Full List of Military Discounts on Flights [Sorted by Airline]

Key Takeaways

• Active-duty service members typically get the best airline perks, including airfare discounts, free checked bags, and priority boarding with airlines.
• Discounted airfare (typically 5%) is often available through the WeSalute discount program for service members.
• You usually need to call reservations to get your discount. Be prepared to verify using ID.me or SheerID.

Airline tickets can be a big chunk of your travel budget, especially if you’re flying home on leave or traveling during peak holidays. You can’t avoid higher seasonal prices, but service members, veterans, and qualifying family members can get military benefits, making flying more affordable and comfortable.

Many airlines and international carriers offer discounted fares, waived baggage fees, and early boarding, offering savings to military members.

This guide explains the discounts available to military members, airline by airline. You’ll find out how to qualify and which benefits are available.

Qualifying for Airline Military Discounts

Airline military discounts depend on your military status and the airline’s policies. Many airlines offer discounts or perks to active-duty service members, but may have benefits available to reservists, veterans, and families of military personnel.

Hot Tip:

Find more discounts with airlines, hotels, rental car companies, cruises, theme parks, and more in our military and veterans travel guide.

What Is WeSalute?

WeSalute, formerly Veterans Advantage, is a military discount-and-benefits service available to active and former service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, or Reserves, and their immediate family members. Eligibility will soon expand to include first responders, nurses, teachers, medical professionals, students, and government employees.

Members of WeSalute can take advantage of discounts on shopping and travel, including airlines and hotels. For example, WeSalute members can get 25% off Avis rentals, and WeSalute+ members can get 5% off United Airlines WeSalute military discounts and up to 40% savings with up to $100 onboard credit with Carnival Cruise Lines.

There are 2 membership tiers with WeSalute: a free account with discount offers, networking, and events, and WeSalute+, which unlocks additional premium offers. WeSalute+ is available for a $9.99 monthly payment. If you pay annually, it’s $59.95 with a $4.95 processing fee. You can do a 30-day introductory trial for $4.95.

Both tiers can purchase discounted annual travel insurance, which costs $79.96 annually for WeSalute members and $39.98 for WeSalute+ members.

Airlines Offering Military Discounts

Air Canada

Air Canada offers members of the U.S. and Canadian military 3 free checked bags up to 70 pounds each. This offer is available to eligible active and retired service members. To use it, you should indicate at online check-in that you’re traveling without checked bags, then see an Air Canada agent at the airport for bag tagging free of charge with your military identification.

Hot Tip:

Get through security faster using TSA PreCheck, which is free with a Department of Defense ID card.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines, based on the West Coast and part of the Oneworld alliance, offers military benefits that include airfare discounts, flexibility, lounge passes, discounts on pet or service animal fees, priority boarding, free checked bags, and discounts on food.

• Airfare discounts: Military fares are available to active-duty service members and accompanying spouses and dependent children. Fares are available if you’re on an official excused absence, discharged within 7 days, or reserves on active duty. You can call Alaska to book your flight at 800-252-7522. WeSalute also offers a 5% fare discount for up to 6 people traveling together.
• Baggage allowance: Active-duty personnel can get up to 5 bags of up to 70 pounds each checked for free, and active-duty military dependents can get the same allowance with travel orders.
• Lounge access: If you’re traveling with Alaska Airlines on government-sponsored travel through SATO, you can get a complimentary Alaska Lounge day pass. Otherwise, you can get a discounted rate of $35.
• Pet or service animal transport: Trained service animals can fly for free. A pet shipping discount is available with Alaska Air Cargo if you’re on military orders indicating a permanent change of station.
• Inflight savings: Active-duty service members, accompanying spouses, and dependent children get a 15% discount on inflight food. The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature^® card also offers a 20% discount.
• Priority boarding and flexible fares: Active-duty service members can board early. If you cannot travel as scheduled because of military orders or directives, you and your accompanying spouse and dependent children can cancel or refund your tickets without restrictions.

Hot Tip:

Learn about the best military credit cards for active-duty members.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant is a low-cost airline known for charging additional fees for just about everything — including your carry-on. But discounts apply to active-duty, reserve service members, and veterans.

• Airfare discount: Spouses, domestic partners, children, and dependents traveling to visit service members injured in the line of duty within 90 days can get the lowest fare on the flight.
• Baggage allowance: Military members and their dependents on the same reservation can check up to 2 free checked bags under 99 pounds with no charge for oversize checked baggage. You can also bring 1 carry-on bag.
• Pet allowance: You can bring 1 pet in the cabin at no charge.
• Additional discounts: Service members, including veterans, spouses, domestic partners, and dependents, get priority boarding, free boarding pass printing at the airport, and don’t have to pay change or cancellation fees when altering a flight because of a change in orders.

Hot Tip:

Read our review of the American Express military benefits included with the Platinum Card^® from American Express to discover more travel rewards.

American Airlines

American Airlines provides service members with flight discounts, free checked bags, priority boarding, and service animal transportation fee waivers.

• Flight discounts: Active-duty service members and government members such as Department of Defense civilians can get discounted flights by calling 800-433-7300. Active-duty service members, veterans, and their families can use WeSalute+ to get 10% off American Airlines vacation packages.
• Baggage discounts: Active-duty U.S. military and dependents traveling on orders can check up to 5 bags 100 pounds each for free, or up to 3 bags 50 pounds each for active-duty service members on personal travel.
• Lounge access: You can access Admirals Club locations for free when traveling in uniform, including access for your immediate family or up to 2 guests.
• Priority boarding: You can board in Group 1 with an active-duty military ID.
• Working dog transportation: Pet in cabin fees are waived for military dogs traveling on official duty.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways has WeSalute airfare discounts and offers free bags, priority boarding, and an inflight food and beverage discount.

• Flight discounts: Members of WeSalute can get a 15% ticket discount on Breeze Airways.
• Baggage allowance: Active-duty service members get a free bag allowance and can bring 1 carry-on bag and up to 2 checked bags free of charge.
• Priority boarding: Veterans and active-duty military members can preboard.
• Inflight food and beverage discount: Veterans and active-duty military members get a 20% discount on inflight food and beverages.

Delta Air Lines

Delta is a member of SkyTeam and has generous policies for military members, including flight discounts and a baggage allowance.

• Flight discounts: Active-duty service members can get discounts on airfare and Delta Vacations packages by calling Delta reservations at 800-221-1212. Medical emergency fares are available for immediate family members visiting war-injured military personnel.
• Baggage allowance: Active-duty military members traveling on orders can take 5 bags, up to 100 pounds each, for free. On personal travel, you can take 2 checked bags of up to 50 pounds on Basic Economy, Main Cabin, or Delta Comfort+, or 3 checked bags of up to 7 pounds on First Class, Premium Select, and Delta One.

Hot Tip: All U.S. military personnel including active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and their dependents can visit USO lounges for free food and (non-alcoholic) drinks.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines is a low-cost carrier with extremely cheap flights padded with fees for seats and baggage. It doesn’t offer flight discounts but does offer waived baggage fees for military members on active duty or in the Reserves or National Guard. You can bring up to 2 free checked bags (with waived oversize and overweight baggage fees), 1 free carry-on bag, and 1 free personal item. These waivers extend to military members and accompanying spouses and children.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue provides military members with flight discounts and a baggage allowance.

• Flight discounts: Active-duty military members and their dependents get a 5% discount on fares when they call 800-JETBLUE. If you’re no longer active-duty, you can get a 5% discount with WeSalute+.
• Baggage allowance: If you’re traveling on duty, you and your dependents can check up to 5 free bags of up to 99 pounds each. If you’re not traveling on duty, you and your dependents can check 2 bags of up to 50 pounds each.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance. It offers a 5% discount on fares for members of WeSalute. The discount is valid on Lufthansa flights originating from the U.S. and includes subsidiary airlines Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines offers a WeSalute+ discount, a baggage allowance, and priority boarding to military members.

• Flight discounts: With WeSalute+, you can get 5% off round-trip coach flights from the U.S. mainland to the Hawaiian islands. You also receive a complimentary Paua Hana Cafe meal and Koloa Rum drink during your flight.
• Baggage allowance: If you’re traveling on orders, you can check up to 5 bags free of up to 70 pounds each. Active-duty members and their dependents on personal travel can check up to 2 bags of up to 50 pounds each.
• Priority boarding: Active-duty military personnel can board in Zone 2.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit features extremely cheap airfare and doesn’t offer flight discounts for military members, but it does offer free bags, priority boarding, and relaxed cancellation policies. The airline uses ID.me for easier service verification.

• Baggage allowance: Active-duty service members, accompanying spouses, and their children each get 2 free checked bags and a free carry-on bag.
• Priority boarding: Active-duty service members, accompanying spouses, and their children can preboard.
• Waived cancellation or modification fees: If you have to change or cancel your flight because of a deployment or receiving orders, you can do so without a fee and receive a flight credit or refund for your reservation value.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is known for its generous flight policies, which include no change or cancellation fees. It has military fares, additional baggage, and priority boarding.

• Flight discounts: Active-duty personnel and their dependents can book military fares by calling 800-435-9792.
• Baggage allowance: If you’re traveling on active duty, you’re exempt from the 2-piece baggage limit and don’t pay excess, oversize, or overweight baggage charges. You can check up to 20 pieces of luggage, but they must each be below 100 pounds and 80 inches in maximum linear dimensions.
• Priority boarding: You can board between A and B boarding groups through January 26, 2026, and after that, you can join the priority boarding group before Group 1.

Hot Tip:

When talking about baggage allowances, many airlines refer to “maximum linear dimensions” or something similar. This is merely the number you get when you add the length, width, and depth of a piece of luggage. For example, if you have a suitcase that’s 26 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, then its linear dimensions are 62 inches, or right at the maximum for many airlines without an additional charge.

Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country Airlines is another low-cost carrier that charges for baggage, but active-duty military members can get 2 free checked bags and 1 carry-on bag for free.

United Airlines

United has military discounts for active-duty members, academy cadets, commissioned officers, and members discharged within 7 days of travel. You can qualify for discounted flights, free checked bags, United Club access, and priority boarding.

• Flight discounts: With WeSalute+, you get 5% off qualifying United flights.
• Baggage allowance: You and your dependents can bring a free checked bag of up to 70 pounds on personal travel. If you’re traveling on official orders, you and your dependents can bring up to 5 free checked bags.
• Lounge access: Military members and dependents on the same itinerary can access United Club lounges if there is space available.
• Priority boarding: Active-duty military members can board with the preboarding group.

Online Travel Agencies Offering Military Discounts

If you prefer to book travel with an online travel agency, or OTA, you can still get military discounts. OTAs such as Expedia and Hotwire aggregate airfares and make it easy to compare pricing, especially if you’re not loyal to a particular airline or are price sensitive.

Hot Tip: OTAs only offer military discounts on airfare, not baggage. You can still take advantage of airline military baggage policies, but you need to ask for your benefits at the airport.

Expedia

Expedia offers 10% off lodging for military service members.

CheapTickets

CheapTickets is a sister site to Expedia and offers military discounts on flights and hotels via its military discount search page.

American Forces Travel

American Forces Travel is a website developed jointly by the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation office and Priceline. It’s available to active military, reservists, National Guard, and all eligible MWR patrons. You can get up to 50% off travel using American Forces Travel deals.

Bottom Line: OTAs can be a good way to find the cheapest flight for your travel dates quickly while getting up to 50% off travel deals.

Final Thoughts

Military flight discounts don’t always slash the base fare by much, but the additional perks can offer serious savings. With the potential for free checked bags, early boarding, lounge access, inflight food and beverage discounts, and waived change fees, you can save on fares and all the extras.

Many airlines require you to call reservations and verify your status through ID.me or SheerID, though WeSalute membership can make it easier to access discounts. Benefits are the most generous for active-duty members on orders, but veterans and families may qualify for additional offers.

It’s worth it to look for military fares and fee waivers before you book airfare. And if you pair perks with a travel rewards card, you can further stretch your budget with a smoother travel experience.