Military discount airline tickets are an excellent way for active and retired members of the military armed forces as well as members who are Reserve personnel to obtain cheap airline tickets for both domestic and international travel. Although members of the armed forces are welcome to fly on U.S. military aircraft without any charge, this method of transportation is not as reliable as paying for tickets aboard military discount flights on commercial airliners. Since seating availability aboard U.S. military flights is only provided on a space available basis, no secure travel plans can be certain if the individual needs to arrive at a specific destination on a specific day. U.S. military aircraft flights are often cancelled or their itinerary changed so they are scheduled for arrival at a totally different destination than the service member may desire. Relying on uncertain space availability on military flights can also make an active duty member late for returning to an assignment, causing them to be Absent Without Leave or AWOL, subjecting them to a judicial hearing and negative consequences upon their return to base. Securing military discount airline tickets is the smarter way for military personnel to travel, especially on vacations with family members or loved ones.
Military discount airline tickets are easy to find through several online travel booking sites, which can alert the service person as to the specific carriers that offer cheap military discount airline tickets. Online flight booking sites enable a serviceman to find out what carriers extend a military discount for airline tickets as well as enable them to compare one carrier's best deal versus another. Most domestic commercial airliners offer some sort of military discount to active and off-duty military personnel, reserve personnel as well as military veterans and the savings realized can range between 20% of original fares to as much as a 70% savings off original fares. Most carriers extend their military discounts to the dependents and immediate family members of service personnel for additional travel savings.
Requirements vary among military discount airlines in order to qualify for military cheap flights, but one requirement of all carriers is some form of proof that the person travelling is in fact an active member of one of the armed forces branches or a member of the Reserve personnel. If the online booking travel site does not offer specific recommendations on how to proceed to provide a valid form of identification to qualify for the military discount rate, a phone call to the specific carrier is the most expedient way to find out how to prove military service status. Most airline carriers will require that the traveller fax a copy of his current military identification card as proof but that must be done in advance of receiving the military discount so the traveller should not wait until the last minute to make inquiries or any reservations, expecting automatic military discount qualification. Advance planning is always the best route. Military personnel must also be sure to have their military ID ready and available when boarding any commercial airline flight, although they do not necessarily have to be in military attire when travelling.
When searching for military discount airline tickets, it is also important to realize that every flight on commercial air carriers only offers a limited amount of seats to which the military airline discounts apply. The military discount offered to active duty and reserve service personnel is a nice perk but it is not considered an automatic privilege, so advance planning is important in order to realize the savings that come with this courtesy discount. Once a military service member has found an airline carrier offering a convenient schedule to and from their desired destination and an attractive discount amount, the individual should book these military airline tickets as soon as possible in order to obtain one of the limited amounts of military discount seating available. If a certain flight has already reached its limit of military discount tickets and travel time is limited, the military service member can still search the travel booking site for other good discount packages that will still get him a discounted airline ticket, although maybe not at as great a discount as flying on a military discount.
There are also additional benefits when using military discount airline tickets. Most carriers will waive the fees for schedule changes, baggage and cancellations for military personnel who have booked their travel requesting military discounts. But there are also additional savings awaiting active duty, retired and reserve military personnel who explore online travel booking websites. Beyond military discount airline tickets, military personnel can search for military discount cruises, military discount hotels for accommodations when traveling, and even military discount car rental rates which can save them additional dollars should they need to reserve automobile transportation at their destination point.
Military discount airline tickets can be found for both domestic and international travel. However, the deepest discounts for air travel appear to be on domestic flights. Although military discounts are available for international airline flights, these discounts are a lot less and there is usually more demand for the seating that is available for these discount programs, so advance planning is essential when military personnel are thinking of making international travel plans.
As soon as travel plans are desired, military personnel are urged to start searching the best online travel websites to find and compare military discount airline tickets. Some carriers allow for online booking while others require contacting an airline reservations agent by phone. At the same time that airline tickets are booked and paid for online, military personnel should inquire about any other aspect of their travel plans such as hotel accommodations, local activities and tours, car rentals and even cruises departing from their destination city which might qualify for a military discount. Active, retired and reserve military personnel can afford to take their family on a much needed vacation by asking for military discounts for every aspect of their vacation trip, from airline tickets and hotel rooms to local sightseeing and dining options. To avoid disappointment in booking seats and getting the deepest discounts, military personnel should plan their trip as well in advance of the desired vacation start date as possible.
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