An Overview of Flight Discounts for Service Members

Many airlines offer free checked bags, discounted tickets, lounge access, early boarding, reduced fees for pets when traveling on orders, and other perks to active and retired service members as a token of appreciation for their service. 

These discounts vary widely by airline and are frequently updated, but the savings can be significant if you travel frequently throughout the year.

Service members can also often use TSA PreCheck lines by entering their DoD ID as their Known Traveler Number when booking, which helps avoid long screening lines.

Some airlines offer complimentary or discounted lounge access to active-duty military personnel in uniform. Consider calling ahead or checking the airline’s website for official lounge policies.

Travel discounts don’t stop at airfare. Many travel providers, such as car rental companies, hotels, theme parks, and resorts, offer discounts to active duty personnel, guards and reserves, veterans, and retirees.

Most airlines require service members to provide some form of proof of service, such as:

• Travel orders (for flights on official military business)
• Valid Military ID (active duty, guard, reserve, or retired)
• DoD card (for official travel)

Depending on the airline, these documents may need to be shown at the time of booking or at the ticket counter during check-in.

Additionally, some airlines extend these perks only to active-duty personnel and their dependents, while others may also include veterans and retirees.

Flight Discounts Through WeSalute+

WeSalute+ is a paid subscription service for U.S. active duty military, veterans, National Guard, reservists, and their families. It was rebranded from the previous name, Veterans Advantage in 2024.

Since 2000, it has partnered with more than 500 major airlines, hotels, and retail brands to offer discounts to the military community.

WeSalute+ members can claim exclusive flight discounts with airlines such as Alaska, JetBlue, Hawaiian, United, Lufthansa, Southwest, and American. A membership can pay for itself quickly if you travel often or make large purchases through partnered brands.

WeSalute+ offers a trial for $4.95, a monthly plan for $9.99, or purchase your first 12 months of WeSalute+ for $59.95.

The following table outlines the basics of airlines’ free baggage deals and military discount airline tickets. See below for more detailed information.

Airline	Flight ticket discount?	How to claim ticket discount	Free baggage amount	Baggage deal eligibility
Air Canada	No	Not offered	3 bags	Active and retired military
Air France	No	Not offered	5 bags on orders for military/ dependents, 2 bags for leisure for military only	Active military and dependents
Alaska Airlines	Discounts in select markets	WeSalute+ or call 1-800-252-7522 for fares	5 bags on orders for military/ dependents, 2 bags for leisure for military only	Active military and dependents
Allegiant Airlines	No	Not offered	2 bags	Active and retired military
American Airlines	Discounts vary by market	WeSalute+ or 800-433-7300 for fares	5 bags on orders, 3 for leisure	Active military only
Breeze Airways	No	Not offered	1 carry-on and 2 checked bags	Active military only
Delta Airlines	No percentage discount but flat rate discounts may be offered	Order through Delta Vacations:  1-800-800-1504	2-5 bags depending on fare class	Active military only
Frontier Airlines	No	Not offered	1 free carry-on and 2 checked bags	Active military and dependents
Hawaiian Airlines	5% discount	WeSalute+	5 bags on orders, 2 bags on leisure	Active military only for leisure; active and retired military when on orders
JetBlue	5% discount	Through JetBlue and WeSalute+	5 bags on orders, 2 for leisure	Active military and dependents
Lufthansa Airlines	5%	WeSalute+	Follows United Airlines guidelines	Active military only
Southwest Airlines	Discounts vary	Call 1-800-435-9792or visit a ticket counter. WeSalute+	2 bags, no fee for additional bags	Active military only
Spirit Airlines	No	Not offered	2 bags and a free carry-on	Active military only
United Airlines	5% discount	WeSalute+	Up to 5 free bags depending on orders	Active military only

Military Discounts and Baggage Deals By Airline

Airline policies are subject to change and often do. Therefore, we encourage you to verify the discount with your airline before booking or traveling or to call airlines when no ticket discounts are publicly advertised.

Air Canada

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised.

Baggage: Generally offers 3 free checked bags (up to 70 lbs each) for active-duty and retired U.S. military personnel.

Notes: Confirm eligibility at the ticket counter with a valid military ID.

Air France

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised.

Baggage on Orders: Up to 5 free 70 lb. bags for active duty and dependents on official orders, which must be shown when you fly.

Baggage on Leisure: 2 free 50 lb. bags for active duty.

Alaska Airlines

Ticket Discount: May offer special military fares by phone for active-duty personnel and their dependents in select markets. Fares are only available when purchasing by phone at 1-800-252-7522. A 5% discount is available through WeSalute+.

Baggage on Orders: 5 free 50 lb. bags for active duty and dependents.

Baggage on Leisure: 2 free 50 lb. bags for active duty.

Allegiant Airlines

Ticket Discount: No publicly advertised ticket discounts are available.

Baggage: 2 free checked bags (up to 100 lbs each) for active duty and retired military personnel, plus other perks such as free carry-on, 1 pet in the cabin, and early boarding.

American Airlines

Ticket Discount: Offers government or military fares in some markets. Call 1-800-433-7300 for more information. May offer 10% or “exclusive fares” through WeSalute+ 

Baggage on Orders: Up to 5 bags, 100 lbs each, for active U.S. military and dependents traveling on orders

Baggage on Leisure: Up to 3 bags, 50 lbs each for active U.S. military on personal / leisure travel

American waives pet charges for trained active military dogs traveling in the cabin if they’re on official duty and have written documents.

Breeze Airways 

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised.

Baggage: 1 carry-on bag and 2 checked bags free only for active-duty U.S. military members.

Service members must present their valid U.S. military ID to receive the free bags. The ID will need to be verified again at the gate to receive the free carry-on bag and courtesy preboarding.

Delta Airlines

Ticket Discount: No standard percentage off, but Delta Vacations sometimes offers a flat discount (often cited as $200–$300 off) for military packages. Must book by phone at 1-800-800-1504.

Baggage on Orders: 5 free 100 lb. bags for active duty but may vary depending on fare class.

Baggage on Leisure: 2 free 50 lb. bags in Main Cabin; more in higher classes.

These benefits are still subject to any applicable embargoes or regional weight restrictions. This allowance applies to Delta-marketed tickets, including travel operated by Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, and Virgin Atlantic.

Frontier Airlines

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised.

Baggage: 1 free personal item, 1free carry-on bag and 2 free checked bags with ID.

These baggage waivers apply to the individual and their accompanying spouse and children. Oversized and overweight baggage fees are waived for the first two free checked bags. 

Hawaiian Airlines

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised directly; 5% discount may be available through WeSalute+.

Baggage on Orders: Active duty U.S. military passengers and military personnel who are retired or retiring, who have proof of official government travel orders, and their qualified dependents will be allowed 5 checked complimentary bags per person for coach/first/business classes of service when traveling on orders on Hawaiian Airlines system-wide travel.

Baggage on Leisure: Military personnel and their qualified dependents will be allowed two 2 complimentary checked bags per person for coach/ first/business classes of service.

JetBlue 

Ticket Discount: All U.S. active-duty military customers traveling for duty-related and leisure receive a 5% discount on all JetBlue fares. Dependents travelling on the same reservation as the active-duty military customer are also eligible to receive the same benefits

WeSalute+ subscribers are entitled to a 5% discount on JetBlue fares and two free checked bags, each up to 50 lbs, at no additional cost. 

Baggage on Orders: 5 free 99 lb. checked bags for active duty and dependents.

Leisure: 2 free 50 lb. bags for active duty and dependents.

Lufthansa Airlines

Ticket Discount: 5% may be available through WeSalute+. Itineraries must originate in the U.S. to be eligible. Reservations are limited to eight travelers or fewer.

Baggage: Generally honors United Airlines’ U.S. military baggage policy if booked on a United codeshare or if traveling on orders.

Southwest Airlines

Ticket Discount: Southwest offers military and government fares. To book a military fare, call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or visit a Southwest ticket counter.

Fares are not available on Southwest.com. Some may be accessible through WeSalute+ or other programs.

Baggage: Military Customers traveling on active duty will be exempt from the two-piece baggage limit and will not be subject to excess, oversize, or overweight baggage charges, provided that none of the pieces of baggage exceeds 100 pounds in weight and 80 inches in size.

Military working dogs can travel on Southwest as part of a military working dog team that includes a trained military handler and a trained canine.

Spirit Airlines

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised.

Baggage on Orders: 2 free checked bags (up to 100 lbs each) for active duty and a free carry-on. You must verify your military status through ID.me online to add free bags before check-in.

Accompanying spouses and children must add their bags with the assistance of a Guest Service Agent at the ticket counter at the airport. The spouse and children must be traveling with the active-duty U.S. military service member to receive free bags. 

Complimentary priority boarding is available for active-duty military service members, their spouses, and their children when traveling with the military service member. 

Spirit partners with Luke’s Wings to donate flights to help reunite wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and fallen officers with their families. 

United Airlines

Ticket Discount: None publicly advertised directly; however, a 5% discount may be available through WeSalute+.

Baggage: On Orders: You do not have to pay fees for up to five checked bags, depending on your orders. To find out how many bags you can bring on your next flight, visit the checked bags page.

You can visit one of the United Club locations if there is space available. To learn more about the access rules, visit the club and lounge access page. Active military members can board with their flight’s pre-boarding group.

Save Even More with Travel Credit Cards

For deeper savings, pair these airline discounts with the right travel credit card—especially if your annual fees can be waived under the Military Lending Act (MLA). A travel rewards credit card can help you earn points or miles on every dollar you spend and redeem them for future flights, seat upgrades, and more, including these perks.

• Some top-tier cards, such as the Platinum Card from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, waive annual fees for active-duty military personnel under the MLA or company-specific programs.
• Earn bonus points or miles after spending a certain amount in the first few months.
• Premium cards often include lounge memberships, which can be valuable if you travel frequently.
• Many travel cards offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car insurance, and extended warranty coverage.

Military Flight Discount FAQs

Do all airlines offer military discounts on ticket prices?

No. Some airlines only offer free baggage perks instead of discounted fares. Others require a third-party membership (like WeSalute+) to unlock ticket discounts.

Can retired military personnel and veterans receive the same discounts as active-duty personnel?

It varies by airline. Some perks (like free checked bags) extend to retired or veteran status, but official orders-based perks (like five free 100 lb. bags) often apply only to active duty traveling on orders.

Do I need to book directly with the airline to get a military discount?

Most airlines require you to call their reservations line or visit a ticket counter in person. Some allow discount booking via their website if you verify through ID.me or sign in with a WeSalute+ account.

Do airlines offer a military discount on international flights?

Yes, in some cases, especially if you’re traveling on official orders. International baggage policies for active duty can be more generous for official business or PCS moves. Check with the airline.

What happens if my discount is not applied at check-in?

Always keep documentation (such as orders, IDs, and confirmations) on hand. If the gate agent isn’t aware of the policy, politely ask for a supervisor or reference the airline’s published military discount page.

Are there any travel credit cards that waive fees for the military?

Many credit card issuers, including American Express and Chase, waive annual fees for active-duty service members under the Military Lending Act (MLA), the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), or their own internal policies. This can be a major money-saver, especially on premium travel rewards cards.