Southwest Military Discount
Hearing about companies that have a military discount allows you to save money and that is a good thing. With the cost of travel so high these days, finding a military discount on your airline tickets is a way to save money, especially if you want to fly home to visit family or send your child back home for school breaks during college.
The Southwest military discount offers a way for you to save on travel. But is it the best deal out there?
What is the Southwest Military Rate?
Southwest Airlines offers military and government rates for travel, with rates varying depending on destination and other factors.
To book a flight with a military fare, please call 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or visit a Southwest ticket counter. These rates are typically offered to active duty servicemembers and their families.
Who’s Eligible for the Discount?
- Active Duty
- Reservists with active orders
- National Guard members with active orders
- Coast Guard members with active orders
- Cadets/midshipmen attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy [West Point], and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy
- Authorized dependents
Does Southwest Charge the Military for Bags?
The Southwest official site notes, “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 (L+W+H).”
Travelers should know that all bags in excess of 80 inches “cannot be checked as baggage but can be shipped as cargo if the Customer is a TSA Known Shipper.” The Southwest official site adds:
- A valid United States Uniformed Services Active Duty Identification Card must be presented at the time of check-in for military personnel.
- In total, a ticketed Customer (including military Customers) may not check more than 20 pieces of baggage per flight.
- Note: Dependents traveling without the active-duty military member are subject to normal excess, oversized, and overweight charges.
Military Can Board the Flight Early
Southwest allows active-duty military members with I.D. who did not receive an “A” boarding group to board between the A and B groups.
>> For more great military and veteran discounts direct to your inbox, sign up for the Military and Veteran Discounts Newsletter. It’s free from our sister site, MyMilitaryBenefits.com. Start saving.
What Else to Know
Southwest.com reminds travelers that government fares are not available on Southwest.com and Rapid Rewards points cannot be redeemed to purchase government or military fares.
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.
