salehunter.net For members of the Armed Forces, travel is rarely just a leisure activity; it is a lifestyle defined by Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, temporary duty assignments, and the precious, often fleeting, windows of leave. While the civilian world hunts for generic coupon codes and flash sales, military personnel—active duty, Guard, Reserve, and veterans—have access to a parallel ecosystem of travel benefits. However, finding genuine military discount flights is surprisingly complex. It isn’t as simple as typing a code into a checkout box. It requires navigating specific airline policies, understanding the difference between “military fares” and “baggage waivers,” and knowing when to pick up the phone rather than booking online.
This guide goes beyond the surface-level advice. We are going to dissect how major US carriers handle military status, reveal why baggage waivers are often more valuable than ticket discounts, and look at the “Space-A” system with a realistic eye. If you serve, or have served, here is how you fly smarter.
The Reality of Military Airfare: It’s Not Always About the Ticket Price
One of the biggest misconceptions about military travel is that there is always a flat percentage off the ticket price. While some airlines do offer a 5% discount off the base fare (not the total price including taxes), the math doesn’t always work out in your favor. Sometimes, a “military fare” is calculated off a full-price refundable ticket, making it more expensive than the non-refundable economy ticket a civilian buys on Google Flights.
The real financial victory usually lies in the ancillary fees. We are talking about baggage. In an era where airlines charge for carry-ons, checked bags, and breathing room, military policies can save a family of four hundreds of dollars per leg. When analyzing a potential booking, you must calculate the “Total Trip Cost,” not just the sticker price of the seat.
Major Legacy Carriers: The Heavy Hitters
The “Big Three”—Delta, United, and American—have the most robust networks, which is crucial if you are stationed in a remote location or need to fly internationally. Their policies differ slightly, but they generally offer the most generous baggage allowances.
United Airlines
United has embraced digital verification more than most, making it easier to book without waiting on hold. They partner with WeSalute+ (formerly Veterans Advantage) to offer a 5% discount on tickets. This is one of the few instances where you might use a “code” mechanism via your linked membership ID.
- The Baggage Perk: Active duty members can check up to five bags (up to 70 lbs each) for free when traveling on orders. For personal travel, you still get three free bags (up to 70 lbs). Dependents traveling with the active duty member generally share this benefit.
- Lounge Access: United Clubs are accessible to active duty members in uniform or with leave orders and flight deck credentials, though this policy is stricter than it used to be.
- Pro Tip: Always link your DoD ID number to your MileagePlus account. United’s system is getting better at recognizing status automatically during check-in.
Delta Air Lines
Delta is often a favorite for customer service, and their military support is consistent. However, to get specific military fares (which are often fully refundable), you usually have to call Delta Reservations. These fares are fantastic for leave that might get cancelled last minute due to deployment changes.
- The Baggage Perk: On military orders, you can check five bags (up to 100 lbs each). For personal travel, active duty members get two free bags (up to 50 lbs) in Basic Economy, Main Cabin, and Delta Comfort+, or three bags (up to 70 lbs) in First Class and Delta One.
- Pet Policy: Delta offers specific exceptions for checking pets as baggage for active duty members on PCS orders, a service that has largely vanished for the general public.
American Airlines
American Airlines offers government or military fares, but like Delta, they are often not bookable online. You have to call. However, they do offer a discount (usually 10%) on vacations if you verify through WeSalute.
- The Baggage Perk: Active duty on orders can check five bags free (100 lbs). For personal travel, it is three free bags (50 lbs). This is a massive savings if you are traveling heavy with gear or gifts.
- Boarding: American is known for consistently offering active duty military priority boarding (Group 1), ensuring you get overhead bin space.
The Low-Cost Carrier Strategy: Where the Savings Hide
Budget airlines are notorious for nickel-and-diming passengers. This is where military benefits shine brightest. By waiving the fees that make budget airlines expensive, you can fly for dirt cheap.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest is already unique because “bags fly free” for everyone (two checked bags). However, they have specific military fares that do not have blackout dates and are fully refundable. These are not available online; you must call or visit a ticket counter. While the fare might not be cheaper than a “Wanna Get Away” fare, the refundability is gold for military personnel with unpredictable schedules.
JetBlue
JetBlue offers a dedicated baggage waiver and a 5% discount on base fares for active duty personnel and their families enrolled in WeSalute+. They also have a special “MIL” fare class that includes flexibility benefits. To book the MIL fare, you generally need to call 1-800-JETBLUE.
Spirit and Frontier
These ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) are dangerous for the uninitiated because carry-on bags can cost more than the ticket.
Spirit Airlines offers free flight modification and two free checked bags plus a free carry-on for active duty. You must verify your status at the Spirit ticket counter or via ID.me during online booking. This transforms a $40 ticket into a legitimate $40 trip, rather than a $150 trip after bag fees.
Frontier Airlines also waives fees for two checked bags and a carry-on for active duty, but you must verify via ID.me. If you skip this step, you will pay full price at the gate.
The “WeSalute” Factor (Veterans Advantage)
You will often see references to Veterans Advantage or WeSalute. This is a paid membership program (subscription-based) that partners with airlines like United, JetBlue, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines to offer a standing 5% discount.
Is it worth it?
If you fly specifically with United or JetBlue more than twice a year, the membership usually pays for itself. It essentially functions as a promo code generator. Once you are a member, you get a unique member ID that applies the discount at checkout. It covers not just active duty, but veterans and family members, making it one of the few reliable ways for veterans (non-active) to get flight discounts.
American Forces Travel: The Official Booking Engine
A few years ago, the Department of Defense partnered with Priceline to create American Forces Travel. This is an Online Travel Agency (OTA) specifically for the military community.
Why use it?
- Eligibility: It is open to active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired military, and eligible family members.
- Hidden Inventory: Because the site is behind a verification wall (MilConnect), airlines and hotels can offload inventory at prices they aren’t allowed to advertise to the general public.
- The “Package” Deal: The flight discounts are modest, but the hotel and car rental discounts are often significant. If you are booking a flight, check the package rates here first.
The “Space-A” Gamble: Flying for Free
Space-Available (Space-A) travel is the stuff of legend. Flying on a military aircraft to Germany or Japan for nearly zero cost sounds amazing. However, it requires a distinct mindset: Patience over Convenience.
Space-A is not for booking a flight to your cousin’s wedding next weekend. It is for filling empty seats on DoD aircraft missions.
The Tiers of Priority:
- Category I: Emergency Leave (Unfunded).
- Category II: EML (Environmental Morale Leave) – usually for those stationed in difficult locations.
- Category III: Active Duty on ordinary leave.
- Category IV: Unaccompanied dependents on EML.
- Category V: Permissive TDY.
- Category VI: Retirees, Reservists, and Veterans with 100% disability rating.
If you are in Category VI, you are at the bottom of the list. You might wait in a terminal for three days only to get bumped by a pallet of cargo or an active duty member on emergency leave.
The Golden Rule of Space-A: Always have the funds to buy a commercial ticket home if you get stranded. Space-A might get you to Ramstein Air Base, but if the return flights are full, you need a backup plan.
The Hidden “Travel Hack”: Premium Credit Cards
While not a direct airline discount, the Military Lending Act (MLA) and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provide perhaps the greatest travel benefit of all: Annual Fee Waivers on Premium Credit Cards.
Cards like the American Express Platinum Card ($695 annual fee) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee) often waive these fees for active duty personnel.
Why does this matter for flights?
- Lounge Access: The Amex Platinum gets you into Centurion Lounges and gives you a Priority Pass. Waiting for a flight in a lounge with free food and showers changes the entire experience.
- Travel Credits: These cards offer annual airline incidental credits (covering bag fees on airlines that don’t waive them) and Uber cash.
- Points Transfer: You can transfer points to airline partners for award flights, which often yields far better value than a 5% cash discount.
Booking Procedure: A Step-by-Step Guide
To ensure you actually get the benefits, follow this workflow:
1. Research Phase
Check Google Flights to establish a baseline price. Ignore the “Basic Economy” price if you plan to bring bags; look at the “Main Cabin” price.
2. The “Bag Math”
If the flight is on a low-cost carrier (Spirit/Frontier) or a major carrier (United/Delta/American), calculate the cost of bags.
Example: A civilian flight on Spirit is $50 + $60 carry-on + $60 checked bag = $170. For active duty, it is just $50.
Comparison: A Delta flight is $160. For active duty, it is $160 (free bags). In this case, Spirit is the winner.
3. Verification
If booking online (Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue), have your ID.me or SheerID login ready. If booking via American Forces Travel, ensure your DEERS info is up to date.
4. The Phone Call
If you are flying internationally or have complex dates, call the airline. Ask specifically for “Military Fares.”
Script: “I am an active duty service member looking to book travel. Do you have any military inventory available for these dates, and can you confirm the baggage allowance?”
Dependents and Families: The Gray Area
The rules get trickier for families. Generally, baggage fee waivers on major airlines only apply to dependents if they are traveling on the same reservation as the active duty member. If a military spouse flies alone, they often do not get the bag fee waiver unless they present a dependent ID and the airline agent is feeling generous (policy technically says no for personal travel on most carriers, though Southwest is an exception for bags generally).
Pro Tip for Spouses: Always carry a copy of the service member’s orders if the travel is related to a move, even if the service member isn’t flying with you. For leisure travel without the service member, verify through WeSalute+ or American Forces Travel, as those benefits (like the 5% United discount) extend to enrolled family members regardless of who they are flying with.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- TSA PreCheck: Do not pay for TSA PreCheck! Use your DoD ID number as your “Known Traveler Number” (KTN) in the airline reservation. It works for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and DoD civilians. It does not automatically work for dependents unless they are 12 and under and traveling with you. Spouses usually need to apply separately (or use a credit card credit to pay for it).
- The “Discount” Trap: Sometimes, a “military fare” bucket is sold out. The agent might offer you a standard fare. Always ask, “Is this the lowest fare available, or just the military fare?” sometimes the standard economy ticket on sale is cheaper than the fixed military rate.
- Verification Documents: Always travel with your CAC (Common Access Card) or Uniformed Services ID. Even if you verified online with ID.me, the gate agent or check-in counter has the right to ask for physical proof.
Conclusion
Securing the best military discount flights is less about finding a secret promo code and more about understanding policy leverage. It is about knowing that Spirit Airlines becomes a premium option when bag fees vanish. It is about utilizing American Forces Travel for package deals and leveraging credit card fee waivers for lounge access.
The airline industry is complex, but for the military community, the loopholes are there—you just have to know where to look. Whether you are flying Space-A to Ramstein or taking a commercial flight home for the holidays, travel smart, check your bags for free, and keep your military ID handy.
