Are you a member of the military community looking for amazing travel discounts? Discover American Forces Travel (AFT), the official online leisure travel platform dedicated to providing exclusive deals for service members, veterans, and their families. In a market flooded with unofficial discount sites, AFT stands out as the legitimate, joint-service initiative designed to streamline your vacation planning and maximize your savings. Powered by Priceline, a leader in online travel for over two decades, American Forces Travel offers a wide range of options, from hotels and flights to car rentals and cruises, all with significant military discounts. Let’s explore how you can leverage AFT to secure the best Military Travel Deals for your next adventure.
What is American Forces Travel and Why is it Your Best Bet for Military Discounts?
American Forces Travel isn’t just another travel website; it’s the official leisure travel service created specifically for the U.S. military community. Born from a collaboration between the five military branches and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, AFT was launched to modernize and simplify how military personnel access travel and vacation packages. Historically, military members relied on base ticket and tour offices for non-official travel arrangements. AFT changes the game by providing a user-friendly online platform where you can easily search, compare, and book military travel deals from the comfort of your home.
Priceline.com, a renowned name in the travel industry with over 20 years of experience, was selected through a competitive bidding process to power AFT. This partnership brings together Priceline’s vast network of travel providers and cutting-edge technology with the military’s commitment to providing valuable benefits to its community. This means you get access to a huge inventory of travel options with the added assurance that you’re using an officially endorsed service dedicated to securing the best possible prices for military personnel.
Exclusive Benefits That Make AFT Stand Out for Military Travel Deals
What makes American Forces Travel superior to generic discount travel sites? AFT offers a range of advantages tailored to the unique needs of military travelers seeking military travel deals:
- Deep Discounts: AFT boasts savings of up to 60% on over a million hotel deals across more than 76,000 destinations worldwide. This significant discount potential is a key draw for budget-conscious military families.
- Flexible Booking Policies: Enjoy reduced fees for reservation changes and the peace of mind of 24-hour flight cancellation on all flights. AFT also provides free cancellation on post-paid car rentals and discounted cancellation rates on pre-paid options, offering greater flexibility when plans change.
- Dedicated 24/7 Customer Support: Travel with confidence knowing that AFT provides round-the-clock customer support to assist you with any issues or questions that may arise before, during, or after your trip.
- Giving Back to the Military Community: Every booking made through AFT contributes to military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) services and military quality of life programs. Your travel helps support vital programs for the military community.
- Priceline’s Military Focus Team: While Priceline offers deals to the general public, AFT benefits from a specialized team within Priceline dedicated to finding and securing the deepest military travel deals specifically for AFT users.
- Lowest Price Guarantee: AFT mirrors Priceline’s lowest price guarantee. If you find a better deal within 24 hours of booking, Priceline will refund 100% of the price difference, ensuring you always get the best possible price.
Who is Eligible to Unlock These Military Travel Deals?
American Forces Travel extends its exclusive military travel deals to a broad spectrum of the military community:
- Active duty service members and their dependents
- Full-benefit retirees and their dependents
- 100% disabled veterans and their dependents
- Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents
- American Red Cross and USA-paid personnel serving outside of the US and their dependents
- DOD civilians and non-appropriated fund employees
If you fall into any of these categories, you are eligible to access the valuable military travel deals offered through American Forces Travel.
How to Access and Book Your Military Travel Deals on AFT
Getting started with American Forces Travel and finding your military travel deals is a simple process:
- Visit the American Forces Travel Website: Go to the official American Forces Travel site.
- Click “Get Started”: Locate and select the “Get Started” link on the homepage.
- Verify Your Military Status: You will be prompted to verify your eligibility by entering your last name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number.
- Secure Verification Process: Rest assured that this information is securely verified against a Department of Defense database and is not accessed or stored by Priceline.
- Start Saving: Once verified, you can create an account and begin exploring the wide array of military travel deals available.
What Kind of Military Travel Deals Can You Find?
American Forces Travel provides discounts across various travel categories, ensuring you can plan your entire vacation with military savings:
- Hotels: Access deep discounts on a vast selection of hotels worldwide.
- Flights: Find reduced fares on flights to destinations around the globe.
- Car Rentals: Save on car rentals for your on-the-ground transportation needs.
- Travel Packages: Bundle flights, hotels, and car rentals for even greater savings on complete vacation packages.
- Cruises: Explore discounted cruise options for your next getaway.
AFT is continuously expanding its offerings and plans to include discounts on theme parks and other attractions in the future, making it an even more comprehensive platform for military travel deals.
Are American Forces Travel’s Military Travel Deals Truly Discounted?
While American Forces Travel promises significant military travel deals, it’s essential to understand the real-world savings you can expect. A review by Military.com tested the site and found tangible discounts. For example, hotel stays in San Diego were found to be $20-$50 less expensive than on typical travel discount sites, and vehicle rentals were $10-$18 cheaper per day. Flights also showed savings, with a round-trip flight from Washington, D.C. to San Diego on Alaska Airlines being $323 on AFT compared to $354 elsewhere.
However, the review also highlighted that it’s still crucial to compare prices. In some instances, alternative travel discount sites might offer even lower prices, particularly for specific flight routes or destinations. Hotel discounts can fluctuate based on season and room type, and car rental and cruise prices also vary.
The Takeaway: American Forces Travel is a valuable tool for accessing military travel deals, and it often delivers substantial savings. However, like any discount travel platform, smart consumers should still conduct thorough research and compare prices across multiple sites to ensure they are securing the absolute best deal for their specific travel needs. AFT serves as a powerful, official resource in your arsenal for finding military discounts, but combining it with your own price comparison efforts is the most effective strategy.
Conclusion: Maximize Your Military Benefits with Smart Travel Planning
American Forces Travel provides a legitimate and beneficial platform for military personnel and their families to access exclusive military travel deals. Backed by the official endorsement of the U.S. military and powered by Priceline’s expertise, AFT offers a compelling range of discounts and benefits. While it’s always wise to compare prices to ensure you’re getting the ultimate deal, AFT undoubtedly adds significant value and savings potential for military travelers. Explore American Forces Travel today and start unlocking incredible discounts for your next well-deserved vacation.
