The Savvy Traveler » Serving Uncle Sam? The Military Can Travel for Less

Serving Uncle Sam? The Military Can Travel for Less | The Savvy Traveler

Mar 18 2007

Serving Uncle Sam? The Military Can Travel for Less

Published by Jennifer at 10:15 pm under Discount Travel

One of the most notable travel perks available to members of the United States Military is the quickly disappearing Space A, or Space Available, flight. This hard to snag, but nevertheless wonderful perk, allows service members, their families and military retirees to fill any empty seats on any Department of Defense aircraft after the flight had been boarded and loaded with all other required passengers and cargo. While this method of traveling is extremely budget friendly, in this age of counter-terrorism caution and heightened security levels it can be literally maddening trying to get details of the departing flightâ€™s schedule and coordinating the scheduling and ticketing. Finally securing a seat on a return flight, in order to ensure that you do not return late from your leave, is so critical that itâ€™s highly recommended that you allow 2 extra days for travel contingencies as these Space A flights tend to follow loose schedules and can leave (or arrive) later than the previously announced times. To get more details on Space A flights please locate your nearest Space A Flight Gateway Center by searching online.

In addition to the money saving, Space A flights members of the United States Military enjoy extremely low-cost Worldwide lodging benefits at clean and comfortable on-base lodging locations and at the various Armed Forces Recreation Centers; such as the Shades of Green Resort located within Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where guests are afforded transportation and early entry into the Disney theme park and access to two PGA championship golf courses and a nine-hole executive course, or at the World-renowned Edelweiss Lodge & Resort nestled at the foot of the Bavarian Alps in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area of Germany.

Individual military branches also offer their own travel discount websites, which advertise reduced fee travel and lodgings. Members of the United States Air Force can utilize Aftravelonline and soldiers in the US Army have access to Armymwr.com. The United State Marines and members of the US Navy can both find great deals and book leisure travel online at Santovacations.com.

A quick search of the travel and recreation deals available at Military.com revealed $15.00 Off Admission at Universal Studios Hollywood, free admission for enlisted military at the Little Nashville Opry in Missouri, a $250 Discount for Active Armed Forces cruising in the Caribbean and Discounts of 55%-60% Off Full Published Rack Rates at the Ocean Resort Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii. Veterans also qualify for extended travel discounts through membership programs like Veterans Advantage and Milvetstravel.net sponsors a comprehensive list of travel discounts for both active-duty military and veterans. The Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC) offers unsold or empty condominium rentals at nearly 3,500 worldwide locations to eligible Department of Defense employees and contractors. A search of their website reveals considerable savings on weekly empty condominium rentals advertised as â€˜Last Callâ€™ rentals that rivaled rates of any budget hotel. Additionally, the AFVC provides information on special rates and military only deals on cruises, hotels, car rentals and campgrounds.

While many airlines are discontinuing military fares American Airlines has recently announced that theyâ€™ve decided to continue offering reduced fares for active-duty United States Military personnel, spouses and their dependent children. In addition to the deeply discounted air fares for military members, American Airlines has waived their standard advance purchase requirements and gives qualifying military fliers pre-boarding privileges alongside their first-class passengers.