-minute deals. It’s a big risk to wait until the last minute to get a good price on a flight for your spring break though. If you are flying as a group, you might not get seats together on a flight if you wait too long to book.

Decide on activities. What do you want to do on spring break? If you simply want to lie on the beach, then you don’t have to worry too much. That is, unless you want to reserve an umbrella.

If your spring break is focused around going to a major theme park, such as DisneyWorld, you’ll want to buy your tickets before you get there. Don’t waste time standing in line to buy tickets at the gate. You will also want to take advance of all the military discounts available for a Disney vacation.

You can find specific military discount travel agents that will help you plan your Disney vacation for free. I have a friend that does that. Using someone like her is a great option. It will save you a lot of time.

Shop around. You don’t have to make reservations with the first company you contact. Spend a little time shopping around. You can also use the official airline or hotel website to book directly from them. Some companies offer different prices for the same flight or room depending on how you book. It might be worth it to call and not just click reserve online.

It’s already February. When is your spring break? If you are counting down the days, you should also be planning your family vacation. Start doing your research. Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is a great place to start.

Click here to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards today.

Military Shoppers Offers Free Money-Saving Travel Website to Its Members

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My family loves to travel together. But we have different things that we love to do during our family vacations.

Traveling for me means finding restaurants featuring delicious local cuisine. Traveling for my children means visiting a children’s museum or science center, jumping on the hotel beds and swimming in the hotel pool.

Traveling for my husband means a break from military life. When we’re on vacation, he isn’t thinking about work. He’s focused on spending quality time with his family, far, far away from his military base.

But as much as I love traveling, planning a weekend getaway isn’t easy.

In fact, planning a vacation stresses me out.

And there’s the dreaded family vacation budget to consider.

There are so many cities that I want to visit, but many times I find myself asking “can we afford this vacation?”

According to American Express, the average vacation expense per person in the United States is $1,145 or $4,580 for a family of four. That’s nearly $5,000 for 1 family vacation!

There has to be a better way. I don’t want to cancel our family vacation because of sticker shock.

Free Membership for Military Families in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards

MilitaryShoppers.com, a community that delivers money-saving tips to military families, is expanding their services. Starting November 2017, MilitaryShoppers’ members are entitled to a free membership in Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards lists special discounts that have been arranged exclusively for MilitaryShoppers members.

How does Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards work?

Hotels and resorts often have unsold room nights that they can’t offer to the general public at such low rates but they can do it as a special military discount through MilitaryShoppers Travel & Rewards.

These incredibly low rates are not available on any other travel booking website. Members are encouraged to compare the Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards discounted rates with other public websites and military travel “clubs.” Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards said “you’ll find these are the lowest hotel and resort rates available anywhere!”

Since the cost of our hotel room is the most expensive part of our family vacations, I’m excited to book a discounted rate for a quality hotel. Knowing that we’re saving money on our hotel room encourages me to plan more family vacations in the future.

Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members have access to a wide range of benefits and services that are designed to save military families money. Members earn points that they can use for extra discounts and fun activities.

Every free blue membership is preloaded with $100 in points that members can use immediately.

What’s the cost to join Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards?

This money-saving travel website for members of the military community is free. Members won’t pay an annual membership fee or be required to buy anything.

Using Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards is similar to using a travel website to book your hotel room. It offers the same convenience, except with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards members will book their hotel rooms at much lower rates.

How do I sign up?

Members can sign up for free access to their benefits online at MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

If you are already a member of the MilitaryShoppers’ community, check your email. You automatically received access through that membership. In your email, it will explain how to log in to MilitaryShoppersTravel.com.

As I said earlier, I love traveling. I love the adventure of it. I love retelling the stories of our adventures to our neighbors, family members and friends. But most of all, I love traveling as a family. Family vacations are when memories are made.

The only thing I love more than a family vacation is a family vacation where we enjoy ourselves without spending all the money in our savings account.

You don’t have to choose between your family vacation and monthly budget. You can have both with Military Shoppers Travel & Rewards. Sign up today!

Why I Don’t Travel Home for the Holidays

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If things were perfect, I would be the first one to raise my hand for a family-filled holiday season. I grew up in a large family filled with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Every holiday was an excellent reason to spend time together, enjoying delicious food and creating memories.

Things aren’t perfect, however. As much as I would love to have those same gut-busting, house-filled-to-the-brim holidays for my children, it’s not our reality.

Why I Don’t Travel Home for the Holidays

Children are not great travel buddies.

Did I mention I have a toddler and an infant right now? If you’ve ever tried to take young children anywhere, you know it can be a recipe for disaster. Everything can go up in smoke at any second and it stresses me out.

First, there are the planning logistics. We need to figure out how many seats to buy for that long-haul flight home. There is so much math involved to figure out if buying the baby a seat makes sense that my head hurts.

Then there are the car seats. We could buy a spare set to keep in our hometown, but then we have to figure out seating on the plane. There’s always the gamble of bringing the baby’s seat on the plane hoping against hope for an empty spot in our row. However, we could end up gate checking it at the last minute.

Checking the kids’ car seats is a whole other situation. We’ve been burned before by car seats that were damaged in cargo.

If we drive, there are the endless hours in the car. Our oldest is potty trained but often needs a bathroom on short notice. Both kids have limited attention spans, so movies are not going to cut it for the whole trip. There are only so many times I can listen to the “Moana” soundtrack.

Doing this with children is, clearly, not ideal. But if this were the only roadblock or the distance were shorter, it could be doable.

We’re not exactly next door.

The closest we have ever been stationed to our home state was an 8- to 10-hour drive under ideal road, weather and traffic conditions. Mess with any of those factors and that drive is looking much longer.

Have you ever tried to cross the George Washington Bridge in the snow the day before Thanksgiving? It is not fun. Inevitably, someone would need to use a bathroom while we were stuck in the middle of the bridge.

We made it before children arrived and when we had just one in diapers. With two, making that drive with literally every other person in the region would be terrible. There is very little anyone could say that would entice me to spend so long in a car, in traffic, listening to a 3 year old scream about needing a potty right now. Sorry, kid, we’re on a bridge and the next rest stop is 2 hours away.

Right now, we live half a world away. Driving home for the holidays isn’t an option. Our flights would make that car ride seem like a trip to Disney. And the prices would make our credit cards shrink with fear.

Even at non-holiday times, round trips top $1,500 per person. We would need at least 3 seats. I’ve never done more than a quick look at the holiday season pricing. It terrifies me. There would be no presents for anyone for Christmas. Not even Santa’s magic would be able to make that work.

Financially, we would not be able to swing traveling home for the holidays unless we were within driving distance. Even then, I would emerge from that car looking like the bride of Frankenstein with the temper of a junkyard dog.

No room at the inn.

Or in this case, the house. We both have families that would gladly put us up, but we run into complications.

There is the endless rearranging of bedrooms and sleeping spaces. So much so that I feel a little guilty about visiting and kicking someone out of their cozy bed! Neither of our families has palatial homes, but everyone who lives there permanently makes it work well.

When we roll up, adding 4 more bodies, things get tight very quickly. Of course, everyone says it’s no big deal and that they love to have us stay. Having hosted large family visits, I know the sigh of exhausted relief when you finally collapse into your own bed again. I know.

Then there is the childproofing. Not everyone in our extended families has child safe homes. Again, their homes work for them, and not everyone has curious children getting into the fine china.

Instead of being able to kick back, sing carols and enjoy dessert, I’m stuck chasing down Junior and preventing another tree accident.

Having so much togetherness, especially in the winter, can be challenging. There is no outside to escape to where we are from unless you enjoy freezing temperatures. So everyone is stuck inside. That’s a lot of together time in tight quarters. Luckily, we love our family, but I’m not sure they would feel as kindly toward us after the visit.

We won’t be traveling home for the holidays this year.

It might not even happen anytime soon, depending on where we move next. This year, our families haven’t even asked. I think they just know it’s not going to happen.

In the past, we’ve always explained about the cost and stress of traveling at such a busy time with such little people.

So far, they have all been understanding. We also try to visit during the non-holiday season and invite family to visit our home as well.

For family or friends looking to escape their usual holiday routine, our door is open and the guest bed is ready. Although we understand if you don’t want to brave the rigors of holiday travel either.

Do you have times when you don’t want to travel or visit your family?

All-Inclusive Resorts and Vacation Deals for Military Families

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Everyone loves a vacation! Military families and veterans can love their vacations even more when they take advantage of these sweet deals and discounts.

Sandals and Beaches

Sandals and Beaches offer an additional 10% off for U.S. and Canadian military members. This includes: active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired and veterans as well as Department of Defense employees. Military spouses can also take advantage of this great deal too.

Sandals is an adults only resort chain located throughout the Caribbean, including Jamaica and the Bahamas. Beaches is a family resort with similar locations. Guests at these 2 chains will have an all-inclusive experience with all food, drinks, non-motorized water and land sports and entertainment. At Beaches, you can expect all of that plus daily child care and activities for kiddos from infant to teen.

Guests can combine the 10% discount with all other specials offered by Sandals and Beaches. To get the 10% discount, call the numbers listed on the websites.

Disney Cruises

For Disney lovers who want to sail the seven seas, Disney Cruises are offering military discounts on select sailings this spring. To book, visit their website.

Once on board, almost everything is taken care of, from food to entertainment. Just about the only thing you will need to handle are drinks and child care!

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers a military discount on select sailings for active duty, retired and honorably discharged troops, as well as their spouses. Royal Caribbean cruises to many destinations worldwide and offers a variety of packages for dining and drinks. There are also programs for children, teens and families, plus shore excursions. To find out more, contact the cruise line directly.

Coffee Creek Ranch

Pack up your family and head to a real dude ranch in California. This is an all-inclusive resort that specializes in creating a fun ranch experience. Daily horseback riding, meals, drinks and nightly activities are included.

Service members can get 50% off posted rates year-round, but cannot combine this discount with any other offer. Veterans can get 30% off during Memorial Day weekend and the week following. To get your discount, call the resort directly.

Ocean Club Resort

Located in beautiful Turks and Caicos, Ocean Club Resort offers a 10% discount in the winter and a 20% discount in the summer to military personnel.

This is not an all-inclusive resort but does offer a dining package at an additional cost. There are 2 sister properties and guests can use the amenities at both. Guests can also arrange a variety of tours and excursions through the resort. This resort also features multi-bedroom suites at each of their properties.

To book a stay with the military discount, please call the resort directly. The booking agent should be able to get you the best deal with either the discount or the best promotional rates.

Hawks Cay Resort

Hawks Cay Resort is located on Duck Key in the Florida Keys. With activities for the whole family and marina slips available, plus a world class spa, this resort is a great fit for everyone. Hawks Cay is not an all-inclusive resort, but it does have many land and water activities built into your resort fee.

This resort offers military discounts year-round, as well as a special military discount period from the late summer to early winter. To book using these options, visit their website and view their special offers. Or you can call the resort booking agent directly.

Shades of Green

Shades of Green is a Walt Disney World affiliated resort offering room and vacation packages to military and DOD personnel. This resort offers packages for active duty, Reserve, Guard, veteran and retired personnel, as well as their families. While this resort is not all-inclusive, it does offer several packages with meals.

Shades of Green is a very popular destination for vacationing military families and rooms do book very quickly. Tickets to Disney World and other area attractions are not included in the room rates or packages.

Do you love a military discount? Sign up for Military Shoppers newsletter and money saving tips and deals will be delivered to your inbox!

8 Cruise Lines that Offer Military Discounts

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Take a breath and close your eyes. Imagine warm Caribbean waters, the soft, rhythmic ping of steel drums, and warm sand between your toes.

No, don’t open your eyes…don’t do it.

No, no, you’re right. It’s winter and we’ve got work to do. But at some point we need a break, a chance to get away, right? And there is no better way to say goodbye to the winter work day doldrums than planning a warm, tropical getaway. Or maybe sightseeing across Europe is more your thing.

Either way, there is no better way to step away from the strain and drain of our everyday lives than on the gleaming white decks of a cruise ship. Better still, is planning that trip knowing a military discount is going to stretch your vacation dollars even further.

Wondering which cruise lines offer the best military discounts? Here are 8 cruise lines to check out.

Carnival

Military travelers on Carnival can snag a discount of $25 to $250 (up to 20% off) per person over regular rates.

However, not all discounts are available all the time on all cruises.

Peak season and holidays might make it difficult to land a discount, so if you can, try booking during off-season for additional savings. Carnival often offers even better discounts for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, so if you can, plan ahead for those dates.

Discounts are available to active duty, Reserve, and National Guard personnel along with retirees, cadets, honorably discharged veterans, and surviving spouses of eligible service members. Discounts are given on rooms in which the eligible service member will occupy. However, Carnival will offer periodic discounts that allow for additional cabins to be booked at the discounted rate.

To get the military discount, eligibility must be met by providing a copy of enlistment papers, military ID or current LES, DD-214.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean offers various discounts throughout the year, but not all discounts are available on all bookings. Typically military discounts are given off specific cabin types and specials such as onboard credit during special military affiliated holidays and Military Appreciation Month.

Discounts are offered to active duty personnel, members of the National Guard or Reserves, honorably discharged veterans, retirees, medically retired service members, and surviving spouses of eligible service members. Any discounted rate will be given to all travelers occupying the same cabin as the eligible service member, but the discount may not be extended to other rooms.

A valid military ID will be required to prove eligibility for the discount.

MSC

MSC offers one of the most consistent discounts, with military discounts available on almost all bookings. Discounts include: 10% off balcony, suite, and MSC Yacht Club staterooms and a 5% discount on interior and ocean view rooms. MSC also offers the ability to book multiple rooms so you can enjoy your trip with extended family and friends, all at the discounted rate. Plus, kids who are ages 11 and under cruise for free!

MSC offers their military discounts to active and retired service members, plus members of the National Guard and Reserves. A valid military ID must be presented to demonstrate eligibility.

Disney

A long-time friend to military travelers, Disney Cruise Lines offers military discounts on select bookings. Special military rates are available to all retired and active personnel, and members of the National Guard and Reserves (with some restrictions).

The discount is limited to one stateroom per military member per sailing. Active duty and retirees must provide valid military ID to qualify. Members of the National Guard and Reserves must provide copy of orders of activation dated no later than January 1 of the previous year to qualify for the discount.

Norwegian & Holland America

On occasion, Norwegian and Holland America will extend a military discount. So if they offer the trip you’ve been dreaming of, check with your travel agent or the cruise line directly for any available military discounts.

Princess

As their way of saying thank you to those who serve, Princess offers up to $250 in on-board spending. The military reward offered depends on the length of the cruise booked. Sailings of 6 days or less earn $50, 7 to 13 days earn $100 and if you are lucky enough to book a 2-week trip or long, you’ll receive $250 to spend on board.

Active duty service members, along with honorably discharged veterans and retirees are eligible to receive the spending cash and this reward may be claimed twice per calendar year and combined.

A valid military ID or other proof of service documentation, such as a DD-214, is required and travelers will need to apply for eligibility no less than 2 weeks prior to departure date.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity offers select rates throughout the year for active duty, National Guard, Reserves, honorably discharged veterans and retirees. Military ID or other proof of service is required during departure check-in.

Looking for more military discounts? Check out the MilitaryShoppers’ military discounts page.

How to Score a Military Discount on Your Hotel Room

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Military discounts are wonderful when traveling during the holiday season. Whether you’re taking a road trip with friends, flying in to see family or heading to a resort for a weekend getaway, don’t forget to ask for a military discount when booking your hotel room.

Here are 10 hotels and resorts that offer military discounts.

Best Western offers 10% off their best price for active and retired military and their families. You can book your hotel over the phone, through their website or in person. You need to show your military ID at check-in.

Choice Hotels guarantees discounts on both one- and two-person rates at more than 2,700 of their hotels. Active duty and retired military personnel can use the discount as well as their dependents.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts offers a military discount at more than 540 hotels and resorts in 78 countries. These are available to active duty service members as well as retirees and their families. You can access military rates here.

Hampton by Hilton offers a military discount to active duty, reserve, retirees and family members. You can find a participating hotel here. You will need your military ID at check-in.

La Quinta gives 12% off to military families and also offers a free hot breakfast. Dogs stay for free as well.  La Quinta has a special military program called La Quinta Returns Military Rewards™  that give military families extra benefits including 2 free nights a year.

La Quinta is also part of Hotels for Heroes, where individuals can donate their rewards points and the company will match it. These points are given to Fisher House Foundation which in turn is able to provide free accommodations for families of injured service members who are receiving treatment at medical centers where there isn’t a Fisher House nearby.

Hotels for Heroes also partners with these hotels: AmericInn, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Hilton, Marriott and Wyndham.

InterContinental Hotels Group includes InterContinental Hotels and Resorts as well as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Candlewood Suites to name a few.

There are 39 IHG Army Hotels on Army posts across America as well. They all offer military discounts to active and retired military as well as family members. You simply need to show your ID at check in.

Marriott has more than 4,000 locations around the world. Military families are eligible for a special discount; all you have to do is show your ID when you check in.

Wyndham offers up to 20% off the best available rate to all service members, veterans and their families. If making a reservation online, you need to click the verify with troop ID button to confirm that you are affiliated with the military. Then you will be redirected to the Wyndham site that has the military discount code. From there you can make your reservations.

Starwood Hotels offers a military discount to anyone with a valid military ID. You can make reservations over the phone or online.

Receiving a military discount on your hotel room may be as simple as asking for one. By choosing one of the hotels noted above, you know you are going to get a good military discount.

If you find a different hotel that doesn’t specifically list a military discount, call the hotel and ask for a military discount. They might not offer one, but it doesn’t hurt to ask and asking might just save you a few dollars.

Did we miss any hotels that offer a military discount? Please let us know about their discount and who can use it in the comments section.

Pro Tips for Military Travel

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Do you have the travel bug?

Traveling as a military service member or family member can be super easy and super cheap. If you know a few pro tips to start.

Pro Tips for Military Travel

What are your military travel tips?

ITT

Every branch of service has a morale or travel office.

Each office has a price sheet with local attractions and package deals to places farther away. You can find deals at other bases, even if you don’t live there.

For example, Travis Air Force Base offers deals and discounts to Napa Valley tours or hotels. In Okinawa, ITT offers complete tour packages to places like South Korea, Tokyo and Thailand.

Pro Tip: Before you go, check with ITT for discounted tickets near your destination.

Space-A

Did you know that the military flies to many prime destinations around the world? Think: Germany, Hawaii, Japan and England.

Most of these flights are open to eligible active duty service members, military dependents and retired personnel. Often there is a small fee or no cost at all.

There are a few catches with Space-A though. First, flights can be canceled at any time and seats fill quickly. Second, seats are filled based on category. So by the time that they get to you, all the seats might be taken. Also, certain destinations are only available from certain departure locations.

Finally, there is a process to sign up and actually get on board. It is time consuming and nothing is guaranteed. Meaning, you could get a Space-A flight to your vacation, but need to pay commercial fare on the way back.

Pro Tip: Check out Space-A flights, but know that nothing in 100% certain. Be ready with back-up plans just in case things fall through or change.

Military Airline Discounts

Southwest: Southwest offers military discounts on flights. However, the exact price is not advertised on their website. To get more information on discounted fares, call: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA.

American: To and from certain locations, American Airlines does offer military fares. Again, these prices are not advertised. Instead, contact them: 800-433-7300 (CONUS English line, available 24/7).

Delta: Like other airlines, Delta offers military fares, but does not advertise specific rates or discounts. To reach reservations/customer service, 24/7 from the United States, call: 800-221-1212.

United: Through Veterans Advantage, United offers a 5% discount. However, Veterans Advantage is a paid plan that opens up discounts at a variety of major U.S. businesses. To check on other offers, call the airline directly.

JetBlue: There are fares available for both official travel and for leisure travel. To find out more or to book, contact the airline.

Pro Tip: Not sure if your airline offers a military fare? Call customer service and check! The worst they can say is no.

Free Bags on Flights

JetBlue, United, Delta, American, and many other airlines all offer free bags to active duty military. The official line is that the service member or dependent family must be traveling on official orders, usually for PCS. However, gate agents will often allow free bags for service members no matter what.

The number of free bags can vary, from 1 to 5 per person. Check with the airline before you fly or be prepared to pay.

Be careful when PCSing OCONUS though! The commercial airline might let you check 5 bags per person, but the Patriot Express or Space-A will limit you to 2 bags or less.

Pro Tip: When checking bags, it never hurts to flash that military ID or bring your active duty spouse with you. And carry a copy of those orders everywhere!

Layover Lounge

Many major U.S. hubs host USO lounges. Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Boston are just a few of the places where troops and families can rack out for a few in between flights.

USO airport lounges are typically staffed 24/7 by volunteers, so be sure to say thank you. Inside, you will find free snacks and drinks, clean bathrooms and a place to recharge your tech toys. Some lounges, like Seattle, have showers, a luggage room and even quiet rooms for sleeping.

If you hold certain credit cards, like AMEX Platinum (fee free for military), you automatically get access to Centurion Lounges (AMEX Platinum only) or can enroll for free in the Priority Pass lounge program. These lounges are a little more upscale, with complimentary alcoholic beverages available.

Pro Tip: Find the USO (outside of security) or see if your credit card comes with airport lounge (inside security) perks.

Vacation Discounts

Delta Vacations: This vacation program offers a set amount off of booked travel based on final package cost. This service lets you bundle flight, hotel, car rental and activities.

Sandals & Beaches: These premium all-inclusive resorts offer a 10% discount to U.S. military personnel. You can combine flights with your hotel stay, too. All stays include all you can eat, drink and play (non-motorized land/water sports). Sandals is adults only. Beaches is family friendly!

Non-inclusive hotel chains, like Hilton and Sheraton, also offer government and military rates. You can often choose “military/government” when booking or call your hotel to check for special discounts.

Pro Tip: Save a bundle when you book all-inclusive or package deals through some providers. You can choose the special rate when booking national hotel chains. No discount mentioned? Ask!

What are your military travel tips? Share them in the comments section!

Military Travel Discounts to Get You There

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Holiday travel will soon be upon us. With all of the added costs of holiday meals and gifts, don’t let the high cost of travel keep you from enjoying your time away.

Check out these great military travel discounts to help you get where you need to go and enjoy your time away.

Military Travel Discounts to Get You There

What is your favorite military travel discount?

Military Travel Discounts on Airfare

Space-A travel is one of the best ways to save money on airfare. Never flown Space-A before? No worries! Fellow MilitaryShoppers.com writer Julie Provost’s article Space-A Travel for the Military Spouse has you covered.

You’ll need to be flexible with your arrival and departure dates and times, but Space-A is one of the most cost-effective ways for military families to travel.

If Space-A isn’t available, check out these other airline discounts:

  • Southwest. Discounts are available to service members by calling Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA. You will need to show a military ID upon check-in to get the discount.
  • American Airlines offers a military discount, but you have to call 1-800-433-7300 for access to those special rates. They also offer a 50% discount on pets within the continental United States and Canada.
  • Delta Airlines. Delta has a great military discount program. Get discounts on airline travel by calling 1-800-325-1771. You can also bundle travel options by visiting their Military Vacation page.
  • US Airways. Service members and their dependents can take advantage of special military rates by calling 1-800-428-4322.

Military Travel Discounts When Traveling by Train

It might be a little old fashioned, but if you have a little more time, and you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, consider taking the train.

Even better, make taking the train part of your vacation plans. You’ll get to experience travel the way it used to be and see spectacular views you won’t get anywhere else.

  • Amtrak offers a 10% military discount, though some limitations apply. Get all the details on their site.
  • Royal George Route Railroad. Make a train ride part of your vacation and book a trip on the Santa Express. And don’t forget to take advantage of the 10% military discount.
  • Take a trip through the Great Smoky Mountains on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and get a 20% military discount.

Military Travel Discounts When Renting a Car

When you rent a car, be sure to ask for a military discount. The following car rental companies offer great military discounts.

If you are a USAA member check their travel site for additional rental car discounts. Get all the specific details by visiting your favorite car rental website.

Other Military Travel Discounts

Sometimes getting off the beaten path means taking the road, or rather the method, less traveled.  If you’re up for a little adventure, consider one of these great travel options. And don’t forget the military travel discount!

  • Taking the bus can be an adventure and Greyhound offers a great military discount. Get 10% off walk-up fares and pay no more than $259 for travel anywhere in the United States.
  • Not everyone knows how to fly a plane, but if you do, take advantage of military discounts when renting aircraft. All American Aviation Services out of Fayetteville, N.C., and serving all of the American southwest offers military discounts on aircraft rentals. Need an aircraft in Southern California? Check out Pacific Air’s military discount. Peak Aviation in Colorado Springs also offers a 5% military discount.
  • If camping or traveling by RV is more your style, check out the Tentsfortroops.com website for campsite and RV site locations that offer free or discounted stay for military service members and their families.

What is your favorite military travel discount?

Budget Tips for Your Next Military Staycation

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Duty always comes first, even if you already have a vacation planned. There are plenty of service men and women who have found themselves calling hotels and rental companies, to cancel or modify their vacation at the very last minute. Thankfully, many service providers are happy to accommodate the ever changing schedules of the men and women who serve.

Tight budgets of those who serve are often not very vacation friendly. However, a staycation is a marvelous way to get that precious R&R without breaking the bank.  To make the most of a staycation, here are some fun ideas and budget tips.

 

  1. Book a hotel. The best way to feel like you are on a vacation is to book a hotel. One of the best money saving tips is to book based off amenites offered. All hotels have the standard bed and towels. The trick is to find some place that has something super cool that makes you feel like you are on vacation. It can be a pirate ship in the pool with a tiki bar or it can be something as simple as a complimentary cocktail hour. Weekdays are generally cheaper, and less crowded. Tip: Book directly through the hotel to avoid third party fees.

 

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Photo of Lake Buena Vista, which offers Military Discounts

 

  1. Become a tourist in your current town. Military personnel are often located in places far away from where they grew up. This alone makes a staycation the ideal low cost activity.  Check out your town’s tourism website or the Chamber of Commerce for popular sights and activities. Pick a hour radius you are willing to drive and explore a new town.

 

  1. Take a walking tour. Many cities and small towns have free or low priced walking tours of historical areas. Some are even called ghost tours and are very popular around Halloween and Christmas. The guides typically relate interesting stories along the way about people and events from days gone by.  Tours usually end with coffee, tea, dining or shopping.

 

  1. Plan your staycation time around local festivals and special events. Small towns to big cities have special events throughout the year. It might be a chili or bar-b-q contest, music festival or art show. Within a short drive from wherever you are, there should be at least one big interesting event that draws a crowd.  Find out what that is and check it out.

 

  1. Have a fantastic lunch. For budget minded folks, fine dining is often out of the question. However, fine dining establishments typically serve the same foods at lower prices during the lunch hour. Look into it and plan a lovely lunch followed by an afternoon movie and ice cream.

 

  1. Use the Groupon app. Sign up for Groupon and be amazed at the savings. There are deals on dining, entertainment and shopping. The deals change frequently so keep checking until something fantastic comes up.  This is a great way to try an expensive restaurant on a budget. Tip: most purchases have a 24 hour wait period before you can redeem them, so read the fine print if you plan to use the deal the same day.

 

  1. Get outdoors. Most towns and almost all cities have parks and recreational facilities from pools and tennis courts to hiking and camping areas. Get out and enjoy the local nature trails. Check out the differences in flora and fauna from where you grew up to where you’re currently stationed.

 

  1. One way of enjoying some down time is by turning off all devices. In today’s world, we live and breathe with devices in hand that keep us connected, sometimes overly so, to the world. Disconnect for a preset period of time such as 12 to 24 hours.  Now you can read a book, take naps, try a new recipe, play with the kids and dog without trying to divide your attention.

 

  1. Look for museums. What sounds dull, such as an old tractor museum, may turn out to be a very interesting day. Plus, some museums are actually free of charge or pay by donation so a couple of bucks gets you in. You can find a list of museums that offer a military discount here.

 

  1. Check for military discounts on hotels. If you live somewhere extra fun but that also has a tendency to be pricey such as Orlando, Florida, don’t despair. Look for deals, especially those military discounts. Often times you have to skip the booking engines and go directly to the site. These are often hotel brands you know and trust like Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista.

 

  1. Look for a local brewery. It’s not only an educational experience, you get to know the locals on a new level by sharing their unique brews and finding out what made them decide to go into business in the first place.

 

  1. Do a movie or bowling night. Again, check Groupon for possible deals but both these activities can be relaxing and fun. If you haven’t bowled in a while, or ever, give it a go. You might be surprised how much fun you have.

 

  1. Take dance lessons. This is something that requires a time commitment of at least a few weeks but once you’ve learned how to rock the dance floor, take your significant other out for dinner and dancing someplace special.

 

  1. Try something new. One of the most amazing benefits of military life, is all the new places you get to see. Take that a step further and try something new. Find out what is popular in the area and give it a try.

 

  1. Look for local theater group performances. A good play is typically entertaining and inexpensive. Some high schools put on amazing performances as well. Dress up more than usual and make a special night of it.  You can find a list of participating theatres here.

 

If done correctly, a staycation can be as relaxing as the real thing. You and your family will get a recharge while the bank account stays intact.  Sounds like a win-win for all military personnel.

Guest Author

Amanda Basse