⌛ Last updated on April 20th, 2025 by James Corbin
What are Military Fares?
Southwest offers specially discounted fares for active duty military personnel and eligible dependents. Southwest Military Discount are not available online and are typically lower than Anytime fares while offering maximum flexibility. They are fully refundable and allow changes without fees. You will only pay the difference if the new fare is more expensive.
Who’s Eligible?
Southwest Military Discount are available to the following:
- United States military personnel on active duty
- Active duty reservists
- National Guard members
- Coast Guard members with active orders
- Cadets and Midshipmen
- Authorized dependents are eligible for Military fares.
How to Book
To access military fares, you need to call Southwest at 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792) or book in person at the airport. These fares cannot be viewed or purchased online. Rapid Rewards points cannot be redeemed to purchase government and military fares. Be sure to mention that you are requesting the military fare and have your military ID ready when checking in!
Example
My emergency same-day flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Denver (DEN) originally showed a price of $600 online. I went straight to the Southwest counter at the airport and asked about the military fare. After showing my military ID, they gave me the military fare of $215—on a flight that left in just two hours. Same flight, huge savings, and zero hassle.
Resources
Here is the direct link:
https://www.southwest.com/html/air/military-travel.html
