Military personnel are dedicatedly serving the nation through the year and only get very limited holidays. That is the time when they can visit family and also travel with them to places they’d like to see and spend some quality time. To ensure that military personnel and their families travel well and also save some dollars, here are some very useful travel tips from AitTkt for military families.
Choose the travel time wisely
One thing that works very well in saving some dollars is choosing the perfect time to travel. If there is flexibility, military families should choose to take a vacation on days such as Veteran Day weekend and others. Traveling during such days helps to grab more discounts and perks. A lot of places such as Colonial Williamsburg offer special services to the military during this time; while some other places like Busch Gardens and Disney World offer discounts all year-round which you could avail in the veteran weekend.
Opt for a military-friendly destination
There are multiple places which in honor of the military personnel and their families provide tour packages at discounted rates, as well as offer accommodation for free or at a very minimal price. Some places such as The Hampton Roads, San Diego, San Antonio, and Fayetteville, NC are very military friendly and hence, treat the families with a lot of respect. In these cities, even some of the restaurants offer military discounts.
Make informed flight bookings
A lot of airlines offer military discount flights to military personnel and their families. You can book cheap military flights and travel at a lesser price than otherwise. Airlines such as Delta, American, JetBlue, Alaska, United, and Hawaiian provide discount flights for military personnel, as well as baggage waivers, complimentary meals, and other perks. Though it is always advisable to check with the airline before booking the flight tickets. Moreover, if you travel during veteran day weekend, the airlines run a lot of special offers then.
Get the TSA PreCheck
All military personnel should remember to claim for a free TSA PreCheck while buying your airplane tickets. You would need to provide your DoD identification number. As per policies, kids of military personnel aged 12 or below can go free but spouses are not permitted.
Fly Space-A
One perk that military personnel often neglect is the Space-Available air flights that allow military personnel and families to travel at no or very little cost. These are air flights commissioned for military purposes but accommodate military personnel if there is space and the destination is similar. Though you must have a flexible schedule and sometimes even destination to avail of this perk. To book you space on these air flights, check the official page of AMC (Air Mobility Command) to know about travel eligibility, restrictions, baggage requirements, etc.
Check for military programs by travel companies
Some holiday companies offer discounted travel programs for the military that you can avail of. You could also take advantage of places that offer free military personnel entry or other offers such as Blue Star Museums – a free museum program that offers free entry between Memorial Day and Labor Day for military families across the US; The National Park Service; VetTix – that provides free tickets for sporting events, fine arts programs, and concerts, etc. There are many more places that welcome the military with special services and discounts, you should check with the concerned place and avail them.
All military personnel and families should take advantage of these travel tips to make the most of their holiday. You can also check AirTkt for some great flight discounts. AirTkt’s travel protection program is also a noteworthy service that provides coverage in terms of trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption, baggage delays, emergency medical service, and more.
