Military and Veteran Travel Discounts 2026: Airlines, Hotels, Parks, and More

• American Forces Travel: Start Here
• Military Airline Discounts
• Hotel Discounts for Military and Veterans
• Car Rental Military Discounts
• National Parks: Free Pass for Veterans
• Space-A Travel: Flying Free on Military Aircraft
• Cruise Discounts
• WeSalute+ Military Membership
• Theme Parks and Attractions
• Tips for Getting the Best Military Travel Rates

Military service members, veterans, and their families have access to a wide range of travel discounts — from free National Park entry to deeply discounted hotel rates, airline perks, and one-of-a-kind military benefits like Space-A flights. The challenge isn’t that the discounts don’t exist; it’s knowing where to look and understanding which programs actually deliver value versus which are nominal. This guide covers every major travel discount category with specific, current information for 2026.

American Forces Travel: Start Here

AmericanForcesTravel.com is the official travel portal backed by all six military branches and the Pentagon, powered by Priceline. It’s the single best starting point for any military travel booking — hotels, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises — all with rates negotiated specifically for the military community.

• Hotels: Up to 50% off rates available at hotels worldwide compared to standard public rates
• Cruises: Up to 80% off cruise bookings — the standout deal on the platform; cruise discounts consistently exceed what civilian booking sites offer
• Flights: Competitive but not always the deepest discount — compare against airline direct military programs (below) before booking flights here
• Car rentals: Solid military rates across major brands; compare against your specific rental company’s direct military program

Eligibility includes active duty service members and their families, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and veterans. You’ll verify your military status (typically via social security number or military ID) before booking. The platform is free to access — no membership fee required.

Military Airline Discounts

Airline military discounts have evolved significantly — most major carriers have moved toward verified membership programs (WeSalute+, ID.me) rather than open discounts, and the strongest benefits are often on checked baggage and boarding rather than fare reductions. Here’s where each major carrier stands in 2026:

Delta Airlines

Delta offers active-duty military personnel and their travel companions up to $300 off Delta Vacations flight-and-hotel packages of at least three nights. Active duty members also receive complimentary checked baggage — a meaningful perk on long-distance travel. Delta’s military discount is strongest on vacation bundles rather than standalone flights.

JetBlue

JetBlue offers active-duty military members and their dependents 5% off all fares and two complimentary checked bags up to 50 pounds each. Veterans enrolled in WeSalute+ receive the same 5% fare discount. The bag waiver is the more valuable benefit on most JetBlue itineraries — two checked bags at JetBlue’s standard rates runs $35–$45 each way per bag.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines offers military fares in some markets to active-duty members and their dependents — must be booked by phone at 800-252-7522, not online. The discount varies by route and availability. Active duty members also receive complimentary checked baggage on most Alaska itineraries.

American Airlines

American offers military personnel complimentary checked baggage on most itineraries. Veterans enrolled in WeSalute+ can access 10% off the land portion of American Vacations packages (hotels, rental cars, theme park passes, sightseeing tours) through AA’s vacation booking platform.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian offers veterans and their families enrolled in WeSalute+ a 5% discount on travel between the mainland and Hawaii, and from Honolulu to international destinations. For military families with connections to Hawaii or planning Hawaii vacations, this discount is worth verifying against Hawaiian’s direct military fares before booking through WeSalute+.

General Airline Tips

• Most airlines don’t publish military discounts prominently — call the reservation line and ask specifically for the military or government rate before booking online
• Checked baggage waivers are often more valuable than fare discounts on short trips — factor the bag fee savings into your total cost comparison
• For international travel, compare American Forces Travel cruise-and-air packages — the bundled savings often exceed standalone military fare discounts

Hotel Discounts for Military and Veterans

Hotel military discounts are among the most consistently available and most consistently underused travel benefits. Most major chains offer 10–20% off their best available rate — but most veterans don’t ask for it. The discount is almost never applied automatically; you must request the government or military rate at reservation time and show your military ID at check-in.

Marriott

Marriott’s government/military rate is available to active duty, veterans, retirees, and DoD civilians at most properties. Book directly at marriott.com/government and filter for the government rate, or call the property directly and ask for the military rate. The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program accumulates points normally on government-rate stays, making this one of the most points-efficient ways to stay in the Marriott portfolio.

Hilton

Hilton’s military discount applies at most properties worldwide for active duty, veterans, and retirees. Book at hilton.com/government or call the property. Hilton Honors members who book government rates still accumulate full points and elite qualifying nights, which is a strong benefit for frequent military travelers.

IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental)

IHG participates in the GSA government rate program, which is available to military personnel. Government rates at IHG properties are often competitive with their best available public rate or better. IHG One Rewards points accumulate on government rate stays at participating properties.

Wyndham

Wyndham offers up to 15% off their best available rate to active and retired military, veterans, and their families at participating properties. A notable additional benefit: qualifying military personnel and their spouses receive automatic Gold-level status in the Wyndham Rewards program plus bonus points on qualifying stays when they enroll.

Red Roof Inn

Red Roof offers a 10% discount on official and leisure travel for all military members, veterans, and government employees at U.S. locations. A budget-tier option that’s useful for PCS travel and road trips near bases where Red Roof properties are common.

Hotel Booking Tips

• Always book direct. Military rates are almost never available through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Booking.com — they’re available only through the hotel’s own website or phone reservation
• Compare American Forces Travel first. The platform’s negotiated rates sometimes beat the chain’s direct military rate, particularly at independent hotels and resorts
• Loyalty points matter. Most chains that offer military rates still award full loyalty points on those stays — prioritize chains where you’re building status
• Always ask, even if it’s not advertised. Independent hotels near military installations frequently offer military rates that aren’t published anywhere — the worst they can say is no

Car Rental Military Discounts

Car rental military discounts are widely available but require knowing which program each company uses and selecting the correct rate code at booking.

• Enterprise: Military discount available for active duty, veterans, and their families — book through Enterprise’s military program page or select the military rate at checkout. Enterprise is one of the most widely available rental companies near military installations.
• National: Discounted rates available for military members of all branches — select your branch when booking. Enrolling in National’s Emerald Club loyalty program stacks additional benefits on top of the military discount.
• Alamo: Discounted rates for federal government employees and military personnel, including veterans, on leisure travel (without official orders).
• Hertz: Government/military rates available — use the government rate code when booking through Hertz’s government travel portal. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points accumulate on military rate rentals.
• USAA: USAA members (who are generally active duty, veterans, or military families) receive negotiated rates through USAA’s car rental program, which aggregates discounts across multiple rental companies. Often the easiest comparison starting point for USAA members.

National Parks: Free Pass for Veterans

The America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is available free to U.S. veterans and Gold Star families. This is one of the most underutilized veteran benefits in existence — millions of eligible veterans have never claimed it.

What the pass covers:

• Entry fees at all National Park Service sites (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia, Zion, and 400+ others)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service locations
• National Forest Service recreation sites
• Bureau of Land Management sites
• Bureau of Reclamation sites
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas

The pass also covers entrance fees for up to three additional adults at sites that charge per person rather than per vehicle. Children under 15 are always free at National Park Service sites. At sites that charge per vehicle, the pass covers the entire vehicle’s occupants.

How to get it: The Veterans Lifetime Pass can be obtained in person at any national park entrance, or through the U.S. Geological Survey store at store.usgs.gov. Current military service members can purchase an annual pass that covers themselves and their dependents. Bring your veteran ID card, DD-214, or other proof of veteran or military status. The pass is free and valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Space-A Travel: Flying Free on Military Aircraft

Space-Available (Space-A) travel is one of the most unique and most rewarding military travel benefits — free or near-free flights on U.S. military aircraft to domestic and international destinations, available to eligible military community members on a space-available basis when seats aren’t needed for official travel.

Who Can Fly Space-A

Space-A eligibility is tiered into six categories that determine boarding priority:

• Category I (highest priority): Uniformed service members on emergency leave
• Category II: Funded EML (Environmental and Morale Leave) passengers
• Category III: Active duty on ordinary leave or with pass
• Category IV: Unaccompanied dependents on EML
• Category V: Military retirees and their dependents; 100% service-connected disabled veterans and their dependents
• Category VI (lowest priority): National Guard and Reserve members, surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty or with service-connected conditions

How Space-A Works

Space-A seats are allocated from leftover capacity on regularly scheduled military aircraft — C-17s, C-130s, and other military transports — that would otherwise fly empty or with extra seats. You sign up for flights at an Air Mobility Command (AMC) passenger terminal, provide your travel preferences and eligible dates, and wait to be called when a seat opens.

The honest assessment: Space-A is free or very cheap, but it requires genuine flexibility. You might wait one day or five days for a seat on your preferred route. Some destinations are served frequently; others rarely. It works best for retirees and veterans with no hard timeline commitments, or for active duty on extended leave periods.

For Space-A scheduling, route information, and seat availability, visit the AMC Travel Site or contact the nearest military passenger terminal.

Cruise Discounts

Cruise discounts are where military travel savings get genuinely exceptional. American Forces Travel consistently offers the deepest cruise discounts — up to 80% off retail cruise pricing — outperforming direct bookings through the cruise lines themselves in many cases. For a military family planning a cruise, checking American Forces Travel before anything else is non-negotiable.

Individual cruise lines also offer their own military programs:

• Carnival: Active and retired military members are eligible for savings that vary by departure and cabin type — rates are not published publicly and require direct booking inquiry
• Celebrity Cruises: Active and retired military can save depending on cabin type, with higher savings typically on ocean view and above accommodations
• Royal Caribbean: Military discounts available for active duty and veterans — see our Royal Caribbean military discount guide for current program details
• Norwegian Cruise Line: Military discount programs available for active duty and retirees; verify current terms through Norwegian’s military booking team

WeSalute+ Military Membership

WeSalute+ (formerly Veterans Advantage) is a paid membership program ($49.99/year) that serves as a verification and access layer for military discounts that aren’t available without confirmed military status. It’s worth the annual fee if you use multiple travel categories — the airline discounts alone (5% off JetBlue and Hawaiian, 10% off AA Vacations) can recover the membership cost on a single trip.

WeSalute+ discounts relevant to travel include:

• 5% off JetBlue fares (veterans — active duty gets it without WeSalute+)
• 5% off Hawaiian Airlines fares (veterans)
• 10% off American Airlines Vacations land components
• Discounts on Lufthansa and other international carriers
• Hotel and car rental discounts across major chains

Eligibility: active duty, veterans, retirees, reservists, National Guard, and military families. Enrollment at WeSalute.com. The program requires verification of military status through a government database — typically takes 1–3 business days after enrollment.

Theme Parks and Attractions

• Disney Parks: Disney offers military discounted tickets for active duty, National Guard, and Reservists through its Armed Forces Salute program. Tickets are typically sold through base ticket offices (ITT/Leisure Travel Services) at significantly reduced prices — verified through military ID. See our Disney military discount guide for current program details.
• Universal Studios: Military discounted tickets available for active duty and veterans — see our Universal Studios military discount guide for current pricing and eligibility.
• Busch Gardens: The Busch Gardens Military Pass offers significant discounts and special pricing for active duty, veterans, and their families — see our Busch Gardens military pass guide for current details.
• SeaWorld: SeaWorld’s America Salutes program offers free admission to active duty service members (with limited free tickets for family members) at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens properties.
• Armed Forces Vacation Club: AFVC offers seven-night resort stays at significantly discounted rates (often around $275–$329 per unit per week) at timeshare resort properties worldwide. Available to active duty, retirees, Guard and Reserve, and DoD civilians. Book at AFVClub.com.

Tips for Getting the Best Military Travel Rates

1. Start with American Forces Travel. Before booking anything — hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises — check AmericanForcesTravel.com. The negotiated rates frequently beat what you’d find through direct booking, particularly on hotels and cruises.
2. Always ask, even if it’s not posted. Many small hotels, tour operators, and attraction providers offer military discounts that aren’t advertised. Asking directly — especially when presenting a military ID — results in discounts more often than most veterans expect.
3. Book hotels directly. Military rates at major chains are available only through the hotel’s own reservation system — not through Expedia, Hotels.com, or similar aggregators. Always call or book direct for hotel stays.
4. Use your base ITT/Leisure Travel Services office. The Installation Travel and Tourism (ITT) or Leisure Travel Services office on most military bases sells theme park tickets, event tickets, hotel packages, and rental car vouchers at negotiated military prices — often significantly below what’s available elsewhere. Check this resource before booking any major attraction or theme park visit.
5. Get the Veterans Pass before your next park trip. If you’re a veteran who hasn’t claimed the free America the Beautiful pass, it’s a free resource for your next national park visit. One family trip to a fee-based national park covers the cost of getting the pass.
6. Consider WeSalute+ if you travel regularly. The $49.99 annual fee pays for itself quickly if you use the airline, hotel, or vacation package discounts even once. Most useful for veterans who travel multiple times a year across different carriers and hotels.

This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, VA, or any government agency. Military discount programs change frequently — always verify current terms directly with the provider before booking.