Military Travel Discounts On Hotels, Airfare, Theme Parks, Cruises and More

Many airlines and hotels offer U.S. military members discounts and perks when traveling. Even when you aren't traveling on orders, members of the military can get free checked bags and priority boarding on airlines, military travel discounts and even elite status at some hotel brands.

To maximize your military travel benefits, you'll want to utilize perks available through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA. Card issuers like Citi and Barclays offer military members 0% APR, while Chase may waive annual fees completely. Many of these credit cards offer generous travel benefits.

Here, we're going to focus on non-card-related military travel discounts and other travel benefits for veterans.

WeSalute

Many airlines and hotel brands offer some version of military travel discounts. Some of these travel discounts are available to all military members; however, some airlines and hotels only offer discounts through an organization called WeSalute.

There is a free membership tier, but for more discounts, members need to pay $9.99 per month or $59.95 (plus a $4.95 processing fee) for a full year of membership. So you'll want to make sure that you save more than this from your membership before you sign up.

Costco

Active duty military, veterans, retired military and spouses and dependents of active-duty, veterans and retired military can save $30 on a Costco Shop Card. All Costco members have access to Costco Travel, which is an online travel agency that offers everyday savings on travel expenses exclusively for members.

Via WeSalute

WeSalute offers many airline discounts, including:

• Alaska Airlines: Get 5% off flights departing from the U.S. and Canada for up to six passengers.

• Hawaiian Airlines: Get 5% off round-trip economy fares between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii.

• JetBlue: Get 5% off all JetBlue flights, plus two free checked bags and waived service fees.

• Lufthansa Group: Get 5% off transatlantic flights originating in the U.S. on Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, SWISS or Brussels Airlines.

• United Airlines: Get 5% off premium economy, business and first-class flights originating in the U.S. for travel within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Europe.

• Breeze Airways: Get 15% off round-trip flights.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Airline-specific military discounts

Also, a couple of airlines offer military travel discounts directly:

• Alaska Airlines: A special military rate is available to U.S. military personnel and their spouses and dependents. This fare is only available when traveling on an excused absence, within seven days of being discharged or for military reserves on active duty.

• Delta Air Lines: Get up to $300 off Delta Vacations flight + hotel packages of at least three nights. Available to active-duty U.S. military personnel and their travel companions.

Free checked bags for military members

In addition to discounts on flights, airlines offer travel benefits for active U.S. military service members such as free checked bags — even when flying for personal travel.

• Alaska Airlines: Active duty U.S. military personnel and military dependents with travel orders can check up to five bags weighing up to 70 pounds each for free.

• American Airlines: Activity military members and dependents traveling on orders get up to five checked bags of up to 100 pounds each for free. Active military members on personal and leisure travel get up to three checked bags of up to 50 pounds each for free.

• Delta Air Lines: When traveling on military orders, you can check five bags up to 100 pounds each for free. For personal travel, active-duty military personnel can check two bags up to 50 pounds each when traveling in basic economy, main cabin and Delta Comfort+, or three bags up to 70 pounds each in first class, premium select and Delta One.

• Frontier Airlines: Active duty military, reserves and national guard passengers can check two bags for free plus carry-on a bag and a personal item. Oversized and overweight bag fees are waived for the first two checked bags.

• JetBlue: Active duty military members traveling on orders and dependents traveling on the same itinerary can get five bags each. For leisure travel, military members and dependents get two free checked bags each.

• Spirit Airlines: The low-cost airline offers active-duty U.S. military members, their spouses and their children two free checked bags and a free carry-on bag when they present their ID at check in.

• United Airlines: United will waive checked bag fees on up to five checked bags up to 100 pounds each for U.S. military members traveling on orders.

» Learn more: How to shop for flights

Other military travel benefits when flying

Some airlines go beyond just offering free checked bags to military members. Here are the airlines that offer perks like priority boarding and lounge access:

• Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines offers U.S. military members early boarding, complimentary lounge access when traveling on orders and a 15% discount on food purchased in-flight.

• American Airlines: American Airlines offers Group 1 boarding to active-duty military members with ID.

• Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines allows military members to board between the A and B groups, allowing them better access to seats.

• United Airlines: United Airlines offers United Club lounge access to active duty military members in uniform or with leave orders and their families. You must be traveling on a United-operated flight and present your boarding pass and papers to the lounge agent.

Active military members and veterans can also save at many hotel brands.

Via WeSalute

WeSalute also partners with many hotel brands to offer a discount to paying members:

• Choice Hotels: Get 15% off at the following brands: Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and more.

• Couples Resorts: Savings of up to 15% on Couples Resorts' Caribbean properties for WeSalute+ members.

• Kimpton Hotels: Save 10% off the best available rate.

• Motel 6: Get 15% off your stay.

• Red Roof: Take 20% off at all Red Roof properties nationwide.

• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts:

Other hotel discounts for service members

Here are some of the best military travel discounts available at hotels in North America:

• Atlantis Bahamas: Up to 15% off hotel reservations.

• Best Western: Save at least 10% by booking the military rate. Available to U.S. and Canadian military personnel and civilian military personnel, including veterans with an official ID or work orders.

• Choice Hotels: Active duty and retired military members, their dependents and members of military associations are eligible for military discounts for leisure travel.

• Hilton Hotels: Active and retired U.S. and Canadian military members, veterans and their families can save on leisure travel in the Americas through the Military Family Rate.

• Hyatt Hotels: Save 10-15% off the standard rate at participating hotels in the U.S. when you enter code MILVET in the Special Offer Code. Available to veterans, active duty armed service members and immediate family members.

• IHG Hotels: Active and retired U.S. and Canadian military members — and their dependent family members — are eligible to book IHG's Military Appreciation Hotel Rate.

• Marriott Hotels: Active-duty military members are eligible for discounts when using Special Rate code GOV.

• Red Roof Inn: Get 15% off if you're permanently changing stations or 10% off on leisure travel or for military friends and family.

• Sonesta International Hotels: Get up to 15% off the best available rate, plus upgrade to Travel Pass Gold status within the Sonesta Travel Pass Program when you book with promo code MILR. ​

• Super 8 by Wyndham: Get 15% off the Best Available Rate at participating hotels in the U.S. and Canada. Available to active, reserve, veteran and retired members of the U.S. or Canadian military.

• Wyndham Hotels: Get 12% off the Best Available Rate at most Wyndham brands at hotels in the U.S. and Canada. Available to members of the United States or Canadian military with active, reserve, veteran or retired status and/or the spouses of those military members. You must use rate code SML at booking and present a military ID at check-in.

Free hotel elite status for military members

In addition to discounts and perks, members of the U.S. military are eligible to get elite status with a few hotel chains.

• Choice Privileges: Choice Privileges offers lifetime Gold elite status for active-duty military, veterans and military spouses. This elite status grants you a 10% point bonus on stays, an elite welcome gift and access to an elite phone number for reservations and customer service. Plus, you'll get 2,500 bonus points for completing your first qualifying stay after enrolling. Visit this page for full details and to enroll in the program.

• Best Western: Similarly, Best Western Rewards offers Gold status to members of the military and armed forces through its Best Western Service Rewards program. In addition to a 10% discount, you'll earn 10% bonus points, receive either bonus points or a welcome gift on arrival, get early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability), and potentially even score a room upgrade.

• Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy: Military members can also get elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. However, getting these perks isn't as straightforward. Here's how it works. Members of the military may be eligible for $0 membership fees for the American Express Platinum Card® through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. You’ll likely have to apply for relief directly to AmEx to get the benefit. Once you have the American Express Platinum Card®, you can enroll to receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold elite status. Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best hotel elite status programs

Via WeSalute

Automatic Avis Preferred Plus elite status in the Avis loyalty program and a 35% discount on car, truck and SUV rentals worldwide for WeSalute+ members.

Merlin Entertainment (Legoland, Sea Life, Madame Tussauds)

This fall, Merlin Entertainments is honoring military members, veterans and first responders with free admission to several major attractions. From Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, 2025, eligible guests can receive free one-day tickets at:

• LEGOLAND® New York Resort.

• LEGOLAND® Florida Resort.

• Madame Tussauds New York.

• Madame Tussauds Orlando.

• SEA LIFE Orlando.

• The Orlando Eye.

In addition, up to six accompanying guests can receive 50% off one-day tickets, making it a cost-effective way to bring the family along.

To access the offer, guests must verify eligibility and purchase tickets in advance through ID.me or at a local Military Ticket office. The tickets must be redeemed between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2025, at participating attractions.

Eligibility includes:

• Military: Active Duty, Reserves and Veterans of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.

• First responders: Law enforcement, EMS and EMTs, and firefighters.

Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World is introducing the Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket to mark America's 250th anniversary. This commemorative ticket costs $499 per person plus tax and grants access to all four Walt Disney World theme parks throughout 2026. That's essentially unlimited access for an entire year at one of the most expensive theme park destinations in the country — a genuinely generous offer if you can make multiple trips.

Disney is also continuing its standard Military Salute Tickets for 2026. Eligible active and retired military personnel can purchase a 6-Day Park Hopper ticket for $449 plus tax (about $75 per day). Specially priced 4-Day and 5-Day Park Hopper tickets are also available.

Both ticket offers are valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 18, 2026, and require advance theme park reservations. Blockout dates apply March 29–April 11, 2026 and November 22–28, 2026 (spring break and Thanksgiving week, predictably).

For more information and eligibility details, visit your local participating military base ticket office or Disney's official website.

Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is offering promotional theme park tickets to active and retired U.S. military personnel for 2026 visits. The pricing is competitive compared to standard Disneyland tickets, which have become notoriously expensive in recent years.

2026 Military Salute Ticket Offer (valid January 1–December 31, 2026):

• 3-Day Park Hopper: $314.

• 4-Day Park Hopper: $369.

• 3-Day Park Hopper with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $416.

• 4-Day Park Hopper with Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $505.

These tickets require park reservations and are available for purchase Nov. 18, 2025 through Dec. 27, 2026 at participating U.S. military base ticket offices and via GOVX.com.

Single-day tickets (new availability via GOVX.com):

• 1-Day, 1-Park adult ticket: $104.

• 1-Day, 1-Park child ticket (ages 3-9): $98.

For the first time, these single-day tickets can be purchased via GOVX.com in addition to military base ticket offices. They're valid for visits Nov. 18, 2025 through Dec. 30, 2027 with no blockout dates, which gives you significantly more flexibility than the multi-day tickets.

Visit your military base ticket office or GOVX.com starting Nov. 18 for complete eligibility requirements and restrictions.

Disney Cruise Line

Eligible active and retired military personnel earn a $250 onboard credit per stateroom for all 2026 sailings from Florida aboard the Disney Wish and Disney Dream. Disney is also offering discounted military rates on select cruises, though specific pricing varies by sailing.

The $250 onboard credit is substantial — it can cover specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments or onboard shopping. Disney Cruise Line tends to be pricier than mass-market cruise lines like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, so any discount helps offset the premium you're paying for the Disney brand.

Visit disneycruise.com for complete details on eligible sailings and booking information.