Traveling is usually top on the list for most retirees, and many of us have a long list of places we would love to visit. Unfortunately, traveling, especially air travel, can get pretty expensive.
The good news is that some airlines offer significant senior discounts allowing us to make our travel dreams come true. Most of the discounts offered by these companies require you to call in to verify if your destination qualifies. Some airlines only have an age requirement to take advantage of their discounts. However, others need you to be an AARP member to receive their discounts.
If you are flying with an airline not on our list, it doesn’t hurt to ask the agent when booking. Additionally, the airlines below may have changed their discount guidelines, so it is always best to check in advance.
Several airlines have moved away from senior discounts and instead offer different discounts for frequent travelers or offer special travel deals throughout the year.
Additionally, if you have a flexible schedule flying standby is another excellent way to save money on flights. One such airline that offers that specifically for seniors is JAL.
The airlines have been chosen based on their discount amounts and where they travel. Additionally, the list below includes the discount amount if it’s published and the age requirement.
Airlines with Discounts for Seniors
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- British Airways
- JAL
American Airlines Group
- Discount Amount: Call for Discount Information
- Age Requirement: 65+
- Headquartered: Fort Worth, Texas
American Airlines has a 90+ year history, dating back to Charles Lindbergh, who flew their first flight from St. Louis, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to boasting a famous pilot, American’s founder C.R. Smith and Donald Douglas invented the DC-3, changing travel from land and sea, to the skies. In 1936, American was the first company to fly a DC-3 commercially from New York to Chicago.
Since then, American Airlines has grown into the airline it is today. American and their partner American Eagle Airlines offer both domestic and international flights. The regions they cover outside of the U.S. include:
United Airlines
- Discount Amount: Call for Discount Information
- Age Requirement: 65+
- Headquartered: Chicago, IL
In 1926, Walter T. Varney founded the original United Airlines, which was initially named Varney Air Lines. In 1934, a new airline Varney Speed Lines was launched by Walter; these two companies were later renamed United Airlines and Continental Airlines.
Today United Airlines flies to over 200 domestic destinations. In addition to the US cities United also offers international flights to more than 100 other cities worldwide. United Airlines once offered a Silver Wings membership.
Members could sign up for a 2-Year or lifetime option. However, in 2005 they went away with the program. But, for those who signed up for a lifetime membership before 2005, they still honor the membership.
Today, to learn about possible senior discounts on specific flights, you need to call and book your trip over the phone.
Delta Airlines
- Discount Amount: Call for Discount Information
- Age Requirement: 65+
- Headquartered: Atlanta, Georgia
Huff Daland founded Huff Daland Dusters, which would later become Delta, in 1925. Huff Daland Dusters started its flying career not as a commuter plane but instead in the agricultural business.
Huff Daland Dusters was the largest privately owned agricultural airline company in the US. The company operated in the southern regions crop-dusting from Florida to California, and even south into Mexico.
In 1928 C.E. Woolman purchased Huff Daland Dusters and renamed it Delta. In 1929 Delta flew it’s first passenger flight starting in Dallas, Texas, with two stops in Louisiana in Shreveport and Monroe, then ending its journey in Jackson, Mississippi.
From there, Delta continued to expand its flight destinations and eventually starting flying internationally in 1953. Today Delta flies all over the US, as well as to more than 60 countries.
Delta’s senior program is limited to specific markets, so calling ahead is a must.
British Airways
- Discount Amount: AARP Exclusive discount:
- $65 off for travel in economy (World Traveller).
- $200 off for travel in business (Club World).
- Age Requirement: 55+
- Headquartered: Harmondsworth, United Kingdom
British Airways has been in business for over 100 years. In 1919 British Airways, flew the “world’s first daily international scheduled air service, between London and Paris.”
British Airways offers flights in and out of the following US cities:
- Atlanta
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Denver
- Houston
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York City
- Newark
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Washington D.C.
Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd.
Japanese airline, founded in 1951, started as a privately-owned domestic airline. It went through a couple of different reorganizations, but in 1987 it was privatized.
In 1954, JAL went from a domestic to an international airline, adding San Francisco to its list of destinations. Eventually, over the next 10 years, JAL continued to expand its international flights to include additional cities in the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Australia.
Today JAL flies to over 100 cities in the US, and offers non-stop flights from the following US cities:
- San Fransisco
- San Diego
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Dallas
- Honolulu
- Kona
- Boston
- New York
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